I had taken a well deserved leave from my office and had gone my Dadi’s place. My Dadi is an old lady but she can , I think, work even more than me. A very enthusiastic lady. I had just woken up. It was 10 30 in the morning. I believe holidays were meant to be where I can be absolutely lazy. My Dadi on the other hand woken up early in the morning. Did pooja and had made delicious breakfast for me. The outside was an overcast atmosphere. It was going to rain very soon.

“Beta” my Dadi said. “I am just putting your breakfast again in the oven to make it hot. It has gone cold. In the meantime why don’t you go in the terrace to fix the TV antenna. I think there is something wrong  with it.” I must tell you that there is no cable T.V in this house. Somehow Dadi always liked Doordarshan better. Don’t ask me the reason why.

Wearing only a half trouser and a torn T-shirt, I went out side to the terrace to see what was wrong with the antenna. The weather was getting murkier and darker by the minute. Whatever I had to do I had to quickly. I quickly went to the terrace. And saw the antenna. It was facing downwards and was hopelessly directionless. I had to put it in the right direction. A simple Job.

It had already started to rain lightly. I had to it quickly or else I would be soon drenched in rain. I held the base rod of the Antenna and began to turn it. It was fully rusted. How long it has been standing in this position and rusting its way out, god only knows. It was now raining steadily. But still the rain was very light. I tried to hold it and put it the erect position as it should be. It got stuck. Damn!! I jerked it a little. Nothing happened. Jerked it again and the rust gave away and the base rod broke and the antenna fell on the terrace with a light thud. Oh dear!!!!

“ What happened Beta? Something wrong?? If you cant do it then come down. It’s ok. I will call some one…. besides it’s starting to rain.” My Dadi said from below.

But I was not going to accept defeat. “It’s ok Dadi. I will fix it!” I said. I took the rod now in my hands and held it up and started walking. And then somehow my feet landed on something slippery and I lost balance. The Antenna which was in my hand started to move forward. And in order to regain my balance and hold the antenna at the same time. I gave myself a forward lunge. This only made things worse. I lost grip of the antenna. And it tumbled and fell towards the edge of the wall. And I fell with my face forward. And I put both my hands to support so as not to fall wholly on my face. But the terrace floor was slippery and my hands could not grip the floor. I fell. I hurt my face on the right cheek bone. And my knees felt the impact. I was now lying down in the pool of muddy water. The rain kept on falling on me. I had totally drenched myself. I groaned.

“What happened beta?? What are you doing?” My Dadi said from below.

What a great start to a wonderful holiday?? I tried to get up slowly. I looked to antenna. It was balancing itself on the wall of the terrace. It was very delicately balanced. I had to get up quickly and get hold of it. My Dadi shouted again from below.

“Yes I am fine. Everything is ok.” I shouted back. But I knew it was lie. Nothing was allright. This bloody antenna had ruined my day. I got up and started walking towards the antenna slowly so as not to disbalance it. I moved now swiftly. But then a sudden breeze started blowing and this moved the antenna a little and it fell down from the terrace. And it crashed on the ground below.

My Dadi shouted again. What have I done? I can’t fix a simple antenna. My Dadi kept on shouting in the background. I quietly went downstairs. Totally drenched. My face was swollen now. My knee was paining. My Dadi gave me a horrifying look when she saw me. “What happened to you?” she screamed.

“Nothing” I groaned back “I will get you a new antenna Dadi”

What a perfect start to my vacations, I thought sarcastically.