We cried on the first day of our school, Our parents came to drop us to school and pick us up in a peaceful town of Kalyan East - without much traffic.We had Raju/Rajani, Shobha/Rupa(No idea where they are now), Unni, Munni/Jayasree/Ravi for company. Most of us going to St. Judes school and some to Model English. Enjoyed going to 'Thabela' and seeing lines of buffalos, and bringing home fresh milk daily.
Anyone owning an ambassodar, Premier Padmini or Maruthi 800 was considered extrimely rich. We had houses in rows - Santhi Nivas, Kamla Nivas - like ribbion and vast space in between where we had Ganesh Chathurthi, Ayyapa Pooja, Dhai Hundi, Deepavali, Christmas and New Year celebrated every year. At times there were movies shown in a big white screen or by taking VCR/VCP on rent. We used to divide and share the cost of watching movie. Amma, with Rema Aunty, Leela Aunty, Mema (Pushpa Aunty- Don't know where she and her daughter Deepa are now?) enjoyed co-ordianting Thalpali and other events. It was so much fun, dancing for 'Dance little baby- Dance your paws', 'Chicken on the egg' and 'Sweeper came a sweeping'. Amma liked to take us and click photos from Mr. Natwarlal studio - it made us feel special just one photo. Achan used to narrate Ramayana, Mahabharatha and other stores every weekend and take us to USA (Ulasnagar Sindhi Association)to meet Govindankutty Chettan Uncle sometimes on a cycle, or Bhandup to meet Go-Nany in the local train. The meetings with Panku Uncle - Lekha and Tulsi Uncle/Omna Aunty in Mulund.
If we had long holidays - we used to go to meet our cousins in Bourvili/Malad - Chanda Aunty/Geetha Aunty. Still remeber the day Geetha Aunty wanted to give us 'puttu-rubber band' and how Priya cried! How I tried making tea for the first time when Prabha Uncle came home and there was no elders only we children. How a buffalo came to hit Priya (was it because she wore red dress?). How it was considered a great thing, if someone got into a flight or travelled abroad? How a watch or a tricycle/toy was cherished by children and envyed by others! I had one watch gifted by Raviman and tricycle gifted by Shasiman - and it was enved by other children when I took them out to play in the varanda. Especially our Andhra neighbours. We used to count the number of 'Maans' (dears) that was in the scenery above our dining table and the 'Maans', that we had and thought why both were called Maans.
Writing letters with pen on paper was an interesting thing, there were phones only in one house somewhere around the corner, and we used to go to somebody's house and watch Chitrahar or P.T. Usha running for Olympics. Achan used to collect and send magazines to Sasiman, and it would take a month to reach. In case there was something urgent - we used to send telegram.
Comming to our Native place was an event in itself - which happened once in 2-3 years. The two day train journey in Jayanthi-Jantha/Kanyakumari express were independence day for us - A long picnic. We used to have at least 2-3 other family with us. Priya/Prasant/Reshmi. Was scared when achan got down at every station. Nandan Chettan would tell us good stories. And the scary days where when first me, then my sis and mother got Chicken Pox.
Ah! Those where the days when for life's simple choices we would just toss a coin and decide with heads/tails and for most complex choices had the simple solutions of Akkad Bakkad Bambey Bo, Asee nabe pure sau, Sau se nikla raja chor pakadke bhaga!
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