Aaaahh Summer Holidays!

As school is winding down and kids are up and out late in the evenings, I have this sudden blast from the past and that longing for the summer holidays, growing up in Namma good ol' Bengalooru.

Our magic date for school closure was May 10th every year. From May to Jun 22 (another of them magic dates) was pure summer bliss. We woke up late, flew kites, ate thaatinungu (I know I know, all you Tamilians will correct me and say 'Nonghu'), thothaapuri maavinkaai (raw green mango), and my all time fave, muskina jola (roasted corn). I recall one kite flying episode when Akka and I were so good, that unbeknownst to us, we were the envy of some local boys. I still remember getting 'cut' off by them, actually tracking the boys down, and beating them (literally) because I was furious! Raag says he can see that competitive edge in me even now :)

Thanks to our parents, we traveled quite a bit in our childhood. I got to see many places. One time, when we went to Trivandrum, Daddy had made reservations at a hotel in Kovalam. And I remember how we were all quite disappointed with the Keralite breakfast and lunch served. Daddy, like me, defines a good holiday by the quality of food involved (in case it is not obvious by now :)). So at dinner time, he went to the hotel's kitchen and taught the chef to make parathas, and sabji. Finger licking good, and I can still taste it in my mouth! Summer vacations were special times with my family.

Memorable trips included going to my Athai and Athimber's place in Bellary and then Dharwar on our own! She is the creative one on my dad's side. She made all the special foods we liked, taught us new songs and dance, to sow, embroider, garden, decorate, and cook. Athimber was so much fun and would indulge. He had the habit of calling people's names in reverse and he would have me in splits with his jokes. They ranked number one when it came to summer fun.

Most summers we would have visitors from other cities. Sundar or Ajay would come from New Delhi or Ganesh and gang from Secunderabad. We learned how to speak Hindi from our Delhi cousins. Ajay, Akka and I did everything together. He would never leave home as a threesome because he thought it was bad omen. To counter any bad luck that might come our way he would make Akka or me (never him :)) carry a small pebble in our hand. That and I was always asked to walk slightly behind the duo to add weight against any possible 'bad' omen! He would say, 'Theen thigaada Kaam bigada'. I never knew the meaning but would religiously chant the mantra as we went for our walks everyday.

When our cousins from Sec'bad came, the activity level at home would reach an all-time high. They were three and we were four, so it was a riot from morning till night. We would put up plays for the elders, who forced a smile through it all, mocked at everything and everyone, go on adventures in the local parks, sleep communally on the floor in the hall and giggle into the nights; really the sky was the limit. Too many stories jump at me as I type here. Everyone of them still sounding funny. We recently recounted the time we went to visit an Aunt and ended up spending all our bus money on marshmallows, and had to borrow from our Aunt's maid, for the ride back home. Did we get a hearing or what!

Summer holiday memories are the best. Here's wishing all you kids who have had a tough school year to kick back, enjoy and have a blast. You deserve it!