Orange
The sodium vapour lamp glared at me as I looked out of the window. I felt comfortable in the shadow. It's late in the night; the bus stops, the road is empty and I see one lean man cross the road walking towards us. He is smoking a cigarette. He climbed up the bus and started tossing baggages to the the bus driver standing below. I was amazed by the feat. My mother and I got off the bus picked up our luggage and crossed the road. On the other side there is a man standing next to a white car. Over time, I learned that car was called Fiat Premier Padmini. I was under three years old. I still remember, my mother & I travelled to meet relatives. He was probably a distant relative as I don't recollect his face any more. He picked us up and took us to his mother's home I guess. I remember they had a music box; and I probably even danced to it. They took a photo of me wiggling around. Whenever I see that photo; I remember the sodium vapour lamps. Ah, those orange lights... for some unknown reason I felt comfortable in the shadow island with the orange light all over the place. This is my earliest memory of my life. It's not extraordinary, but it's the oldest thing I still remember.
When I turned 5; on 12th of December I said to myself "you are half way there; you are going to be 10 in next 5 years". Yes, I did know maths back then. Oh yes, I do remember we used to have square ruled notebooks. I remember when I was old enough for addition & subtraction in school; my dad would teach me multiplication. We had summer time power cuts back then; my dad & I would sit outside on folding chairs and my father would ask me to repeat after him - the multiplication tables. I remember... I remember it all. It was so nice; my father & I. I think it was the night...the moon lit night. No street lights; no loud televisions...it was just a power cut and a moon lit night. I remember, it was the multiplication table for number 5. I said to myself - this is so easy 5, 10, 15, 20... the last digit is either a 0 or a 5. Bear with my digressions. So, when I turned 5 I said to myself - "you are half way there; you are going to be 10 in next 5 years". I so badly wanted to be 10; it was a two-digit number.. how could you not want that? I looked upon it as an achievement. And, then I turned 10 - it was bliss. I say to myself - I am a two digit number now. This is it, this is my achievement. I am never going to be 100 to achieve the 3-digit age. This is it; this my moment of celebration.
Forgive me if I don't sound like myself. I woke up today at 12pm and have been drinking rum till now. Unfortunately, I finished the bottle now. I have to take a quick break and run by the store and get some more rum.
I walk out in my shorts and tee shirt and It's raining outside. On the bright side, I don't have to take a shower any more; nature washed me for today. Now I have two bottles of Myers Rum in fridge; and the best of Brooklyn Pizza in my hands. It's about 10pm and now that I am basking in the warmth of Rum, let me continue.
There is no real purpose behind me trying to jot down my oldest memory. Except for the fear that I will forget it someday. And then, it will be lost like just another memory. It'll never matter to me any more. It's my oldest; I was 3. And, I don't know if I will still remember it; and so I had to write it down. I have lost so many such memories; I don't want to lose this one.
Once in a while, I spend an entire day thinking about my entire Life. All the good things, all the wonderful experiences & memories. Today, just happened to be one of those days. It makes me happy and makes me want to re-live my childhood. It sounds ridiculous but I do it for a very good reason. I think about it and cherish all my memories for one reason - to remind myself of how I got to be what I am today. And, I love it; every moment of it. Yes, I've had some downfalls, but never any regrets.
Mid-June or maybe early July; I am asked to stand one-arm length behind the boy in front of me. All I am supposed to see is his ears and not the ears of the boy in front him. That is how they determine if you are in a straight line. No shifting of weight from one leg to another. Complete silence. It was my first day in Little Flowers High School. Till then I was in the Little Flowers Primary School; which is from Nursery to 3rd standard. All boys school - one of the best back then. Strict discipline & notorious boys - that's how it was. I am in 4th standard B section with my buddies who have been with me since nursery.
B-section boys. I don't quite remember if it was a skit or a fancy dress competition; but I was asked to dress up like a girl. My mother left no stone unturned; I even had lipstick on my lips. You must understand the trauma of an 8 year old boy. In his world of all boys school; girls are aliens. Some of my buddies weren't spared either. To top it all, the our parents & teachers took a good number of photos. The lunch break was the best of all; we had paper rocket events. I loved my time with my Section-B boys. And, then I leave this school.
The one in the middle with most number of balloons is me on my fifth birthday.
We moved to a different locality; so that it could be easier for my dad to get to work. I joined a different school. It was co-ed. I missed my buddies, but then I made new ones. And life moved on.
The orange glow of the sodium vapour lamp. The journey begins from there; it's been wonderful so far and it's only going to get better. I just hope I always remember from when it all started - the orange glow of the sodium vapour lamp
When I turned 5; on 12th of December I said to myself "you are half way there; you are going to be 10 in next 5 years". Yes, I did know maths back then. Oh yes, I do remember we used to have square ruled notebooks. I remember when I was old enough for addition & subtraction in school; my dad would teach me multiplication. We had summer time power cuts back then; my dad & I would sit outside on folding chairs and my father would ask me to repeat after him - the multiplication tables. I remember... I remember it all. It was so nice; my father & I. I think it was the night...the moon lit night. No street lights; no loud televisions...it was just a power cut and a moon lit night. I remember, it was the multiplication table for number 5. I said to myself - this is so easy 5, 10, 15, 20... the last digit is either a 0 or a 5. Bear with my digressions. So, when I turned 5 I said to myself - "you are half way there; you are going to be 10 in next 5 years". I so badly wanted to be 10; it was a two-digit number.. how could you not want that? I looked upon it as an achievement. And, then I turned 10 - it was bliss. I say to myself - I am a two digit number now. This is it, this is my achievement. I am never going to be 100 to achieve the 3-digit age. This is it; this my moment of celebration.
Forgive me if I don't sound like myself. I woke up today at 12pm and have been drinking rum till now. Unfortunately, I finished the bottle now. I have to take a quick break and run by the store and get some more rum.
I walk out in my shorts and tee shirt and It's raining outside. On the bright side, I don't have to take a shower any more; nature washed me for today. Now I have two bottles of Myers Rum in fridge; and the best of Brooklyn Pizza in my hands. It's about 10pm and now that I am basking in the warmth of Rum, let me continue.
There is no real purpose behind me trying to jot down my oldest memory. Except for the fear that I will forget it someday. And then, it will be lost like just another memory. It'll never matter to me any more. It's my oldest; I was 3. And, I don't know if I will still remember it; and so I had to write it down. I have lost so many such memories; I don't want to lose this one.
Once in a while, I spend an entire day thinking about my entire Life. All the good things, all the wonderful experiences & memories. Today, just happened to be one of those days. It makes me happy and makes me want to re-live my childhood. It sounds ridiculous but I do it for a very good reason. I think about it and cherish all my memories for one reason - to remind myself of how I got to be what I am today. And, I love it; every moment of it. Yes, I've had some downfalls, but never any regrets.
Mid-June or maybe early July; I am asked to stand one-arm length behind the boy in front of me. All I am supposed to see is his ears and not the ears of the boy in front him. That is how they determine if you are in a straight line. No shifting of weight from one leg to another. Complete silence. It was my first day in Little Flowers High School. Till then I was in the Little Flowers Primary School; which is from Nursery to 3rd standard. All boys school - one of the best back then. Strict discipline & notorious boys - that's how it was. I am in 4th standard B section with my buddies who have been with me since nursery.
B-section boys. I don't quite remember if it was a skit or a fancy dress competition; but I was asked to dress up like a girl. My mother left no stone unturned; I even had lipstick on my lips. You must understand the trauma of an 8 year old boy. In his world of all boys school; girls are aliens. Some of my buddies weren't spared either. To top it all, the our parents & teachers took a good number of photos. The lunch break was the best of all; we had paper rocket events. I loved my time with my Section-B boys. And, then I leave this school.
The one in the middle with most number of balloons is me on my fifth birthday.
We moved to a different locality; so that it could be easier for my dad to get to work. I joined a different school. It was co-ed. I missed my buddies, but then I made new ones. And life moved on.
The orange glow of the sodium vapour lamp. The journey begins from there; it's been wonderful so far and it's only going to get better. I just hope I always remember from when it all started - the orange glow of the sodium vapour lamp
