Summer Vacations

Summer vacations have begun…

Payal's entire body throbs with excitement – it is palpable as she resonates to that tune. It’s been a long time since she last had these long vacations and it’ll be a welcome relief from her monotonous routine.

While she packs her bag, earlier summer vacation memories take her mind to the get-togethers with cousins in native place. There were also, albeit seldom, trips to a different destination.

In her younger days, whenever Payal went to her native place for vacation, she enjoyed spending time with her cousins. They ran around in the fields, go swimming in the pond, climbed trees to pluck fruits, played non-stop till nightfall, had yummy food, and listened to bedtime stories their great-granny would narrate before they go to sleep. After their granny slept, they would chit-chat in whispers. 

Her grandparents’ were always eager to know about how they had performed in school exams; pampering them with toffees for good results. Whenever they get caught for naughtiness, grandparents made sure they are not being scolded or spanked by parents. These memories are etched out permanently in her.

As time passed by, she grew up. Dad took her younger brother and her to different destinations. They would eagerly wait for the anticipated adventure trips to enjoy these vacations to the full. 

Every good in life is counterbalanced by the effort taken to achieve that good. From the time, Payal reached her ninth-grade till post-graduation, she didn’t have the option of even thinking of vacations. Her only focus was on studies. She then got placed in a corporate firm where only a maximum of 2 weeks off was allowed in a year. Whenever she gets a longer leave, she would fly to her hometown to spend time with her parents.

A wide world of responsibilities cropped up after marriage and motherhood. After a decade, here she is, on a vacation again to her hometown. Being with parents after a long duration is her biggest vacation ever. Their unmitigated love, care, affection and support keeps her going. They cannot help but reach out and get involved in every aspect – shopping, going to places, eating out, pearls of advice and motivation to accomplishment. Still treating her as their small child and guiding her.

Payal is enjoying their company to the fullest and wishes to have many more such vacations with them…