Scrambled Eggs

From yesterday, I've been in a rather nostalgic mood. Watching old ads such as "I'm a complan boy!" and "Sottu Neelam doi" and "Hamaaara bajaj" and "Vicco turmeric! Ille cosmetic! Vicco turmeric ayurvedic cream!" and stuff. 

Everbody, I think, has something nice to think back, to talk about the times that they grew up in. And maybe they all think they're lucky. No exception here. Not only do I think that I was lucky to be born at the decade, but at that specific year. Nice times. 

Remembered.. Premier Padmini's, and Ambassadors and Maruti's... thats all there were. And it was an awesome time. And Tata sierras were uber-cool. They had motorized windows! TVs didnt stick to the wall, and the longer they were, the more successful you were in society. Panner soda and rasna. Baskin Robbins? Haagen dasz? Paal ice. Which one thatha would buy for us and tell us not to tell the other thatha cos he wasn't convinced of their hygiene. 

An awesome, awesome feeling, when Champak or Tinkle digest or Tinkle came. Growing up with grandparents in the house, both of whom loved to read, and extremely aware. Growing up watching He-man, Alif Laila, Jungle Book and Pingu..How many people came to visit my grandparents and I was introduced to them, a small boy in a singlet and shorts, combed hair and vibhoothi. Outings with parents, where all three of us could sit in line in front of the car.

Route No 2A, 2B: Some memorable friendships.. on school vans. Two parts of the school van.. Those who got to sit in front were the creme de la creme. The people in the back were the also rans. I sat up front. Right on the engine cover, between the driver anna and the passenger seat. ON the engine cover, and performed gear-changing and engine-starting duties. Ultimate privelege. Periyasamy, the driver's name was... still works there I think. His meesai's become all white though.. from all black. And the loyalty we had to our vans and our driver annas. Racing with other van numbers... and screaming when we won, and booing the other vans. 

Growing up on a diet of purely carnatic music. And then listening to AR Rahman for the first time. On a trip with friends of my cousin's family. "Hello Mister Edhirkatchi". They had two daughters, and the younger one wore shockingly short shorts and shades. She laughed at every joke I made, and was what I thought, very carefree. Open hair, and very very fair. Like one of those cinema heroines. High point in that day was getting photographed next to her or something like that. Quite a lot older, but I think my first crush, before I became a lot more aware and my "Girls are a bother" phase came on and nipped things in the bud. She's got married recently, and I couldnt even make it to her wedding. Someone told me she was asking why I wasn't there. 

Arranged marriages were non-existent to me. I assumed my parents also married after meeting and singing duet songs like in the movies. 

Being lazy, and asking for things without feeling guilty for asking older people to do something you can get done with a lot less difficulty. Maybe all the older people were younger and healthier at that time. In fact, I remember, anybody(even distant family) who came to see me, would take me down first main road for a walk, and buy me toys or sweets. Throwing temper tantrums and getting stuff done. Always being the pampered one. Thatha saying I, and not someone else, was his favorite grandson. I liked how people loved my being able to have something to say about everything. Now when i meet some cousins who do that, I just find it irritating. 

My childhood was awesome. The nineties were an awesome time. I'm generation yex. (As in yex, oye and izad)