These are the days of the rains, the month of Sawan. Golden rain clouds cover the sky. Every now and then, a soft drizzle begins to fall. It is only the third quarter of the day, yet it seems as though evening has already arrived. A swing has been hung in the mango grove. Girls are swinging, and so are their mothers. Two or four are swinging while two or four others push them. One begins to sing a kajri, another a barahmasa. In this season, the childhood memories of women awaken as well. These showers seem to wash away the worries from their hearts. They seem to make even their withered spirits green again. Everyone's heart is overflowing with joy. Their green saris have formed a bond with the greenery of nature.
Just then, a peddler came and stood beside the swing. The moment they saw him, the swinging stopped. Girls and women, young and old, all came and surrounded him. The peddler opened his box and began taking out and displaying glittering things. There were ornaments made of imitation pearls, lace and ribbons, colorful socks, beautiful dolls and jewelry for dolls, spinning tops and rattles for children. One bought this, another that. A wide-eyed little girl chose the prettiest of all the glittering things. It was a turquoise-colored necklace in the shape of a crescent moon. She said to her mother, “Mother, I will have this necklace.”
The mother asked the peddler, “Brother, how much is this necklace?”
Wiping the necklace with a handkerchief, the peddler said, “It costs twenty annas to buy, but the mistress may pay whatever she wishes.”
The mother said, “That is very expensive. Its shine will disappear in four days.” The peddler nodded sympathetically and said, “Madam, in four days the girl will receive a real Chandrahār.”
Those tender words touched the mother's heart. The necklace was bought.
There was no limit to the girl's delight. Perhaps even a necklace of diamonds could not have given her so much pleasure. Wearing it, she danced all around the village. Of all the childhood possessions she had, this imitation-crystal necklace was the most precious and beloved.
The girl's name was Jalpa, and her mother's was Manki.