This collection of Gracy’s short stories in translation is a frank celebration of female desire
‘Parting with Parvathi’, an excerpt from ‘Baby Doll: Short Stories’, by Gracy, translated from the Malayalam by Fathima EV. Author Gracy.
When Parvathi stepped into my life, we were both sixteen. Her fair chubby face, large bright eyes, and long thick hair intoxicated me. I was fed up with other girls whispering about men in voices tremulous with yearning. Often, it used to surprise me that I felt none of the attraction towards the opposite sex, natural among girls of my age.
On the other hand, I had to struggle to bring under control the bubbling excitement at my secret urge to touch Parvathi’s cheeks with my forefinger, press my lips to her eyes, or to caress her shiny hair. The surging flame in Parvathi’s eyes disturbed me. A gloomy voice within me kept murmuring that many an eyyampatta would be consigned to that flame.