The gift of asking…

Mona

Another set of coffee mugs, a steam iron, non-stick utensils, add to it countless boxes of mithai and some more dry fruits–there is no escaping from all these around Diwali.

A quick round of markets (okay, not that quick with the traffic jams), one sees people buying all kinds of gifts and getting them packed and wrapped, cars full of glossy paper boxes to be ‘gifted’.

While ‘what to gift’ happens to be the most favourite topic of the day, we in turn ask a few what would they wish for...hearken, if you are yet to do your gift hunting...

An iPhone 7 is what mechanical engineering student Yogeshwar Jasra would like to have, who is using Samsung S5 at the moment. “It’s not like we only have sweets or new clothes on just Diwali. What I really need, the newest iPhone for sure,” says this student from Chandigarh Group of College.

Fancy jewellery, well, wearing gold in Tricity is no longer safe, and eclectic cushion covers for the car figure on the wish list of Ruchika Kanwar, counsellor at one of the private schools. “Can people just give sweets, chocolates, dry fruits a break and get some donuts instead?” is all this pretty lady asks.

Kitchen stuff is what Shashi, from Panchkula, is keen on. “There is always something new, something fresh, something modern that could find place in your kitchen. And the shops offer new range around Diwali. I wouldn’t mind updating my kitchen around this time,” she smiles. 

Silverware figures on Ranju Munjal’s wish list. “With all our homes choc-a-block with all kinds of stuff, small silver figurines can find place and it is always good to add something new,” says this retired lecturer.

We catch Pritpal Kaur, waiting for her family to finish shopping, sitting at Elante Mall, and ask her what she desires for Diwali. “A Spa voucher would be great,” says this granny of two. Plants are what Jyoti Kushwaha, with a green thumb, seeks. “Shouldn’t we be balancing our carbon footprints side by side,” she questions.  ‘Diwali being a rather heavy festival on our natural resources, let’s be sensitive’ is her clarion call. “Wouldn’t it be great to have people gifting potted plants and stuff that will make not only my home happy but also the earth,” wonders this homemaker.

Now, not all are looking forward to materialistic possessions. We catch Jasman Preet, a law student, exiting one of the malls. “Don’t we buy whatever we need all the time? I could do with load full of blessings,” says the gentleman who intends to spend the day with the needy – the old-age home and kusht ashram figure on his list. “They are the ones who need something, most of all, our time.” Coming from a young guy...listening, anyone?

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