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We lay in bed tossing and turning, the streets echoed with music and festivities, as we wallowed in our captivity. We had strict rules and regulations; No leaving the Accommodation past 10pm! The guards sat in their stall, guarding our facilities with the large iron gate fencing us in like caged animals. There was no exiting or getting past them! The drums howled louder, and the cheers roared on. We looked at each other with such despair for the adventure that lay outside the gates called to us, over and over. It didn’t take us much to clamber from our beds and race to the streets, even in our night wear to fulfil our hearts callings. We took the back door, through the kitchen and out a rickety and dusty exit way in which never sees the day of light. To get past the guards we had to sneak through the dead of night, outside the lit perimeters, along the fence to an opening where we had to help one another jump the fence. It was no small feat but what lay ahead was beyond worth it all! As we finally made it to the streets we were greeted with an abundance of gatherings, but people pulled us toward a driveway and we followed in that direction, against everything our parents ever taught us about talking to strangers - especially whilst living in India! We were adorned with flowers and offerings, as people danced in the streets playing music, beating to their hearts content and all while we knew not a single soul, neighbour or foe yet the celebrations rang on! Music was played in every inch of Andheri, but the calling came from all over, India was beyond captivating even in the days leading up to this very moment with the Diwali Light festival with the streets and markets adorned and embellished with light ornaments, shrines, offerings and shear joy and utter peace as each and every single being celebrated this victory; Light over Darkness. No person for a second judged us for being a foreigner, we were welcomed and encouraged with open arms! The narrow driveway opened up to a sea of people. As we watched on circles formed, and to soon we joined in and danced and celebrated into the early hours with the same drums that called to our beating hearts. The children, so innocent and free spirited, danced too with us, and we watched in awe at not just the community or customs with their way of life but the very spirit and belief in their gods and traditions! They believe in the triumph of good over evil; The people here have very little but lack nothing! The very spirit of India and their gods lives through the very heart of their people. So as we danced with them under the moonlight, and decorations, our hearts too were taken by India. We took a leap of faith; over a fence to the unknown. What lay ahead of us on the other side was beyond eye opening and life changing! But as we climbed back into bed that night with sore feet, but full hearts, we were more than grateful for the call of the leap to the unknown.