As a kid you fantasize about growing up and being independent and responsible and rich and free to do what you want.
Doesn’t always work out that nicely. I remember back in school where my biggest worry was the couple of marks i didn’t score in the latest weekly test. Or finishing homework early enough to go play cricket in the park. Being able to finish a game during the lunch break. Enduring those long school assemblies where they got great people who went on and on about their greatness.
I couldn’t wait to grow up. To have a job, and correspondingly, money. All worries would go away. I would not have to worry about teachers and school. I will be a free bird.
I am a free bird today. A can do everything i wish for. I can buy anything i want. No one to watch over me. No one to stop me. No one to tell me if i am taking a wrong decision.
This isnt as good as i thought it was going to be. Now i am responsible for everything. Life is so complicated.
Were those days better? When Doordarshan played a single movie in the entire week and i was surprised why the adults weren’t as excited about the Amitabh blockbuster playing that evening. There was no cable tv and life was so much better. We actually went out to play, unlike today’s kids. There were no computers but still the world went around, and was much nicer. No shopping malls yet we all wore great clothes. A rupee actually bought stuff. I could actually speak what was on my mind.
The meanest thing a friend could do was not share his lunch with me. The most i could lose was, well, nothing. All i had to do was some silly math, read stories in different languages, and learn about history. That’s way nicer than adult life.
God! I wish i could get those days back!
AD: I had a conversation with my dad a few days back. I said how could you keep this a secret? That life will be so hard as an adult? He laughed and said that is a secret that we parents keep…
Of course the conversation had much meaning then to me, after a very tough summer of illness, house and city move, essential building works, a delayed PhD thesis completion project etc all in a space of weeks. Now even _I_ laugh that I asked.
That said it all depends on how much in a hurry you were to grow up. I was never in a hurry to grow up. I found immense happiness inside me as a child and once you learn contentment is within you, nothing can faze you. Well nothing fazes me. And I do not mind being chronologically older in the least bit. Inside, I am still 12
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Jagjit Singh sang and I quote-
Yeh daulat bhi le lo,
Yeh shauhrat bhi le lo,
magar mujko lauta do bachpan wo mera,
Wo kagaz ki kashti,
Wo baarish ka paani.
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Prerna:
“bachpan ka saawan”…
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I am happy now. Now I have better relationships with everyone around me. I have learnt to let go too.
As a child, I was never content with anything. I was quite a tyrant teenager.I was so very angry about everything.
I dont want to go back to those days. I dont know how my parents managed with me.
Now everything is much better.
The only plus side of my childhood is that I acquired some very special friends who will always be there for me.
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Madhuri the Tyrant? Hard to imagine
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Shefaly – as always very insightful thoughts yours.
Prerna – now that you mentioned that Jagjit singh ghazal, it just wouldnt go out of my mind. Reminds me of that sticky tunes post that Madhuri wrote
Madhuri – never imagined you being the tyrant you said you were
And yes, i agree in that the friends i made as a kid are still among my closest friends.
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@ Shefaly and AD
Yeah i was not an easy person to get along (dont know if that still holds), your post made me think about my childhood friends, and i realize that all of them were and are very calm and collected individuals.
I guess opposites attract. It makes me wonder sometimes, if i ever have children, how will i manage if they turn out like me.
Probably i will send them to my friends.
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AD: I am happier as an adult, for many reasons.
Also I like today. In terms of more cable tv and the internet. True, I miss some of the things of the old days….ummm let me try and remember…my pimples? Nah. Those crazy parties we used to have till late into the night…nah. The rush to see Chaaya Geet? Nah. The old theaters with rats running around…nah.
Roads also had more potholes and well, I can go on. Life is great today.
Not just these things. As an adolescent I went through stuff, if you know what I mean. The best years of my life started at 25 and life is getting better.
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@ Madhuri: I have it on reliable authority that I am a very cool Auntie!
@ AD: Thanks. One good thing about growing up is that we can all talk about our parents happily with our friends and our blog friends and whoever will listen.
Am I the only one who was a happy child?
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No you are not Shefaly
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AD: I am not, erm, what? Cool Auntie or the Only One Who Was A Happy Child? You have data for the latter but not for the former
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There was only one question in your comment! I sure know someone else who was also a happy child.
Cool auntie…i am sure!
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I see. I sit corrected (have to sit and type, you see). I was only reflecting on the notes here. Everyone seems happy as an adult, but I was blissed out as a child too.
I hope my siblings do not read this else they will see “Yes, of course, you spoilt one!”
It is term holiday time in English schools. Next weekend I get to be Cool Auntie and take my godson to the Science Museum
Thanks.
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@Shefaly,
Thanks, I can sleep well tonight.
@AD,
Thanks for the nice topic.
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Reminiscences: A fantastic article or shall I say expression, As I read this article I could related it to myself and I felt if I were to write something … this is it.
Once again in …. in pursuit of happiness
(Shangri-la)
Great Work, keep it up.
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AD: Why are you not writing? All ok?
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I have been a little upside down these past many days. Lots happening and too little time.
Everyday i think that i need to get back to writing…and i guess its about time
Thanks for the concern Shefaly…i assure you i might be down but am not out
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“.. i assure you i might be down but am not out”
I have no doubt, now.
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I want to be connected to the world people by the blog.
Please link to the site of the dear friend side.
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Why is it a surprise to anyone that this lowsy president of ours would support the building of a structure of death. Obama has done absolutely nothing for this country except make it worse.He is just another BS’er politician
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