Diwali is just about wrapping up, desultory outbursts notwithstanding.

Lights, festivities and photographs later, the highlight of the evening brought out.. boxes of crackers, fancy names and even fancier descriptions..eager hands and eager faces... mock scared faces and hands covering ears... anticipation mixed with 2 parts of pessimism. Will these recapture the hours spent as a child? .. innocent glee ...no thoughts of children making fireworks.. ozone depletion .. pollution et all... much discussion on Chinese inroads ...

Perfunctory attempts at lighting the first one..squib..fizzle.. winking out like the end of a forgotten firefly..indignation... sets the theme ... trusty old anars.. something missing...parts of vindication..parts of foolishness... waning interest ... perhaps this is what is 'growing old'