We were going to meet our married daughter the next day, at her new place. She asked me to bring along her school certificates and some other documents that she didn't bother taking with her when she moved out of the house some years back. I couldn't remember where exactly I had placed them so I started searching every possible briefcase, suitcase, boxes n bags which were left in the attic or under the bed. These had been untouched for years. Eventually I found the blue leather bag that I was looking for; the papers were intact inside. I was surprised to find a bunch of interesting letters there written by my son to his ‘Didi’ when she was studying in Delhi. He was in 8th standard at the time.
He wrote the letter on a daily basis, like a diary, giving every detail of his day. I was enjoying how innocently he described everything. He mentioned the time when he drew his favourite cartoon characters, when he saw a batman movie, when he bought a cricket bat from his own savings (cost him Rs.220), when he studied and how much syllabus he covered, how he enjoyed his Pokémon game, what he ate, who he fought with, whom he befriended, everything!! He tried to keep his loving Didi informed of everything that was going on in his life. I could feel how much he missed having his sister around. At one place he had written, “You know Didi, Ma didn’t give me any food tonight, I went to bed empty stomach. I was filled with remorse immediately for leaving him hungry that night. I tried to remember why I would do such a thing when I saw a star mark above that line. I looked for another star mark in that page. I found it at the bottom of the page. My naughty son had scrawled there- “Don’t tell anyone but my stomach is upset. That’s why Ma didn’t let me have dinner... He he he...“
It was so sweet, childish and innocent! I was getting nostalgic. Then I came across one of his letters where he described a funny incident that happened in his class that day. I couldn't control my laughter upon reading it, it’s still impossible to control the urge to do so every time I think about it.
It was so sweet, childish and innocent! I was getting nostalgic. Then I came across one of his letters where he described a funny incident that happened in his class that day. I couldn't control my laughter upon reading it, it’s still impossible to control the urge to do so every time I think about it.
He wrote- “Today our Hindi Teacher asked us to write a 10 sentence conversation between Upvan (Garden) and a Manushya (Human Being). One of my friends wrote:-
Manushya: Tumhara Naam kya hai?
Upvan: Mera naam Rohan Upvan hai, tumhara naam kya hai?
Manushya: Mera naam Rohan Manushya hai, tum itne sundar kaise ho?
Upvan: Ye main nahi bata sakta.
Manushya: Are nahi, batao to!!
Upvan: Nahi.
Manushya: Kripa karo, batao.
Upvan: Nahi. Majboori hai.
Manushya:Theek hai, to main tumhe ukhad doonga.
Upvan: Nahi nahi, ruko, batata hoon, ye Bhagwan ki den hai jo mujhe lottery se prapt hui hai.
I think your lips are starting to part in a smile now...
