bachpan yaad aaya

When Gulli-Danda & Kanche (marbles) were more popular than cricket.

When we always had friends to play aais-paais (I Spy), chhepan-chhepai

& pitthoo anytime ...



When we desperately waited for 'Yeh Jo Hai

Jindagi' (Doordarshan serial)

When chitrahaar, vikram-baitaal,

Dada Daadi Ki Kahaniyaanwere so fulfilling.

When there was just one Tv in every five houses and...



When Bisleris were not sold in the trains and we were worrying if papas

will get back into the train in time or not when they were getting down

at stations to fill up the water bottle ...



When we were going to bed by 9.00pm sharp except for the

'Yeh Jo Hai Jindagi' day ..When Holis & Diwalis meant mostly

hand-made pakwaans and sweets and moms seeking

our help while preparing them ...When Maths teachers were

not worried of our Mummies and papas while slapping/beating us ..

When we were exchanging comics and stamps and

Chacha-Chaudaris & Billus were our heroes ..

When we were in Nanihaals every summer and loved

flying kites and plucking and

eating unripe mangoes and leechies ..

When one movie every Sunday evening on television was more

than asked for and 'ek do teen chaar' and 'Rajani' inspired us ..



When 50 paisa meant at least 10 toffees ...

When left over pages of the last years notebooks were used for rough

work or even fair work ...When 'Chelpark' and 'Natraaj' were

encouraged against 'Reynolds & family' ...



When the first rain meant getting drenched and playing in water and

mud and making 'kaagaj ki kishtis' ... When there were no

phones to tell friends that we will be at their homes

at six in the evening ..



When our parents always had 15 paise blue colored 'Antardesis' and

5 paise machli wale stamps at home ...

When we remembered tens of jokes and were not finding 'ice-cream &

papa' type jokes foolish enough to stop us from laughing ...



When we were not seeing patakhes on Diwalis and gulaalson

Holis as air and noise polluting or allergic agents ...



The list can be endless ...On the serious note I would like

to summarize with ...

When we were using our hearts more than our brains,

even for scientifically brainy activities like 'thinking' and 'deciding' ..

When we were crying and laughing more often,

more openly and more sincerely ..



When we were enjoying our present more than worrying about our future ..

When being emotional was not synonymous to being weak ...



When sharing worries and happiness didn't mean getting

vulnerable to the listener .. When blacks and whites were

the favorite colors instead of greys ...



When journeys also were important and not just the destinations ...



When life was a passenger's sleeper giving enough time and

opportunity to enjoy the sceneries

from its open and transparent glass windows instead of some

super fast's second ac with its curtained, closed and dark windows ...

I really miss them(From the bottom of my heart).. don't u?