Reliving mera bachpan

     The rainy season, the most awaited season of the year. Everyone enjoys rain, from kids to adults and the elderly. Children and the elders enjoy it the most as both have time on their hand to revel in these pleasures of nature.When it rains it brings not only the rain but also a lot of memories (good and bad). The paper boats which we used to play with, the ragi vadas (kind of pakoras) we used eat, the rain coat we used make with gunny bags, the idlis we used make with sand, especially after the rain water recedes and not to forget the rain dance! Children of this generation may not know many things that we did in our times but playing in the rain is every child's dream even today.

     My little angels too love to play in the rain. They dance, play and make paper boats. After the rain they go out to play in the mud. They love to build their own mud house and garage for their cars. They have a small patch of garden where they can dig the mud to their hearts content. A few days ago, they made their house, a simple one : double storey house with roof top garden, mud table chairs and the toy cars parked neatly in the portico. I missed clicking some of their creations (particularly the one with garage and cars).

     The rainy season, the most awaited season of the year. Everyone enjoys rain, from kids to adults and the elderly. Children and the elders enjoy it the most as both have time on their hand to revel in these pleasures of nature.When it rains it brings not only the rain but also a lot of memories (good and bad). The paper boats which we used to play with, the ragi vadas (kind of pakoras) we used eat, the rain coat we used make with gunny bags, the idlis we used make with sand, especially after the rain water recedes and not to forget the rain dance! Children of this generation may not know many things that we did in our times but playing in the rain is every child's dream even today.

     My little angels too love to play in the rain. They dance, play and make paper boats. After the rain they go out to play in the mud. They love to build their own mud house and garage for their cars. They have a small patch of garden where they can dig the mud to their hearts content. A few days ago, they made their house, a simple one : double storey house with roof top garden, mud table chairs and the toy cars parked neatly in the portico. I missed clicking some of their creations (particularly the one with garage and cars).

     Children are at their best when left alone without any teaching. Left to themselves they are masters in whatever they do. Each one is a MF Hussain, Michelangelo, Laurie Baker.....

First day... First step.

The house was buzzing with activities. Waking up the little ones, packing their tiffin boxes, feeding and getting them ready in time for school....

   Today is the first day of school for our little Gannu. Yesterday, on Vijaydasami he was initiated to formal schooling/writing as it is considered to be a good beginning. After a small prayer, a plate of rice is placed in front of the child and he is made to write the first letter 'a'. 

   Unlike Abi, Gannu was as cool as a cucumber about going to school. His "anna" is going everyday, so will he. Abi had given us nightmares to go to school. Those days are clearly ingrained in our minds even now. So in anticipation of a similar backlash, instead of preparing him, we were preparing ourselves mentally to send him to school. Each member comforting the other rather than comforting the little one.

   We reached the school on time. Gannu carried his bag on his shoulder like anna. He took blessings from 'baaji' (Ganesh) and all the elders and happily waved his hand to everyone else. We were all simply standing and watching all this like it was all destined to happen.

   Instead of the tears and screaming we were preparing ourselves to cope with, Anna proudly took Gannu's hand and walked through the school gate. After anna left him with his teacher, Gannu wished the teacher and happily entered the class room with her. Watching him sit comfortably in his new class, I did not know what to do and came back home in a bewildered manner.

   This also brought in a lot old memories of us leaving our daughter in a boarding school. She had happily walked into her dormitory with her new friends without a complaint. 

Here I am, sitting and sharing this confused emotions with you all. On the one side I am happy that he is going to school happily and on the other side I am feeling so empty inside. My little Gannu is all grown up now and raring go.

First day... first step. What a way to start....

Adventure....unexpected.

   

      Game for adventure? Board Indian Railways...

     Travelling by train in India is no less than an adventure. This has been proved many times in my almost four decade old travelling experience.Armed with so much experience, we planned our trip meticulously to aurangabad from jaipur. Since there is no direct train, we had to catch the connecting train at nizammudin station. Keeping the punctuality of the railways in mind we booked the ticket with almost five hours gap. (Weather was good as it was first week of November). 

     Everything went off as per plan. We boarded the train and it started on time. Well settled in our seats, within a few minutes we dozed off to sleep. Most people were sleeping as it was an early morning train. We expected to reach Delhi by 10 am so we did not bother about our breakfast (nor did we carry anything with us). After about two hours of sleep, we woke up to see the train had halted but not at any station. We decided go back to sleep as there was nothing to worry about and we had so much time on hand. Slowly restlessness started and nobody knew why was the train not moving. After what seemed like an eternity, a kind salesman passed by saying 'engine karab hogaya hai aur doosri lagegi toh gaadi chalegi'.

     It took another one and half an hour to start the train. That was only the beginning of the problems. As the train was running at unscheduled time, it was not in the priority to get the green signal at other stations and nothing was available to eat on this train. By the time we reached our destination, we were late by two and a half hours and starving! But the connecting train's station was an hour's drive. We had a little time to catch the train.

     So we didn't stop for a meal and immediately booked an Ola and waited for the cab to pick us up. Now the clock was ticking faster. He kept saying' just reaching', but not before half an hour! Meanwhile we realised the gravity of the situation. It was diwali time, narrow roads, traffic of delhi and not to forget our traffic sense. I was certain that we are going to miss the train and my heart started working overtime the whole way. My hubby dear kept his cool, saying that in the worst case scenario we'll go back home. Throughout the journey, I saw all our detailed planning and hopes of a wonderful holiday crumble before the great Indian railways and Delhi traffic..

     Five minutes to spare, we reached the station and ran to our train (DDLJ style!!!) and threw ourselves in our seats, thanking all the known and unknown gods! When we started our journey, we had planned how we were going to spend our spare time enjoying biryani at one of the eateries at nizamudin. Here we are without a morsel in sight but glad that we managed to even start our journey!!  ...And the Adventure has just begun!