This is a piece of fiction i have been working on. Feedback appreciated. Here what i have so far. It is a narrative (rant, of sorts) that projects conversations people have without while trying to make sense of diwali and of each other.
Working Title
And what will you be doing now?
Apart from scratching my back? 
Cheeky bastard
Breakfast, I hope
Diwali is usually time to laze around
Hope?
Except the evenings of course
Really?
Oh I see! Nice
Lots to do in the evenings
Get truck loads of pics
Better than giving you a live feed
Consolation
I can’t believe you were serious about it of course
Well, it is a possibility still
You just don’t care
Love, actually
Are you quite done as yet?
Ok now I’m done
Good
Why are you in a bad mood?
The pani puri backfired
Ouch
Badly…yeah
Crunch numbers
Around 9
Wow
Well,…
All time high
Stop obsessing over my upset stomach
Boss-ini aren’t we?
Get a life 
Says the man online since 4am
So what will you be doing now?
Tell me, please
Well, an early breakfast, buy flowers, string them with mango leaves
Nice
Put them over the entrance
Bath
Hmmm
Nothing much for the rest of the day
Sounds very fancy and auspicious
Nitwit
Oh…listen
Hear people getting alive on my side
Ok
Chat later?
Message me
Sure thing
Kiss
Bye
Bye
Kiss
Message you
Have enough currency on the phone?
Yes I do
See you
Miss you a lot
Same here
Love you
Applegayte signs off
Well, applegayte might have signed off, but things certainly did not get ‘alive’ in here until quite late in the morning. The woman walked to the fridge to discover there was less than a litre of milk left. A panic attack and bout of fluttering arms followed a frantic trip to the nearest groceries store.
Poor woman. Her hair is never quite enough well kept.
Where is her husband?
Oh, here comes the man with a broom. Was he the one chatting?
Yep. That is our beloved applegate.
He’s not gate, but gayte.
But, that makes him sound as if…
Aren’t we slow today?
Not the sharpest, I know.
Disgusting people, they are!
You could ruffle a few petals on him every time he passes under you.
In that case, I wish I was a coconut tree.
Wonder if he is any good in the kitchen.
Was he not the one who made the lunch yesterday?
Nope. That was his brother.
Talented bunch.
But clearly not talented enough to get or stay married.
Could you be anymore cheerful?
Oh god! They have a lizard in the house!
Not such a good news, is it?
Well, don’t just hang there! Do something!
What do you expect me to do? Marigolds aren’t the strongest.
You think he saw the lizard?
LOOK HERE! Ughhh!
Pansy lisper! Now, if he was ‘normal’, he…
Oh, here she comes with the tea!
Spot her! Spot her!
Oh yeah!
What! Where are you going?
She’s scared, you think?
Patience is a virtue.
She wont let a lizard be around! Its diwali!
Wait and watch, then? She will come up with something soon.
Better not be eggshells!
Wow, she is really taking long to appear.
He drinks his tea with malai! Repulsive!
Bet his boyfriend is ugly!
Rodent from the sewers!
Why has she moved? Has she moved? I do not like the fact that she has moved!
What nonsense! Lizards never move a lot at on…Oh, dear God! She moved!
Aaarghh! She moved yet again!
Help has arrived! Calm down, will you?
Bless her! The spirit of diwali shall outlive us all!
Drama queen!
Take it back! Now!
Oh, no! Its Baygon!
No pain, no gain.
Spray gently.
Oh, the limp wrist comes to assume a position of authority.
Out of guilt, I am sure.
He is getting a broom. Goody! They have a plan.
Oh! Hit harder, faggot!
She has to go easy on the spray! Oh, no! I think I just changed colour! Look at me!! Certainly gone more yellow! Go easy on it, woman!
Oh, she is really getting thrashed. I cannot watch! Ouch, I heard that! Bless her!
I get Baygon sprayed all over me if I move slightly! I don’t know where to look!
You’d think she’d pass out by now?
Lizards endure a lot.
Noble species.
I think I am ready to pass out. Who..eve…rrrr…i….say…..fe…rr.ess…..ut…
Oye, wake up!
Huh? What? Yes! Yes! No! I get it! What was I saying?
Good! Keep talking.
Not a slave to your fancies, you know!
She looks pretty dizzy to me.
The key word here is deceit, my friend. Deceit.
Deceit, indeed. I wish I’d been informed about this when I was born that diwali would be…well…all this. Maybe I would have reconsidered Ma’s womb. Or god’s loving hands, just in case Ma is reading my thoughts. Puneet says I am bad to think that way. But, I know it might be true. On the open house day, she kept forcing toasts down me while I insisted on playing the jigsaw puzzle. When I finally wriggled free, she came to me and promised to not be mad with me even if the teachers complained about me, that she thought I was doing well at school and that I should stop being so nervous. How did she know I was scared?
I don’t like crackers. Not at all. Besides, I heard on the TV that it is not good for the environment. Then, we really shouldn’t, I think. Look at this. Even the parks have been littered with wrappers of crackers and rockets burnt, fluttering red and white paper from the bombs. Smell of burning air filling up my lungs. I bet the watchman’s daughter let in the others into the park at night. Stupid, arrogant girl. There is no reason for her to feel so powerful. It is her father, after all, who patrols at night with that ridiculously thick rod and painfully loud whistle. Maybe I will pass by her little hut later to make sure she isn’t around when I want to play. She is poor. Why is she never working?
She’s not working anymore. Doubt if she ever worker in the first place.Well, yes. I will find another one, but you know how they are…its festival time, at that. Give a bonus, it’s a nightmare. Don’t, and its still a nightmare.
She got what we give her every year – food, sari, few spoons and patila sets…obviously, all this plus a good raise. What more should we give her? An i-pod?
I think its just wrong timing, that’s all. I don’t think you should be feeling guilty. At least, not now.
Yes, he is fine. Said he’s off to the park, but you know how he is. Its park when he leaves, but medicine store when he steps out. I wonder when he’ll learn to make his mind up.
Haha! Sadly, this is the only trait he seems to have taken from you.
Oh, this reminds me to tell you that Briji called in the morning. You will not believe this – Akka Ma apparently called her late in the night yesterday to tell her that she’d rather die than bear another atrocious moment under Mohan’s roof – for the millionth time – and announced that she will be going over to Briji’s instead! I really wonder what ticked her this time. Rucha swears Mohan has been sober for the past three months. Poor Briji.
What do you mean? She has her hands full with so many guests as it is. And, before you even suggest it, no! We are not going to have your mother home. She was here only a month ago.
Fine, we will not argue over the phone. And, no. I do not hate her. The others need to understand that she is their responsibility as well.
Well, I guess he will be downstairs any moment, if he can tear himself away from the wretched newspaper, that is. He keeps reading the paper! Or watching the news! Or really old cricket matches! I don’t know how to get him involved with the rest of us!
Yes! I know he is not a child! Can he stop behaving like one?
I suppose so. He, on the other hand, has been much better this time around. Still chats online a lot, but,…overall, a bit more…you know…manly. Oh, I hate him!
Hold the fort, yes. But he is not your type, either. Remember Anandini’s birthday?
You being here right now would have been simply perfect. Believe me, though, when I say that I really am fine. Talk to you in the evening?
Your voice is breaking up.
Yes. What happened?
Hehe. Ok. Take care. Sleep enough. You get me worried. And learn to switch the lights off before you sleep. Its like having two sons, not one.
Ewww! Shameless man! Go now!
Yes, yes.
I miss you. There. Let me go now.
Bye.
