Bura na mano, Holi hai!

I lost at least 10-15 ‘years’ today and in very quick time – just 3 odd hours in the morning (Don’t get me wrong...it’s akin to losing weight...nothing serious!!)... I felt like the protagonist of those movies, where the hero gets up in the morning and finds him younger... by 15-20 years (although I am not so old to lose 15-20 years, hence I lost less!). It was as if I had been on a time machine, which took me almost 15 years back to my childhood days (or 6-7 years back, even during my college days in Bangalore), when I used to play ‘Holi’ – the festival of colours.

Before today, I think I would have last played Holi in Bangalore, during college. I have been here in Gurgaon for 3 years now - stayed in Delhi for 2 more, which makes it a grand 5 years in this part of the country. But coincidence or misfortune or whatever you may like to call it, I could never take part in the Holi festivities, which I must say is grand – one of the biggest after ‘Diwali’ (the festival of lights), especially in the northern parts of the country. I must say that India is a nice country – if not for anything else but for its festivals – of different hues, shades, brightness, and contrasts...That I got to celebrate ‘Holi’ – makes me even proud of my nationality. Nevertheless, it’s a debatable topic – for now, let’s accept that India is great, and soak in the colours of Holi.

The fun began in the morning. Although I woke up to a normal ‘holiday mode’ morning, but a bit early, I never expected it to take such a drastic turn within few minutes of my leaving the bed. I started the day with my customary glance at the morning daily – which, I must add, got my better half furiously angry. She thought I would soak her with colours the moment she would come out of the bed in the morning. At least I had committed that before, and this being our first Holi together made it all the more special (we missed out last year, we were in Pattaya). But I missed to do that (although in a true sense, I did not miss that. I was actually waiting for an opportune moment and place. I did not want to get everything coloured! But she thinks that’s just an excuse... Marriage can change your life, you know. Albeit for good...my wife will also read this blog!!) and she was furious at me. But it did not take much longer for her to be sombre and for our fun to begin, for things took an unexpected turn the moment we took the colours, which we (she; I missed out here again! Last few days have been unusually hectic at work and I have been getting late for almost the entire last week) had bought to celebrate Holi, and went downstairs... a flock of 10-15 year olds were waiting for us (and of course our landlord, his extended family!). Equipped with water guns and canons, buckets and balloons, they hurled the first colours at us and that was the start... Aah!

For the next 3 or so hours we were smearing colours at each other, smashing balloons on each other’s backs, bullying each other with bucketful of colourful water and of course, cannoning and gunning (with water) our way to glory. I must also add that the water cannons and the guns these days are much more sophisticated, powerful (to handle the torture) and robust, unlike what we had those days when we were kids. We even did not spare the passersby – some got their cars coloured, some got themselves wet and some volunteered to get themselves (and sometimes their cars) soaked up in coloured water. Some gave us stern looks; others were scared even with the windows of their cars up, while some others had a big smile on their face and some may have even cursed us. We wished there were more auto rickshaws on road today. I need not tell you why. We did a lot of damage to the privileged ones travelling in an auto rickshaw on a Holi. But then, who the hell cared! It was a riot of colours and water. North Indians have a nice way to calm the people who are not-so-happy when you put colours on them – “Bura na mano, Holi hai!” (Don’t feel bad, it’s Holi).

It was plain simple fun. Sometimes these simple things in life make you so much happier than a lot of other ‘complicated’ things – like for example losing 5 kilogram weight, or may be reducing the waistline, or getting the yearly bonus, or the promotions, or making your boss happy (At this time, I am unable to think of any other suitable example to fit the bill. Excuse me for that). So until next time – be happy and enjoy life, as it comes. Let this Holi fill your life with colours. Cheers.

N.B. I wish I could shed some weight like the way I shed years from my life today. I know it will take time and I will keep trying. ‘Where there is will ... ...’ you know it!!