Memories

Summer vacation in childhood meant a lot. Visiting Aja and Aai's place was indeed a visual and aesthetic treat. I loved the ambience, the place always resonated with chatters. I vividly remember the backyard, it was a beautiful place. The pond, as kids we took bath there. The shadows of the coconut trees, the crisp breeze, the varieties of hibiscus. The three Guava trees provided ample space to play, it was simply the bee's knees. I was always afraid by the darkness owing to the two gigantic Wood apple and Neem trees. I always ran the distance. The Shiva temple in front of the house was a favourite play spot.

The lifeline of the place Aja and Aai, I can feel them smiling down at me. Aja was fatalistic and Aai a reservoir of happy smiles. Aja could talk endlessly on anything be it God, ghost, human, animal, trees, politics etc.. He was invincible. I remember reading him the Odia daily, a few years before his demise. During childhood, he would let us have fresh tender coconut water and secretly take me to the village main road and treat with sweets. Aai was very caring and a great storyteller. Her stories about the prince, princess and fairies gave a lot of scope to my little mind, where germinated my own imaginations. 

The rustic lifestyle we had with them was a relief from the humdrum of our urban living. They (Aja and Aai) were truly the epitome of love, care, understanding. Miss the grandeur it is nostalgic about the time lost people gone and memories that are wispy fragments.