The most beguiling eyes looking up at me from that corner,
"Come here," I called putting out my hands in a welcoming gesture,
She came and stood shyly in front of me,
Placing my hand under her chin the better to see,
I moved her odni from her face, God! Was she a stunner!
You're beautiful, I said,
No, I'm dark, said the voice with bended head,
Who had said that?- I asked angrily 
Well, everyone!- she replied matter-of-factly.
Tell them Devi Maa is dark too,
And I look like her, not you!
Her face lit up with a brilliant smile 
She was filled with happiness for a little while.
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*Devi ma: mother goddess in the Hindu pantheon
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Padmini Viswanathan has written and self published three books – A novel Nostalgia, set in pre-independence Madras in George Town, Mylapore Lodge is on joint family life in a Tam Brahm family of the early 1970’s and consists of articles, poems and a few stories.  The third, Be the Book is their personal story of the turbulent path to self-publishing and the self-discovery that goes hand in hand with it. It is a comprehensive guide to self publishing in India filled with hilarious twists and turns.