Candles

Candles were the order of the day, when kerosene was out of stock in our small town. Any small ripple would have a huge effect on our living. A day of deluge , a political rally, a local circus , everything affected supplies . Kerosene , coal , newspapers and other sundry items were most affected . 

In the twilight, we were asked to keep our supplies of candles , matchboxes and sturdy glass and bronze candle stands ready. One never knew how long a power outage would last. So, important home works were finished by dusk, while the sun was slowly disappearing over the hill. Candle light would flicker, and was messy, so it was good for a round of scrabble , gossip session, diary-writing or finishing off the last comics , which had to be returned to its owner the next morning, taking care to keep the pages wax-free.

A cousin recounted how power outage used to hit them . every night without fail, at dinner time , in the hostel dining hall. A nimble chap from the kitchen would affix thick candles on the ceiling fan blades. When the lights came on, the fan blades moved and the candles were automatically snuffed out.