KIDDY DAYS

We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it.                                                                                                    - George Eliot

The moment, I think of my childhood my memory part gets filled with numerous flash backs. Such kiddopanti and craziness I can never do these days even if I would love to do.

Well, let me recollect quickly what my parents say about my infancy. Yes! What about a pony tail on my head these days ! But there were times I was having long hairs and a ribbon tied to it but the silly thing is that I used to demand a red ribbon. Have you ever heard of tea and rice as snacks. Yes ! I've tasted it in my infancy. When others were having snacks I had chosen rice as my snacks and please don't try it now, might be disgusting. That was the time when happiness was wearing a balloon or cartoon printed dress along with red peep peep sounding shoes, going out with father on a bicycle ride, fulfilling demands by crying.

So far as craziness, I have stored in my memory, it all started with siblings. Most often quarrels with sister. Quarrel for silly things, crazy deeds and sometimes for no reasons too and that ends only when elders interfere. Making faces to each other, hiding things, scolding, trolling, poking, the worst one when parents start supporting the opponent. How can you forget sticking your chew gum here and there and using it as a brilliant tool of your engineering. The awkward moment when someone asks to give chocolates only when you finish counting.

You count, read, recite poems and start learning when gradually you start making friends around. Now we are a gang. Gang of kiddies formed. Playing outdoor started. Well our gang never misses any game, say it cricket, football, hockey, kabbadi all with locally made bats, balls, sticks, that all country kids can better understand. Now watching your favorite series like cartoons, Shaktiman and cricket is much entertaining sitting together with gangs. School classes are now funny, a place to gather and enjoying. Going river and playing there having dips is too much fun that it sometimes attract elders envy and we are bitten several times. Festivals, fairs and holidays took us to cloud9. Guests in home only meant chocolates and sweets to us.

Time for the real school days, exams, competition, tuition, homework, projects, punishments and all. Homework the burden, teachers seems to be enemies, exams the most painful. Amidst all these there was fun still existed. The hot summer vacation filled with stealing mangoes, cucumber. Wrapping up in one shawl in chilling winter morning tuition classes. Going school under one umbrella in rainy days. Waiting for the last bell to ring in schools, making mimicry of teachers, flying paper rockets, start gossiping in classes as much as possible, enjoying the funny expressions of buddies while bitten by teachers, begging friends their bicycle for a ride through the country roads, making action plans to visit hill side during holidays. Going on fishing after school is too much exciting. Competition not only in study but also in flying kites in which I always fail. Flying kites that addiction for which we never listen to anyone. In Puja vacation how elders took us to a pandal visit, showing one idol many times and making us count the same several times. Taking a window seat in trains and buses was like being in heaven. Huh ! Countless memories hunting me.

Time goes on and so us too. We grow up and make ourselves ready for the tough competition and challenges to face. With time the Kiddy Days fade away and we seldom make fun. Being childish is the funniest thing ever.