Living in NDA, had one great thing that even though people were from different states, religion and caste – it really didn’t matter as everything was at the end of the day was like the drink ‘bhang’. This is a homemade drink which has all the dry fruits, milk and an herbal root which intoxicates one – this drink is mostly used during Holi festival.
Yes, Holi always reminded me of my days in NDA – where early morning we used to dress up in our old clothes so that even if harsh colors are used it won’t impact anyone!
My usual routine was to dress up and get ready with my colors and water balloons. My brother would give some instructions and will go out with his friends where as I used to run to Deepu’s house.
Deepu was my childhood neighbor; he later became my classmate too. But with Deepu I always felt closeness and that is for many reasons – I have been seeing him since my childhood; he is very caring and cautious about me. Even if he has to go with friends to play with colors, he will advise me that this group is a bit rough you play here until I finish with them and then we can go to other houses to plays. These words always made me feel secure in his company. I miss Deepu today so much!
“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
Deepu’s parents also used to play unlike my parents. My parents would send us out and close the door so that no one comes and colors them! But there were some stubborn ones who used to at least put the color powder on their forehead as gesture of love.
I remember we used to play until noon by putting color on each other and throwing water balloons and by noon we are soaked in water and painted in blue and red that no one would recognize anyone. People used to take advantage of such situation. Guys used to propose the wrong gal and gals used to slap the wrong guy. Not only this but we all used to feel so cold that would stay in sun and this used to lead us very tired and by 2:00 pm everyone is gone for a shower and lunch and then sleep.
My parents usually used to come out during that time sitting on the front porch and would see the after effects of this Holi. After holi one can see men all colored and drunk riding bicycle or bicycle riding them. They used to enjoy that very much.
When I reached college, in Pune people used to celebrate Holi however the main celebration was during ‘Rang – (color) Panchami’. That’s when the tradition festival starts as per the calendar for Maharashtra’s natives. I used to look at it as celebration and fun twice!
I still can’t forget my second year in College where I had totally forgotten about ‘Rang Panchami’ and was attending our Chemistry practical’s early morning. Many people advised not to go to college as people will color you on the roads, buses no matter where. But being a sincere student, we couldn’t bunk our practical’s which is more important than attendance.
I still remember the College staff had decided to go ahead with the practical and Student Union was pressurizing to declare as a holiday. Anyway we four girls from NDA entered the Fergusson College and were about to go near Chemistry lab, a group of students all colored in purple came from behind and colored everyone. I could only feel someone rubbing the color on my cheeks and then on face and they all say ‘Happy Rang Panchami’ and they all ran away.
I was stunned as how someone could do like this. You are always under assumption that no one can do something like this because you feel you are conveying message to people that you are not participating in this!
“Colors answer feeling in man; Shapes answer thought; and motion answers will.” ~ John Sterling
After that our classmates and friends came running and they all added more colors to us. The first time I felt like crying but then I just burst out in laughter. They were all our friends and even though we were running away we enjoyed it.
Later in the afternoon, when we remembered there is something called home, we all started worrying, as in NDA it is not Holi. Holi was already celebrated so what is this? And why is this? For me more than anything, it was the fear that how my dad would react looking at my face and my dress which was all purple and silver.
Our group of friends who often used to come to NDA just to see the NDA Khadakvasla dam – suggested not to – worry, as we will be going there and will be cleaned in water before reaching home. I still remember that nightmare where I had to sit on the bike of a guy whom I don’t know personally. The moment we came near NDA I started freaking out as what if someone sees me with this guy …but I forgot that we were in such condition that even our parents wouldn’t have recognized us!
We reached the dam and played in water for some time and then I saw the color was not going away. It was like the skin had absorbed it completely. I was so scared of my dad that I took a stone and started scratching my cheeks such that the color would come out.
Anyhow, when we felt we are in an okay condition we planned to go home. Some of our friends came home with us just to give us the courage to face our parents. I really never understood why it happens so that the time when we fear the most – it’s only that time people don’t take us that seriously and take things so lightly.
When I reached home with fear my dad only could laugh at us. I still remember, I started giving explanation and my dad didn’t even listen to that and said,
“Its okay – it’s rang panchami so this will happen. Go and get yourself a good shower.
I was stunned and felt like a fool.
But the marks of those scratch with the stone remained with me. It gave me a tickling kind of feeling even today as some unknown hands came in and colored and the color had the impact so deeply that it always brought happiness in mind.
Happy Holi To All – one must enjoy the freedom of playing with colors and getting wet with water balloons and sharing and eating sweets – this really takes away all the differences apart and makes one in one color of love and togetherness. This was the message we were taught in school and hence I always loved the holi that I used to play as a kid and later as a college student.
“Share our similarities, celebrate our differences” ~ M Scott Peck
It was first day of school (Kendriya Vidyala -Central School Khadakvasla NDA Pune) and I was all set and ready with my school bag.
I remember my school bag used to be like the military bags. In dad’s office there was Mr Naidu who used to stitch the school bags.
It was always the military green and that used to make me feel like a Cadet life in National Defense Academy (NDA) Khadakwasla Pune.
When I came dressed up in my school-uniform, my dad gave a final touch by tucking my white terry coat shirt in my navy blue skirt and pulled my white nylon socks and buckled my black leather shoes. This is the school uniform for my school in NDA. My long hair was breaded and rolled up with a red ribbon.
I was excited to get the admission in the school as I had to give an entrance test where I scored 100 out of 100. I knew that time one should feel proud for their deeds. But at the same time I was nervous too if the kids in my class be nice and friendly with me or not?
These questions were in mind and I didn’t even realize when we reached the school. Dad took me to the principal’s office and I was introduced to the Principal Mr. Mehta – who’s hair was all in silver color.
Then I knew principal’s used to have a uniform too and that was white uniform. My dad said, ‘enjoy and be brave’. When he waved to say bye, I cried.
I think this was usual to the Principal and hence Mr. Mehta took me to my class and introduced to the children in the class and my teacher Anjali Madam. She took my hand and made me sit on the bench and said, dear this will be your seat. Let me know if you need anything.
“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” ~Lily Tomlin
I felt how sweet my teacher is. For every now and then I used to go to Anjali teacher asking for some or the other thing just to be near my teacher. I think I had found my comfort zone there.
I forgot that I was sitting next to a boy whose name was Madan. He seemed to be a big guy and it was true. This was his 2nd year in the class. I was a bit nervous the way he looked at me and smiled.
“As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools”
Since it was first day of the school after school prayers and Principal’s speech we all came into our classroom and Anjali teacher started writing on the blackboard. Those days the format of the blackboard used to be date on the left hand side, in the middle will be the subject and title of the song or lesson and on the extreme right hand side it will be number of students present, absent and total sum of kids in that class.
I used to admire Anjali teacher’s handwriting. Sometimes, I think every good thing began from there. After singing some jingles, Anjali teacher said class dismissed. Everyone can go home. Those days’ kids will get out of the school and look for their parents at the main gate. If any kid was left due to any reason then the Peon of the school will take that kid to the Principal’s office and then the Principal will call the parents and do the needful.
I was out and was looking for my dad. I was worried when I didn’t see him at the school gate but then my neighbor Arun who was a year older to me came by and said, I will take you home since we got a half day may be your dad didn’t know of this.
“I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering.” ~ Stephen Wright
I used to play with Arun all the time and I could trust him hence I walked with him towards home.
It’s a long way in those days as kid to walk all the way from the school passing the Gole Market and then get to the ground where all the kids are on the swings and seesaw. I remember the slide was the interesting one where all the kids from school used to slide and go further instead of walking on the road.
All this time I thought I know the way to home but where and how I got lost in the crowd of the cadets who were marching in their Drill Order uniform – it is a khaki color uniform.
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” ~Mark Twain
By the time the cadets were far from my eyes and their noise of their marching shoes in one sound was fading away, I turned around and saw there was no one on the road.
I didn’t see Arun anywhere and this made me scared. I for some reason left the main road and took the muddy road to the play ground. I thought probably this will help me remember the way to home.
I couldn’t find and I was heading towards some quarters which even I had no idea. Suddenly, I saw a lady coming with a file in hand and a black purse hanging on her shoulder. I remember her that she used to come to all the houses and take the names of every member in the family.
The lady smiled at me and said – hello! What is your name?
I looked at her and said I think I have lost my way to home.
The lady said oh! Let me see if I can help you and she took me to one of the quarters and I saw there was this Gentleman who was all dressed up in army uniform.
The lady said ‘Namaste! (Greetings in Hindi).
The Officer said ‘Namaste! Come have a seat and my wife will bring tea for you. And suddenly he saw me and said who’s this cute little girl with you today?
The lady said, actually I came to you for the same reason. It seems the child has lost her way to home. She was coming from school.
I saw that the Officer’s daughter was in my class this morning. I looked at her and she smiled and we started playing though I was feeling very lonely in that crowd.
“Friends are angels sent down to earth to make good days and help us find our way”
When the Officer was ready to leave he asked me to join him. He said, dear, let’s go and we will make sure we call your dad to take you home.
I was very eager to meet my dad.
The Officer took me on his red bicycle – this is a usual bicycle painted in red for all Defense personnel’s the same the cadets used to ride on too.
The Officer took me to NDA Security Office. When we reached the office, the Officer went and spoke to the Head of Security and probably told my story.
The Head of Security called me and started asking questions. He was very friendly. I gave him all the details as my dad’s name, mom’s name and where they work. He asked me who all are there at home and I said, Mom, dad, brother and granny.
Those days my granny was with us to take care as my mom was a working woman too.
By this time the Officer said goodbye and left for his reporting. I was told that my dad will be coming soon and he made me sing some of the jingles to keep me distracted.
“The uniform makes for brotherhood, since when universally adopted it covers up all differences of class and country.” ~ Sir Robert Baden Powell
All this time I was calm and composed but the moment I saw my dad in the Security Office, I ran and hugged him and started crying so badly that the Head of Security was stunned.
He spoke to my dad with a shake hand. Seemed they knew each other. He said to my dad kid is scarred and was worried but I must admit her courage that all this time she didn’t cry or panicked.
You are a brave girl, make sure you go home and make your granny happy.
In a moment I was in my dad’s arm and then to home.
My granny was very worried as she said I saw Arun coming home without you!
My first day of school was quite adventurous for me that it did make everyone worried at home.
“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows”
One never know when cupid will play it’s act and then the next thing is that you have no idea what is happening.
Love is blind and what not we hear but the fact is we as common people get caught in it. Good or bad but we love the feeling of love. The feeling that someone loves you intensely and you love them purely too – gives an immense happiness.
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” ~ William Shakespeare
I am pretty sure Feb 14th was not just decided for any reason, it does bring the entire month full of love for people. People who are not in love will also get caught up in this trap.
I always feel my Dad is the biggest romantic guy who married my mom on Feb 12th, the girl he loved the most even though there were few girls who loved my dad and are still unmarried.
One can feel it and see it and I always take pride in my dad for everything he did.
I want to wish my mom and dad a very happy wedding anniversary since in India it is Feb 12th as I am posting this here.
“Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.”
I am very lucky and thankful for having surrounded by loving and caring people. God has been really great.
I thank everyone for being there for me and giving me that warmth, love and support.
I wish Happy Valentine’s Day to all my friends.
“Love is just love, it can never be explained.”
February 11th,2010
Life,
Love |
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