Tina looked at the creature disappointingly and gasped her mouth. She stamped her feet, lost balance and fell to the ground. The flower-basket toppled and all the flowers she had collected for her mother’s puja scattered on the grass.
“Oh! What shall I do?” she grumbled. “I’ll have to pluck the flowers once again.”
She looked at the entrance door of the house to see if someone had seen all this. She quickly picked up all the flowers and put them at the root of the nearby plant. She then brushed her pretty polka-dot frock, picked up the flower-basket and started the venture of plucking flowers once again.
“Tina! Why are you taking so long?” asked her mother. Tina rushed to give the flowers to her mother. Sushila gently took the flower basket and smiled. She went for the puja with the flowers. The little girl stood there thinking who could be there near the gate. She saw a salesman selling small flags for the “Independence Day”.
“Take the tricolour! Ten rupees each!” he shouted in a sing-song voice as he held the tray of table-top flags.
Tina jumped to her feet and screamed in reply waving her hand,” Flag-seller! O Flag-seller! Come to this house.”
The salesman looked here and there wondering who called him and then recognised the house where the little girl was standing waiting for him eagerly.
He smiled as he opened the gate. Tina went to her grandmother and asked for money. The old woman came, with a small purse, to the veranda. Tina took two items- the criss-cross tricolour flags- one for her study table and the other for the display almirah in the living room. The old lady gave money to the salesman who bowed respectfully and said,” Jai hind! Amma” as he went out of the gate.
Tina rushed to her room to put the flags on the study-table.
“Papa says we should be connected to our roots, our motherland- India,” she said to her brother Ram who nodded with a look of surprise on his face.
“Can I have the other one?” he asked.
“All right but keep it nicely,” said Tina as she gave the flags to her brother.
“You know Ram, I saw Mikhu buying flags yesterday but ours is better.”
The next day was 15th August- Indian Independence Day and the children were excited. There was a small get-together and flag-hoisting ceremony in Mikhu’s courtyard which had been organised by Model colony children’s club. Mikhu was the secretary and Rinku the treasurer.
Tina and Ram woke up early morning and got ready for the celebrations. They wore white kurta-pyjama, Kolhapuri sandals and the Gandhi cap which their mother had affectionately bought for them.
“Mummy, do all Indians wear the white dress today?” Tina asked inquisitively.
Her mother smiled,” All Indians who celebrate the day prefer this dress. It reminds us of the freedom struggle in which Bapu- Mahatma Gandhi, Chacha Nehru, Netaji and many more freedom fighters dedicated and sacrificed their lives.” Ram and Tina listened carefully while Lakhan looked at them with his cute eyes.
Tina and Ram went to Grandpa’s room. “Yes, children- so you are ready to celebrate the day. Very good,” said the old man.
“Grandpa, we are really thrilled, we’ll have a lot of fun- we will sing songs and we will have jilebis too. Let’s go to Mikhu’s place,” said Tina as she turned towards Ram.
They went to the main gate and their grandpa helped them open it. Both the children stepped out of the gate happily. However, they were surprised to see the other children of the colony approaching their house.
“This Mikhu is a really wicked and greedy boy,” said Rinku. “What does he think of himself? He is the secretary of the children’s group doesn’t mean he can do anything he wants,” he grumbled.
“Yes, we will not play with him. He keeps on beating other children. Today, he crossed all limits- he wants to eat all the jilebis himself. He pushed Rinku and me so hard. He thinks himself to be the big boss- I won’t tolerate that,” said Mahesh.
“It was good enough that we took our crepe papers, flags and snacks. After all, we contributed money for today’s party. But where shall we go? His house and courtyard was big enough to accommodate all our programmes,” sighed Kamini.
“So, what! Ram’s courtyard is suitable. See their grandfather is standing there. Let’s ask him,” suggested Rinku as the children ran towards Ram’s house.
The old man stood there watching them and asked,” What happened?"
Rinku and Mahesh looked at each other and gulped. Kamini stood there for a while, then she spoke," Mikhu is not letting us celebrate, he fought with the boys. He is very bad, so we came out of his house. Can we do the flag hoisting and other programmes in your garden, you see Tina and Ram are our good friends."
Grandpa looked at the children observantly. He took out the spectacles with his right hand, thought for a while and nodded.
"Yes," he said," You can celebrate the Independence Day in the courtyard but remember- do not make too much noise. Granny does not like naughty children. One more thing- what will you do if Mikhu comes to join you all?"
Rinku, Mahesh and Kamini gazed at one another figuring out what to say. Rinku advised," We will not play with him."
Mahesh interrupted and said," Grandpa, he's joking, we'll forgive him and we will let him play with us." He patted on Rinku's shoulders and smiled.
Kamini joined hands with Ram and asked," What do you say, Ram and Tina?"
Ram and Tina gave a slanting glance at each other and then turned their innocent faces towards their Grandpa," All right," they said.
Grandpa allowed the children to hoist the tricolour flag near the Neem tree. As the children gathered to salute the national flag- the tricolour- a sense of pride and joy came to Grandpa's face.
Just then Mikhu came running," Ram, Mahesh, please wait for me. Please wait!" he said.
Everyone looked around at Mikhu who had reached near them and was half-bending on his knees, holding his knees with both hands and panting for breath.
"How can you all just leave me out? Kamini, you forgot how much I helped you at your Aunt's wedding? I carried five baskets of flowers for arrangement and decoration. I even,"
"All right, I remember!" interrupted Kamini," you can join us."
Mikhu joined and saluted the national flag. All the children sang the national anthem Jana Gana Mana followed by the national song Vande Mataram. Mahesh distributed the paper plates and Kamini gave the refreshments. Tina and Ram sat on the bench nearby, Mikhu sat leisurely on the green grass beside Rinku and Mahesh. They gossiped and enjoyed the jilebis and the potato chips.
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