Fiction: Amaara’s Bangles

Kavita Mohan

Kavita Mohan

Amaara looked admiringly at the bangles on her hands. Light glinted off the silver and little black beads adorned the surface. They looked just like bangles worn by Mumma, but made smaller for her little wrists. “For protection,” Mumma said. “Your Nani sent these bangles to you from India for Diwali. The black beads are meant to protect you and keep you safe.”

“They are beautiful, Mumma.”

“I know, Baby. Be careful with them. Nani sent them with all her love.”

Amaara ran the tip of her flinger lightly across the top and smiled. “I love them, Mumma. I’m going to wear them whenever I miss Nani.”

Amaara missed her Nani very much. Nani lived all the way in India, across an entire ocean. Amaara and her parents also used to live there until not so long ago.  Then Mumma got a “big new job” in America. That’s what Nani had called it as they were about to leave. Sometimes just before sleeping, Mumma and Amaara would examine the world map that stretched across Amaara’s bedspread. Mumma would show Amaara where they lived in America and would gently lift Amaara’s hand all the way across to the other side of the bed. “It may look like Nani is far away, but the world is not so big, Amaara.”

“But I miss her, Mumma.”

“I know, my darling. I also miss her. But we’ll see her again soon. We’ll go back to visit next year, and Nani will come here too.”

Next year didn’t seem so soon to Amaara. In India, Amaara, Mumma, and Baba had lived just a few houses down from Nani. When Mumma and Baba would go to work, Amaara would be dropped off with her ayah to her Nani’s house where she would spend the whole day playing with Nani. Nani lived alone in a beautiful house filled with flowers and colorful painted walls. Some walls had trees painted on them, and others had peacocks. Amaara would always arrive at Nani’s house just as Nani was finishing her morning prayers. Nani would be sitting in front of the puja with her eyes closed, quietly praying, and Amaara would slip in beside her. Sometimes Nani would open one eye in the middle of her prayers and flash Amaara a conspiratorial smile, handing her a bell to ring for the aarti at the end of her prayers.

Nana had passed away long before Amaara was born. Even though she lived alone, and Mumma said she must feel lonely, Nani was always smiling and laughing. Nani told Amaara she wasn’t lonely because when she looked carefully into the sky, she could see Nana twinkling at her every night from the stars above.

Nani told Amaara the best stories and made delicious food. Amaara would play “hair salon” and pretend to wash and cut Nani’s hair. After lunch, the two of them would climb into a deep window seat below the stairs and read together or play games before both of them went into Nani’s room to stretch out onto Nani’s carved wooden bed for a nap, tucked under soft cotton razais. Nani’s room was painted pale pink and smelled of roses and jasmine, just like Nani herself. With the afternoon light creating a soft glow across the room, it felt like sleeping inside of a flower.

Amaara felt like she and her parents were all so much happier in India. Mumma and Baba would come back from work on time and they would have dinner together every night. Friends were always stopping by to visit, and best of all, Nani was with them almost all the time.

Life in America seemed so much quieter, lonelier. She had just started going to a new preschool, where she didn’t have any friends yet. Amaara’s teachers and the children in her class seemed kind, but most days, Amaara played by herself on the playground. Mumma and Baba worked late almost every night and even when they weren’t working, it seemed like they weren’t present. Mumma had furrowed brows and a distracted look even on those nights she did make it home for dinner.  It was only at bedtime did she feel like she had her Mumma back. Mumma would climb in beside her and they would talk about the day, read bedtime stories, and cuddle until Amaara’s eyes grew heavy and she started falling asleep.

“Mumma, can I wear my bangles to school tomorrow? I really miss Nani.”

“I’m not sure, baby. We don’t want to lose them at school.”

“Please, Mumma?”

“Okay … but only if you promise to be very careful with them. I’ll put them out with your clothes for tomorrow. Sweet dreams, my darling.”

“Thank you, Mumma. Sweet dreams. I love you.” Amaara said sleepily. Amaara could feel Mumma climb out of bed and quietly close the door. Just as she fell into a deep sleep, Amaara could hear the sound of the computer being turned on and the sound of Mumma rapidly typing from the room next door as she continued working into the night.

The next morning, Amaara excitedly got dressed and wore her beautiful new bangles to school. Baba dropped her off with a kiss and a hurried goodbye from the car, while her teacher took her up the stairs and into the school. The day proceeded like normal. Morning circle, snack, free time, lunch, and then recess. Amaara followed the other children out onto the playground. Some children were gathered by the swings, taking turns being on the swing or helping to push friends higher from behind. Other children ran straight to the monkey bars. Amaara looked around and walked slowly towards the sandbox. There was no one else there, and Amaara enjoyed the feeling of digging her fingers into the cool sand. It reminded her of a visit she had made once with her parents to Jaisalmer, a city in Rajasthan, India where she had seen sand dunes as high as mountains.

“Time to come back in children!” her teacher announced, a short while later. Amaara hurriedly stood up, shook the sand off herself, and ran back inside. As she cleared the sand off of her clothes with her hands, Amaara suddenly realized something was missing. Her bangles were gone! Amaara dropped to her knees and went digging through the sane. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, she thought. Where did they go? Amaara could feel tears filling in her eyes, and her heart was racing.

“Amaara, dear, time to come back in!” said her teacher.

Amaara stood up, quickly wiping tears that felt endless. She did not want her teachers or classmates to see her crying, but her heart felt heavy, and she could feel a pit forming in her stomach as she realized she had lost her beautiful bangles from her sweet Nani.

The day was almost over and soon Baba would be on his way to pick her up. Baba always carried a little surprise for her at pick up – sometimes a sweet treat, or a cute little sticker. Today he had brought her a small square pad – “these are post-it notes, Amaara! You can make notes on them and stick them up all around the house!” Amaara took the post-it notes from Baba silently, but she did not feel the delight she normally would have felt. Instead, she felt terrible, and felt like telling Baba she did not deserve a surprise today because she had lost the thing that was most precious to her.

At dinner she stayed silent, quietly eating her food and keeping her eyes downcast. Mumma and Baba looked at each other over her head worriedly. It was not like Amaara to be this sad, this quiet. At bedtime, Mumma helped Amaara change into her nightclothes and brush her teeth. She climbed into bed next to Amaara and held her close. “Did something happen today, sweetheart? You seem sad.”

“Oh, Mumma” Amaara cried, unable to hold it in any longer, “I lost Nani’s bracelets on the playground at school!” Amaara’s tears, so carefully held inside her all evening long, burst forth, and she couldn’t stop.

Mumma hugged Amaara tightly as Amaara’s tears soaked through her blouse. “Oh my darling, don’t worry. I know you are sad, but maybe we’ll be able to find it. I’ll speak to your teachers tomorrow. Maybe they’ve been turned into the school lost and found.”

The next morning, Mumma took Amaara to school and first stopped by the front office.

“Excuse me, Ms. Joan. Did anyone find a pair of silver bangles with black beads yesterday? Could they be in the lost and found?” Mumma asked.

“Oh hello! I didn’t see anything come in yesterday. We’ll keep an eye out for it!”

Mumma walked Amaara up the stairs and into the sunlit classroom.

“Hello Ms. Chen! How are you? It seems Amaara may have accidentally lost some bangles on the playground yesterday. They were given to her by her grandmother. Any chance you all could look out for it today when you are out there?” Mumma said politely.

“Of course! We will see if we can find it today! Amaara, you can find your spot in the morning circle and I’ll join you there in a moment.”

Mumma gave Amaara a big hug, and getting on her knees looked at Amaara in the eyes. “I know you are sad sweetheart, but the bracelet may turn up. Keep faith.”

Amaara gave Mumma a hug and kiss and made her way to the morning circle. She could see Mumma talking quietly to Ms. Chen on the other side of the room.

Later that morning, as the children were wearing their coats to go out for recess, Ms. Chen made an announcement.

“Children, one of our friends is feeling sad today. Amaara lost her bangles on the playground yesterday. They were sent to her from her grandmother and are very precious to Amaara. Has anyone ever lost something that was important to them?”

Amaara looked around as several children raised their hands, and looked across at her with concern in their eyes. “I have, I have” said Emilie, a sweet girl with curly red hair, who was standing next to her. “Last week, I lost my stuffed Bunny! I was so sad. Don’t worry Amaara, I’ll help you find it!”

“Don’t worry, Amaara! We will all help you find it!” said Colin, who had short brown hair, pink cheeks, and a kind smile.

“Thank you, children,” said Ms. Chen, “let’s see what we can do to help Amaara today!”

As the children lined up to head outside, Emilie came to stand next to Amaara. “I’m sorry you are feeling sad, Amaara. Would you like to hold my hand while we go out to the playground?”

Emilie took Amaara’s little hand into hers as they went onto the playground. Word quickly got out even amongst the other classes that Amaara’s bangles had been lost, and it seemed like every child in the school was suddenly helping Amaara look for her bangles. Emilie didn’t let go of Amaara’s hand once as the two of them looked high and low. Several children came by to share with Amaara what they had lost. “Don’t worry, Amaara, we can find it! Ms. Chen always says that together, we can do anything!”

Suddenly a voice called out from by the sandbox, “I FOUND THEM!”  exclaimed Colin, jumping up and down excitedly. He ran over to Amaara. “Are these your bracelets, Amaara?”

Amaara looked down at her bangles, resting in the palm of Colin’s hands. Sand was still stuck to them, but they were both there – silver with black beads. “Yes! Those are my bangles!! Thank you so much, Colin.” Colin gave her a big, relieved smile, and Emilie squeezed her hand with a little jump and squeal of delight. “We found them!” said Emilie.  Amaara suddenly felt light and was so happy she felt like she would float away, like a balloon. Ms. Chen joined them from across the playground. “Well done, Colin! Amaara, let’s put your bangles safely into your backpack so we don’t lose them again!”

Amaara smiled and nodded, handing them to Ms. Chen.

Mumma was waiting for Amaara with a big smile when she arrived home from school that day. “Hello my darling! I heard you found your bangles!” “Yes, Mumma! And I made new friends today too! Can I have a playdate with Emilie and Colin?”

“Of course! I’ll call their parents to set it up!”

The next morning, when Amaara arrived at school, Emilie ran up next to her. “Can we play together today, Amaara?” Several other children said, “Hi Amaara!” as she got into morning circle. During morning circle that day, Ms. Chen read a story about India to the class.

After that day, Amaara started liking living in America more. She made a lot more friends, even though Colin and Emilie quickly became her very best friends. Mumma and Baba also started coming home earlier and having dinner with her every night. Mumma and Amaara also started doing regular video calls with Nani at breakfast.  Best of all, she learned that Nani was going to come for a visit next month!   

“I still miss Nani, Mumma. I could see her and give her hugs whenever I wanted when we lived in India.”

“I know, my love. Just remember she’s never actually far from you. You live in her heart, and she lives in your heart, and that means you are always together.”

***

Bio: Kavita Mohan is a U.S.-based international trade attorney with over 20 years of experience. She has published several articles on issues relating to U.S. politics and trade policy and previously served as a Vice-Chair of the India Committee of the American Bar Association for over a decade. Kavita has been selected to the Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers list in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and currently serves on the Board of the Montgomery County Public Library in Maryland. This is her first short story for children.

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Setu, September 2025