Ear Rings

Deepawali is a festival of lights celebrated across India. So it was even in Aarti's house. She was happy that she had 3 days of holidays to celebrate the festival. Aarti helped her mother in making goodies for the festival. Aarti reminded her mother about the promise she had made that this festival she would buy her new anklets. Aarti's mother replied that she would definitely take her to the nearby jewelry shop.

In the evening, Aarti got ready and went to the jewelry shop with her mother. Sethji was chewing the paan (an assortment of betel leaves, areca nut, and some slaked lime). Aarti somehow did not like the sight of his red-tinged mouth. She hid behind her mother. Sethji was a kind man. He knew that since it was the festive season, all kinds of people would buy something or the other from his shop. He welcomed them with a broad smile.

Since there was so much work pending, Aarti's mother straight away asked for the anklets. Sethji told his assistant who was new to show them the new design, to which Aarti's mother replied that she would settle down for old design only. The assistant took out the box of anklets and showed them. Aarti's mother called out for Aarti who was peeping through the showcase looking at her favorite earrings.

One other customer came in search of earrings. Since Sethji's assistant was busy, Sethji himself took out the earrings from the showcase. Aarti's mind was nowhere near the anklets, she was looking at it through dazzling eyes.

Aarti's mother selected a pair of anklets and showed it to Aarti. She just nodded her head. However, Aarti's mother was happy that Sethji had given it to her at a marginal price. Thanking him for the same, they both left the jewelry shop and reached home to continue with their work. Aarti's mother kept the anklets for Pooja and then put it around Aarti's feet. Aarti was happy with her new anklets and asked her mother to buy her earrings for the next Deepawali, to which her mother agreed happily.

Aarti jumped out of her house in order to show her friends, her new anklets. She walked lifting her new lehenga so that everyone could get a glimpse of it. She felt happy that her friends liked it too. She then saw Sethji's assistant calling out for her. She just ignored him and started playing with her friends. Sethji's assistant grabbed her by hand and dragged her to the jewelry shop. Aarti was literally shocked, but then she mustered up all her courage and called out for her mother. "Aayi, aayi....".

Aarti's mother overheard it and came running out of the house. She saw Aarti being dragged by Sethji's assistant. She ran towards him and told him to leave her hand. Sethji's assistant would not let go of her hand and reached the shop. Aarti's mother started complaining to Sethji about his assistant's mishap.

Sethji told her to calm down and asked Aarti to come near him. Aarti got scared all the more. Aarti's mother asked Sethji as to why her daughter is being questioned to which Sethji's assistant replied, "don't act over smart, our Sethji knows everything, if you don't get the earrings, you will be behind bars."

Sethji instructed him to maintain silence and called out for Aarti. Aarti's mother pleaded to him that neither she nor her daughter would even dare do that. She was ashamed of the fact that all her neighbors had seen how Aarti was dragged in the middle of the street and on top of that they are alleging that she had stolen earrings.

Since Aarti wouldn't budge, Sethji asked his assistant to take care of them and went inside his room. Aarti's mother could not take this humiliation and started questioning and beating Aarti as to why she had stolen the earrings in spite of buying her the new anklets, which Aarti kept denying.

Sethji came out of his room. He forcefully lifted Aarti. Her mother pleaded him not to hit her. She held his feet tightly.

Sethji literally took them inside his room. He told his assistant to get inside and lock the room. Aarti's mother got the shock of her life when she saw Aarti looking at the earrings on the big screen, which was technical, the CCTV footage. She raised her hand to hit Aarti, which was interrupted by Sethji. He told her to wait and played it. All of this was like a movie to both Aarti and her mother. She clenched her teeth when she saw that a hand-picked up the earrings when Sethji was collecting the money from Aarti's mother. The hand slowly slipped the earrings into his pants pocket. Sethji was about to zoom in and show the culprit, by than his new assistant unlocked the door and ran away. Aarti's mother screamed "Sethji' to which he replied her not to worry as he would be celebrating his Deepawali behind the bars.

Sethji wiped Aarti's tears and gave her a sweet box. He opened the box and fed her. Aarti was slowly recovering from the shock. Her mother could not believe it. She was so thankful to Sethji that she would always remember this Deepawali because Sethji had become both her and Aarti's hero. Aarti's mother hugged her, but she was busy selecting the next sweet she would barge on.

On Deepawali, Sethji gifted her a pair of earrings, which Aarti wore happily and fed him a box of homemade laddoos, which our Sethji is still savoring to the last bite!!!!