We rode as fast as our legs could pedal our BMX bikes to the usual store in Maligaon where we were so accustomed to buying a wide range of things. Outside the store, the firecrackers were spread much like Sabin?s . "didi! Bada kinna aayeko.." She greeted us with a smile. "la la tyahi baira cha sabai" She asked us to go through them on our own. "Rocket ko kati didi"? "dus rupiya" was the reply that dented my heart. I?d always wanted to have a rocket. Similarly, chakras were Rs 4 a piece and Gamala a whooping Rs.7. We looked at each other in despair. Should we really do it? Suppressing all our fears, I grabbed on a few chakras and slid it in my pocket and she slid a pack of maltabada in her jacket. Then, with our Oscar winning performances, we picked a rocket Gamla and a Chakra and bargained with the lady to give it for Rs 20 which she readily agreed. We rode back with our hearts pounding hard with the thought what if that "didi" had found us about our stealing. We sat under our favorite parijaat and put together our prized collection. Something did not feel right. My heart felt heavy when my sister confided that she felt the same. We thought about the times when the shopkeepers there, particularly didi, would give us extra titaura or free candies on so many occasions. *********** Though the smell of SelRoti and Anarasa were tempting, I had lost my appetite. My sister was nimbling on a small piece of anarasa looking back at me. Maami frequently asked if everything was all right seeing our discomfort. We nodded our head in unison. Maami asked us if we could light a diyo infront of vastly decorated Laxmi?s portrait. I felt even more uneasy. My grandma had told us stories of tihar where Laxmi never resided in people?s home who stole and cheated no matter how bright they kept. We couldn?t even face the goddess. Reluctantly we decided to give in. We couldn?t be the culprits of Laxmi not coming to our house while she enjoyed her stay in Sabin?s. Before maami and daddy could question us, we got back on the bikes pedaling more slowly than before. With all our might we approached her. She was making mini footsteps of laxmi leading it towards her small shop. She smiled with radiating affection when she saw us, "lau! Pheri aba k chaiyo?" We stood there motionless unable to tell the truth. Finally, I handed her the pack of malta bada and chakras and told her we?d taken it by mistake. She seemed more surprised than angry. "la hera, yetro bacha bhayera ni chorne ho? We turned red and wanted to scurry off. " la bhai go! Aba dekhin yesto nagarnu, yo duita chakra chai laga, pachi dinu paisa" she was amazingly sweet. We rode back feeling good about everything just in time to help my mom make those mini footsteps of laxmi and we made sure they led back to the house. ****************** That night, we realized that we didn?t need any firecrackers for spectacles. "Punajabji" near bhagwati than gave us more than a treat we could handle. With sophisticated and beautiful real fireworks, they lighted up the handigaon skies. It put Sabin?s stacks to shame. We stayed in the chaut, making sure all the candles were burning to ensure Laxmi?s efficient arrival, and taking a moment or two to enjoy the Punjabi fireworks as well. "Oys talai thaha cha, parsi ta bhai tika. Taile ta hamlai dakshina dinu parcha ni! Kaha bata lyauchas paisa" I wasn?t sure if she was concerned about my plight or was reflecting on our guilty conscience. "deula ni ta, mami sanga magera dinchu" I was still transfixed at the parachute like fireworks in the sky. "Hyaa! Ta ta khali maami sanga magchas ?" " K bho ta! Bholi parsi thulo bhaye pachi sabai tirdi ?" She cut me off "Oys! Didi haroo ko bhaili aayo!! tala jaun." Firworks of tihar blazed in all cylinders.