For the child in you.....

A day filled with laughter
A day filled with a joy
A day of carefree, thoughtless actions
A day worth a lifetime.

A day of silly antics
A day without a worry to heed
A day filled with “my favourites”
A day with zillions of dreams.

I ask for nothing
But a day to revive
All that’s gone past
Leaving memories galore.
Of times which were the “bestest”,
And which (as much as I try),
Can come back no more. …

- Abhu

Whenever any “big aunty-uncle” or “didi” or “bhayya” would say, “These are the best day of your life”, I would react like every other child of my age(without exception) by giving them you-gotta-be-kidding-me kinda looks. Schools, books, exams, horrible teachers, the dirty bus, getting up at 5 in the morning, tuition, homework etc etc were certainly not MY idea of life’s best days. But yet again, back then, I was “childish” enough not to think about the other facets of life, which were any day, more cumbersome than these lil things. Yes, the grass is certainly greener on the other side.
Today, standing on this side of the threshold, I would trade anything to go back to those carefree days, when you have someone taking care of you, pampering you, fulfilling your every demand, tolerating all your tantrums. When life was all about disliking everything about school, except friends, the games period, the alu-dum- dahi-vada and puchka outside the "forbidden" school gate, bus ride back home with Tj (where we would code name people and gossip and play antakshari and dum charads or simply look out of the window, in the bus). The dance classes and drawing classes were so much fun!! Going cycling in the evening, playing badminton, fighting with my brother over every little silly things, waiting to watch “Alladin” and “Baloo” and “the little mermaid” on Disney channel were an everyday routine. Tinkle, Nancy Drews , the famous Five and the Secret sevens fed the imagination with thoughts about a world unknown. Milk always went down the drain. Coke, pepsi, uncle chips, maggie were a treat!! Balloons, bubbles and soft toys were a must have. When whatever someone said, had to be true. There were no double meanings, no deeper understandings of things. Telling lies was a taboo. Secrets were meant to be kept. Exchanging friendship bands on friendship’s day certified friendship. The birthday parties, tearing open the wrapped gifts, counting days months before your birthday were an annual affair. When mumma saying "no" meant papa or chachu secretly saying "yes". The two ponytails with white ribbons to school, school picnics, dancing in the lead in the schools annual day celebrations, school choir, the weekly Rs.10 for the canteen, class photographs.....*Sigh* I could go on and on for ever…
From then to now, with each year that has passed by, which every moment Ive lived, I have drifted away from the comforts of that wonderful phase of my life. Today, I don’t feel bad if anyone tells me I am childish or I am not mature, coz that means I am still connected to that best part of my life. I don’t care how big (in numbers) my age becomes, but today I would like to wish myself and everyone who misses their childhood like me,

“Happy Children’s Day”
Cheers!! 