A Nostalgic Saturday Morning...

Sophia Khumukcham *

A Winter Morning Fog in Imphal, Manipur in December 2008 :: Pix - Mayum Networks

On a sleepy Saturday morning while I was seeping away my first of the lot cup of tea, I got a nervous call from my sister, 'Bemma, since it's your off today, can you babysit for my daughter, I have to visit my doctor?' I remembered my niece and her smile. I immediately felt like taking her in my arms and I agreed readily.

I have a habit of indulging myself on random thoughts and so my thoughts, somehow, went back to my childhood days, way back in Imphal. I grew up among my grandparents, uncles, aunties and lots of cousins.

We, girls, were in the same convent school and were among those who were considered 'powerful' considering the number of siblings/ relatives attending the school.

School was always fun, the worst part being the convent nuns complaining to our cousins/ siblings about us being talkative or not performing in tests- one of the drawbacks of making school overcrowded with too many people from the same family!!!!!

Best days of ours were our second Saturdays as we were to have two days off continuously. We are more than obedient on Friday nights- complete all homework, do the dishes without any of the usual complaints- I am washing more than Che Tombi, Pitila, etc as it was the duty of us, the younger ones, to clean the vessels after dinner.

It used to be a task cleaning up for 20 people in one go!!!!!! But on those particular Friday nights we never cared. Yes, now the part why we were obedient- we want to utilize the next two days watching VCP (do you all remember?????).

We knew that next morning my father or any of my uncle would hire a VCD as we never owned one. They would hire some video cassettes, the remaining would be from our contributions- those that we have saved sacrificing the samosas, mulli mix, etc.

One cassette would cost Rs 10/ night but if you return back immediately after watching it, it will be just Rs. 5/- The sole responsibility of running around the video parlour used to be with our good cousin. I can tell you he can even beat a Superman when he is on his way to the parlour to return a cassette and get a new one.

We used to get discount also because we were hard core Bollywood fans and half of the income of that local parlour depended on us!!!! There were repeated movies too which was a must for us- a Salman Khan movie. He was one of our favourites and 10 Commandments for my father. We sacrificed all our sleep to watch the movies as if there is no tomorrow.

God!!! How we used to bargain with other group among us who still wanted to watch VCD during the World Cup of either football or cricket (cricket was rarely played those days!!!)

My next random thought brought me back to my reality- away from that small town to presently where I am residing in search of 'better opportunity'.

In today's case, had it been in Imphal, my niece could be left easily with the grandparents, uncles, aunties and the cousins. I could not help remembering those winding roads between the hills, bumpy roads, greenery around which is all lost amidst the violence, ethnic conflicts and frequent blockades.

My nostalgic moments were disturbed with the ring from my mobile, 'Madam, we are from..... network, we have shortlisted your no. for...." and I got lost in my 'urban' life again ....