Dussehra fervor is blossoming slowly as the festival is around the corner. And the committee is ready too, to perform its duty. It is planning to set up a small pandal to celebrate Navratri and also to conduct a few games to the children of the apartment in advance so that it could distribute the prizes to the winners on the closing day of ceremony. This has been the ritual for many years in this apartment.
The committee announces the list of games and the dates on which they will be conducted, by organizing a meeting to all its members. All the children are very excited to participate in the games as the prizes announced by the committee are very alluring. One need not mention about Sashi's excitement for she possessing a thirst for competitions. Committee announces 5 games altogether out of which only MUSICAL CHAIRS game catches Sashi's eyes. Sashi goes gaga about this game and many a time she bags a prize as she finds it very easy and satisfying to push out others to secure her a place to sit. She is so used to jostling that she is the one who makes way for her sister and mother whenever they all visit a crowded place. This time she is all the way more excited as she wants to show her talent to this new bunch of people in this new place.
Time passes by and the date on which Musical chairs game will be conducted arrives effortlessly. Sashi braces up for the game. She even plans mock games in her home with her sister to brush up her innate ability to shove others. And she also makes sure that her sister is not participating in this game as she finds it difficult and embarrassing to shove her own sister in front of everybody. Unfortunately, an unforeseen event pops up for the same day and makes Sashi's family obligated to attend it at any cost. It is a birthday party of her father's friend's son and that too in the evening when the game would actually be conducted in her apartment. The host loves Sashi's family a lot and it would be great blow to the relation with him if at least one of the family members fails to attend. Sashi argues a lot with her mom that she doesn't want to come to the birthday party. But as soon as her father enters into the scene, she becomes silent and goes back to her room, signalling that she has given her assent under compulsion. Mom comes to her rescue and says that she will make sure they all return home as fast as possible, without waiting to have dinner, so that Sashi can participate if the event still goes on luckily.
The family goes to the birthday party, pleases the host, and comes back early as decided. Since Sashi's sister is not participating, she goes back to their flat along with the father. Sashi runs and makes her mom run faster all the way towards play area where the game is being conducted. Unfortunately, by the time Sashi reaches the spot, the game has been conducted already and the winners are being awarded a big round of applause. Sashi gets disappointed and gives a sharp look to mom to show the devastation she is responsible of. But luckily, a considerable no. of children are still left out, and their mothers urge the event organizer to conduct one more game for the sake of their children. The demand is so huge and horrifying that the organizer finally relents and arranges chairs for the second game. There are no bounds to Sashi's happiness. Meanwhile Sashi loses contact with her mom in the crowd, as her mom stops in the middle to greet her neighbors, and fails to return to Sashi. The chairs are being occupied fast. And by the time Sashi comes back from her dreamy world, all the chairs get occupied, except one. On the other hand, Sashi falls into the sight of Anu aunty who comes to ask about her mom. Anu aunty doesn't stop speaking and Sashi cannot shove Anu aunty and go forward to occupy the only chair left. She is afraid that Anu aunty might find it rude and complain to mom. So she makes sure she looks at that vacant chair even while Anu aunty speaks to her by looking into her eyes.
For God sake Anu aunty recollects that Sashi has not participated in the previous game. So she understands why Sashi is looking somewhere else and makes an effort to take her towards the game area. As soon as she nears the game area, Sashi runs like Usain Bolt to occupy the only vacant seat. She is about to sit on the chair, but suddenly the organizer Sharma ji signals her to stop and calls Anu aunty aside to have a word with her. Sashi too follows him, to find out the matter. He says, '' Madam! I understand that this young girl is your close relative, but it is against the committee rules to let outsiders participate in any of our events. OUTSIDERS NOT ALLOWED Madam! I am sorry. "
Sashi cannot take it. When Anu aunty smiles and opens her mouth to give an answer, Sashi stops her and turns Sharma ji towards her side and says, '' I live at 8/4 in our apartment. " Clouded by loads and loads of embarrassment, Sharma ji makes a futile attempt to abate Sashi's flowing anger conveyed through her eyes by giving way to her towards the game area. But by the time Sashi reaches, a boy already occupies the last chair left. 😧
Throughout the game, Sashi stands in the front row and looks at Sharma ji with an angry face, while he conducts the game. After the game comes to an end, Sharma ji being embarrassed to speak face to face with Sashi, speaks indirectly to her by announcing to audience, " Dear children ! There are many more games waiting for you from tomorrow, bringing many more chances for all the children who could not make it to the top today. I expect the same amount of active participation from all of you. Thank you so much. Good night ! "
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