Characters:
Sunil – The hubby (Age- 45 yrs)
Anita – The wife of Sunil (Age- 40 yrs)
Roshan – Anita’s son (Age- 10 yrs)
Ramesh – Sunil’s friend (Age- 44 yrs)
Rashmi – Ramesh’s wife (Age – 38 yrs)
Juhi – Rashmi’s daughter (Age – 7 years)
The city was exhaling deep after the daybreak. With stalls glowing under string lights, air thickened with the aroma of fried snacks, vendors shouting out prices, the market place flaunted a warm and delightful outlook. Amidst the buzz, three onlookers namely Sunil, Anita and Roshan were weaving through the crowded street on a red Ferrari. They were lost in the pink mood as they would be joining a dinner bash at a house located at the edge of the city market.
The gourmand thoughts of Dahiwara, Pulao, Kashmiri Aloo Dum and exchange of hearty laughter reverberated in the mind of Sunil. A sudden utterance from Anita shook Sunil from inside. “Gosh! You were about to hit a child. Drive the wheels attentively,” chided Anita. At the moment next, the left foot thumped on the brake pedal, and the wheels screeched on the road. “Oh! You spoilt my imaginations without paying the penalty. However, thanks a lot from preventing me to go behind the bars,” admitted Sunil while speaking with grin.
Anita felt her hubby was buttering her. She said after feeling the importance of her utterance, “Yes, you should be careful always. Shall we proceed now?” “Of course, but in a safe way, let’s leave the car here. We will take to walk” expressed Sunil with a concern. The rest of the family members abided with the wish. After sometime, they reached the destination.
Ting tong. Ting tong. The rings of the door bell echoed inside. The door opened, and the guests were welcomed with irritable laughter. “Ha ha Sunil ji, bhabhi ji , big beta ji, welcome, welcome” urging the guests to step inside while Ramesh swayed his hands like lifeless leaves. The visitors were perplexed after they spotted Rasmi holding a bucket filled with water, the drawing room littered with snacking leftovers and torn newspapers.
“Hey Rashmi, what’s up?” questioned Anita. “Cup, we had our tea in new cups a short while ago” Rashmi grinned. Anita was confused with the answer. She delivered a casual smile with lips shut. She spoke again. “It’s fine you had your tea…but” The sentence remained incomplete. From the other end: “Oh ho! the fee. Your bhai saab had paid the school fee. Is not it Juhi?” while Rashmi rubbed her wet palm on Juhi’s head. Juhi laughed, pretending to be an innocent lamb.
The level of irritation escalated manifolds. Still, Anita held her nerves firm and composed. She politely said to Rashmi, “Let’s find out the aromatic dishes stocked in the kitchen” “It’s on the bicycle. The shiny keychain” replied Rashmi. The irritation grew intense on Anita’s face, and that was clearly visible through her catty eye. “Gosh! What the haste” spoke Anita while throwing cold looks at Rashmi.
The angry Anita further added with some hot spats, “Are your nuts…. No use,”
Rashimi giggled and replied, “Fuse. It’s there, fitted tightly on the power socket”
“You…..I will strangulate your throat” refuted Anita while snatching the bucket from Rashmi. The former spilled the water on the floor to zero her anger. The lady guest tried to run like an ostrich, and she slipped flat, injuring her back. “Ouch! I am in deep pain. Someone help me fast” pleaded the ailing Anita. Sunil, Ramesh and Rashmi rushed towards Anita to lift her up. While holding her arms, they too slipped hard.
The water spills made spiky landings on the children, forcing them to jump in joy. They too slipped on the floor, shouting “It’s Holi time,”
Anita and Sunil laughed aloud. Mixed with trembles, in laughing tone Anita said to Sunil, “Listen honey, the whole family is deaf. Let’s leave now for good. We had a great dinner with a different taste,”
