The Power of Gold
I held up my younger brother to ring the marble doorbell at my grandma’s, or as I like to call her Nani-ji. I shivered from the wintery chill, the excitement of treats I would be given and the weight of a wiggling five-year-old in my arms. Nani-ji opened the door, greeting me and my brother with one of her warm wrinkly hugs. As I walked to the soft hollowed out leather sofa with Mummy, I smelt wafts of spicy sweet cardamom, fragrant fennel seeds and then I heard the soft sizzling of samosas.
After a while of hearing Nani-ji and Mummy natter, I decided to go rummaging in Mummy’s old bedroom. I sneaked upstairs and opened the brown wooden door. The wallpaper still had Blu-Tack marks, the floorboards creaked as I crept in and then I saw the wardrobe door slightly ajar, teasing me to open it and as I did my eyes were awe-struck by illuminating gemstones and colourful Punjabi suits – slightly out of date in style but that didn’t stop me. As I yanked out an outfit, a gold necklace clattered to the floor. I picked it up and stared at its swirly floral pattern and lustrous sunset shine. It felt enchanting and so much heavier than my trinkets at home.
I ran downstairs to show my treasure.
“Look at what I’ve found Mummy, can I keep it please?” I begged.
She answered, “It’s not a toy so no Preet.”
I replied, “Isn’t it a case of finders keepers?”, looking longingly.
I could tell it was a no, my shoulders sighed as they slumped down, I felt wistful.
“But why…” I pleaded.
Nani-ji smiled and ambled over, “Preet come sit…” she said.
“You know women don’t just adorn themselves in pretty gold, they hold strength in it.” I knew the way I tilted my head in confusion, Nani-ji would give me more.
“Well, this necklace was given to me by my mummy who had received it from her mummy, I am keeping this safe for your mummy.”
That’s a lot of mummies! I thought.
Nani-ji continued ‘’Gold isn’t just jewellery, it’s also wisdom passed on by women for women.”
“Gold has quietly supported families.”
“Before women had a right to an education or earning a living, gold was their safety net.”
“Then when women could learn, gold enabled them to.”
“See, this necklace came with bangles and earrings which my mother sold so there was enough money for me, the first woman in my family to go to university in Punjab, the land of the five rivers.”
It dawned on me, gold isn’t just for dressing up, pirates or royalty. Wealth doesn’t always sit in money. Sometimes it sits quietly in your grandma’s house, ready to pass from one generation of women to the next ready for them to use to fulfil their wishes. It is a dream maker.
Preet Kaur Bains, 8.