Best Diwali I ever Had!

Uunusually, It was Friday and I was not happy. I was not happy because people at my work place were in celebration mood. 'Hey, Nitin whats your plan for Diwali?' 'Nitin, you are not going home for Diwali?' question like these were making me more sick. Sometimes people forgets that their innocent questions may be pondering. I sat idly at office looking at my work station and hearing conversation of my colleagues about their plans for big night. Well, what the hell, I started listening music with headphone on my ears. But, still my mind drifted me from work, I was not able to concentrate. Nostalgia and feeling like left alone getting over my head. I was wondering; Is there anyone on this earth who is more deprived than me, anyone on earth who is forced to stay away from family at festive season? The answer is 'Yes'. And when I came to realize, what I asked myself, I almost felt guilty of being sorry for myself.

My company is long been associated with Vishwas (http://vishwasbangalore.blogspot.com/) a home for destitute children. I would hate to call Vishwas; an orphanage, because children there are treated much like main stream children. I wondered how these kids from Vishwas would be celebrating Diwali? It is true until one goes through same pain he wont realize how much it hurts. That day, I thought about millions of children, who are alone, without family and warmth of affection. I knew, this could be a best Diwali I ever had, because it would be more meaningful and yes ofcorse fun too, with kids. I googled Vishwas and took a printout of address, so I can manage to go the place through clumsy bangaluru roads.

I was very excited on diwali day at the same time I was nervous. It is not often you visit unknown kids and celebrate festival with them. I managed to persuade my friend to join me in my adventure (Believe me it was more like an adventure). Finding Vishwas was rather difficult, thanks to BMCL and their funny numbering of roads. You will never understand how the hell 16th cross cross comes not after 15th instead it comes after 31st. Anyhow me and my buddy reached Vishwas with sweets and gifts. I was standing at door and I can hear the loud noise coming from inside. A bunch of enthusiast kids were waiting inside and my heart was pounding. Man, what I am going to do? I thought. But finally I pushed myself inside to find there were some young people also and they were playing with children. Seeing them half of my uneasiness gone. And the remaining 50% is gone when a little kid came and grabbed by leg, and pulled me in. It was then when I realize that these kids are much mature than Adults like us, and there are so many things that we adults can learn from them. These kids can accept a stranger very easily, they can make true friends faster then any adult. How often we make any stranger a friend, how often we trust a total stranger? After so many years I encountered innocence again. It was like reliving my childhood, when I used to be free as a person as a human being.The kids were super excited when they saw chocolates in my hand. But their discipline impressed me a lot. Six year old Parsuram took chocolate and introduced himself in English. Who can say these kids are any less privileged than main stream kids. Celebration started with sweets and namkeen, and with kids those snacks tasted like never before. To fire crackers we went to nearby play ground, where me and other people from Dream a Dream (NPO - http://www.dreamadream.org/) gathered children from vishwas and fired crackers. With all sounds of Wooo, Ahhh... rockets, flower pots and bombs were fired. Kids were little disappointed when we finished all the crackers but they enjoyed it a lot. The same I can say about me and my friend.At late night when we started to our home. I felt a sense of belonging, It was like leaving someone whom I known for a long time. I made a promise to those kids that I will visit them again. I know that this promise is not for them, but it is for me; who want to be with these kids. Each smile on those innocent faces will keep me happy for days to come and make me remember a Diwali which I enjoyed the most.
Cheers,
Nitin Guru