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!!
its awesome,,,,,,,,really feeling great after reading,,,proud of u..
ReplyDeleteNice one !!! Miss HOLI here, kids don’t even know what it is and how much fun it can be….thats USA life I guess
ReplyDeleteSatti brilliant!!!
ReplyDelete