A double whammy—a fear of bomb blasts and an economic meltdown—has dimmed the glow of Diwali in the capital this year. One case in point: the famed Diwali bazaar at the Blind School, which pulls in the society ladies each year who leave laden with bags of goodies. This year, the crowds were thin and pickings extremely slim. Indeed, ‘slim pickings’ is the best phrase to describe corporate Diwali gifts this year. The gift hampers were decidedly lighter as were the bonuses. Yup, austerity is the buzzword, a word Delhi really can’t get its lips around too comfortably. Say hello to winter.