Social Media Diwali

By Noorussaba Shayan

“I am thinking to take two days leave before Diwali”, Shreya said to her husband Vineet. “Good thought, we will have some peaceful time together. In this pandemic no one is supposed to come neither we can go anywhere. We will have a small ritual and celebrate Diwali by being with each other “Vineet replied happily. “Of course dear but this time, I have decided to do so many things.

I will cook good traditional food, decorate this house nicely, put some Rangoli on the doorstep, Shreya said excitedly. “But we both love simplicity and calm celebrations, then why all this?” Vineet asked. “You don’t understand, nowadays pics of delicious foods, decorated diyas, home decors, family time and many more are floating over social Medias. Each one is sharing their artwork and happiness all around. I also need to do the same.” Shreya said in a single breath, Vineet just responded with a sigh. The whole night Shreya was planning about the food items, rangoli, home décor, lanterns, lights etc. The next two days she was busy doing all this, but creativity was not her forte. She looked confused and looking at her in so much stress Vineet said to her “I just want to be with you, I just love your company, why you are doing all this?” “It’s not for you, I have got an idea “she quickly got up and took photographs of neighbors Rangoli with her diya decoration and posted it. Then she got busy in clicking photos of her home décor, each corner where she and Vineet had kept diyas, lanterns, and lights, from cushions to curtains, even the photographs of the prayers and some rituals. As soon as Vineet completed the Pooja she started posting everything on social media. Looking at her craziness, Vineet came to the balcony where he saw the dark sky illuminated with innumerable stars, roads lit up with so many diyas and lanterns all around the balconies. In the front balcony, he saw a little girl helping his mom to light some diyas. In another house, the couple was doing prayers with their two little kids. In another balcony, two little kids were enjoying lighting crackers and he was cherishing the happy faces all around. After a while, Shreya came to the balcony to show Vineet, the comments and likes she had received and was surprised to see him sitting alone over there. “What happened why are you sitting all alone?” she asked him with concern. Vineet replied sadly, “You were celebrating Diwali with your mobile and social media, so I thought to celebrate My Diwali with my thoughts. My perfect companion to cherish inner happiness and quiet moments to enlighten our soul”.

By Noorussaba Shayan