My most cherished childhood memories are made of these - seemingly endless summers... where we sat under the shade of Guava or Mango trees creating worlds that didn't exist...rivulets of lava to hop over, or lakes filled with dangerous crocodiles and piranhas. Forest children living in a bungalow smack dab in the middle of a city- where we'd forage for food, dig pits to keep our imaginary food cool in the sweltering summer heat, grind leaves in the hopes of making gravies, collect inedible berries and seeds we'd relish in our minds eye. We'd spend our days watching guppies grow up in front of our eyes, in our front yard pond as mud skippers went about their skipping unabashed. Garden lizards and squirrels were an endless source of excitement as we lay in wait like little ill equipped stalkers watching their every move.
Those were the days when we'd let our imagination run wild, little wild hearts with wilder imaginations. Palm trees became umbrellas to shelter us from the harsh summer sun, we'd climb trees like baby monkeys, rest our aching bodies on their limbs only to get bitten by vicious ants and other insects - bee stings, bites, scratches, tumbles and falls were the norm. Those were the days when we'd wear our bruises proudly, little stamps of victories and testimonies of summers lived to the fullest.
When the sun rays got the better of us, we'd take shelter in the magical beckoning arms of books, so many stories of whimsical lands, adventures and delightfully refreshing tales of children our age, setting out on adventures of their own, we'd live their lives like little voyeurs.
When sunset cast eerie shadows on our world we'd played dress up under the flickering light of vintage lamps - rummaging through the clothes of yesteryear, frills ohhh so many frilled dresses, gowns and other delightful treats our little minds couldn't even fathom. We'd weave tales of witches and dragons and act them out like we believed every bit of the fantasy. Many summer evenings were spent listening to the good old oldies, we'd belt out tunes like we were professional singers and dance with gay abandon, little did we know we were making memories to last a lifetime!
Every once in a while we did have to face our own share of trials and tribulations- be it waging the incessant war with deviant monkeys, like seasoned soldiers with an air gun in hand, we'd win some battles but more often than not lose the war. The fruits of our labour would be enjoyed in a dark and dank store room, as we were made to strip down to the bare necessities and devour juicy mangoes we managed pluck and salvage from our arch enemies- the monkey clan. Messy children given free reign to indulge in the fruits of nature.
We'd tip toe like sure footed goats along our bungalow walls and every once in a while spring across boundaries to our neighbours terrace tops, to quell our curiosity, a tumble or two was always on the cards for one of us unfortunately.
Long nights we'd spent on the terrace top, under a sky full of stars spinning stories or singing at the top of our lungs like there wasn't a soul in sight, nights speckled with evading deviant monkeys, mosquito bites or watching barn owls and fruit bats go about their nocturnal business.
There memories I hold close to my heart with so many more... Yesteryear... if only we could all go back in time relive these beautiful moments.
