Firework
- Part 1.
“Dadi, what’s that sound? It’s so loud, I feel scared,” said SarvShubh fearfully entering the room. SarvShubh is just a 2-year-old boy, the youngest in the family.
Looking at him, Dadi took him on her lap and hugged him tight. But SarvShubh kept on asking, “What’s that sound about? Why is Guddu (the dog) also afraid?”
Dadi lovingly replied, “Beta ji (son), don’t get sad or frightened. This is the sound of crackers. People these days, when they want to celebrate something, they do this firework.”
“But this is so loud, Dadi ji!” He said sadly and started coughing, and continued asking, “Is it good to do so?”
Now Dadi got concerned ‘cause SarvShubh was coughing and began irritated both. Dadi said softly, “Darling SarvShubh, this firework and crackers are not good. These make Earth sick, plants sick, birds sick, and all humans sick.”
Next question was expected, as SarvShubh asked, “Then why are they doing this?”
Dadi said very politely, “There are some humans who do this; when SarvShubh beta ji will grow up, will become human and make all good humans, and then no one will celebrate this way that people fall sick.
Part II
SarvShubh now is three years old. He entered the room running and said, “Dadi, it’s again those crackers, the same sound, Earth is falling sick, trees and birds are sick, please dress me up and make me a good human so that I can ask all not to crack burn crackers, and make them good humans.”
Part III
It’s morning, winter morning. Sun is peeping through the Gulmohar trees, and the whole family is in the garden having morning get-together time with fruits and tea.
SarvShubh is on his mother’s lap and asking for his turmeric milk.
He is sitting quietly and seems he is noticing something. After having his two sips of water and milk, he said, “Look, Dada, there are no birds and squirrels today.”
Dada too said, observing, “Yes beta ji, they are not here.” SarvShubh exclaimed and making his eyes big said, “I know where they are, Dada! They are afraid of the sound of the crackers, and I think they have gone.”
Part IV: Diwali Series
It was Bari Dadi’s house, which is adjoining SarvShubh’s house. The houses were decorated with Diyas, and Bari Dadi had invited them to see the lights of the crackers. Kaka, Kaki, Dado, and all were there. All was set like every year for lighting the crackers. The family held to gather and watch the sky.
Kaka ji started the firework, one by one. SarvShubh was watching Kaka ji for the crackers. It was producing much sound and fume. People around him started coughing. SarvShubh beta was observing this. He ran to Bari Dadi and said, “Stop, stop this Dadi. Don’t do fireworks.”
asked “why but?”
Innocently SarvShubh beta answered, “Dadi, because of the fireworks, Earth is falling sick, trees, birds, and all humans are falling sick.”
Badi Dadi, who was not expecting this answer, barely said to his mom, “Take him, tell me, he is making me guilty.”
9/11/21
Neeti ji