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Monday, November 5, 2018

THE FLOATING DIARY (Short Story Journal – 32): HAPPY DIWALI

DIWALI, the Festival of Lights ushers in the season of happiness! It is the celebration of good over evil. The celebration of the victory of positivity. Every year I celebrate this year with my friend Saurav Mishra. This year was no exception to it. However, the Festival of Lights brought in a whole new meaning in my life.

Saurav arrived early in the morning and said, “Pravin, this year we would visit my cousin Arunav at his house for the celebrations.”

I was a bit taken aback as I had never heard about Arunav. I enquired with a questioning look, “Who is Arunav? You never told me that you had a cousin named Arunav.”

Saurav smiled and replied, “It’s never too late to make new cousins!”

I didn’t question him further. During the day, we were busy with the customary rituals and in the evening I told aunt Padma, “I am going with Saurav. I will be back by eight ‘o’ clock. Then, we would have dinner together.”

Saurav drove me in his car and the two of us headed out. Evening had already veiled the sky above and Aunt Padma got busy lighting the Diyas, the tradition earthen lamps, around our house. We drove around the streets of Mumbai and headed towards the outskirts. I wanted to know where we were going but refrained from asking.

Around forty-five minutes later we reached a colony which looked more like a congregation of Chawls. Saurav parked the car and the two of us walked inside. The people of the colony had lit the lamps and the entire atmosphere had a serene aura. Some of the families were lighting fire crackers in the central courtyard.

A few old ladies who were standing at a corner, welcomed us with, “The Rama of Kaliyug has arrived! Come, let us celebrate together.”

I didn’t understand the meaning of their ecstasy and looked at Saurav. He smiled in return and escorted me inside a large room by the courtyard. A middle-aged man walked up to us and welcomed us inside the house. A woman came up and served us some refreshments.

Saurav spoke with the middle-aged man, “Arunav, meet my friend Pravin. This year we would celebrate Diwali together. Where is Diya? And where is Roshni? Call the others also. Let us begin the fun!”

Arunav shook hands with me and then Saurav and I went outside and joined the others in burning the colorful fireworks. The cracking sounds mingled with the glaze of dazzling colors filled the night sky. Old Bollywood songs were being played on a loudspeaker. I liked the environment and got engrossed into it. Another lady came and served us Ladoos. There was a smile on everybody’s face.

Presently my eyes fell near the door of the large room where we initially met Arunav. I don’t know when, but a few children had come and gathered near the pavement. In the front stood two young girls, around eight or nine years old. From their look I understood that they were identical twins. Behind them, stood about ten more kids of around the same age. However, something else was startling about them that brought tears to my eyes.

I could see that all these kids were blind! Yet, the stood and enjoyed the Diwali fireworks as if they were witnessing the colorful displays with their own eyes. The joy on their faces, the happiness in their expressions showed as if they were fully engrossed in the celebrations. I stood like a stone and looked at these kids for whom the Festival of Lights was a stark irony!

Arunav had come and stood beside us. Saurav held my hand and said, “Those two identical twins are Diya and Roshni. They are Arunav’s daughters. However, from an early age they had lost their visions! I first met Arunav when he came to work as an electrician at our office. He doesn’t have the means to afford costly treatment for his daughters.”

I kept looking at Saurav while he continued, “When I approached my office’s CSR department for help, they refused due to budgetary reasons. However, that day I pledged to myself that I will make a difference myself!”

“Over the last six months, I had worked relentlessly after my office hours to collect funds and resources to help these kids. I had taken them to doctors who had assured that a corneal replacement will bring the gift of light into the lives of these two innocent girls!” Saurav was shaking with emotion while he spoke, “Those other children who are standing with Diya and Roshni are students of the local blind school where they study together. Some of their blindness can be cured while the diseases of the others are incurable. I have pledged that I will do everything to help them!”

Arunav added, “Sir, one in every thousand child in India suffers from this disease. What is the use of Diwali of these angels of God don’t see the gift of light? It is not because Diya and Roshni are my daughters, my heart pains for every other kid who suffer. Look at their ecstasy, look at their excitement. They are feeling the celebration of lights, but they cannot witness Diwali with their eyes!”

I felt something within my heart that I cannot express in words. I smiled, went ahead and touched the little angels and came back. I looked at Saurav and said, “Today, I promise you Saurav that the Festival of Lights will have a new meaning for me too! Let us hold hands to bring the gift of light into the lives of these innocent angels. And if I ever forget, due to my amnesia, just show me a picture of Diya and Roshni.”

Saurav smiled and said, “Thanks Pravin. If we can get a few people to join this cause, then truly it would the homecoming of Rama!”


At night, I laid my head on aunt Padma’s lap and cried. She passed her feeble fingers through my hair and said to me, “Pravin, I am glad that you have joined hands for a deserving cause. Even if I am not there, I know that you would continue to strive for it. Wish you a HAPPY DIWALI.”

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