✡ The Diwali Party ✡

 Around 6:30 in the evening, my family and I set off to my dad’s friend’s house to burst fire crackers. It was Diwali today, so I wore my new Indian dress and my gorgeous, sparkling necklace with CZS stones decorated nicely around the borders. 

         I leaned against my mom, who was sitting next to me in the backseat of the car with my baby brother, who was watching TV on my mom’s phone. My eyes drooped as it was almost my bedtime on a school night. As I squinted outside through my eyelids, I saw the night had settled and the streetlights were on, shining on the deserted roads as it was an odd time to go out.  I slowly closed my eyes and dozed off into a power nap.

***

“Aditi, Aditi, wake up!” a voice said into my ear while shaking my body. “Mmmmmm,” I mumbled. “Wake up! We’re here!” my dad told me loudly as I opened my eyes slowly to see we had parked our car in front of a house with lights all over the edges, representing Diwali, the Festival of Lights. I took off my seatbelt and got up from my seat, rubbing my eyes and walking to the house leisurely. 

      I walked behind my mom, who was carrying my brother, followed by my dad who was smiling to see his cricket friend, Chaitanya Bhaiya (bhaiya means brother), “Hey!” my dad waved to his friend and went over to talk to him. As they both walked into the house, laughing, my mom, brother, and I walked slowly into the house. When we took off our shoes outside, Chaitanya uncle’s daughter, Aishwarya, came outside and said, “Hi Aditi! Do you want a tour of my house?” I stepped into the house and nodded. 

     As we went upstairs, more and more people started arriving and entering the front door. I looked downstairs to see families welcomed and chatting with other people. 

   When everyone came, Chaitanya uncle announced, “Everyone come to the garage! We are bursting crackers and sparklers!” Soon, crowds of people along with Aishwarya raced down the stairs towards the garage while I held the railing squeezing through the guests. 

      When I finally was down the stairs, I was the last one to get down. So, I quickly ran into the garage and saw the garage door open as I saw the starry sky had settled. Everyone was near the garage door as the kids held metal sticks in their hand and a fire was lit at the end. Small particles from the lighted fire fell onto the concrete with a snap!  I watched as I saw admired the light in the night sky. 

      Soon, Chaitanya uncle noticed me and grabbed a metal stick as he lit the fire at the end of the pole. “Aditi, here!” he said as he walked over to me. “Thank you,” I said under my breath. As I walked up to the front, I saw my fire sparkling too, as my eyes reflected such a wondrous sight. 

      Soon, I noticed Chaitanya uncle and my dad walked to the middle of the road and lit a sparkler on fire. They quickly backed away as colors boomed out of the sparkler. Whoosh! Boom! The bursting of the fire was loud I felt I was watching mini fireworks. 

     Red, pink, orange, and green sparks flew everyone, making the sight so insprible and beautiful. “Wow!” I thought in my head. Then I knew, this was the best Diwali ever.

      PS: Happy Diwali to everyone!