Homeless Bird: Chapter 1

by Gloria Whelan
Growing up in a traditional Indian village, Koly expects to enter into an arranged marriage at a young age. But Koly's husband and his family are not what they seemed, and she must forge a new path to independence.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapter 1, Chapters 2–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–8, Chapters 9–11
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. dowry
    money brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
    My baap, like all fathers with a daughter to marry off, had to find a dowry for me.
  2. scribe
    someone employed to make written copies of documents
    Baap was a scribe. He sat all day in his marketplace stall hoping to make a few rupees by writing letters for those who did not know how to write their own.
  3. linger
    be about
    When Maa sent me into the village for some errand, I lingered under the windows of the school to listen to the students saying their lessons aloud.
  4. embroider
    decorate with needlework
    My maa had no use for books. When she was not taking care of the house, she spent her time embroidering.
  5. sari
    a draped dress worn primarily by Hindu women
    Maa embroidered the borders for saris sold in our marketplace.
  6. muslin
    plain-woven cotton fabric
    Now Maa sat with a length of red muslin for my wedding sari on her lap.
  7. decent
    socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
    I hoped for someone who was handsome and who would be kind to me.
    My older brother said, “We’re too poor to buy you a decent husband.”
  8. churn
    stir cream vigorously in order to make butter
    Hardest of all, our cow had to go. The family would no longer have fresh, rich milk to churn for butter to make into ghee.
  9. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    I had two bangles made of glass beads and some plastic toe rings, nothing more.
  10. caste
    a hereditary social class among Hindus
    Hari’s baap, like mine, was a Brahman, the highest Hindu caste, and he was a schoolteacher.
  11. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
    Because the Mehtas were anxious to have the ceremony as soon as possible, the astrologer was told to be quick in fixing an auspicious date for the wedding.
  12. ceremonial
    marked by pomp or formality
    I made my best ceremonial namaskar, saluting him and even touching his feet, but he gave me only a quick look.
  13. courteous
    characterized by politeness and gracious good manners
    Instead he turned to Baap and, after a courteous but quick greeting, asked, “You have brought the dowry, sir?”
  14. yam
    an edible tuberous root grown in the tropics
    Was my marriage to be like the buying of a sack of yams in the marketplace?
  15. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    The hot winds sent the bamboo groves rustling.
  16. scrawny
    being very thin
    A scrawny cow, looking like a pile of bones, was slumped down in the middle of the courtyard.
  17. unruly
    unable to be governed or controlled
    I was conscious of my unruly hair that would not be trapped in a neat braid and my enormous eyes, which my younger brother called owl eyes.
  18. plead
    appeal or request earnestly
    Chandra was very beautiful, with golden-brown skin and sad, pleading eyes.
  19. prod
    urge on; cause to act
    Mrs. Mehta prodded her husband, giving him a sharp glance.
  20. beckon
    summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
    Looking embarrassed, Mr. Mehta beckoned to Baap saying, “There are one or two things to settle before the wedding.”
  21. appoint
    assign a duty, responsibility, or obligation to
    Baap’s voice was hard. “Don’t even speak of such a thing! You know if a wedding does not take place at the appointed time, some evil is sure to come to the bride.”
  22. vermilion
    a vivid red to reddish-orange color
    She dusted my face with golden turmeric powder, and with a paste of sandalwood and vermilion painted the red tikka mark on my forehead.
  23. rouge
    redden by applying makeup to
    My eyes were outlined with kohl. My lips and cheeks were rouged.
  24. splendor
    a quality that outshines the usual
    I turned one way and the other to show off my splendor, but to my disappointment he began to cry.
  25. sitar
    a stringed instrument of India
    We heard the sound of a sitar and tabla.
  26. impress
    have a powerful and usually positive effect on
    I must have some worth if the Mehtas were spending money for music. It did not occur to me that the music was not for me but to impress the Mehtas’ friends.
  27. garland
    a circular band of flowers or other foliage
    A garland of yellow and orange marigolds was placed around my neck, and I sat down across from my bridegroom.
  28. fringe
    adorn with a decorative border
    His eyes were fringed with long lashes, and he had a sulky mouth turned down at the corners.
  29. sulky
    sullen or moody
    His eyes were fringed with long lashes, and he had a sulky mouth turned down at the corners.
  30. stubborn
    refusing to change one's mind or ways; difficult to convince
    Stubbornly I shook my head. I knew if I defied her now, we would be enemies, but I didn’t care.
  31. defy
    resist or confront with resistance
    Stubbornly I shook my head. I knew if I defied her now, we would be enemies, but I didn’t care.
  32. willful
    habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
    “What have I done to deserve so disobedient and willful a daughter-in-law?” Sass snapped at me, and left the room in a huff.
  33. pry
    move or force in an effort to get something open
    Later, when Chandra was out of the room, I hunted until I found a loose mud brick in the wall. I pried it out, hid the earrings, and replaced the brick, carefully brushing away any dirt that might give the hiding place away.
  34. longing
    prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
    I slept very little that night, kept awake by my longing for my home and by Hari’s coughing in the next room.
  35. endure
    face and withstand with courage
    I thought I might be able to endure one day in my new home and perhaps two, but I did not see how I could live there for the rest of my life.
Created on Thu Jul 11 19:57:39 EDT 2019 (updated Fri Sep 13 14:00:30 EDT 2019)

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