The other side of Diwali
The Indian version of Christmas+Bollywood=Diwali is just round the corner and we couldn’t be more excited. The excitement is already in the air. Packets of sweets making their rounds, people dressing up to work like they’re in some yash chopra themed wedding, the lights and yes fun that you got 3–4 days off even though Diwali falls on a (sigh!) Sunday :(. Even that isn’t enough to dampen the mood. But then like every year there are always some things, some quirks that we always have. We can deny it as much as we want but it happens.
Forced Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan
Now it’s widely believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits only the cleanest and the brightest of houses. So the annual cleanliness drive begins. Time to dump out the old trash no matter how much it meant to you, it has to go. Then you can hate to admit it but all weekends you were slogging away trying to make that fan look white or reaching those hard to reach places, getting rid of the dead cockroaches and wishing maybe Lakshmi Ji will ignore that one corner you left out because you were too lazy to clean
High expectations
I bet you’re having high expectations from your workplace too. This is time you hope the company loosens their purse strings and dole out gifts. If you’re lucky enough you may get something good. For the rest be content with Soan Papdi, or months old dry fruits which you’re going to recycle and give to someone else anyway.
Recycling
Recycling the gifts is also a top priority. After all you need to gifts to everyone including that uncle who’s always wondering why you come home so late or who are your female friends. So basically you rotate all the gifts to different people. Cost effective and keeps everyone happy.
Patakhaa
I wish I was talking about the Punjabi ‘kudi patakha’. Many of you with guilty conscience will be lighting up crackers to make sure the whole neighbourhood goes deaf.
Bakh sheesh
That time of the year to avoid eye contact with the dhobi, maali, kaamwaali, watchman, sweeper, sabjiwaala, doodhwaala, kabaadiwaali, gaadi saaf karne waala, naai who will be overly friendly with you on this very special time. Sir sir diwali to dijiye, they’ll gherao you for days before and after the festival and you’ll be making all sorts of excuses because Rs. 50 ka zamaana gaya. 500 se kum me kaam nahi chalta.
So enjoy this time, have loads of fun eat lots of sweets and food and then spend the rest of your time regretting your choices and weight.
But most importantly HAPPY DIWALI :-)
#TVI
