Midnight Charm

It is very unusual in Kolkata to see men,women and children flock the roads at midnight. It is also odd to see shops open at midnight,selling their wares with the same fervor as they would during any other time of the day. The narrow lanes too are overflowing with people.The whole environment is electric.
Teenage girls and married women switch from one shop to another to find an accessory of their choice. Matching their shoes and earrings with their pied dresses they haggle with the shopkeepers on the price. The babies, not to be left behind, cry and scream at the top of their voice. Groups of teenagers huddle around each other.Their attention is more on the girls than the beautiful merchandise being sold on the street. This goes on till the wee hours of the morning.The crowd begins to wane as the clock heralds the beginning of a new dawn.
The street is almost deserted as the first rays of the sun pierces through the clouds.Out of nowhere, a bare footed child scampers across the street shouting,"Hurray!! Its Eid".