Rakhi Gift!

Kolkata calling! That was 7 years ago when he had just passed college. He had landed a job there. He only came home twice every year after that – Holi and Diwali! Last year he skipped Diwali and spent a good 4 weeks in December and January. After all it was his only sister’s wedding. The Holi then was bland so he skipped Holi too this year. But that day his sister had called and asked him if he could come on Rakhi this time. 

He liked the idea and did the needful… Applied for leave, worked extra hours to complete assignments and was almost done when he remembered, “Rakhi ka gift? Gift toh liya hi nahin!” So, he left office early the next day and wandered around in Gariahat Market. He had no idea what he could buy for her, especially now that she was a new bride. 

He walked aimlessly looking at all the wares when he almost passed a shop window. He stepped back to have a better look and saw this beautiful Khadi Cotton saree with Kites woven on it. He smiled! Immediately flashes of him and his sister flying kites on the roof of their 2 storey house in Delhi filled his mind. They had been the best kite flying partners and had won several battles with neighbourhood kids. In fact, his sister was better than him at flying kites. He wouldn’t ever admit that as a kid, but today looking at the saree, he knew his gift to her would be nothing less than an admission to the fact. He giggled to himself and ten minutes later walked out of the shop with a packet carrying the saree – his childhood and their love all wrapped together in it.

© Nishtha Khurana, 2019. All rights reserved. The text as well as the pictures are both subject to copyright and are the property of the author. Please do not copy or reproduce without permission.