by Lakshmi Iyer
Kerala, India

My school assembly starts with a prayer at the altar of The Lady of Lourdes and ends with an ‘Amen’. Out of curiosity, my eyes search for that angel who bless us in the end – ‘Amen’!

One day, just before Christmas, I am asked to sing a carol. I sing, ‘Joy to the World’. To my surprise, I see fairies waving at me the letters, “AMEN”! I now realise it’s the end of my school days.

‘Let it be so!’

Years roll by …

On a Christmas day, at a vocational training center for women, I’m asked to become the Santa for the children of these women. With the Santa face-mask on my face, I become the first ‘Lady Santa’. I dance around, fill their hands with gifts and take pictures of all the smiles.

stars traveling
on the crescent boat
I wait for…