Holi 2009

Holi the festival of colors. Lost amidst gray cubicles. That was 2008

But this year it was different, fun and totally unexpected and unforgettable.

7 pm at office at Bannerghatta road, an hours travel and I was exhausted. The night before was a sleepless one. Naturally when Ashu’s SMS came instructing me to be ready for Holi, I called replying a rude no as I was tired and Holi simply didn’t seem like a good idea. This thought would have surprised me a few years ago. I was un excited and actually didn’t want to have fun just cause I was tired. I loved Holi. It’s my favorite festival. But like a lot of things, I had lost interest.

I reached home to find none of my roomies Adwait or Chandu were present. I wanted to play some PS2 for a change. That did it. Couldn’t reach Ashu on his cell I called up Sharayu – another true blue Mumbaikar, asked if they are really going to play Holi at the company office in the night. Seemed like a crazy idea. Of course we will play was the joyous reply. It’s a festival and whats left of us if we don’t enjoy festivals. Codejunkie – my cousin’s word echoed.

Ashu the ever adolescent had kept up the tempo and excitement for this year’s Holi along with Serious (about fun) Sam. I wouldn't have believed myself - I called them up saying I am going to join the group for Holi. I was to report to Ashu’s apartment dressed in my most expendable attire which will get dyed to an unrecognizable hue and as was to turn out –to be almost torn into bits.

Driving blind without my spectacles ( my only pair ) I met fellow blind without my specs Ashu and Sam joined us in some moments. Ashu and Sam had purchased a good quantity and variety of colours. Sharayu, Sandhya, Victor and Syed were waiting for us at office as we entered the office at 8PM, dressed in old track pants, worst of the lot Tees and slippers. Hope the big brass dosent sees us in this avatar. We got rid of the bags by sweet talking the security guard to stash it near his desk (who had become accustomed to our odd timed outings and whacky activities being conducted by us or originating from this office).

We couldn’t wait to get out of the main gate and near the main road. In full view of the public, abandoning any coyness we tore open the Gulal packets and the celebrations began. The 6 of us were unrecognizable after a few minutes. Each of us were covered by Gulal ( pink), yellow, green and violet. Ashu had also got some synthetic dye (Which makes my hands and neck look candy pink for another week). Sandhya ( and Shiv to come) was the only amongst us well dressed. We made her regret wearing those clothes. So was to realize Shiv. Black Raymond’s pants? Not anymore. Try this new yellow briefed one we just made :)

Shiv arrived from another office. He needed some convincing. Like Sam hiding in the bushes to ambush just as he was to get out of the protection of the office. After a handful of yellow gulal, Shiv joined us with a vengeance. We did another round of Holi play adding to the several layers. It turns out people in Gorakhpur and Orissa play Holi a tad rough. They like to tear clothes it seems. And so Ashu’s shirt got a decent amount of stretching. Next in the firing line was my own shirt. I bargained for a sleeve. So Shiv and Syed tried – and did not succeed in getting even a stitch out of plcae (that shirt was from Belgium. Thanks bro. There I said it for the record. I can explain why I was wearing that shirt :) ) Now it was the turn of any body we recognized near the office. A few of our colleagues joined in the revelry.

By standers were enjoying simply watching us play. I could see that they badly wanted to join in, but they couldn’t. They had to get back to office next day. It was late already.

Victor couldn’t participate due to lent. But being a true sport he did let us color his face yellow a little.

We ended the night with photographs to preserve the memories we would never want to forget.