Reflections 2

The years use to be a long ones when we were kids. It was proud moments when we had more than one text book in 3rd STD, got promotion to pencil and note book from slate (but still slate was the main note book till 5th STD!!). But still had only bench to sit and write! We were waiting to be in 5th STD to have desk to write and a little compartment to keep our things underneath the desk. It was in the 3rd STD 2 of my cousins joined me in the same school and same class!!(One of them followed me till I finish my BSc.!!).

My dad was the only bread earner at home, lots of works at home to do he use to get up early in the morning and leave home by 6:30am and back only after 5pm. He use to ride his bicycle till udupi and then take a buss provided by his employer to manipal. I never remember him using bus for transport. He never let me touch his bicycle.

I still remember 2 of my favourite things at home were one of a tin box (my drums) which I always use to play (making sure dad is not around !!!) and a wooden plate made of a packing box had 3 metal wires fit it to it (was my guitar!!!!). I had lot of liking for music and writing at that time. I always dream to be a musician who writs. Another thing which I liked was a big bag which had all my playing things in it. I still remember I use to keep it out side the cattle's hut on a platform. When the first rain come I use to run and same my bag from rain it may be in the day or night I use to run for it like I had kept million pound in it and drag it in to the hut!!!!!. I had all my self made toys in it we never had the luxury of buying the toys from shop those days. I use to make lots of toys by myself I use to make my toy buses and trucks using the tonic bottle boxes and the rubber cork of the injection bottles!. I used every bit of wastages and created some thing out of it to play!!. I had lots of screws, nuts, wire pieces, nails etc in my bag. Lots of times when my dad needed nails I supplied him from my bag!!!!.

I loved sports, we use to have a heap of sand always by the side of our backyard. I use to do long jump and high jump on it by hiding from dad again. If he see me jumping on the sand heap he gathered he would beat me because by playing on them they scatter all over the place. I use to play and make the heap again and vacate the place before dad come home!!!. My mother always scold me but never cared even she beat me I never bothered about it much!!!!. I use to make my cricket bat with the coconut plant or pam tree branches!! Because I was the only boy near my house, I sue to collect lots of small stones and throw them in the air and hit them with my self made bat!! It use to be purely one man show I was the bats man, bowler, commentator and use to imagine playing in Lords with full of posh British spectators who just clap for a boundary or a wicket and pin drop silence after that!!!!!. I use to bowel at a plant, with stones thinking that it was wicket!!!!. It was hard to get wickets because I never new where my bowl will swing to because of their shape!!!!!!

In the evenings after finishing all the home work from the school and home work I had the chance to go and play in the ground. Because I we were leaving very close to the ground I had lots of chance to play cricket and volleyball.

In the 3rd STD first time in my life I had the chance to act in the drama. That was my another dream. I had a lead role in a drama as Beerbal (King Akbar’s friend). It was a great hit. I found one thing that I had nervousness before going in to the stage once I get in I am the boss I don’t have any problems. I still love to perform on the stage.

Around the time I was in 3rd STD once I wanted to learn the Tabla (Kind of indian drums). I put my request to mom which was rejected! I never had dare to speak to dad, I went on a hunger strike for one after noon my mom wont budge. I know my parents never had that much money, but it was one of those childish instincts after reading Gandhi’s hunger strikes!!!!!

We never had electricity at home till I was in 7th STD. It was such a fun 3 kids sitting under one kerosene lamp and read the books. In the rainy season we had a routine that we had to read one chapter of Ramayana, Mahabharatha everyday loudly so that all the member of family can sit and hear!! We three kids a time table that one person read each day!! I still miss those days, out side heavy thunder shower with lighting in side spiritual journey. All kids has to go to bed by 8:30pm get up by 5am. All home works should be finished in the evening, only reading in the morning.

I still love to go home in the rainy season and sit at home watching the rain drops bubbling and spilling the water when the bubble breaks. I would happily watch them sitting by the edge of the roof for hours. I some times think those bubbles represents lots of our dreams!!!