A Dreamy Diwali

The festival of Diwali was nearing.

- Kusum Agrawal

Avya and Aarav were very excited because they were going to their grandparents' house.

Until now, their grandparents had come to Delhi every year, but this time their mother was taking them to the grandparents' farm in Kasauli.

Their grandparents' house was big, with neem and mango trees in the courtyard. Grandma had also kept some pet rabbits, which started hopping excitedly as soon as they saw the children.

Avya picked up the rabbits in her lap and laughed. “Wow, Grandma, these have become our friends!”

Grandma had prepared all kinds of treats for Avya and Aarav—gujiyas, mathris, chaklis and jaggery laddoos.

Aarav, after eating one, said, “Wow! Gujiyas like these can’t be found in Delhi.” Everyone burst out laughing.

At night, everyone sat together to decide how to decorate the house for Diwali.

There would be rows of lamps in the courtyard, paper garlands hanging from the roof and colourful lights on the trees.

The children were now eagerly waiting for the next day, when their grandparents were going to take them for a walk to the hill market and the city centre.