It was Diwali night and I was all alone. My wife had to leave for her parents place, two days back, for some urgency. My parents were to come for Diwali but couldn’t make it and I could not go to them for the sake of cruel job. Friends, well, I didn’t have many, and few that I’d, were gone to their places. Result was, for the first time, I’ was all alone on Diwali evening. The mere idea of it was making me feel sad and even more alone.
With all these thoughts going through my mind I was sitting on the steps, in front of McDonalds, when he, the stranger, arrived.
'Can I sit, here?' he asked, to which I gave no answer but just a nod to say that he can.
After a minute or two, the stranger said, 'Happy Diwali', with a little smile on his face.
To which I replied with same emotions, 'Happy Diwali'.
'Don’t you have anyone to celebrate it with?' stranger asked.
'No', I wanted to go into conversation, as he was the first and the only person who had wished me on Diwali and wanted to talk, but with an effort I stopped myself.
'Well, you can celebrate with us then..',
'..with us.. ?? I don’t see anyone else here??’
'Well, there are lot many like us... roaming in the city all alone.. All we have to do is to recognize each other..'
Suddenly I felt the excitement. There it is, something to do in an altogether new way to celebrate Diwali. That too with lots of people. Then I asked, 'That’s a very good idea friend.. but will people join us... I mean we being strangers and all.'
To which Stranger replied with a grin, 'Weren't we strangers 5 minutes back. Tell me; didn't you want someone to be with on this day? Then, rest of the people, also kind of think in the same way. All we need, is to find the courage to talk and wish each other.'
Suddenly, I felt the excitement again and said, 'That’s great!! let’s start then..'
'Alright, then, you find the people on the left of McD and I will do it on right and we’ll meet after an hour at the same place.'
'Sure, but how will I know whom to ask?'
'Just search for someone.. Who looks like... looks like.. the way you did.. when I came to you' and he left smiling.
We managed to find 12 people, 4 by me and 8 by the stranger, which made the total count to 14. Then we bought some fire crackers, Candles and Diyas. We lighted the diyas and candles in a temple nearby and then lit the crackers and to my amazement, infact each to each other’s amazement, behaved quite friendly, as if we knew each other quite well.
Then stranger came to me and said, 'I have to leave now. My family will be waiting for me'
I was shocked, 'What, your family is here? And you were wasting time with us?'
'I won’t call it a waste of time. Didn't you enjoy it?'
'Yes I did and still am doing..' and then we shake hands and I humbly said, 'Man, you made my day today, I am really thankful to you, otherwise it would have been a boring Diwali. May I know your name?'
'5 years back, someone did the same for me and made my Diwali, something to remember. Now I make sure to do it for others, if I can, and have been successful every time. You see, we all need company, more so on occasions like Diwali, to celebrate with. He didn't tell me his name and I won't tell you mine. See if you can make someone’s Diwali really happy, next time around. ‘Then he wished me Happy Diwali again and left.
We had a really good time, afterwards, till midnight and then we parted, one by one, wishing Happy Diwali to each other.
It was a wonderful experience; I could easily call it my best Diwali ever.
Today is Diwali again and my family is with me today. But like that stranger I will look for someone in the evening, let’s see if I can make this Diwali really happy for someone.
Isn't it a nice idea, my friends!!. Make sure you also bring a smile on someone’s face this Diwali and become a most unforgettable stranger in someone’s memories.
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Wishing You all a Very Happy Diwali...
