When Gulli-Danda & Kanche(marbles) were more popular than cricket.
When we always had friends to play aais-paais (I Spy), chhupan-chhupaai & pitthoo anytime.
When chitrahaar, vikram-baitaal, Dada Daadi Ki Kahaniyaanwere so fulfilling.
When there was just one Tv in every five houses and…
When Bisleris were not sold in the trains and we were worrying if papas will get back into the train in time or not when they were getting down at stations to fill up the water bottle …
When we were going to bed by 9.00pm sharp except for the ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’ (Doordarshan serial) day ..
When Holis & Diwalis meant mostly hand-made pakwaans and sweets and moms seeking our help while preparing them …
When Maths teachers were not worried of our Mummies and papas while slapping/beating us ..
When we were exchanging comics and stamps and Chacha-Chaudaris & Billus were our heroes ..
When we were in Nanihaals every summer and loved flying kites and plucking and eating unripe mangoes and leechies ..
When one movie every Sunday evening on television was more than asked for and ‘ek do teen chaar’ and ‘Rajani’ inspired us ..
When 50 paisa meant at least 10 toffees …
When left over pages of the last years notebooks were used for rough work or even fair work …
When ‘Chelpark’ was encouraged against ‘Ball Points’.
When the first rain meant getting drenched and playing in water and mud and making ‘kaagaj ki kishtis’.
When there were no phones to tell friends that we will be at their homes at six in the evening.
When our parents always had 15 paise blue colored ‘Antardesis’ and 5 paise machli wale stamps at home.
When we remembered tens of jokes and were not finding ‘ice-cream & papa’ type jokes foolish enough to stop us from laughing.
When we were not seeing patakhes on Diwalis and gulaals on Holis as air and noise polluting or allergic agents …

I really miss them (From the bottom of my heart).. Don’t u?