I was born in unexciting times. Life was a simple regular fare. I remember the invention of Colour TV, cordless phones were in fashion and so was renting VCR cassettes on weekends to watch the latest and greatest movies, which mostly were Govinda and Jeetendra specials. I was happy taking "aloo parathas and "dal mooth" sandwiches, (yes there is actually such a sandwich invented by my mom) for lunch, family of four sitting in a Maruti 800 was a sign of prosperity. Huddling around grandparents in summer vacations for story telling sessions was a favorite night activity, playing "dark room" and "chor police" were other pleasures in the summer vacation, along with eating loads of mangoes and litchis fresh off the trees. Neighbors who were family. Househelps who played the role of siblings and playmates. Saturdays and Sundays were all about going to "Anjana" and Chitra" movie halls with bunch of Mamma and Papa friends and kids. Sometimes making a hike up to 50 kilometeres by car to watch the latest Bollywood flick, and Sunday evening special movie on Doordarshan. The milkman mixed water in the milk (and when confronted never denied it). International holidays meant a trip to Nepal, Toblerone and Hersey chocolates were found in homes of those who had relatives in Canada and America, and most parents (my parents too) detested the idea of bringing home a pet (they had us). Childhood was easy, there was not much to do. Sit for exams, play in the garden (cricket etc), go for family birthday parties, wear "color dress" in the school, distribute candies to friends, sleep early, cycle fast in the yard and dusty roads outside (under the watchful eyes of the either "chapraasi" (guard) or "Maali" (gardener).
But as I grew up, things began to shake up. Phones began to ring differently, they didn’t screech now. Multiplexes started sprouting up. Milk began to come in packets, later out of machines when you put in tokens, much later in cartons. There was Tom Cruise. And Salman Khan. And Borris Becker and Steffi Graf. Archies cards and giant posters. There was pocket money and Second Hoogly Bridge. There were TC books (True Confessions) and Nancy Drew kissing Ned. There was George Michael and Madonna. Crew cuts and fringes. There was Wasim Akram and Imran Khan. India-pakistan matches.
Yet, those were the days when I had the power to choose what will have an effect on my life, Those were the days when I could stay ‘untouched’ by what was #trending, No cable. No Internet. No distances. .... Wish I had the wisdom to know that none could buy me a Barbie Life in The Dreamhouse.
