Childhood days, oh what cherished times they were. As I reflect upon them, a smile spontaneously graces my lips.

When we are children, our heart’s desire is to grow up quickly — to break free from the shackles of education and textbooks, and to earn our own money. And more importantly, to fulfill every longing life has to offer.

We grow older, money starts flowing in, but in the whirlwind of obligations, we forget the promises we once made to ourselves. Lost in the hustle and bustle, we find ourselves buried under responsibilities, yearning for a moment to chase our dreams. Is it not?

Youth fades into the background,

In this relentless march of time, youth fades into the background, replaced by the onset of old age. Regret begins to creep in as if life was not lived authentically. Though we possess wealth, the sparkle of carefree days dims, eclipsed by the shadows of routine.

When we find ourselves alone, memories of our childhood, those fleeting moments, flood back, and an uncontainable smile takes over our face.

As I sit down to write this blog, those tales of childhood resurface, stories that I wish to share with all of you.

Those were the days of our childhood when we felt poor by money,. But, despite all odds, our young minds couldn’t fathom the weight of scarcity and want. We felt like kings and queens, untouched by the grip of penury.

A small group of friends, forever scheming, never a dull moment. We’d tease the elders, and find joy in their ire. In those days, a mere offensive word could torment our sleepless nights.

Today, even a single harsh word can steal away our peace for the night. Truly, the time of childhood is when life’s true pleasures are felt.

The definition of childhood has changed now

However, in today’s world, the definition of childhood has changed. Today’s children are lost in the realm of mobile phones, and everything is available online. The thrill of being out with friends, creating mischief from dawn to dusk, is fading away unlike our times.

Come back to my tale. When I was around 9 or 10 years old, we formed a group of friends, with minds brimming with mischief. Celebrating the “Holi festival” was a different kind of affair.

We would steal an old wooden cot from someone’s home, carry it away, and then dump it into a pit of fire called Agza (Holi Festival).. If someone refused to give us their unused old cot or any wooden furniture we would retaliate immediately.

By taking advantage of the darkness at night, we used to leave some unpleasant things in front of the gate of his house to make them irritated.

And the consequence of this act was we all got punished and beaten up to the extent, that the body pain used to stay for a long time.
One day, a distant relative came to our house. As he was leaving, he handed me five rupees. Being the youngest in my house, that money was rightfully mine.

My five rupees felt like a fortune

As we were struggling with my own penny,, five rupees felt like a fortune. I tucked it into the pocket of my half-pants and ventured off to show my friends. All eyes widened as they beheld my treasure trove, Yes five rupees was not less than a treasure for us at that time of childhood.

Then Raju piped up, “Let’s go watch a movie with this money.” At that time, television hadn’t reached us, and the cinema hall was the gateway to the world of movies and the only means of entertainment. The excitement of watching a new film was infectious, and all of us were hooked. …(to be continued)

BE HAPPY….BE ACTIVE….BE FOCUSED….BE ALIVE…

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Categories: ##Memoire

Tags: #Childhood Memories, #Memoire, #Nostalgia, #Old Days, #wellness