For children: Kittu’s life takes a crazy turn with his uber-cool, super-stylish great-aunt’s arrival

Kittu wondered why Sneaker Paati’s frown was growing by the minute. He wondered what part of his story had upset her. Suddenly, his eyes fell on a carton next to the enormous red suitcase Sneaker Paati had begun unpacking. The carton was still bound in tape.

“How many pairs do you have, Sneaker Paati?” Kittu asked, trying to change the subject.

“Of what?”

“Sneakers, of course!” Kittu explained, “I have two pairs. One for every day and the other one I wear when we go out.”

Sneaker Paati frowned some more and rummaged through her suitcase. She pulled out a pair of white sneakers. “This is mine,” she said.

“But how can you be ‘Sneaker Paati’ if you only have one pair of sneakers?” Kittu cried in disappointment.

Sneaker Paati shook her head. “Oh ho. You call me Sneaker Paati because you think I own many pairs of sneakers,” she said.

“Kittu,” Mummy’s horrified voice came from behind them. “Shobha Paati just woke up. Leave her in peace,” she added, taking hold of Kittu’s arm. “And why are you calling her Sneaker Paati? What is wrong with you, Kittu? Don’t you know you should call her Shobha Paati?”

“I actually like Sneaker Paati,” Shobha Attai said, and Kittu wondered why there were...

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