Holi Hai

 I can hear from my room as the music starts playing from loudspeakers. This is a trend in Allahabad that big loudspeakers began the day before Holi after Holika Dahan. This time my High school board exams clashed with the Festival of holi, although the only had one paper left after Holi. But Board exams are counted as milestones for anyone. Family members, relatives and neighbours remind you that this year is your board exam, which is very critical. Sometimes it looks like they concern more than me that it’s my board year. Parents remind you constantly that Board exams will decide your career and always play a deciding factor. Today I know it’s not that important, but at that time, it was true for me. I want to go outside and enjoy Holi for some time, but scared as well as parents will not allow it. I saw that my father’s motorcycle was not out meant he was away. I thought of going outside with my brother and their friends to feel the atmosphere. However, I also thought that if someone recognizes you in the crowd, then it’s complicated.

Allahabad, it’s difficult to hide as someone definitely recognizes you somewhere and informs your parents.

Holi has one advantage when you have colour on your face then, no one will recognize you. We should glimpse the atmosphere and come back before Papa comes back. Finally decided to go outside with my brother and his friends.

There are very few people outside, and the music is deafening. We kept walking as we planned to go to Loknath, the epicentre for Holi. People are dancing to the tune of the Nakabandi song outside.

Man-made water shower has been arranged in each area, and people keep throwing colours at each other. People hug each other a few times and wish for holi. I love the atmosphere; however, this time, I was calculating time in my mind since we don’t have watches or phones in our pockets to see the time.

We were outside for almost 1 hrs and, honestly, felt that it was a good break for me. We reached home and saw that father s motorcycle outside as well.

I was preparing all my excuses in mind that it was my brother who asked me to go with him.

We reached inside the home, and mother asked to take a bath before lunch. We can see a few relatives also there as well in the living room. As expected, my relative sarcastically passed a comment that most students not playing holi this year due to board exams except a few.

I felt terrible and started ignoring him, then my father replied calmly that exams s check your knowledge for a year and not just one day. He smiled and kept looking at me and said I know he will give his best in the exam.

Today I realized that his faith in me was the first step toward my success.