Wishing You a Very
Happy 2013
It is December 29. At 8 pm we receive a handwritten
note; an invitation, actually. The invitation is for a New Year Party and the
party is being arranged by the four elder Lilliputians: Maheen, Saif, Zainab,
Apple.
There’s one invite for every adult and every invite bears the invitee’s
name and sketch. I, for one, feel special.
Though not really a party person, I know I want to
attend this one.
The fact that my study was ransacked, my reams of paper
ravaged, and my pens robbed to design the invites, is, of course, another
matter.
The invite is for 10:30 pm. And from 8pm to 10 pm a
strange calm descends on the Land of Lilliputians.
While we try to make the most
of this unexpected peace, one room alone bears the brunt of loud noises and
crazy thumping of the feet. It’s the room where the party will be hosted. The
room is turned upside down to create the party mood. Rehearsals of dance and
singing sessions are undertaken. And the menu is planned.
At ten, the doors of the party room are opened wide.
One Lilliputian after the other starts running wildly from one room to another,
hollering ‘the party is about to start.’
And there is more to these calls. The recently- turned- commercial Lilliputians
have decided to make this party another commercial venture. We are told there
are entrance tickets. Of 20 rupees each.
We pay the entrance fee and are allowed to enter
the party zone.
Along with the meticulous entrance fee collection
mechanism, the party place is also well organized. There are happy New Year
banners on the doors. There’s a music system. There are peanuts and cake rusk.
And there are curtains billowed beyond their capacity; they have been morphed
into backstage.
The party begins.
Maheen emerges forth from the billowed backstage.
There’s a welcome address that actually tells us how lucky we are to be
attending such a great party.
The next move is really impressive.
After the
welcome address, Maheen goes inside the backstage and a moment later the four
Lilliputians materialize as a train that is chanting ‘Happy New Year.’
There’s
amazing coordination as they jump, turn around and stand there with their
backs toward us. Each back has a word pasted on it: Happy- NEW- Year- 2013.
Amazing, amazing.
We clap like mad. Amid rounds of applause, we are
treated to many dance and song numbers. Well-rehearsed. Well choreographed.
Well-coordinated.
There’s one Lilliputian who dances without having
rehearsed a single move. And she is perfect: almost-two- year old Raina.
Now they join the others and dance
with such verve, velocity and valour that can only happen under the influence
of fever-lowering syrups. And that can only happen with children because for
them fever is just an episode among many exciting episodes, not to be taken too
seriously.
We are asked to stand up as the party ends with the
singing of the national anthem.
Mobby stands in the front row. And he is wearing a serious/solemn expression.
Perhaps the beginning of a new year does require a
moment of serious introspection.
The Best New Year Party Ever. Well worth the expensive entrance tickets.
i am really proud to be a part of this party
ReplyDelete(should start hooting )hoo hooo hoooo hooooo
from your beloving niece
MAHEEN MOHSIN
It was a well-organised party..had so much fun :)
ReplyDeleteI hope in future we will be self sufficient for all kinds of functions
ReplyDeleteNext time remember that we have the best event managers residing in a treehouse :)
ReplyDelete