011 Kerosene Lamp Glass : True story from our childhood

011 Kerosene Lamp Glass : True story from our childhood

011 happy without a reason : True story from our childhood

Pappu, Sanju and Bholu lived in Gopeshwar town of Uttarakhand in mid 1980s when television started coming to Indian homes. Surrounded by Himalayan mountains, town had market on one side of the hill and government offices plus residential buildings on the other.

One evening, kids were watching ‘Chitrahaar’, a 30 minutes Bollywood song collection in television. The song from ‘Chori Chori’ movie was on:

“

Panchhi banoo udti phiroon mast gagan mein

Aaj main azad hoon duniya ke chaman mein

Hillori hillori hillo hillo hillo hillori

”

Power went off in the middle of song. Power cut was usual in those days, Kids cursed the government not for the power cut but for the timing. Mother lit the flat wick kerosene lamp on the table. Kids sat around it to study. She observed a big crack in glass chimney of the lamp and told kids that whoever goes to market next shall bring a chimney.

Song was so enchanting that Sanju kept humming the song instead of reading the book opened in front of him.

Next evening, Sanju was feeling elated, he went for a walk to market. It was customary to go the temple which was located at the one end of market, bow to Gopeshwar Mahadev and then come back. After bowing down he bought a glass chimney and kept it in the jute bag which he had carried from home.

He was still humming the song. 

And in the middle of the path, whenever there was no one else around, he was imitating Nargis and Raj Kapoor while dancing.

It was late spring. Tulip were blooming in the gardens. Sanju was feeling light without the burden of heavy winter cloths. He was ready to fly out of city surrounded by mountains in half sweater. He was happy without any reason.

He ran upwards on foot path stairs which were connecting the zig-zag motor road. After reaching the motor road he was exhausted and sat on the parapet. He watched the spectacular red sun setting in the mountains and day dreamed singing and dancing the same song along with a beautiful girl.

After the sun was fully set, he started toward home and reached his house’s front door. Door was already opened. Sanju went in dancing his hands swinging from left to right. 

His bag hit the door and the glass chimney broke into pieces.

Postscript:

#Mere Aaj Main Mera Bachpan.

#मेरे आज में मेरा बचपन

#Kerosene Lamp Glass: True story from our childhood

#Kerosene 

#fun 

#light fun story 

#life in 1980s

#Chitrahaar

#memories of 1980s

#hills