Vacation

Had taken a short break from daily routine – Esther’s vacation - So many memories attached to Vacation – Unlike Esther who does not have any friends of her age around, I used to have quite good company in most of the places we lived .. memory starts from Arunachal Pradesh (such a beautiful place) … vacation meant running behind butterflies … helping dad watering plants in kitchen garden (chillies, lettuce, beetroot, tomatoes, bhindi , beans my fav Apple tree :)) garden was full of Paper flowers (Ooty flowers), Dalia, Chrysanthemum, Gladiolas , Roses .. playing Hide and Seek in open where we used to climb trees to hide, river roaring just behind our house , our Music sir living next door , he teaching guitar and mandolin .. , watching movies (VCR days) twice a week in Officer’s Mess with all families and friends – arun,anju,sonu,bonu,mum,Swapna,sankalp …. collecting crowns (Gold Spot, Thumbs Up, Limca) , Sundays again in Officers Mess – Thambola, lunch and movies .. , Practice for cultural programs … plucking plum and apples when you didn’t have anything else to do …then after 4-5 yrs moved in Assam, little more older – it was Badminton, football, caroms, kho kho, our own games like Squash with TT bats and ball :) bishu,pidu,amit,puja,rucha,boxy,chotti,nonu -- instead of Plum and Apple it was Guava and Mangoes and Jamun … Vacation was full of running around, playing watching movies with friends (at home VCR :)), making snacks with friends at home , sharing video games (monkey game , aircraft …) … kahan gaye who din …

Esther’s vacation - she has no friends around … she plays alone at home (teacher student, sometime painting,) seeing her plight we thought taking cables connection for 3 months – summer school will start only April mid – and again its going to be all in class room maybe little bigger room … , I tell her “We will do cycling and learn swimming” she says she is too scared to try .. I say how about dance school .. she thinks about it and then says … No not interested … I will dance at home .. so after some planning I took off for a week and we took her to Bangalore – showed her the hospital she was born, the house we lived, met friends and neighbours , kids with whom Esther had spent her first 2 years … she spent most of her vacation with 2 off her cousins – both her age – and guess this is her first time enjoying vacation … after 7 days of stay in Bangalore we came down to Chenganoor – her Appachan Ammachi’s place and we (kids and me) went for evening walk – beautiful and quite , perfect for cycling – plain nice roads – paddy fields on both side – not much vehicles on road – esther asked if she can run – I said “Run” – she ran and I saw her stopping at some distance and dancing – I could hear some rhythm – familiar rhythm – from a mill – Oil mill – how many times I have felt like dancing and stopped myself , thinking it will look crazy .. and here my daughter was dancing and laughing – I smiled at her and even I started laughing – she asked – whats that music its so nice – … and I had explain her – Oil mill … Wanted to do cycling – but did not have time for that … after Ezekiel its more than 1.5 yrs ,, thought of keeping it for next time , also have to play with the kids in the field (all boys sean,Sachin,shine,aaron,able all between 9-13 yrs ) , they play cricket, badminton and cycling :) - played with them almost 3 yrs back – want to do that all again – will pull in Esther also J -- I wish my kids had more options of fun – I wish my kids could feel safe out -- I wish I could have the childhood fun what my parents had …

Mere bachpan ki yaadein ..

Mere bachapan ki yaadein .. adhoore se rishtey …

Wahi ghar ka aagan – woh mamta ka sawan …. Mere bachapan ki yaadein ..