She was only seven and Durga Puja meant excitement like it did for every child...Returning home from the hostel for the holidays wid big hopes of getting new dresses, toys and many more... Bcz that's how festivals felt to children, right ?? specially when she heard that her father is coming, her excitement was at peak!! although she wasn't very close to him, but she still believed he might bring something for her, just like he always did for her cousins... When he arrived everyone gathered in the drawing room, and she hid quietly behind pillars, peeking with excitement, waiting for her turn. One by one, gifts were given to her grandparents, her aunt, her cousins, and others , and with each passing moment, her excitement slowly turned into nervous waiting!! When the last packet was gone and everyone left the room, she came downstairs, searching, thinking maybe they had forgotten but there was nothing... She didn't say anything... When she came upstairs, she saw her cousins trying on their new dresses, one of them pink her favorite color,the exact dress she wanted.. But it was not for her !! She quietly went back to her room, sat with her toy, and talked to it softly, sharing everything she felt... Stupid right? But it was the only thing listening... And From that day a small, unfamiliar feeling stayed with her the feeling of being unwanted and slowly, she learned to be glad in her own quiet ways, without expecting much from anyone!!
