Strolling down the memory lane I am seeing my self once again and I am trying to bring back those childhood memories. I was an year old when I came to Haridwar from
Haridwar is an awesome place to be in. I am not sure as to how it is today but during my time there it was an awesome place, the environment being clean, weather pleasant and most importantly presence of The Ganges. I still remember the rippling water of the river and how we (my family) used to go to the nearby ghat (river bank) during electricity cuts. The sound of the running water and the rustling leaves used to fill the eternal silence at the ghat. Every now and then there were small hawkers selling flute, balloons, the Y shaped flying toys, and many more.
Kite flying in the winter season was like a big event for me. Its importance during those days was second to none. As a small kid I was very fascinated by the various colours of the kites, and when the kite used to fly high against the blue sky then it gave me an eternal feeling of content and happiness which I can never explain in words. Sometimes crossing the boundaries on terrace from one house to another or running behind the kati patang to grab it before any ‘big guy’ can even see it gave a feeling of adventure and thrill.
I still remember one such event- once my mom noticed a pink coloured small kite lying unattended on the ground a few yards away. She told me “there is a kite lying out there, go and get it.” Filled with excitement I ran as fast as I can and immediately picked up the loose string of the kite. With the same energy I started returning to the place where my mom was waiting for me. As soon as I ran with the string in my hand, the kite first flew in the air and the next moment it banged head on to the ground. Poor kite, could not bear the strain and the pink paper was torn in to pieces. Golu-molu me, started crying, not just because the kite won’t come back but because it was like a mama’s gift which I just broke before I can enjoy it.
The next day I again started with same energy and same excitement. And wow! Its Sunday today. I am busy flying the kite and watching others fill the blue sky. The polythene made kites shined every now and then in the mild sun rays of winter. But an immediate chaos surrounds me; I am pulling the kite and rolling the saddi in my hand. No I can not afford any delay in this work “it’s already 9 AM, it’s MOGLI time The Jungle Book! I just can not miss it even if the hell freezes over at that moment. Now I and my sis are stuck to the TV and ‘Wow’ I am watching my favourite cartoon show. Taking the advantage of the situation mom threatens us to drink the glass full of milk or else she will switch off the TV. Oh my God! The milk stinks. But then there is no other choice. I specifically didn’t like the mango flavour complan. May be that is one of the reasons that I don’t like eating mangoes even today.
Sunday was the most awaited day of the week. The further routine comprised of playing games like carom, cricket, etc. If nothing is there to do then I sat under the sun on a mat and I fought battles with my sister. I never used to leave her when she beat me “NEVER”.
Studies were never a problem for me. Why? Because the entire problem was of mom and dad, I do not come in to the picture until…. I am caught. I didn’t like doing home work and I never ever completed my work on time. Some of my worst times were when my copy was checked by dad for work completion just before the final exams, because that was from where I had to learn the chapters. And almost all my copies were either not complete or were not signed. God! I just think of my situation, how helpless I was. Standing in front of him in fear, and anxious as to what will be his reaction, what will he do, etc etc. Every second at that moment seemed like an hour. If he scolds me then it is fine but if he does not speaks any thing then I had it. He had never beaten me but the fear of scolding and the moments of silence were too strong to be dealt with. Any ways I was made to study and learn definitions and the never ending ‘spellings’ by mom.
And once the spellings are learned, it’s time to play. Usually the Sunday ended with another interesting episode of “Mitti ke rang” or “Surbhi”. The song at the end of either of the serials was like an alarm bell for me, I didn’t like them, telling me to go to sleep so that I can wakeup the next day to go to school. Yet another Sunday came to an end and it is time to say good night. The caring hands of mom on my cheeks and a good night kiss on the forehead, that cosy bed and those sweet dreams, I can never forget.
Sumeet :)
