Dashmi Blues

Every year since i started living in this building and became a part of the durga puja fesivities, i have always felt gloomy on dashami mornings.I dont know why but somehow the very idea that durga puja is ending gives me a melancholic feeling.The day after dashami has ideally always been a day for us "bachha party"(as we are still sometimes addressed) to replay our feelings, 'little moments' that we shared, what tricks we played on our unsuspecting pujari and the long practise hours which we spent yelling/choreographing/laughing in order to put up the perfect show in the evenings for the residents,endless hours of dumbcharades that we played,uncountable puchkas that we ate, discussing how pretty the diyas look during SANDHI Puja when all 108 diyas are lit up,and offcourse gossiping................... I have personally always felt that durga puja is a great time to bring people together.This ritual has been carried out by us since 1995 without a break and this year was no different.But somehow the loss this year seems more acute, more deep much more painful.........maybe since the loss is more personal this time!