Butterflies and Hurricanes

Ludo,

Chacha Chaudhary,

Muskmelon seeds,

Low-hanging ceiling fans,

Honey bees buzzing around the Kachnar tree,

Mango slices pickling in glass jars under the fiery sun, 

Fluffy bloomers underneath frilly frocks with shiny velcro sandals, 

Afternoon naps followed by two cups of cardamom tea and two Marie biscuits,

Power-cuts, makeshift hand fans, chilled watermelon slices peppered with black salt,

Baba’s old transistor with the silver antenna; Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar on the radio, 

Endless afternoons filled with wonder, and evenings that made you feel anything was possible, because it was.