Deepawali Greeting Card
Deepawali Greeting card season was on. It was the month of October, 1986 and I was looking for a greeting card to be sent to a political leader, in response to his Deepawali Greetings. Those were the days, when there used to be no E-mail or SMS. No E-greetings! One had to purchase a greeting card to send it to his friends or well-wishers. I wanted to send the Greeting card to a Netaji on back-date. While preparing the card some thoughts hovered around and I immediately typed the thoughts on a letter and sent the same to the Netaji. The letter is appended.
My dear Pooran Bhai, In the style of ‘to be or not to be’, I took out time to brood over ‘to write or not to write’ but ultimately thoughts started flickering around and I could not but hasten to write or type whatsoever thoughts continued to hover around. It all started when I went to the house of one of my friends who was desperate in planning out to dispatch the big bundle of Deepawali Greetings well before the Deepawali day, without anticipating whether the same will be in the hands of those whom he is aspiring to wish on the Deepawali day itself. The idea gave birth to an idea and I started feeling that I would also wish some near and dear one a Happy Deepawali. Normally I have been wishing people once a year in the New Year only. But then the provocation was great, so I finally decided to wish some of the dear ones a Happy and Prosperous Deepawali. Back home, I found that I am bound for Dwarahat, Ganai, Bhikyasen and back. The idea vanished away of course not to be vanished away forever. Back home I found a Deepawali Greetings card that too from you. Bubbling with enthusiasm I started with speed in my Premier Padmini and started looking for a beautiful card, keeping in view the aspirations of the one who wished me, and of course my own. The search started from Nitya Nand Bisht to the last corner of the Sadar Bazar and nothing but disappointment seemed to be in store for me. Once again we thought of making a search and a re-search was thoroughly made. At last a Card was found. Keeping in view the idea it depicted- Hope, the ‘savera’, the first sun rages trying to peep through the trees into the earth, which made me to feel lots of hope for Netaji into the domain of Minister ship. The Card clicked my imagination and I decided to purchase it. Alas! It was the only card available in the Shop. The slogan – Wishing you a Happy Deepawali – was not there. Niranjan, whom we call Ranjan, started suggesting an alternative. But I insisted on this particular card. Then yet another search started and a slogan paper was borrowed, but it carried the slogan ‘Wish you a Happy Deepawali and New Year’ both. We compromised with the situation and finally accepted the Card. Naturally then we asked for an envelope. Ranjan started on the job and he declared that the envelope was not available. But we were not the type of people who get discouraged with trifling things like this. We asked to go in for another re-search. Ultimately an oversize envelope was found out. The Envelope had to be put on the cutting machine and was cut to size. This was the time when I had the life’s worst agony. The card was then put inside the envelope, but the envelope was still oversize. A search again started but was ultimately abandoned. A pleasant idea stuck my mind. The envelope must be oversize. Because if it has more room in it, that will mean more Ministries. Why Hill Development alone, why not some more! So Deepawali Greeting Card was ready. Finally it was the turn of Ranjan. We asked for the price, slightly conscious of overcharging. But Ranjan folded his hands with a meek smile. So it was time for Barola to be out of the Shop. I took the first opportunity to leave the place unless Ranjan thought of changing his mind.
Deepawali Greeting Card was thus dispatched personally after ensuring that it was really inside the Head post office Bag, again, in the vain hope that it will reach your hands on the Deepawali day itself.
