On Diwali

I had a science teacher in grade six by the name Keka Roy. She went on to be our class teacher for the next two years. I remember asking her what her name meant. To that she amused, “It is the harsh sound that a peacock makes”. Her sister apparently was named ‘Pihu’: ear-pleasing(?) sound that the cuckoo made.

She had two kids, Mitushi and Pritish. The former was in my brother’s class and the latter was a year younger to me.

For a short time, we stayed in the same locality.

I, along with other kids, played pittu in the evenings. Pritish joined in sometimes.

On one particular Diwali eve, I remember asking  what people were going to do the following day and whether they were all done buying crackers.

To that this person said that he(actually both his sister and he) did not burst crackers. Pat I shot back a why at him. He simply said it polluted.

That kid, who seemed to exhibit more sensibility since an even younger age made me wonder, “Which part of pollution did I not understand?”

Air or Noise?

Then forth, it was a no to crackers.

Happy Diwali! On this and on Diwalis to come I wish,

Let there be light, so much inside of you, so as to blind the darkness outside.

PS: The above line might in a way suggest to you to be a glare. Let me put on shades!

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