ULTA PULTA
Santa surprise
Jaspal Bhatti

Christmas is round the corner. Christians all over the world will be exchanging gifts, singing carols, decorating Christmas trees and having fun with friends and family. Children wait for Santa Claus to bring gifts for them.

My little daughter Rabu who studies in Carmel Convent asked me, "Papa, don’t we have anything parallel to Santa Claus in our culture?" I told her that we didn’t lag behind in any respect.

I boasted, "We have two famous brothers who deliver gifts to children throughout the year". "Who are they?" she asked. "Santa Singh Claus and Banta Singh Claus", I replied.

Quite confused, Rabu asked she had heard about Santa Claus but who was Banta Claus. I explained that Santa Claus and Banta Claus were famous brothers from Phagwara in Punjab. They delivered gifts to little children throughout the year whether it be Divali, Lohri or Holi — what to talk of Christmas.

Rabu was not convinced. She asked, "Can I expect a gift from Santa-Banta Claus in the morning?" "Why not dear! You go to sleep and you’ll get your gift in the morning."

I, however, forgot to place a gift by her bedside. When she got up the next morning she started crying, "Where’s my gift?" I said, "There’s a big fight between the two brothers over the family business. Santa Claus did bring a gift for you but Banta Claus took it back before you got up". Rabu wanted to know what their family business was. I said, "The joke making business."

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