My balcony gives a terrific view of the outside world. Few months back I covered the balcony with glass so that I can keep the doors open. I can view the welcome shower and how the water transform a sweat dripping depressed face to a wet happy one.
I also see how a father protects his infant under his jacket, how the kids jump on the flooded streets. I also see an ice-cream wallah (ice cream seller) trying to push his three wheeled (two large in front and one small at the back) trolley against the watery streets.
Back then when I was in school the ice-cream wallah brought smile in our faces. School used to get over around noontime and with those few coins saved from pocket money, we bought our fortunes, an orange ice cream candy or a choco bar. Upon enquiring on my sore throat if I had ice cream the answer would always be negative.
We all lied to protect our sense of freedom, a self indulged reward for a “hard day” in school. And under the shade of the ice cream trolley we learnt to share. There were some who could not afford and we would gladly share.
Today the ice-cream wallah is an old man. He was pushing hard towards a primary school, which is due to get over in noon. He does not understand why the kids don’t come to him anymore. Yesterdays kids are today’s parents. When a loving father asked his daughter, “ Want an inecream?” The answer was swift and prompts, “I would rather have a Baskin Robbins.”
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8 comments:
what a nice description....wheres the place? is it in kolkata?
Yes it is in Kolkata.
Small things, yet it gave happiness.
Happines is what is most elusive today.
Many years ago, when I was about to embark on career quest; some onw had told me, which keeps ringning in my ear, till date; which is"..."Getting what you wanted badly is being successful, and wanting what you got is happiness"
I guess, we could all be happy, had we chosen not be in a mad rat race.
It's a matter of choice though...
seriously!life changes like hell..back then we were happy wid those one rupee worth ice candy sticks..now even walls isnt too good..we prefer one from a mama mia or baskin robbins..then too it fails to give us the amt of gladness which those sticks offered..gone r those happy days just like those one rupee worth ice candies i believe *sighs*
*sigh *again....
it is indeed nostalgia..in wisps and winds..that keeps a man going...and gives him the strength nd will et al to overcome all that he needs to.....
i love it when muy parents introduce me to what was their thrills.and i love it when muy gradnparents and i do at this age and day wht they had done when they were 4 years old.
i like listening to ppl reminiscing and talking abt things of the past....both recent and long past.
ill share and ice cream,a walk,an old biulding and a last drink(which dint happen)....for old times sake...my time or someone elses....
why dint the father ever let her into his childhood...or show her the flipside to bask robb ?
heres giving all.....
and to especially...hugggg!!!
hey Avi! this one is ur best written blog till date.
the definitions of happiness and success vary from ppl 2 ppl and 4 some, they overlap. my idea of happiness is 2b surrounded by my loved ones and bng able to share my moments of joy and grief with them. but ironically, wat this BUSY life imposes on us is a sense of solitude...
nostalgia grips us in its throes whenever a flash from r childhood presents itself b4 us. and no matter what we do, whr we go or wat we attain, we'll never b able 2 recreate the magic that we discovered in the unlikeliest of places as children... we live in a different world now...
You write very well.
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