The Good Old Days

I am thinking of a time, not so long ago...

Close your eyes and you will see it too...

A time when there was no internet, or DVD's and VCD's... 

before there were semi-automatics and joyriders and 'crack..

before SEGA, or Super Ninetendo or Atari...

im talking wayyy back..

the only 'games' that people played were 'chuppan chuppayee' (hide n seek), 'baraf pani' or 'oonch neech'..

in the streets, parks, any open space would do..

The corner shop was our very own 'treasure island'..

buying handfuls of butterscotch, jubilee, mars bars...

playing football with an old can..

when football was'nt soccer...

jumping in enormous puddles..building dams...

the smell of freshly cut grass on a sunny morning..

mayfair bubble gum...polka ice cream..

Mustansar 'chacha's ' morning show, and always missing the 5 minute cartoons

 and also getting late for school in the process...

The tom and jerry show, voltron, sabre rider, transformers, full house, perfect strangers..

staying up late for Air Wolf, Knight Rider and Misfits of Science..

Watching urdu dramas with more content and less superficiality..

unkahi, tanhaiyeeyaan, sunehray din, angan tehra..

When the corner of the street seemed too far, and going downtown meant going somewhere..

mosquitoe bites, wasp and bee stings were 'battle scars'; to be shown proudly..

sticky fingers...

Walking to school no matter what the weather..

Running till you were out of breath..

laughing for no reason till your sides hurt..

Jumping on the bed, pillow fights, dark room...

climbing trees, building tree houses...

Spinning till you were dizzy and nauseous...and then doing it all over again..

remember all that??it gets better....

The worst embarassment was being picked last for a team..

water balloons were the ultimate weapons of mas destruction

secretly eating the jelly powder...ovaltine powder...

remember when you knew everyone on your street

and so did your parents..

everyone was your 'best friend'

you couldnt sleep a wink on chaand raat and christmas eve...

doting on your cute adorable bakra and taking him everywhere with you..

being afraid of the neighbours russian terrier...

when 50 Rs pocket money was extravagant...

when you could get a pepsi for Rs 4 .. and an ice-lolly for Rs 1.50

when everyone's mum used to be at home when you got back from school...

Parents Teachers Meeting was hell on earth...

when you actually believed your dad to be the next Houdini for 'magically' removing and then joining back his thumb

when being taken out for dinner in a proper restaurant was beyond one's wildest dreams..

when 'spare the rod and spoil the child' was still vehemently believed upon..

being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited us at home...

our parent's punishments were a much bigger and more real threat than drive-by shootings , target killings and drugs and gangs etc..

Remember when...

important decisions were made upon 'eeny meeny miny moe'

'Race issue' meant who ran the fastest...

'Money issues' were determined by who was the banker in Monopoly

The worst thing you could catch from others was a cold

and being made to sit next to the opposite sex was the worst punishment..

Carrying weapons to school meant being caught with a rubber-band made slingshot..

nobody was prettier than your mum..

Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better..

taking drugs meant orange-flavoured chewable aspirin..

ice cream was considered a basic food group..

Abilities were discoved through 'double dares'

older siblings were the worst tormentors

but also our fiercest protectors...

Getting your very own bicycle and looking for higher places to stand and get on it..

cycling all afternoon in the sun till you fell sick..

Shab-e-Baraat fireworks..everyone coming out to watch the spectacle...

Classes being cancelled...free periods....

Last day before the summer vacations...strict 'no water fight' policy..

the principal starting the water fight himself....:D

complete, utter, heavenly, chaos....water everywhere....no holds barred

Long summer holidays...millions of plans..

trying frantically to finish summer vacations homework on the last day....and failing...

playing football in the rain..

monsoon..

thinking that these days would always remain...

If you can still remember most, or any of these, you have LIVED:)