Divali of Chinyaa :The Joy of Fireworks

 On one side of the road were big bungalows, and on the other side, a slum. A common sight in any big city. Ten-year-old Chinya lived in one such slum. Like other children, he too wished to burst crackers like anar, chakri, and rockets during Diwali.

His father had bought him a small toy pistol. After bursting small crackers all day, Chinya got bored. In the evening, he saw rockets flying in the sky and felt sad—his father couldn’t afford fancy crackers like anar. “We are poor,” he thought, and that feeling hurt him.

“Chinya, why are you sitting inside? Come out! The bungalow guy is going to burst a big anar!” his father called out. Chinya came out. A man in front of the bungalow lit an anar. A tall, colorful fountain sparkled in the sky.

“Wasn’t that fun?” his father asked.

“What fun? I didn’t burst it,” Chinya replied.

“Look at those kids clapping and jumping. They didn’t burst it either,” his father explained.

“They didn’t, but their servant did!” Chinya said.

“If that were true, only the servant would be happy—not the kids,” his father said gently.

Chinya stayed silent.

“Look, Chinya,” his father continued, “Big people—kings, rich men—they don’t do things themselves. Their servants do it for them. Imagine this servant is bursting crackers for you. See how fun it feels!”

“So we should think he’s our servant?” Chinya asked.

Just then, Chinya noticed, “Papa! That servant is going to burst another anar!” he shouted excitedly.

Looking at the servant, Chinya yelled, “Hey Bhaiya! Burst one for us!”

The servant looked up and saw the little Chinya in front of his shack.  He was reminded of his own son in the village- his wistful little face lit with excitement.  The servant picked up a big, fat anar waved it to Chinya and ignited it.  And Lo! The sparks- red and blue and golden danced high and lit up the sky.  .  Red, blue, and white sparks lit up the sky.

Chinya clapped and jumped with joy.  A cheerful smile greeted the servant across the road. The servant gave back a broad smiled- the sad smile of a helpless father.

Seeing that smile, his father’s eyes filled with tears. The tears of powerless fathers.