Red, pink, yellow and scarlet; they are all splashed everywhere. On the flowers, and on the buds, on the trees and fields, the colours seem to have spread themselves on every street.

Our little bird on her morning flight circled the sky thrice. The jacaranda was in full bloom, the lilies were smiling too. The earth had covered itself light green, and the gardens were in all their sheen. “Spring is here! Spring is here,” she screamed. “Welcome the bright season! Party, for there’s very good reason,” she chirped. “The earth’s in all her gaiety, and is dressed to appear coy and dainty. Admire her and all her beauty,” she sang.

Our bird hopped and skipped, flew up and down and returned to her nest. She ran her fingers through the poetry shelf, and smelled the pages of the books. Keats, Yeats, Blake, Shelley and Wordsworth; they had all composed verses on the spring. After reading them all and with the fragrance of flowers in the air, how could our birdie hold herself back. She dreamt of the beautiful season. The more she thought, the more she yearned for a companion. She wished she had someone to hold her hand and stroll through the flowers and gardens fair. But, she still hadn’t found the one, with whom she could share the joys he felt. She wished the one, wherever he was could come to her soon.

She flew out again and perched on the highest branch. She looked around and tried to see the farthest sight, hoping he was there somewhere. With teary eyes, and hope still in her heart she sang,

“Come here soon,
Before the flowers wither away.
Let’s bask in the sun,
Before the spring slithers away.

Come here soon,
While the stars still shimmer by,
Let’s lie under the sky,
Before the cool breeze flies.”

While she was still lost in her thought, and thinking of the one that she has still not known, a riot of colours engulfed her. Her friends, the parrot, the magpie, the sparrow and the crow were throwing colours at her. “Holi Hai!” they screamed. “Happy Holi!” screamed our bird. Within the hues and the game, our bird forgot her pain.

Our little bird wishes you a very Happy Holi!