The Evening Recollections

Evenings in my home is usually spent watching the red sunset from the windows and sipping in warm tea, recollecting the good old days. Even today our talks revolved around the little details of the people we have met, places we’ve been to and of course, our favorite, me and my sisters’ childhood antics. I and my sisters, Fonia and Jolly, weren’t much a problem to our parents but we did have quite a lot to remember.

We grew up in an army quarters in the prime years of our lives. That explained our interest in varied cultures, whether it be waiting in line with our Hindu friends to get prasad from the temple, or singing in groups collecting money with Nepali friends during Diwali for Dheushure or even hogging the awesome meal during Id at my teacher’s place. Those were the good ol’days indeed!

Though my sisters don’t remember much of those days, I could still recollect them vividly in my mind. My first best friend, Tota (Parrot), an assamese boy from the neighborhood in the camp, was the first person who taught me the fun in explorations! For us the camp was a huge, mysterious land, awaiting to be discovered! We had maps with houses marked, danger zones surrounded by dogs and grouchy old men, gardens laded with fruits we can eat and sounds and signals to know what to do and when. Our adventures would find us jumping over fences, watching the neighbors’ activities, searching for treasures, collecting seeds, stones and everything that catches our admiration, and teasing Angur (Grapes) with his names often ending up running to avoid his beatings, as he was much older than us. But our adventure ends every day with our mothers’ call. He was my friend when I had no companion, my sisters were then way too young and one, not even born. Things changed when he left, the family got transferred. It was then I found girl friends. It was different with dolls and cutleries, not much to remember.

The camp was always fun. We had rabbits, geese and chickens all named by me and also my first pet dog, Blackie. My mom told me that as a kid I was a coward afraid of everything but then my uncle (mom’s brother) came to live with us and showed me how to tame animals, after that I was inseparable from them. In fact, as the story goes I brought Blackie, a stray home as it followed me all the way from my tuition classes. From that day on it stayed with me and everyday it greeted me with its joyous bark and happy sprite as soon as I reach home after nursery classes and tuitions. Sadly, both my parents were allergic to dogs! They however, had to bear him because of me. The last thing I remember of Blackie was an account of my mom telling me that Blackie was in heaven! I learnt later that Blackie was killed by neighbors who eat dog meat! It was cruel!

My sister, Fonia grew old enough to play with me and my youngest sister, Jolly was then just starting to walk. Dad would be home around 4 in the evening. As the sun begins to set, he would call us out for a walk, hold my hand on one side and Fonia’s, on the other and Jolly held on to my pinky finger. We would stroll the neighborhood at dusk to a particular spot, a garden to watch the fireflies. As soon as the light dims slowly, one by one, the fireflies would emerge from the thick grasses and flower bushes. I would watch them in awe as my father would smile at me. It was always a speechless moment. The darkness of the night did not scare us as we watched millions of fireflies lighting up the night skies. My mischievous sister, Fonia would catch a few of them and dad would then tell her to let them go after we have taken our keen observations.  Few people who passed by would stop to watch the scene but for us it was a routine and that was our spot. I wonder now, what did my father think of every time he smiled at me. It was one of the favorite memories of my life. Sadly, my sisters could not; in that age remember or appreciate the beauty of nature. If only, I could show them someday that scene…

Well… for today let me end this post here with that beautiful memory. Ciao!

This is the only picture I found online which comes close enough to the scene in my mind