DIWALI GIFT

In the busy routine of our lives we sometimes forget to pause and look around. We miss out on seeing how others around us are doing. What problems they face and how we can help them. Only when we extend our help that we realize how satisfying it is to be of help to those that are less privileged than us






Prarthana

Squeezing all the money in the purse she trotted on her heels along the path leading towards “Centre One Super Market.” Her pulse rate accelerated with her pace. Her finger tips started dancing on her lips. This was a sign very usual to her when she was brooding something.

“What can I do for you, my little girl?” asked the man at the counter of the Super market in a very warm and friendly way.
Prarthana gave a sweet smile timidly but uttered nothing. With a tinge of uneasiness she felt herself very small and insignificant in this extra large wonderful market. She started scanning everything very quickly. Items were all stacked up on the shelves in huge quantities and of different sorts. She looked at everything in wonder.

“Would you like to have some chocolate?” asked one of the sales girls very sweetly.
“May be… I am not sure,” Prarthana looked at her hesitatingly and smiled.
The sales girl smiled at her too. Prarthana stepped forward to fetch a basket. It was comparatively much bigger than her own dimensions.

“You have saved enough money for Diwali, I guess”, asked another sales girl.
“That’s right! I want to buy some surprise gifts for my family”, replied Prarthana.
“These chocolates are really good, my dear! I bet. It will melt like anything in your mouth. Have a taste of it” Requested the sales girl politely.
“Thank you”.
Prarthana nodded happily and put some of them in her basket. Her eyes beamed with joy.

Sometimes she appeared slightly nervous.
“This is the first time in my life that I am going to take all these decisions on my own but still I feel proud for that. I am grown up now”, Prarthana was absorbed in her own thoughts and proceeded slowly being aware of what to do next.
The turnout of customers was very scanty in such early morning.

“I can have a splendid glance at everything “WOW! Books, toys, boxes of new crayons, glass pots, utensils, kitchenette, and writing materials — what not?
Tiffin boxes, games, jewelleries, fruit, vegetables …….! What a chance of being so close to all of these items but I need to be careful while choosing them. It’s a big deal for me. Everybody at home should appreciate my ability to choose.

Couple of hours later with bulk of purchases Prarthana struggled across the road to reach home. She was a bit impatient now. She looked at her wrist watch and murmured, “Oh! I have spent so much time alone? I am getting late for lunch! I must gather speed now”. She almost missed her steps on a hard rock while making hurry but was very careful not to be hurt badly.
She almost ran to reach home as soon as possible.
“I feel so contented to day.” She uttered herself and wiped her shiny face with a newly bought handkerchief.

Noor

“Give me some bread cheese and ham mama! I am very hungry!” Prarthana heard the shriek of Noor while reaching home.

“I am going to give her a grand surprise” – Prarthana smiled menacingly and entered her room up the stairs stealthily. She didn’t want to be noticed by anybody. Today was special for her. She wanted to keep everything in suspense.
“Wait a minute, lunch is almost ready. Ask Gudia and Prarthana to come down. They must be busy in their studies.’’ Mama shouted from the kitchen.

Prarthana didn’t waste time any more. She quickly stepped down the stairs and her eyes met with her elder sister Noor. Smell of Biryani already began to penetrate the dining hall downstairs. Gudia too came down at galloping steps – the eldest of three.
Prarthana got out her chocolate box and offered them.

Gudia

“Ummmmm…This is so yummy!!! It practically melts in my mouth. Where did you get it from? Is it a birthday gift of yours from last week?” Gudia asked being enwrapped in the taste of the chocolate.

Prarthana gave a blank stare at her in return but said nothing.

“Of what gift are you talking about?” Mama entered the dining hall with all the food stuff. The kitchen door banged behind her with a thud. The smell of garlic mutton began to wreath round the dining hall.
With a deep breath Gudia took hold of her plate, “Oh! My favourite dish today Mama?”

Noor didn’t care for all these. She was rather swept away with the chocolates Prarthana just gave her.

Meanwhile Prarthana stepped forward towards her mom, put her arms around her waist and calmly said, “Here is a gift for you mama!”

Mama could not take her eyes off the gold plated cutlery. “Beautiful! Amazingly beautiful! My dear! This must be very expensive! Is it for me? Where from did you get so much money, darling?”

“Wait a minute… something is scratching at the back of my mind.” Aren’t you mystifying things Paru? Gudia called at her nick name and threw a light smack on Prarthana’s head.
“Lucky stars are passing over our head. I guess? Reveal everything or I will scrap the bin of your Mystery. I have many ways to make you talk, my dear!” Gudia persuaded her

To diffuse the situation Prarthana feigned to cough for a longer time. Actually she felt so nervous from inside and wanted to protect herself so badly!

“She is always a hard nut to crack but don’t try to escape the questions my sweet sister! Noor came nearer, held her chin and fondled it.
I love you so much! The chocolates are really amazing.” Noor smiled and looked at Prarthana from the corner of her eyes and asked again “but what about the money? Any way can I have some more! pleaseeeeee”, Noor asked slyly.

Mama was too busy to overhear all these topics. She hurried to the kitchen to fetch some salad niçoise, and raita. Meanwhile Prarthana ran to switch on the music system. “Swan Lake”--------She appeared to be much energetic and cheerful today.
Gudia watched her movements very sharply because she suspected something wrong.
“What are you excited about?” asked Gudia in a solemn attitude. She is quite grown up now at thirteen to handle her younger sisters very well since she knows them inside out.
“Nothing as such! Ah! But it reminds me of making Paper Lanterns!” Prarthana scratched her head.
Everybody sat around the table to help themselves over their lunch.
“When are we going to buy crackers, Mom!” asked Noor. “And what about those Paper Lanterns you promised to teach us?” added Prarthana. I have already got beautiful papers with me! There are many of them!” Accidentally the words slipped out from her lips.

“What?’’ every body looked at Prarthana stunned.
Prarthana smiled astutely.

“Where had you been last evening, Prarthana? I genuinely believe you definitely were not at home, right?’’
“Well! I went to the Snake Park as usual!” replied Prarthana.
“You were not at your studies either after you came home, right?”
“That’s true.” Prarthana fell victim to Gudia’s query.
“You were busy at doing something secretly, I guess.” Her sister challenged gravely.
“ss…sssh…So!” Prarthana stammered.
“Where had you been this morning?” Gudia looked straight at her sister’s eyes convincingly.

“To the Super Market” answered Prarthana quietly after a long silence and looked down upon her plate solemnly to have a look over the food already served in her plate only to escape further queries.

“Oh! My God!” as if the sky fell above their head.
“Haven’t we got enough to worry about her, Mama!” Gudia stared at her mom anxiously. “Come on! Now unwind the thread of your mystery.”
Mama frowned at her for quite some time. No one said anything for a long time, instead ate patiently.
“It is not fair. You didn’t bother to ask my permission to go that far all alone?’’ Mama said.
Prarthana’s face turned white – as white as paper. “But I wanted to give you all a surprise Mom!” almost with tears in her eyes.
“What surprise, my darling?’’ mama smiled to soothe her.

“What an enigmatic child are you! How much money have you spent for all these surprises?” Gudia remarked.”You saved lot of money in your Piggy Bank I guess”?

Prarthana gazed at everybody for a few seconds and then unfolded the mystery.

“I didn’t save at all!”
Lots of money I found on the ground that day in the Snake Park. I was so happy, so happy that I rushed home immediately. Counted the money and kept it secretly in my purse.”
For a moment everybody stuck dumb! Then asked in a chorus, “Then?!”

“I couldn’t sleep whole night! Then an idea came to my mind . I am a big girl now mom - I can do whatever I want with the money. So in the morning I was off to the Super market to buy gifts for all of you.  Isn't  it a great fun? Aren’t you Happy?” Prarthana smiled at everybody innocently.

Gudia whispered something to Noor, Noor went on thinking; Koffi - the dog sitting nearby, kept mum but wagged her tail in suspicion.
Then Mama broke her silence. “Why did you hide the money instead of giving it back to the security Guard over there!’’
“That’s what I tried to do Mom, but I couldn’t find any one of them. Even I dared to ask some passerby but money belonged to none of them either,” Prarthana blurted out.
“You are lucky that you didn’t get into a bigger trouble you know!” remarked Gudia.

Mama   

  

                                           Papa

Just then Papa arrived behind them on tiptoe – nobody noticed. He was on time for lunch.
“What on earth----?’’ Papa enquired.
“Any way I am going to take all of you to Golf Club -- after lunch. Quick! Quick! Finish your lunch and get ready.’’ He joined them for lunch hurriedly.

“Wait a minute! The most unpredictable thing has happened with Prarthana.” Mama said glumly.
Papa swallowed hard and stared at her. He looked shocked.
Prarthana too gave a long and sad look at her father.
“What’s the problem? I hope we must understand each other in a right way, Right!” Papa declared.

“Prarthana has grown up into a wild and independent soul these days,” Mama said angrily and explained everything in details about the money she found in the Snake Park last night and about those newly bought gifts this morning for the whole family. Prarthana and her Papa exchanged their glances in jiffy.

“Never mind, my dear! You will learn how to solve this problem; I’ll tell you how to do so.” Papa said after a long silence.
He seemed to be slightly worried though but maintained his calm all through.

“I believe I have found a solution. Now finish your lunch first!” He said.

Prarthana began to panic, gulped some water, and threw a quick glance at her father to read his mind but in vain.

“I wonder what you all will think about it.” Papa gazed at everybody and said “Well now I want to tell you all about my decision.”

“Our Lord never intends to do any harm to anybody. Does He? Why would He play a prank with such a little child? Why would He give so much money to Prarthana? There must be some reason behind her destiny!” He paused for a while. Nobody dared to say anything when the Colonel spoke.

He started again, “The money has fallen into the hands of a child, who is only ten years old. In this tender age she doesn’t know to value the money! Do you agree with me? So we should teach her how to act in this situation. In my opinion, I intend – Prarthana – to seize all the money in her custody [papa gave an intense look at Prarthana and Prarthana seemed to be relieved. She gave a heartfelt smile]” but -- but -- Papa continued, “If she takes it at all, she should blow her best on it. Isn’t it? Did I say anything wrong?”

“What do you mean?” Everybody murmured.

Prarthana must distribute all those gifts to the poor people in our neighbourhood who are in distress, hunger and in grief on the occasion of Diwali . Her enormous desire for buying something for the family is admirable but still it will be purely selfish. It is the pursuit of one’s own pleasure only but think of those who are totally deprived of all these pleasures during the festive seasons?
Prarthana felt so confused and frustrated.
She cried out “Oh, no way Papa. Don’t be so mean!”

She stamped her little feet on the floor angrily and said, “Don’t be so mean! Papa!” and then all on a sudden she flung out of the chair into the hall with a loud explosion of crying, went straight to her room and slammed the door behind her.
“Come here, listen to me! I am not here to hurt you” Papa said to her loudly. “Only realize the truth which might help you’’ his voice was somber.

“God always wants us to extend ourselves, to adjust and communicate with other people beyond our own limited family. His purpose is to guide you in that way only. Our happiness lies in distributing that money among the poor people not spending it on ourselves. Wouldn’t you appreciate that?” he said loudly.

Prarthana looked miserable and shattered. Other two sisters and their mother were listening to everything in rapt attention. They were all ears for their father’s last judgment.
Koffi made a peculiar sound and left the room silently.

Prarthana found all these things very disturbing too. Everything went over her head. She couldn’t follow what her father meant to say. So she started crying again in a high pitched tone as if somebody had died in the family.
Papa said thoughtfully “I should be grieved to think that you are still not wise enough to understand what I mean to say.”
Long till that evening – a prolonged discussion went on among the family members.
At last Prarthana had to be persuaded to go after what her father asked her to do.

Three days later the villagers flocked to their courtyard. That was auspicious Diwali Day. The whole family greeted them cordially. They were very meticulous about their performances. Prarthana came forward to distribute all those surprise gifts she bought for her family to the poor children along with many other sweets, crackers and toys. The rest of the family were standing behind her to watch the whole event of entertaining.
Koffi wagged her tail in extreme excitement.
The villagers’ joy knew no bounds. They yelled in joy and showered lots of blessings and love upon Prarthana.
“Congratulations for being so noble, friend! Neither have we felt so joyous ever before nor may we have it ever after. Thank you very, very much dear!” They uttered politely and left the place one after another silently with deep sighs. Tears rolled down their eyes in immense happiness.

Papa came forward, put his arms around Prarthana to hug her.. “Well done my child!’’ He said. We are proud of you. We feel so happy today.
Prarthana’s eyes were moist too. She felt very sorry for everything around her. She had no idea how poor people suffer every day. How they are deprived of all good things in their lives. How helpless they feel without having all those bare necessities of life which turn them hopeless. Their wretched faces were so touchy!
Prarthana watched each one of them very carefully today.

Gudia and Noor were in a very pensive mood.
Koffi moved quietly into his spiral form as usual attuned perhaps to shed her own tears too.

Prarthana turned to her mama and murmured modestly; “Doing something for the underprivileged is so great and pleasing I have learnt today only, I really felt for them”; then murmured silently, “It will remain etched in my mind forever. Papa wanted us to extend our vision so I shall always try to think of others beyond my own family members, I promise.”

Mama kissed on her forehead softly. Gudia and Noor too held her tight in their arms to show how much they loved Prarthana – their sweet little youngest sibling.

A dramatic turning point came in later period of her life. Prarthana turned into a social activist and a writer as well. In her book she wrote:

“In the busy routine of our lives we sometimes forget to pause and look around. We miss out on seeing how others around us are doing. What problems they face and how we can help them. Only when we extend our help that we realize how satisfying it is to be of help to those that are less privileged than us; less fortunate than us. Being able to help the needy fills up the heart with a nice, warm, wonderful feeling! The happiness in giving is a lot more than that in receiving!”