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*#2086*
*Anita* (/Thursday, 17 March 2011 06:36/)
Story by Shefali Verma...
HOLI-1
Holi is a festival of colours. It is celebrated on the first full
moon day of the start of the spring season. But there are some who
are afraid of playing with colours, because the colours used in
playing Holi are hard to remove and it takes a lot of labour to
get clean again.
I was among those who never played Holi. I never played Holi for
the fear of getting wet. I had been married to Uma, for almost two
years. Uma was a tomboy.
Uma and I, both were carrier minded and worked in private
companies. One such day, both of us came home and after refreshing
ourselves had just sat down on the sofa to watch television, the
phone rang. Uma was the first to move as always. She held the
mouthpiece in her hands and started talking. In a second, she was
filled with joy. I was sitting nearby lend my ear to her talking.
Soon I knew that the call was from my mother in law. She was
asking her daughter to come and visit home. Uma accepted the
invitation. I will soon inform you the date after consulting my
husband Shiva, she said.
Soon after the talks were over, Uma came up to me and said, Shiva,
Mother has called us home. It has been almost two years since I
met her and this time she has stressed me to come with you. I have
given her a assurance that I will certainly find time and inform
her. You are also going with me this time. I assured her that I
will accompany her to her mother's home.
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*#2087*
*Anita* (/Thursday, 17 March 2011 06:46/)
HOLI-2
After a long discussion it was finally agreed that since we can
get leave from work on the festival of holi, After all on the day
of Holi I always had nothing to do except to sit or sleep at home
without doing anything. At best, I would help my wife in cooking,
so I also acquired some skill in cooking.
Holi was almost a month far. Uma called on her mother and informed
her that we would meet her on the festival of Holi. I had to keep
her word. So I applied for a weeks leave, which I got. So did Uma.
Two weeks had passed and the excitement of meeting her mother grew
for Uma. Both of us were back home from work, had refreshed
ourselves and were having a cup of coffee . Uma suddenly erupted,
Shiva, I am so much enthusiastic about meeting my mother after two
years and that too on the festival of holi. I am going to enjoy
with my friends, play with colors. But what will you do. It will
such a boring affair for you. You have never celebrated holi nor
played with colors. After our marriage, you have even stopped me
from playing. For the past two years, I have restrained myself
from celebrating this festival, only because of you. But this
time, I am not going to listen to you. I will celebrate with
colors and you will also join. I will paint you from top to bottom.
I was afraid. I had never played with colors. I tried to dissuade
Uma from playing with me. You are free to celebrate, but please do
not involve me. I said to Uma. But she was quick to reply, If you
will not celebrate, then what are you going to do the whole week
long at my mother's house. It will be such a bore.
I was reading a newspaper when Uma interrupted. How are you going
to occupy yourself, she asked me. I was not at all prepared for
this question, so I kept quite. I have not thought yet, I replied.
But I have a plan, said Uma. Will you be able to do domestic work?
That will keep you occupied and you will not get bored sitting all
day long. What's harm in doing housework? I said to Uma. In a way
you all will be free to celebrate. I have already learnt some
cooking from you. I think, I will manage, I replied. You are great
Shiva, said Uma. I am certainly lucky to have a husband like you.
But, we will give a surprise to mother. I was excited. What kind
of surprise?
Uma tried not to reveal her plan. But I coaxed her. Shiva, she
said, how will do the housework. After all its the women's
department, Isn't it. Yes, I replied. So you are ready to the
housework instead of playing with colors. Yes, I am prepared to do
it, I replied. That means you are ready to become a woman. I was
not prepared for this logic, but I replied, Its better to be a
woman and work in the kitchen rather than playing with all that
colors. Really, do you mean what you say, asked Uma. Yes, I replied.
All right, then its final. It will also be a big surprise for my
mother and sister. You will do all the domestic work and that too
dressed as a girl. I was surprised, I never said that I will dress
as a girl, I said to Uma. But you yourself said that you will work
as woman rather than playing with colors, Uma said. Then you must
choose for yourself, play with colors or work at home dressed as a
girl. I never wanted to play with colors so after a argument I
finally chose doing housework dressed as a girl. Who would know
that the girl working in the house is a man, therefore I feel
better to choose it, I said to Uma.
Uma became so much excited with the plan, that before leaving for
her mothers house she made some more purchases and that included
wig, lingerie for me. Though, in my heart, I too had a secret
desire to get dressed as a girl, but outwardly I showed some
resentment. Uma did not bother about my resentment. She went ahead
with her plan and a day before departure, she got my ears and nose
pierced and also made me shave the entire body. I actually loved
that. After shaving the entire body, I had such great feeling of
cleanliness, that I just slid my hands again and again on the
smooth skin that I had acquired.
I got somewhat skeptical about the whole thing. How will I face my
mother in law and sister in law. They may ridicule me. It will be
such big humiliation for me. Then I will not be able to face them
the entire life. When we got on to the bed to retire for the day,
I spoke to Uma about my fears. Hearing them, She tried to convince
me that my fears were unfounded. I will set everything right, she
said.