Sweets of Holi, Happiness Lies

Mr. Shyam babu is all set for the Holi celebration. The date is 28 March 2019. His two sons, one staying in Bangalore working as a Manager in ANZ bank while the other one working in Hydrabad in Delloite as an ASST Project manager. Mr. Shyam Sundar Chatterjee the typical Bengali retired person staying all alone in his New ALIPORE flat. New Alipore considered being one of the most expensive areas of Kolkata. Shyam babu's wife died last year and since that time he is alone. Both his sons are too busy in their corporate rat race of gaining position, designation, and of course money. But finally, on the auspicious day of Holi both, his sons promised to come to meet their father. Mr. Shyam is ready to do all the marketing for preparing all sorts of food items and set out in the market. A Bengali pitch-perfect lunch consists of Hilsa and Prwan fish. They are tasty mouth-watering and expensive. Mr. Shyam did the entire food item bazaar and on return stopped near GREAT ABAR KHABO MISTARNA BHANDER, a traditional sweet shop. Bengali celebration and sweets are two indispensable things. Shyam babu did buy all his favorite sweets as per the choice of both his sons. Both his sons love sweets since childhood days.

“Hello, sir how are you, please tell me how I can help you?" the sweet shop owner asked Mr Shyam babu. Shyam babu replied, “Both my sons are returning from Bangalore and Hyderabad today on this auspicious day. I would like to buy 1 Kg of Kheer Kadam , rasgullas , laddu, and Kaju barfi extra-large. “The shopkeeper packed the sweets. Shyam babu returned to his home. The cook and maid are about to come. A grand preparation is about to be set for both his sons. Mr Shyam babu waits for such occasions when both his sons return back home. The maid started renovating and cleaning the home. The cook is busy preparing a grand lunch. In the meantime, a video call arrived. It is none other than Shyam babu daughter Sohini. She is staying with her husband in Los Angeles. She has married 3 years ago, happily settled there. “Hello, Baba , Happy Holi, where are my busy brothers."

”Well, they are expected to arrive this afternoon at lunchtime. Once they reach I will call you back dear." The time passed very fast. Holi celebration has already started. Just beside the apartment of Mr Shyam there is a slum-type area. The residents are obviously poor. They hardly have any proper income but yes they are also enjoying the day. Mr Shyam is very restless waiting for his sons. It is colourful weather outside, #Rangbarse is absolutely mesmerizing outside. All the young boys and girls are celebrating the Basanta UTSAV the sacred festival of colours on the streets. Even the slum dwellers are enjoying their own way. In the middle of all this happiness, Mr Shyam is somehow a bit under stress. In the meantime, a call arrived on his mobile.

It is his son from Hyderabad. “Hello, dad I am stuck in an urgent meeting from the client end. I will reach you by evening. Please do not worry. “Mr. Shyam is about to recover this shock when his son from Bangalore called. " Dad, I have a very critical situation a mess from my work came and I cannot make it today. l had a word with Brother; he will land directly from Hydrabad by evening. I will come tomorrow hopefully. Mr Shyam did not utter a word and disconnected the phone. The crowd is enjoying so blissfully outside, throwing colours at each other, in the air. They have so much happiness in their mind. Mr Shyam started thinking; he has everything in his life. He did service in Central Govt as an officer. Financially secure, settled, happily married father of 2 successful sons who are settled in a career. His daughter has married happily abroad. But standing on the balcony of his apartment Mr Shyambabu realized with all the worldly financial materialistic pleasures he is not at all happy.

It is evening time when he received a message from both his sons. They are extremely sorry for being unable to make it this Holi. Mr Shyambabu eyes went outside the window and stuck at something. He took a bag and packed something and went outside his house and started walking towards the slum area. The roads are full of colours as the madly Bengali, festival crazy crowd played like hell. The slum kids are playing in their area when Shyam babu approached a kid and wished him happy holi and offered something. The kids are initially a bit shocked and then it's pure happiness on their faces. Mr Shyam started distributing sweets, the same sweets he bought for his sons who did not come. My Shyam went to each and every hut of the slum and distributed those expensive sweets. Everyone is happy and surprised to see such a heart-warming gesture of Mr Shyam. It is very strange that he somehow sensed pure happiness by feeding these poor peoples which no one ever did.

#RangBarse is purely the true sense that you are spreading happiness around and today it is multiplied. Every face in that slum is very happy. This is the true meaning of colours in the sky. Spreading happiness. Is the true meaning of Holi festival.