Summer Frolics

Me and summer season don't see eye to eye. Being in a southern part of subtropical country, sun is always included in your life package. Being an adult, we don't have summer holidays like the children. Now, the only redeeming feature of summer seems to be the food , or seasonal fruits to be precise. Decades earlier, there was a time when I was not taunted by the heat. I still remember my childhood days when I spent most of the days in my Aunt's house. When summer started after the annual exams, my cousin and I would sit down and plan what to do in the holidays. We did not go for any vacations. So we had to make do with whatever was available in and around the house.

First things first, old school books need to be packed away for old paper guy. We were cocky enough to think that we would pass our exams.

Saving money is something I have observed and admired from my cousin. He was very meticulous with money. Our ability to earn money was playing cards. We used to play cards every night with the aunt's family. 25 paise to Rs.1 for each game was the bet per head. So if either us wins we can get upto Rs.6 a day. The next day we would invest half the earnings in the game. We had our finance thinking caps on at that age.

The second best thing I admired about my cousin was how he kept his things neatly and he never lost a thing. All his old pens would be held in a box. We would soak all our fountain pens, wash them, dry them, categorize them and kept them ready for the next academic year.

Chithrai thiruvizha in our hometown is quite a famous festival.  We went out for Azhagar festival with the neighbors family and get squeezed in the crowds. But we were never bothered.

The exhibition in the tamukkam grounds was another highlight of summer. I am not a fan of the rides. I tried to get into the girls club and the kids club. My elder cousin was in college. She, her neighbour friends and I would spend time in all the artificial jewellery and accessories stalls. Trying out all the girly stuffs like different bindis, chains, earrings, clips, bands and on and on. In the kids quota, the younger cousin and I would go hunting games or playthings. Buying the bubble water was a feat for us. Then comes the food. Chilli bajji, big appalam, popcorn and cotton candy are the best.

That was a time when the only one ice cream brand I was aware was Arun Ice creams and it was not affordable or available nearby. We had to go in search of ice cream parlour to have one. The ice cream sold in cycles was our savior. I still remember the flavours. Rose milk, tutti fruiti, cola, mango, orange. All within Rs.5. 

One movie per summer in the theatres was allowed. We did not have multiplex or air conditioned halls. Neither did we have to buy expensive snacks at the counters. We were allowed to take snacks inside. So we would load our bags with all kind of snacks. Still we would get our cone ice creams at the theatres. It was challenge to finish the ice cream before it melts and the wafer falls off. It was kind of fun.

During the 1999 Cricket World Cup, we used to stock all snacks and beverages. Rasna was the famous household drink for summer. We used to mix many bottles of Rasna store them in the fridge. I still remember the Britannia campaign to win ticket to see world cup in person. I think, they gave out booklets for returning biscuit wrappers. Also there were Pepsi cricket cards in blue colour. 

Along with these we had Hindi tuitions for private exams. That was the only boring and low point of the day. We didn't have air conditioning at home during the period but it was the coolest times of all.