A Colourful World

Tanu loved colours. Every page of her drawing book was colourful; her room was decorated in vibrant shades of pink and green, and she loved to plant bright flowers in colourful pots.

- Kumud Kumar

One day, Tanu received a call from her uncle in America, informing her that he was coming to India around Holi.

Tanu was thrilled as her cousin Saloni, who was her age, was coming too. We would have fun playing Holi together, she thought.

Tanu and her father went to the airport to pick up Saloni and her parents.

On the way back, Tanu and Saloni chatted, and Tanu said, "Saloni, we will have so much fun playing Holi!" "Oh, Tanu, you idiot! I won't be playing Holi at all. I hate colours!" Saloni replied, irritated.

Tanu was taken aback. She couldn't understand Saloni's anger about playing Holi, why she called her an 'idiot,' and why she hated colours so much.

After they reached home, Tanu asked her uncle why Saloni was angry towards Holi and colours.

Last year, we visited Saloni's uncle's house in Mathura, and as is the culture of playing Holi there, the children dressed Saloni as a milkmaid or gopi like themselves. They then showered Saloni and each other with so much colour, and because Saloni was small and could not come home, she grew a strong dislike for colours and fear of Holi. She hates colours now," her uncle explained.

"Oh, poor Saloni. I now understand why she was so upset when I mentioned playing Holi," Tanu said, empathising with her cousin.

"We have tried various methods to help Saloni overcome her fear and hatred of colours but have not been successful.

If you have any solution, please let me know," her uncle said.