He woke up to the mild symphony created by raindrops colliding with the windowpane.His lips curved in to a serene smile instantly as he opened the window and fresh,damp morning air kissed his face.He was not very fond of this season but "rains" had developed a soft corner in his heart very secretly because that morning,when he had woken up with his head in her lap on rooftop,growling black clouds had covered the morning sun.He was amazed as well as happy seeing the happiness on geet's face when it started to rain cats and dogs after a while.That evening,when he had returned from office,He did not find her in the kitchen.She was upstairs enjoying her favourite season.She had blocked all the drains on the rooftoop with the help of big stones and cloth pieces,thus converting the rooftoop in to a "splash pool".
"You love rain.???" He had asked her.
"Yes,I love rain since childhood,because Monsoon arrives in July.."She had answered with her hands busy in making a paper boat.
"So???"
"My favourite festival comes in July too..."
"Which one???" He had asked with his gaze fixed on paper boat, she had floated in her improvised splash pool.
"Krishna Janamashtmi.."
He still remembered the excitement in her hazels when she had told him about her preparations for this festival of Birth of Lord Krishna.
Maan looked at the calander hung at the front wall of his room.There were only two days left for Janamashtmi. Finally Geet's wait for her favourite festival was about to over.He thought with a smile as he entered the bathroom to get ready.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"Your eyedrops are about to finish dadi.." Maan spoke putting the eyedrops in dadi's eyes."I would get you new one from Chemist shop in the evening.." He said further as he scribbled the medicine's name on a piece of paper.
"God bless you beta.." Old lady exclaimed as she searched his face with her hands.
"I am here dadi.."
Maan held her hands and put them on his head for the blessing.His day could not start better than this.
"Breakfast is ready.."
Both of them heard Geet's voice as they made their way towards the dining area.
"You are going to market today???" Geet asked him serving one more "parantha" in to his plate.
"hmm"..He nodded his head in affirmation.While Geet had never hesitated to talk to him in the presence of dadi,He always felt uncomfortable.Somewhere his heart feared that he would be refrained from Dadi's blessings,the day she would come to know his secret love for her granddaughter.
"Wait.."Geet exclaimed as she ran towards her room. She came back to dining table after a while with yellow coloured velvety cloth in her hands.
"Will you please get me matching "Gota lace" for this fabric from the market?? I have to make new "vastra"{clothes} for Krishna.." She spoke with a smile.
He could never deny any of her wish and he could not deny this one too,though buying such "feminine" stuff was quite odd for him.
"I would.."He answered with a smile.
"Price would be 10 Rs./meter around..and Two meters would be more than sufficient.."She told him as she handed him his mobile.He used to leave his mobile deliberately on the dining table every morning before leaving for office so she could come to the door to say him bye.
"Hmm.." He exclaimed putting his mobile into breast pocket.
"Don't forget to bargain if shopkeeper tells you higher price.."She instructed.
"Hmm..."
"and..take care.."She spoke at last with a shy smile what he wanted to hear.
"You too.." He spoke as he left the house with a bright smile.
$$$$$$$$$$$
After taking the directions from almost twenty people,he finally managed to reach the shop where he could get "Matching Gota lace".Shop was tiny and was filled with all the "sparkly" stuff in this world from "decorative stones" to "rolls of decorative laces".The 200 watt bulb placed at the centre of the ceiling was making all the things more sparkly.
"What do you need sahab{sir}???" Shopkeeper asked Maan who was busy taking a quick glance of the shop.
"I.I want .."Matching gota lace" for this..." He answered bringing out the velvety fabric from his laptop bag.
With in few minutes,Shopkeeper had placed almost dozen transparent plastic boxes infront of him having "gota laces" of different colours and designs.
"You can choose one of your choice.."Shopkeeper spoke with a smile."Stock hasn't arrived yet otherwise I would have given you more variety..." He spoke further with little regret in his voice.
"No..No.." Maan exclaimed in a panic mode.."Its more than enough.."
Maan kept looking at the variety of laces placed infront of him for next fifteen minutes,unable to decide which one he should buy.Shopkeeper gave a slight smile watching his struggle.
"Let me help you..."He said as he took the "velvety cloth" from his hand.
"This would look good with this.."He spoke further choosing a red coloured lace from one of the box.
"ohk.." Maan said with an awkward smile.
"You can buy these stones too..It would enrich the "look".."Shopkeeper advised further.
"No..No..Geet has not asked me to buy these and I would give only 10 Rs./meter..." Maan exclaimed in a defensive manner.
"But lace is only 8 Rs./meter,sahab.."Shopkeeper said with an amused smile,only to get an awkward smile from Maan.
"Ok.."Maan exclaimed as pulled out a fifty rupee note from his wallet.."I would have bought those stones too but I don't know whether they are used for making "clothes" for Lord Krishna or not.." Maan shared his dilemma with the shopkeeper.
"Stones would look good ,sahib.." Shopkeeper said giving back the "fifty ruppee note" to Maan.."Pay it on the next shop,sahab..My wife is there..." He spoke further gesturing towards another shop in the neighbourhood.
Maan understood why that shopkeeper had sent him to this shop.Shop was filled with things like tiny beautiful flutes, crowns,small cradles for Lord Krishna which could allure any customer's heart to buy them. All the items were hand made by the lady in the shop. Maan bought a tiny beautiful crown for Geet's Krishna as he paid the total money to the lady. He was quite surprised when he saw her putting the money in a separate box.For some reason,he could not stop himself from asking her about it..
"Why are you putting this money in separate box..???"
"We would use this money that we have earned by selling "Janamashtami items" to send my "mother in law" to "Hajj"..We have put minimum profit margin on these products " Lady told him the reason.
A serene calmness covered Maan's heart hearing her words.In most of the houses,Lord Krishana would be wearing crowns made by a Muslim on Janamashtami and A Muslim would send his mother to "Hajj" by the money earned from a Hindu Festival. May be it was God's way to remind us first lesson of our second grade's moral science book that "God is one and we should respect all the religions..!!!"
Book Talk
1k