Tag: childhood stories

Gangs of Gopalpur

Summer vacations were the most awaited holiday for us. Planning it for months in advance to get ourselves on Purushottam Express.

Close to one and a half month was to be spent in the coastal town of Gopalpur. That’s where my Granny lived, and where my mom’s home was. And is.

It used to be an overnight journey and then a little more, due to train delays and the commute from Berhampur railway station to Gopalpur via bus. Now, let me tell you, the whole journey from Tatanagar Railway station (Jamshedpur’s Railway station is named Tatanagar), on one side and this hour and a half journey in this bus on the other side, but I’ll still say the train journey is easier. We would dread for this, more so because of the dry fish smell and the fishermen themselves giving us company. Still remember us all carrying lemon or even medicine to avoid vomiting.

But the moment we would get off at the bus stand, the excitement and tiring commute would vanish into the air. Not only because we have finally reached but to see our cousins, waiting for us. Exchanging the Salaams and refreshing ourselves with cold drink in the hot humid afternoon weather, we’d be on.

Gangs of Gopalpur

This one is from our Mamajan’s Marriage, with our Maami 🙂 Shahrukh, isn’t part of the picture here, being a tiny toddler at that time, but this is one of those pics where we all are together. Can you spot me ?

Family time it was. The 7 of us will be inseparable for the entire vacations. Most of the evenings were spent on the beach, or on the terrace overlooking the sea or playing something or the other. From hide & seek to Lock-and-key to even Fancy dress competitions, where I’d dress up like a clown most of the time. There is one famous “Court-court” game which makes me laugh even now. 😀

We even used to have birthday celebrations, fake ones of course as most of our birthdays were spread on the later part of the year. Cake was made from grinding biscuits and garnishing it with chocolate. Gifts would be given (and returned later so that it can be rotated to others 😛 ).

Let me introduce all 7 to you in particular order. It was Badi api (zabin), Mobin Api, Sony Api, Me, Arzoo, Nehal and then Shahrukh. One little secret, my name in gopalpur is Anees instead of Farooq (Keep it a secret, will you ? 😛 )

Every night before sleeping, mobin api would tell us some story, something new or something she would make up every night. The following morning, we would all wake up with Duck tales playing on the tv in front of us. What we also had, was a “Who woke up first” competition. After having our Pre-Breakfast of Laddoos or biscuits, we’d wait for the breakfast while watching cartoons. Once it was finished, we’d all head upstairs and apart from any snack-emergency, we’d rarely come down.

There are hundreds of tales of what we would do, and probably a book can be written about the fun times.

Still recall how I used to cry when they’d leave when their vacations used to get over before us. Hated those few days in Gopalpur. Although, before heading for home, we would always stop for a day-or-two at their place in Khurda road, before boarding the train for home. But it was different, Gopalpur became the place for us, because of our togetherness. For 7 of us.

Today, all 7 of us are at seven different places, across countries, states and cities. Our Watsapp group, “Gangs of Gopalpur” keeps us together, thankfully.

There are of course plans to meet soon, but that magic of being those children, being there with little fights, games and fun, can never be replaced.

When I see housing.com with its #Together campaign, it just takes me back to those times.

Here’s to all of you, who have been blessed with amazing siblings, that togetherness is irreplaceable.

Ek kahaani bachpan ki…

Ek kahaani bachpan ki

Nange panv khelte khelte koi keel ghuns gayi uske pair me, thoda chubha aur wo zor se chilla baitha. Saath me uske saathi achanak se uski taraf aa khade hue. Keel lambi si hi. Aur bechare Kaleem ka chehra chota sa, upar se uska zor zor se rona. Kaafi vichar-vimarsh ke baad, Raju ne keel nikaal dene ki thaani. Usi beech koi bheed me “tetnus” ke kayi suyian lagne ki bhi baat kar raha tha. To koi Kaleem ke chappal na pehenne ko lekar kuch keh raha tha.

Raju ne jaise hi kaleem ka pair apne haathon me liya, wo aur zor se chillane laga. “Ammi ammi” jaisi koi aawaz nikal rahi thi uski mukh se. Kafi parishram ke upraant, ek jhatke se raju ne surkh ho chuki wo lambi keel nikaal daali. Saath hi me maano khoon ka baandh bhi khul sa gaya ho jaise. Apne jeb se raju ne rumaal nikaala aur baand daala uske pair pe.

Ghar wapas pahunchne par, ammi ki thodi daant aur fir doctor saahab ke paas dher saari suiyon ki thodi aur takleef uthate hue Kareem ka kuch dinon ka aaram shuru hua.

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Saalon baad kaleem chal pada tha kisi bade shaher me padhai karne. Naya shahar, naye dost aur saath nayi koi zindagi. Chuttiyon me raju aur baaki gaanv ke doston se mulakaat zaroor hoti, par dheere dheere chuttiyan bhi kam hogayi, aur milna bhi. Ab kaleem bina chappal ke to door, jooton aur gaadiyon ke ilava zameen me pair hi nahi rakhta tha.

Yun to kaleem ne raju ke prati koi khaas bartaav me tabdeeli na kit hi, par fir bhi ab baa two pehle jaisi na thi. Kabhi dekha to “hi, hello” zaroor hota, par kabhi use zyada aage kuch na badhta. Kaleem shayad ye sochne laga ki chunki dono hi ab alag alag tareekon ki jeevan-shaili ke aadi ho chuke hain, kuch raha nahi baat karne ko. Wahin Raju ke dimaag me bhi yehi baat hi daudti thi.

 

Ye upar jo maine “Ek kahaani bachpan ki” batane ka prayas kiya hai, koi anutha kissa nahi, balki ham sabhi ke jeevan ka ek aham hissa hai. Sabhi log is tarah ki kisi na kisi paristhithi se zaroor guzarte hain. Hum ye sochke kuch nahi karte ki shayad saamne waala aise sochta hoga, wahin shayad wo saamne waala vyakti bhi isi vichaar dhaara ka shikaar hojaata hai.

Kisi bhi rishte me chaahe kisi bhi tarah ka agar koi badlaav aata hai, to wo hamare nazariye ke chalte aata hai. Ye zaroor hai ki samay ke saath hamari zarooraten badalti rehti hain, aur usse rishton me badlaav aana swaabhavik hai, kinto badlaav ka matlab ant nahi hota.

Bachpan me ek dost ne, jise shayri ekkatrit karne ka bada shauk tha, kuch kaha tha jo mujhe abhi bhi yaad hai. “Kona kona mat chalo.. kona toot jayega.. naye se dosti mat karo.. purana chhoot jaega”

Aisa nahi hai ki hame naye dost nahi banana chahiye, par ye zaroor hai ki ham nayon me itne hi na magan hojayen ki puranon ko bhool hi jayen.

Jeevan ke kuch chuninda anubhavon ke aadhar pe itna to gyaat hai ki bachpan me jo mitrata banti hai wo bina kisi prayaas ya koi faayda ko dhyan me rakhke banti hai.

To kaisi lagi aapko ye “Ek kahaani bachpan ki” ?

 (Ek aur hindi kahaani: Sameer ki Atlas cycle, zaroor padhiega)

Aaj ki Story : Sameer ki atlas cycle

#AajKiStory hai Sameer ki. Nahi, Wo Golmal wale laal chaddi pehenne wale Sameer ki nahi. Kisi chote se mohalle ke ek Sameer ki.

Sameer khel raha tha jo ghar ke saamne se jaati hui gali me. Goliyan khel raha tha. Marbles bhi kehte hain jise kuch. Aaj fir apni saari goliyan haar baitha tha bechaara. Susta ke khada hua tha ek kone me. Apni neeli kameez aur kaali nicker me. Apne chehre ko latkaye roz ki tarah.

Tabhi achanak se pados waale Raheem ke Abba ek chote kad ki atlas ko apni Gaadi me rakhkar pass se guzre. Raheem Goliyan chodke daud Chala., Chillate hue “meri cycle meri cycle” Maano isse badi haseen cheez dekhi hi na ho kabhi.

Thodi der baad, raheem haazir tha apni laal atlas leke.. Saath me uske Abba use chalane ka tareeqa batate hue. Baaki mohalle ke bache bhi saath me uski hosla-afzaayi karte hue. Aur kuch, “mujhe bhi sikha dijie, chacha” ka shor karte hue.

Kuch door se Sameer ki ammi ne use awaaaz lagayi to Wo daud Chala ghar ki taraf. Wahin Raheem cycle chalana seekh raha tha, mohale ke shor ke beech.

Usne pehli baar cycle ka aisa craze dekha tha.Sochta raha ki kash Abbu uske liye bhi kle aate,par use pata tha Aisa nahi hoga

Kuch mahine isi uljhan me beet gaye, ki Abbu ko bolun ya nahi ?? Ghar ki haalat us bache se chupi bhi to nahi thi. Zehen bhale hi chota tha.. Par tarbiyat ammi Abbu ne di hi kuch aisi thi.. Par tha bhi to bacha hi na ?? Aakhirkar…

Aakhirkar bol hi diya, “Abbu mujhe bhi raheem jaisi cycle chahiye.” Abbu ne suna to zaroor. Par doosri baat me ulajh gaye. Sameer apni ammi ki taraf Dekhne laga.. Aur fir Waise hi mayoos hote hue goli khelne chal diya

Hota yun hai, ki aksar log apna gam aur gussa, khaane pe hi nikaalte hain. Sameer kahan alag tha ? fir thehra bachaa hi na..

Ye kissa ek aad Hafte chalta raha..

Aisi hi ek shaam ko goliyan khelte hue.. Sameer ne dekha ki uske Abbu rickshe me baithe hue aarahe hain..

Abbu ke chehre par ek Badi se muskaan thi.. Waise hi jab Wo Sameer ke avval hone ke baad laate the chehre par, uske report-card ko dekhke.

Jab Abbu pass aagaye tab, Wahi muskaan firse Sameer ke chehre par thi.. Atlas ki laal rang ki Dikh jo gayI thi use 🙂

To ye thi #AajKiStory. Ummeed hai Aapne padhi. Raay zaroor den 🙂

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