Revisiting RadheShyam

Holi

Meri Radhe,

Once again, wishing you a very very Happy Holi! I know we've literally been repeating these words to each other and to the whole of Brij since morning, but writing it down always makes it better no?

So I need not ask you how your Holi was. I've seen that colour-drenched girl dancing around Vrindavan, spreading the colours of life and love wherever her feet rest. I've seen how she lights up when surrounded with her favourite things – dance, music, colours, love, and... a certain gwala. I've seen the distinct blue that adorns her very soul, no matter how many other shades overlap it. I've seen my life's rainbow sprinkle some of her colours onto the streets of Brij and hearts of its people. I've seen her being truly, fully happy, doing what she loves and does best – spreading smiles! And so I won't ask her any questions, for I know the answers before her voice tells me.

Now I can clearly see that blush and you look extremely tomato-like. Plus your face is tinged with yellow, blue and green so that makes the tomato look very unusual. In fact, I love seeing these post-Holi avatars of you all! Everyone looks like aliens from different worlds. And for one day in the year, I'm the one commenting upon people's colour and not vice-versa. Of course yours can never be close to my brilliant blue, but I still enjoy seeing all those oranges and greens and pinks walking down the streets, trying to avoid meeting me. You'll see for yourself tomorrow, Yamuna ghat would be empty and my dearest gopis would be at home, trying to scrub off their new shades. Uffff, how blissful it is to tease you and your gang! Watching those foreheads crunch into angry lines... haaye!

Which reminds me of the discussions currently going on at home. With Dau as the whistle-blower, Maiyya is cheerfully discussing with Kirtida Kaki and others how smitten I am and how I kept running behind you the entire day. I know exactly which direction this conversation is headed in. Why is my family and yours as well, so obsessed with child-marriage? Okay not really "child", but aren't we too young? This is my age to live and breathe and have fun, hai na? Also, what about the letters once we get married? What fun it is to write a letter to someone living in the same room as yours? Ufff, honestly, I cannot handle that boring a life. Can you, Radhe?

But I won't complain or interrupt their discussions tonight. My bholi Maiyya's whole existence lights up talking about us like that, and that is a sight I can sit and stare at for ages. This morning I heard her telling Dau, "He's colouring you all only today. He colours my life every second just by existing in it." And to be very honest, I melted quicker than maakhan at that. Only Narayan knows what good deeds I did to deserve her and Baba and Dau and... you. The irony is, it is these people who keep telling me how lucky they are to have me. The truth is clearly the opposite. I will eternally be known as the luckiest human – that person who received love in such abundance, he knows nothing else except to give away love.

Smitten by you, always,

Kanha.