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A Trip Down Memory Lane

As I write about my childhood, it jogs my memory, and I recall the evenings when  I would play hopscotch with my boon companions  along the byway of our house ( the territory under the reign of all the kids belonging to the neighborhood under  article 1 of the constitution brought in by kids),   The article says that the territory consists of the walls(for scribbling graffiti) and  all the stairways to the houses, which   makes the seats for the spectators watching the cricket, badminton, depending upon the games broadcasted in DDsports those days) would be kid’s enclave for the evenings. Who introduced the terms like Indian polity, constitution, and territory to such small buds who would find their own studies taxing? 


Well, the story is quite simple. The previous captain’s brother, who was preparing for civil services, would give a bit of learning he would study throughout the day to his younger brother and our captain would boast about the general knowledge he had and would tell us about his learnings in the most fun way. This is how we came to know of the subjects like Indian polity, physics, and chemistry way before we actually read them in our classes, geography, and history, of course, we knew already. The laws of physics would enchant us, we started applying the lessons learned in our routine life, we would give close attention to the stopping of the cricket ball to observe the newton’s first law of motion. The laws of gravitation, projectile motion, and the escape velocity would fascinate us, who had never stepped out their cocooned world.



 And we would replay history, in the form of an act sometimes my brother would play the role of Michael O’Dwyer in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre,  and sometimes GANDHI JI in  Dandi march and so much more, and other times we would excavate for archeological remains and the sites used to be the corners of the backyard of our houses.  later on, this captain (poor guy) was replaced by a new guy in the locality who gave him a tough competition in cricket and in the game of seven stones (satoliya).



Attending birthday parties would be the (most favorite occasion) and festivals used to be the most awaited event for us kids. Shopping for the festivals like buying crackers for Diwali, would be entirely the responsibility of Fathers. Diyas and candles for lighting houses, décor items for home decorations would be sections filled by aunties and moms in the market, small girls would settle for lehengas and young girls would choose sarees for the occasion.



Studying in candlelight was every kid’s tale, and eating together once in a day would be ritual followed without fail. Listening to ghost stories routinely from grandparents would be the most pleasurable moment. And watching horror movies every Thursday on zee tv was a set task after evening studies. Saturdays used to be the most pleasant day as mom would cook our favorite dishes and she would reward us by preparing scrumptious dessert (custard, garnished with dry fruits) if we fared well in weekly tests given by mom.  And an ice-cream if we scored well in a school test. New gadgets or appliances would be like seeing something from another world.



Sundays used to be a fun day as there would be no cribbing of getting up early in the morning, we would start our day with a cup of milk and chinar biscuit and would happily sit before tv to watch chitrahar, captain Vyom, Chandrakanta, and seahawks.



Vacation used to be the most awaited time as siblings studying in different cities would come home to spend holidays with family and all the cousins would gather to have reunion party.  One cycle would be ridded by everyone in turn and money contributed to just one bottle of lemonade would bring us joy. Everyone would take a sip from that single bottle “the most a satisfying sip of our childhood”. Those were the times when life was so simple and beautiful and I find myself blessed to be born in that generation where outdoor games were way more fun than today’s online games, where writing letters and buying Diwali and new year cards for friends would fill us with more delight than forwarded messages  on WhatsApp.



 Feeling nostalgic as I pressed the remanence of my past button to relive my wonderful childhood memories. I hope reading this small extract from my life would draw a portrait of your childhood memories and take you to A Trip Down Memory Lane…


Happy Reading…  


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