Olive:
Budding Bharatanatyam Dancer & Master Chef
We had first
seen her when she was a tiny, precarious, underweight baby in an incubator. She
will be eleven in a few months. A bright girl, she tops her class even though
she isn’t particularly fond of maths. She has been training for Bharatanatyam
since the last five years and has already performed and won awards and
accolades at national and international venues.
Why named
Olive, I asked her grandma? Well, during the critical high school years her
father was addicted to cartoon serials on TV, particularly Popeye. Annoyed and
exasperated, I had threatened to name his first-born after a cartoon character,
and lo and behold he fathered a skinny little frail girl. As vowed, I named her
Olive.
Olive, named
after Olive Oyl, the adorable cartoon character created by E.C. Segar in 1919,
is true to her name. Garrulous, hyper-active, and a sheer bundle of joy. A fan
of Master Chef shows, and already into cooking solo as a hobby.
‘Today, my
friends are coming home for a dance rehearsal. We’d perform remotely for our
Dance Guru who is getting married next week at Bhubaneswar. Our loving present
for her! For my friends, I’m making chilli paneer,’ she briefed me in a single
breath.
How old is
your Guru? I asked.
‘Don’t know,
never asked. Maybe 28.’
‘Mama, there
is no capsicum in the fridge, please order some right away, or my dish will not
be ready when my friends arrive,’ she hollered to her grandma from the kitchen
where she was all by herself dicing the paneer into small cubes. What could
grandma do but to rush someone to fetch the veg from a vendor not far from
home.
Mama is
mildly annoyed. Why must you spend so much time in the kitchen? Have you even finished
your homework? And why do you need to wash your hands so often and spill water
all over the floor?
‘Sorry,
Mama. Can you please mop the floor for me? I’m busy cooking, don’t you see? Thanks,
I love you so much!’
I don’t much
fancy paneer, but I sampled a few pieces of her creation. It was rather good,
considering that she had independently made the dish, though following a recipe
from a Master Chef episode.
The next
day, she presented another creation - a plate of apple slices dipped in
chocolate and frozen for a while.
‘Try a piece
or two; the rest are for me and my friends.’
That, too,
was yummy.
‘Did you use
chocolate powder?’ I asked.
‘No, I just
melted a slab of real chocolate.’
~~~
Who had the
last laugh, the grandma who named her Olive to tease her son, or the little
girl who is amazingly graceful on the dancing stage, and as much at home in the kitchen
as the oil after which she was named?
~~~
Olive Oyl is
one of the most beloved characters from the old Popeye cartoons. She’s
tall, cheerful, and a little bit silly, with a big heart that always shines
through her adventures. Whether she’s laughing with Popeye, looking after baby
Swee’Pea, or getting caught up in funny mix‑ups, Olive shows that being unique
is something to celebrate. Her name has come to mean warmth, fun, and a touch
of whimsy—just like the little girl named Olive who brings joy to everyone
around her.
Little
Olive, bright and sweet,
From tiny steps to dancing feet;
Fills her home with delightful chatter,
Warmth, love, and sparkling laughter.
***
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