A Serendipitous beginning

Chapter 9

Enjoy the festivities...

"But it's not Holi!" Dev said, walking behind Sonakshi as she pushed her shopping cart through the aisles of the grocery store. He was in Chicago once again and this time, Sonakshi didn't even ask the reason for his visit. He counted it as progress.

"I know it's not the day of Holi, but that's when we are celebrating it!" Sonakshi replied, as she grabbed a box of cereal.

"That doesn't make any sense." Dev said, as he took over pushing the cart. She kept walking, grabbing items off the shelves and throwing them in the cart.

"It's freezing cold in Chicago that time, so the Indian community celebrates it when the weather is warmer and more conducive, simple!" She shrugged.

"Well, that's just crazy, to celebrate Holi on some other random day." He stated.

She turned back, checking out a bottle of shampoo. "Oh, because you are one to celebrate Holi exactly on D-Day it's supposed to be. Right?" She remarked sardonically.

Touché. "Whatever." Dev scowled, as she shook her head at him.

"So does that mean you won't come, Mr. Dev Holi-ain't-my-thing Dixit?"

"No, I will be there. I have some revenge to take care of from the last time you threw color at me."

"Wow, you sure hold on to things. I bought you a shirt as an apology, which you accepted, if you remember correctly."

"You ruined my blazer too. Didn't buy me that." They reached checkout. "Let me pay for that." He said.

"No, I can pay for my own groceries." She pulled out her credit card.

"I know you can. I just want to, this one time. Please?"

"No. But you can help me bag everything." Sonakshi told him.

The Indian diaspora there was significant, and the Holi celebrations were organized in the spacious yard of the local community center. Huge piles of powders of bright colors were heaped on picnic tables along with large buckets full of colored water balloons and water guns. Giant speakers were blasting Bollywood music. On the other side, there was an array of food items and drinks. People were socializing, playing with colors, dancing. 

Sonakshi introduced Dev to her group of friends, which included the ones he had met at brunch too. They were politely curious about him but soon got busy with the festivities. Before he knew it, they were all in the middle of all the action. Dev stood on the side, watching Sonakshi and her friends chasing and dousing each other with colors and water balloons. He didn't know anyone here, so he didn't need to get involved in this celebration. He was glad of that.

He walked over to the food area and tried a couple of sweets. Not that good, he decided, certainly not as good as his Delhi desserts or his mother's sweets. He got himself a cooling glass of thandai and a kachori. He took a big bite of it when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Yes?" He turned, his mouth still full.

"Happy holi!" Sona cried, dumping bright red color all over him. Shocked at this unexpected interruption, he looked down at himself. He was completely red. The powder was all over, including his half eaten kachori.

He then slowly turned back to her. She was holding back laughter, in a position ready to sprint.

"That's it, Ms. Khargosh, you are in trouble now." He ran after her in hot pursuit, with handfuls of colors. She disappeared among the crowd, but he wouldn't give up until he found her.