For those who know what being a defense officer's child means, I need not give an explanation. However for those who don't, well let me put it this way that you live in an altogether different UNIVERSE....
You are the protected brood of the entire cantonment and every uncle and aunty is closer than family. Festivals also take a much more zealous and brighter hue.
One particular incident that I can recall is a HOLI that we played at the AIR FORCE SELECTION BOARD, VARANASI in the year 1998. My father was the President of the Board during those days, hence he was called the MAHARAJ....
There were around 15-odd officers' families who had decided to collect at the Air Force Institute to play Holi with each other. The Star of the show was Wg Cdr S K Sharma.
"Sir, chalo. I have made all the arrangements at the Institute." said Sharma Uncle to Papa.
''Morning SK, Happy Holi!" saying this Papa put a handful of colour on Sharma Uncle's face.
"Sir, let's play there only. We all will have a lot of fun there. There are Thandai, Pakoras and all types of colours. I have even asked the boys to get some Bhaang for us."
So we all bustling with joy and enthusiasm reached the Institute. The arrangement was as promised full of opportunities to colour each other.
The boys(the helping staff in the Board) put on the music and we all started playing.
"Take a SHOT!" saying this I hurled a water balloon on my sister Bulbul (whom I fondly call Bul).
By the way, Bul had to appear for her class 10th board a day after Holi and so did Abhi, Sharma Uncle's son. Yet such events were treated as minor impediments by all.
We had been playing Holi for an hour when a round of Thandai and Pakoras was passed around. They were not laced but woven with Bhaang!
"Mamma, why does this Pakora look so green?" asked Megha innocently. Megha is Sood Uncle's daughter and Sood Uncle is Gp Cpt Sood.
"I don't know."
"But they taste really good, isn't it Punita Ma'am?" she said to my mother.
Within minutes of consuming those eatables, all the Uncles and the Aunties who had been sitting down and enjoying Holi, Got Up!
"What is this sound?" Sood Uncle inquired when all of a sudden, we heard a loud horn coming from one of the rooms inside.
There emerged Sharma Uncle with a cap perched on his head to which were attached like horns, two strips of shiny paper that unfolded erect on blowing into a whistle that was also attached to the cap.
He came and very ceremoniously placed the cap on my father's head and said:
MAHARAJ KI JAI HO!
As if on cue, all the officers queued up to bow before their boss. The scene was hilarious, even the boys were having a good time watching their 'Sirs and Ma'ams' make a fool of themselves.
The dirty Holi with beer, slush and ice commenced. All of us were on the dance floor shouting, dancing and playing Holi. One could hear the hails of 'Maharaj Ki Jai Ho!' followed by the blowing of the horn more than the music. The boys ensured that there was an endless flow of Bhaang in all its form. Highly decorated and disciplined officers were prancing around like kids and making complete fools of themselves!
But it was FUN!
"Bul don't drink too much of this, you have an exam." said I to my sister who had already downed 5 glasses of Bhaang Thandai.
So much of Bhaang and physical activity had turned on the hunger in all to ravenous proportions.All of us heaped pulao, daal, dry vegetable, raita and salad on our plates. By the time we came to the third helping, there was only pulao, daal and raita to be had.
In the meanwhile the Holi continued and so did the dancing to the music.
My father heard comments like:
"Sir we are your Praja and we are so happy with you." said a lady officer serving under my father.
"I love you Sir!" declared Sharma Uncle.
Not to be left behind, Sood Uncle shouted "Maharaj Ki Jai Ho!"
The lunch too dragged into the evening. The boys came up to Papa and said
"Sir, all the food has finished and there's nothing left even for us. "
"Ok, Chaps and Ladies....." said Papa addressing the gathering " let's call it a day. Food is finished to the last morsel and these boys are also tired."
Dejectedly, the party broke up. All of us returned home while chanting 'Maharaj Ki Jai Ho!', even the Maharaj!
It took all of us more than a couple of days to come out of the stupor, more than a week to get off the colour and probably more than a lifetime to get over the spirit of HOLI!
