Benevolence for Blue, Glee for Green, Satisfaction for Saffron...My Real Holi.

"May this Holi fill colours of happiness, prosperity and love in your life"- whatsapp-ed my friend from her new Samsung Note III.

Samsung Note Series...My love for it began about 3 years back when I first laid eyes on the original Samsung Note- the first in the series...and my love only deepened further with Note II and III...

I was just trying to imagine the happiness my friend must be feeling when my brother reminded me that we were supposed to go donate our old stuff to the needy...that's how I had planned to celebrate Holi this time before the thoughts of Note III had clouded my mind.

And so we left.

The Cobbler.

I noticed how deftly he sew the shoes of the gentlemen, mended the heels that carry the models that the gentlemen so love to watch...it was then that I realized the paradox - he wore battered shoes.

The person who makes sure the world walks around in proper, impeccable shoes had those battered pieces of leather for shoes...I gave him an old pair of shoes and a few clothes for his children...The heartfelt smile that followed is something that the 13 mp camera of Note III would not have been able to capture...His sincere words "apki zindagi mei khushi ke rang bhare uparwala" made me feel so little...Though it was I who was wearing branded clothes and shoes but I felt he was richer than me in every sense...Here I was, cribbing over not owning the Samsung Note and there he was, happy with clothes and shoes that I no longer wanted to wear.

He taught me that we should be happy in whatever God has given us...Things are worse for others and are a lot better for us...We have what 90% of the people would do anything to have.

The Construction Workers.

The paradox again - people who build houses for everybody have nothing more than a temporary shelter made up of plastic sheets and bamboo to live...I gave whatever clothes and shoes that were left to the children and wives of the construction workers...One of the children started crying because he got clothes from me but no shoes...I felt so helpless...I chided myself for wishing to have Samsung Note III when there were people who had no houses to sleep in, no shoes to wear and no food to eat.

This was such an eye opener..I realized that I was so fortunate...I have much more than I need to be content...I pledged to stop complaining and giving out more to those who are less fortunate.

I wish to confess that these colours of benevolence, happiness and satisfaction have left indelible marks on my soul...Red, blue and green gulaal might come off after a few days but these colours would not...This was my first real, meaningful Holi...I now understand the significance of the festival...what the hackneyed Holi message of ' filling the colours of joy and happiness' actually means.I hope to continue doing such gestures not just because they make someone else happy but because they make ME feel happy...and alive...and human...and good.

I don't know why I am reminded of one of the poems of ZNMD here,

Dilon mein tum apni

Betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum

Nazar mein khwabon ki
Bijliyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum

Hawa ke jhokon ke jaise
Aazad rehno sikho
Tum ek dariya ke jaise
Lehron mein behna sikho
Har ek lamhe se tum milo
Khole apni bhaayein
Har ek pal ek naya samha
Dekhen yeh nigahaein
Jo apni aankhon mein
Hairaniyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum

Dilon mein tum apni
Betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum

Have a meaningful Holi :)