Page 21 - Seniorstoday May 2023 Issue

every function was celebrated in this in his child hood fantasy imagine that
togetherness of warmth and there never
was a dull moment.
Akash, a diffident but an active child,
of average looks and intelligence, but
a curious student, had several friends,
most scholarly than him. But this eternal
comparisons and chase of marks never
worried him since his parents were
supportive of him and psychologically
supported him to ensure that he passes out
and progresses to the next class every year.
The postman carrying the annual school
results, was the most awaited person those
days with a pass ensuring abundance of
mithais for him. Akash and his friends
all liked games and there was no game
that they have not played together in their
growing up days, bestowed as they were
with the luxury of a private ground amid
them. Cricket, football, volleyball, marbles,
carrom, cards, langdi, kho -kho, lagori, you
name it and they have played it.
Akash had a close friend and neighbour
in his building, whose cousins used to
visit him annually every summer and
spent time in the magnet called Mumbai.
Akshada, his friend’s cousin, was a regular
visitor during school breaks. She was
vivacious with a smiling countenance
and quite talkative and sporting an
unconventional-those-days short bob cut.
Akash used to visit his friend’s house quite
regularly and have conversations with
Akshada and her siblings about school,
story books, play games and at times go
to movies, courtesy the friend who by
then had some regular income. Playing
games on the grounds was an everyday
summer activity and Akshada used to
watch all the plays and games from her
balcony. Subconsciously, Akash used to
espy Akshada watching the games and
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #47 | MAY 2023
she was looking at him. In that frame of
mind, he used to try and excel in the game
– whether hitting a four or a six in cricket
or a smash in the volleyball game – to him
Akshada was the sole audience and he had
to please her, if not for anything else, her
beatific smile. Summers were spent in such
imagination, but given the conservative
mind-sets of those time there never was
a temerity or temperament to express
feelings of hearts to anyone. So was it with
Akash. And possibly with Akshada too,
who may or may not have had any feeling
for Akash. Matters of hearts were best left
deep inside to pump away all the teenage
flutters and excitements.
In the inexorable passage of time and the
passing out of schools and the admissions
to colleges and transferrable jobs, summer
visits of Akshada to her cousin’s place
home became a rarity and eventually
petered out only to leave behind a
despondent and pining Akash. The connect
between Akash and Akshada completely
ceased overtime, except for stray reference
in conversations between Akash and his
friend.
Life went by for Akash, from college
to higher education to jobs to finding a
fresh crush, marriage and family and kids
and the inveterate circle of life, with all
its pleasures and pains, highs and lows.
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