Heartfelt Letter to the "Ghar wali Diwali"
Dear Meri wali Diwali, Every year since I remember, I have been with you and with my family - sometimes on a road trip, but mostly at my home. And nothing has changed in the routine. 10 days before you come, my mom will start the "Mission Safai" for you. You know it's an yearly ritual - right from cupboards and it's contents, to ceilings and sofas, everything is rigorously cleaned. And one dialogue I have to hear every year - " Atleast now clean up your room." The bathroom becomes a laundry of all the "everyday use" sofa, pillow covers and bedsheets. Bright new covers are seen all around the house - tere aane ki khushi me. 2 days before your arrival, mom will turn the kitchen into a furnace and she will employ me and my father to help her as she takes on the task of preparing the diwali sweets and namkeens. Hot oil, frying sweet coconut 'karanjis', 'shankarpali', 'chakli' and the sweet laddus - it's a feast for yo...