#16 Diwali

Bhopal - 2nd November 2021

Gungun is the youngest member of the family.

She is deeply loved by the entire family. Young Darshan plays with her all the time.

But today, Darshan is playing without Gungun, because she doesn't want to come outside the house. And Darshan does not want to miss out on all the fun.

The house looks beautiful. There's candles on the railings, terrace and verandah. There's a row of candles on the boundary wall.

Ma calls out, "Be careful Babu-"... Darshan lights a Tubri with a Tarabaji and sprints away. A fountain of sparkles lights up the whole compound - Baba shoots the video.

Boom....

A shell explodes in the distance, forming beautiful patterns in the sky, then another, a bit closer.

Gungun doesn't understand what's going on. She's huddled up under a chair in darkness, afraid of the sudden sounds of explosions and bright lights of fireworks. She's a bit shaken.

She's learning the price of being a man's best friend.