Holy

It's again that time of the year when everyone's face and clothes would be colored. May even be smudged with mud and filth of drain! Stinking, weird, and even fearfully unrecognizable but colorful...except herself thought Tia standing by the window sill. This year too her hands and face would remain fair as marble, her clothes perfectly creased while even the nomadic puppy and kitten would be smothered with color. How pathetic!

Tia slammed the window and sunk on the sofa. How she wished someone would call her also to play Holi. Someone would force into her room coaxing her to join in the color play and she would be vainly trying to escape from them. But Alas! due to her snobbish family no one in the neighborhood even dares to cross their villa on that day, let alone wish her a Happy Holi. Tia wistfully watches the colony children run with water guns, sprinkling colors to anyone their eyes catch. She listens to the merry drums, cymbals and watches the boys perform Nagin dance on the beat of some Bollywood numbers and smiles to herself. How she wishes to be a part of the Mass, she is tired to belong to a particular class.

Last year gave her some respite as due to the pandemic there was less pomp and show in the festival but this year again the same old story would be repeated. Thinking this Tia went to bed only to awake the next day at the cheering sounds of Holi Hai!! Yes, today is the D day. Her most dreaded day reminded her how lonely, what an untouchable she is. Shortly after mother came in dressed in her lovely saree to wish her the very first Happy Holi. Tia too wished her the same wholeheartedly and got freshened up. Dressed in her new clothes she joined others in the prayer hall where after the special puja and prasad Tia touched everyone's feet to seek their blessings on the auspicious day of Holi.

After that having nothing else to do she retired to her own room and took out her studies. She tried her best to concentrate though the continuous raptures and cheering barely allowed her to progress in her affair satisfactorily. Just then dad came in with a gift-wrapped box in his hand and as Tia tried to guess what it might contain it was in her palms. She carefully unwrapped it and was stunned to find a brand new I phone! How on earth can she thank dad for such a gift! She just threw herself onto him and hugged him tightly. Dad caressed her head and said, "Study hard and make us proud as always ".Tia nodded most obediently and couldn't thank God enough for such loving parents. Greatly pleased she opened her window and saw the slum children throwing colored balloons on the grumpy Sharma Ji. The entire neighborhood seemed to have freezes as Sharma Ji looked with fiery eyes at the slum dwellers and just as he was about to utter something, a little boy from the Chawl said Bura na Maano uncle, Holi hai! The dark cloud cover cleared off from the face of the disciplinarian and Sharma Ji gave one of his rarest smiles. Such is the power of Holi, thought Tia to herself that it can even soften the heart of a general! She is so unfortunate that despite possessing the materialistic riches she would perhaps forever remain untouched by the sensation of the holy color. Saddened as she was about to shut her window again the little slum boy popped up in front of her and set on his prying gaze at the glittering new I phone of her.Watching the boy look so keenly at the gadget Tia asked him"Do you want it?"The boy nodded his head in affirmation. "What would you give me in return" asked Tia."I,me..what can I give you didi.I am a poor boy.What do I have to give you?"said the boy."Sorry,then I can't give you the phone"said Tia and turned back.Just then she felt a splash on her back.She turned around in a second and another splash on her face! Tia was fully drenched in the Red colour of Holi for the first time in her life! For a moment she couldn't believe her luck!After fourteen years on this earth this was the first time she was drenched in colour.It was too good to be true.She ran to the dressing mirror and contemplated herself. How pretty she looked,all soaked in the red-blue colour!She felt happy to the core.She advanced to the boy who said timidly,"I only had colours didi and I gave that to you".Tia went to the window and pinched the cheek of the little boy and said"You have given me the most precious gift brother.Your colour has made me Holy!Take this I phone asa gift from me and show it to your parents as the Holi gift from your sister a"" The little boy couldn't believe his eyes at the sight of the handsome set but took it most heartily and after a few hesitant steps disappeared into the cloud of Gulal and the sound of Rang Barse.