Home is where the heart is #YourStoryIndia

Chapter 8

Durga Pujo over the years had become more of a socio-religious event than a religious one. It was a huge process rather than a one day festival like Christmas.  It didn't require one to follow any fasting or other rituals. It was an opportunity for artisans who made the idols of the Mother to earn their fair share of money.  It encouraged trade and commerce throughout the state of West Bengal as people bought new clothes to wear all five days, they bought decoration for their home. It was also an opportunity for the villagers to visit the city and for the five days these villagers could be found in the pandals more than the city people. Suffice it to say that this festival was a festival by name only. In reality it was a combination of a huge carnival+ a wedding ( without the getting married part)+ long(five days is pretty long wouldn't you say?) pep rally.

At Maina's house the preparations started months in advance. Maina had arrived 2 days before Sashthi , the starting day of Durga Pujo. She thought it was enough time to settle in for Philip. Little did she know it was she who needed to settle in, rather than Philip. He was doing just well. He'd struck a friendship with her elder cousins who would take him around to show him everything.

She was relieved that she didn't have to do that tedious job. Apparently she spoke too soon.

"Hey from tomorrow your cousins all have to help with the preparations, so they won't be free. You'll have to explain everything to me. Get ready." Philip informed her a day after their arrival.

Maina rolled her eyes.  Of course her cousins had work. Their work propably began with 'girl' and ended with 'friend'. Poor her! In addition to readjusting to her home she now had Philip to look after.

Her mother was being her usual self. Fawning over her guest,  attending to his every need. Making sure he ate till he got a paunch. Apparently Philip was too skinny and needed some well cooked fish and meat in him. They were Bengalis.

Bengalis were famous for their sense of food. One got some very tasty food in Bengal.  Bengalis were nothing without their food. It was like their identification. Also they were obssessed with fish. There was not a single fish available in the market that they had not learned to cook in 20 different recipes. Meat came as a second close. All in all,keep a Bengali as a vegetarian for a week and he would probably not survive such grave conditions.

Oh well!  She hoped Philip died of overeating or something. 

Just as she was about to go inside the washroom, her cousin came bouncing along. She had missed this one. He was about seven years old now and had been about four when she last saw him. She adored him simply because he was a baby when she had last seen him. Babies were simpler in her opinion.  They didn't hold grudges or say double meaning things or indulge in dirty politics. They were also fiercely loyal and less annoying, not to mention absolutely cute. Though she wasn't the type to go 'awww' as soon as she saw a baby or a puppy, she did go 'awwww' when Tintin jumped into her lap and gave her a big hug. She didn't have any qualms about returning his hug.

Then when he saw Philip he ran towards him and jumped into his lap not even sparing her a second glance. " Will you buy me another chocolate if I take you to the neighbourhood park?" Tintin asked eagerly.

" Sure champs." Philip grinned.

Maina realised he wasn't a baby anymore. She realised what three years really meant.