Today's Lesson

I wonder how life teaches us something everyday. Today's learning came really early in the day. I was getting late for office, and wanted to run as fast as I could. The moment I am out on the road. I see this cute little hand rising ahead of me, and when I look up to his face, his eyes are screaming please stop and take me along, I focus clearer on the picture and I see it's a little boy dressed in red and white with a big bag on his back, and along with him there's another shy friend. Despite of getting late I hit the brakes, and there comes a super happy voice, Akka, and the other guy prods him with his elbow, and the guy switches to English. "Sister, can you please drop us to school, we are late!" I was like so am I, hop on. And as those tiny lightweights adjust themselves on the tiny seat, we start. And all I can hear is happy giggles, fun, excitement to be on a two wheeler, a scooty, which most of my friends ridicule.

It reminded me of my childhood, when sitting in front of that Hero cycle seat, as I was dropped to school, or siting on Dad's scooter, or forget sitting standing in front, braving the wind, dust, grasping everything that these tiny eyes could, I was the happiest kid ever. My Daddy was my hero. He was the best.

But as I grew up, so did my demands and my needs. Suddenly that scooter was an embarrassment, I wanted them to have a car. Then the car, with a stereo. Then with A/C. And now what is a car if it doesn't have a power steering, power window or auto lock? How greedy and dissatisfied we become once we grow up? That simple hero cycle that made us laugh, giggle is no longer cool? What is the definition of cool? We loved to walk or cycle long distances, and the pleasure of 'tinga-tolis' when your parents grabbed one arm each and you felt like you are the happiest kid alive, swinging in the air. Or the little piggy back rides.

God! I miss those days when little things brought so much happiness and excitement. When I didn't worry about people and society. When I wasn't greedy. When my Daddy was my Hero, and my cycle my Spaceship that would take me anywhere in this Universe! Where a Colgate box could transform into the train, car, plane, ship or anything for that matter. When a box of crayons with just 12 colors was the greatest possession. When Rajma Chawal for lunch was a feast and summer breaks meant playing with friends in the park and relishing Mangoes. When rains were for dancing naked on the terrace and catching tadpoles one of the favorite pass time. When stones and marbles were treasure and lollipops lasted for hours. I can go on and on... But I think we all get the drift. We all understand. And I hope we all learn something from it....