Soda’s Holi

Soda was watering the plants when, all of a sudden, he heard laughter and the cheerful cries of “Happy Holi!” nearby. The kids from the colony were playing with colours, something Soda had always dreamed of doing. At just 9 years old, he had never had the chance to celebrate Holi or play with colours. The shanty he shared with Shambhu Dada was small and barely provided enough room for him to hide from the inappropriate advances of drunken men who roamed their area during Holi, often doing unthinkable things to small children in the name of celebration. Shambhu Dada tried his best to protect him, but it wasn’t always enough. Soda was grateful to Shambhu Dada for his efforts and often quietly accepted the scolding and beatings, knowing that he was the only person in the world who cared for him. 

An orphan, Soda worked odd jobs around roadside eateries and soda-water joints, washing cars and running errands, but he never begged like other children. Shambhu Dada had taught him three important words from his childhood: “Mehnat ki Kamai,” which resonated deeply in Soda’s young and determined conscience. As he watered the plants, helping Shambhu Dada with his temporary job as a gardener, Soda watched the children nearby playing with colours. They were well-dressed and attended good schools, unlike the drunken crowd that played in their shanty area. The children ran around, spraying colours at each other with water guns, and Soda longed to join them. But he knew that wasn’t possible. 

Then, an idea struck him. He began spraying himself with the hose. A child playing nearby noticed him and tiptoed over to spray yellow colour on him. Startled, Soda looked at the boy in disbelief. After a moment’s hesitation, he responded by splashing water back at him. This caught the attention of all the other kids nearby, who quickly joined in and included Soda in their play. Within minutes, he became part of their group and their celebration, letting go of all his inhibitions. Red, green, yellow- different shades of colours touched him, surrounded him, just like the soda water bottles he served to customers. It was a moment that brought Soda happiness he had never experienced before in the form of colours. His clothes, splashed in varied layers of hues, made him look like a little rainbow. Shambhu Dada watched with a smile. 

At last, it was his Holi—Soda’s Holi.

This story was selected in the All-India Story Writing Contest, Colour Crown Championship, as a winning entry by BlueStar Publication