Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the important and widely spread holidays celebrated in India. It is a celebration of lights, and is truly a sensory experience. Today is the biggest day of diwali : Narakchaturdashi and Lakshmipujan. After today’s “abhyangsnan” (early morning holy bath) one past incident arrived in my mind. When I was around 5 years old, one poor family used to be our neighbors; Vishal (name is changed) and his mother. Vishal was around 3 years older to me. Vishal’s mother was working on daily basis in one of the restaurant. I used to play several games with him. During diwali all the kids in our chawl used to fire crackers. The fire crackers used to spread their colors even before 2-3 days of actual day. Vishal always used to stand near chawl window and watch other kids celebrating with full impel. In the night he used to urge his mother for crackers. But she was incapacitated to fulfill her son’s desire. “Dear Vishal, I am sorry. But please be a good son. Next year I will surely manage and will bring crackers for you.” She gave him 2 rupees. “Child, this is for your chocolates and toffees”. Vishal was quite matured as compared to his age. He could understand his mother cultism towards him, and used to wait for next year diwali.
Two days before narakchaturdashi, I went with my parents to buy crackers and new clothes. We brought the crackers around Rs. 150/- and two new dresses for me. I was very happy on that day. When we return near to our chawl, I saw other kids firing their crackers. I showed them my bags of recent shopping. As we were climbing the steps, my mother noticed Vishal standing near the chawl window and watching other kids. That scene brought tears in her eyes. She held his hand and brought him to our home.
“Look Vishal, I have brought new clothes and crackers for diwali”. I opened the shopping bags before him.
“Nice Amit, I like all of these”. Suddenly my mother lifted on packet of lavangi (an assortment of thin cylindrical crackers) and handed over to Vishal.
“Vishal, this is your diwali gift.”
“No. No. I cannot take this. My mother will scold me.”
“Don’t worry Vishal. I will tell bhabhiji”.
“Take it Vishal, its your diwali gift from me” I added. His eyes sated. He accepted the gift. On the day of diwali, after abhyangasnan we both went together to fire the crackers. After that I brought him to my home, we had a faral (sweets and namakins specially prepared for diwali) together. After this he suddenly vanished. I want to play with him. I could not trace him whole afternoon.
In the night Vishal came to our home. We were making the things ready for Maa Lakshmi Pooja. He was standing outside the door with his school bag. “Vishal, come in. Where were you? I was searching for you.”
“Can you come out?”
I went out of my home. “What’s a matter, Vishal?”
He slowly opened his school bag and took out one small box out of it. He handed over that to me. The box was nicely covered red and yellow kite paper. “What is this?”
“Open it”.
I slowly opened a box. I was surprised. The box contained one handmade “aakash-kandil”. Aakash-kandil was made up of different colored kite papers. It was nicely decorated with several stars. “Wonderful, Vishal. Have you made this?” He nodded. He had made this gift from those two rupees.
“Its for you Amit. Its your Diwali gift.”
I completely stunned with his answer. I accepted the gift. I spread my hands. We hugged and wished each other a “Very Happy Diwali”.
