A Himalayan Christmas

Lalita: All right, who can tell me something about Christmas? Manoj: The Maharajah of Mysore used to throw big Christmas parties at his house. Lalita: He did not! Where do you get these ideas? Manoj: When he was little, the maharajah got a sled for Christmas and he called it ‘Jantar Mantar.’ Lalita: I can’t stand it! All right, who can tell me why we put a star on top of our Christmas trees? Manoj: The maharajah used to see a green star on the top of the Nizam of Hyderabad’s tree. Lalita: He did not! You stupid kid! Anita: You shouldn’t yell at someone just before Christmas. Lalita: Tuition is over! Jao! (they exit with injured expressions on their faces) Laxman: (enters) Riding on the back of Mom’s bicycle, I’m a white knuckle flier. ‘Look out for the tree! Look out for the fence! Jingle Bells—look out! Jingle bells—look out! Jingle all the—look out--way!’ Singing doesn’t help. Lalita: (leaning on keyboard, to Manoj, who plays) Did Ravi Shankar ever play ‘Jingle Bells’? He probably thought he was too good to play Jingle Bells. (Manoj grabs keyboard away, she falls over, he exits) If I had met him, I would have said, “Hey, Ravi, old boy, play ‘Jingle Bells’.” (to Laxman) A lady from the panchayat visited. I volunteered you to sing ‘Jingle Bells’ in the Christmas program. Laxman: You WHAT? I CAN’T SING. YOU KNOW THAT! Lalita: Learn.