Prayer Of The Balloon Seller

Ramu is very happy today. His bapu Hariram has promised him to take him to the fair organised by the Durga puja committee on the occasion of puja. His father sells balloon in the afternoons near the children park until it gets dark. Ramu wishes to go everyday with his father in the afternoons.

He has heard at lot about the park, the children coming there to play, the games’ world inside the park, the flute-seller uncle, the variety children toys-seller chacha, the ice cream vendor, roll corner and other snack vendors from his father. His father never takes him along with him saying he must stay back home to help his mother or do his studies. Yes, Ramu goes to a state run primary school where mid day meals are given every day. He doesn’t like to study very much but goes everyday in attraction of the food served at noon. He loves to fly kites or play with old cycle tyres or with marbles along with his brothers or friends. He also loves to kick plastic balls in the rains. His brothers Shamu and Vanu works as daily wage workers. They too used to go to school in primary section but left and started to earn money.

Most of the days, Ramu returns late from school. He plays with his friends until the sun gets down behind the gulmohar tree beside the school compound. But today Ramu didn’t remain back with his friends to play with marbles but ran back home the moment the school bell rang announcing the end of class for that day. From today they are going to have holiday for seven days as puja vacation. And his father is going to sell balloons at the fair from today instead of near the park.

The moment he returned he saw his father getting ready for going to the fair. He requested his father to wait for him and then ran to get ready. He wore the shirt his father got him on last year and which he always keeps in his mother’s trunk to wear on special occasion. He returned to find Hariram blowing up the balloons and tying small sticks to them. Ramu saw the different colours and sizes of the balloons and desired for a bright red one but his father said they are for sale. He didn’t caprice any more fearing bapu won’t take him to the fair.

After some time they started walking towards the fair ground. Ramu is coming behind his father and his eyes seemed glued to the colourful balloons. They reached the fair after half an hour. It was almost afternoon and Ramu saw people coming in couple groups along with their children to visit mother Goddess Durga and her family (i.e Goddess Laxmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Kartik and Lord Ganesha.) There are many makeshift stalls of various items and food items. There was a mix aroma of different food in the air. His father made his place beside the main entrance to the fair and started shouting “Balloons ... balloons.....red yellow pink.... each for rupees five”

Ramu was much interested in the decorated pandal that could be seen from the entrance and the colourful people and children coming giggling talking among themselves to enjoy their trip to the fair. He saw people coming in two wheelers cars and felt if his father too had one. When he said about this to him, his father answered “They have got good education which has helped them to bag good jobs and afford those vehicles my son” Now Ramu could understand why his father always asked him to study hard. Still now no one has come to buy a balloon and he wished earnestly in heart when his bapu will take him inside the pandal to see Ma Durga. His father must have understood his desire and said to him “Ramu go and visit Goddess Durga inside the pandal, pray before her for our good future and come back here at this place”

Ramu was very happy as he moved quickly through the crowd to reach the pandal fast and see Ma Durga. His heart was filled with happiness when he saw the Goddess. He stared for a long time at her then folded his hand to say his small prayer. When he returned he saw a big group of parents and children surrounded his father and bought balloons. He slide inside the crowd and started helping him.

While returning home at night Hariram said to his son “Goddess has listened to your prayer Ramu and so today’s sale was the greatest”

Ramu whispered to the Goddess “Ma keep your blessing hand on our family so that I can finish my education and bag a good job that will turn our future real bright”