Shonima Malhotra
Yesterday, as heavy rain poured outside, an old childhood memory came flooding back during a conversation with a friend. Smiling, she said, ‘When we were small and it rained heavily, we would joke, ‘Chidi Chidi ki shaadi ho rahi hai’ — the sparrow’s wedding is happening.’ It was one of those innocent phrases that instantly transported us back to a childhood filled with laughter and simple joys.
She then said quietly, ‘That time never comes back.’
Her words struck a chord deep inside me. We slipped into a nostalgic conversation, and I shared how, during our childhood, we often sing songs without understanding the depth hidden in their lyrics. One such evergreen rainy-day song was:
“Koi mujhko lauta de bachpan ka saawan,
Wo kagaz ki kashti aur baarish ka paani…”
As children, these are just beautiful words. Now, as adults, these lyrics finally resonate with us in a way they never did before.. Suddenly, every line reminds us of moments we once lived so effortlessly. We realize that those seemingly ordinary moments—running barefoot in the rain, getting drenched without a worry, playing until the sun went down, laughing over the smallest things— are never just childhood pastimes and diversions. They are, in fact, the richest and most beautiful moments of our lives.
Home, back then, is our safest place. Mamma cooks our favourite meals without us even asking, making sure we never sleep hungry. Papa becomes our playmate after a long day, forgetting his own tiredness just to see us smile. Grandparents lovingly overlook our endless tantrums, showering us with affection even when we are impossible to handle. And those sweet-and-sour fights with siblings—arguing over toys, teasing each other, and making up within minutes—feel so ordinary then, yet later in our lives they become some of our warmest memories.
The sad part is that while living those moments, we never recognize their value. We are too innocent to appreciate the priceless gift of being carefree, of having no deadlines, no financial worries, and no responsibilities weighing on our shoulders. We never realize that our world is wrapped in a quiet kind of love and security that we would spend years longing for later.
Instead, like almost every child, we are always in a hurry to grow up. We imagine adulthood as freedom, excitement, and independence.
I still remember one evening when I was preparing for my exams while my mother sat nearby, knitting a sweater and watching television. Looking at her, I complained, “Aapko kitne maze hain. Aaram se TV dekh rahe ho. Mujhe hi padhai karni pad rahi hai.”She smiled and replied, “Aaj tumhe aisa lag raha hai. Par yeh tumhari zindagi ka sabse achha waqt hai—golden time. Jaise-jaise bade hoge, tab samajh aa jayega.”At that age, I dismissed her words. I thought she was simply trying to comfort me without being able to understand the depth of her words. Today, years later, I realise how right she was.
Perhaps that is why those old songs touch us so deeply now. They remind us that the “good old days” are not extraordinary because of what we have. They are extraordinary because of how we live them—surrounded by love, innocence, and the freedom to simply be children.
But not every child is fortunate enough to experience such a childhood.Unfortunately for many children, the reality is very different. From a very tender age they have so much to handle on their own. Their childhood is not filled with laughter and play, but with responsibility and struggle. What should be a time of happiness often becomes a nightmare of challenges and trauma.
Yet even in the middle of such hardships, children somehow find ways to create happiness. I recently watched a video of a little boy pretending that his sandal was a mobile phone while taking a selfie. He did not own a real phone, but his imagination gifted him a moment of joy—a brief escape into the world he dreamed of.
That innocent smile said something profound: happiness is not always born from possessions; sometimes it is born from imagination.
Childhood teaches us that happiness is never hidden in expensive toys or grand achievements. It lives in shared meals, monsoon puddles, bedtime stories, family laughter echoing through the house, and the comforting feeling that someone is always there to hold our hand. It is a life where love comes effortlessly and tomorrow is never something to worry about.
Ironically, even children who have these opportunities today are slowly drifting away from them.
The present generation is missing out on embracing these simple joys because they are becoming increasingly absorbed in technology. Phones, tablets, and screens occupy so much of their time that they often miss the carefree experiences that once defined childhood.
Those simple joys and adventure found in playing kho-kho, stapu, tipi tipi top, hide and seek, kite flying, santolia, lakar lakar, and countless other traditional games are missing.- the games that not only keep children physically active but also nurture their mental, emotional, and social well-being. They fail to experience the excitement of knocking on a friend’s door without sending a message first, sharing a meal at a friend’s house, celebrating birthdays with homemade cakes and balloons, and going on carefree outings with family- memories that last a lifetime.
As I write these words, I cannot help feeling nostalgic. I find myself wishing that time could travel backwards, allowing me to relive my childhood just once more.
Perhaps the least we can do is preserve childhood for the generations growing up today. Let children play in the rain once in a while. Let them get their hands dirty in the mud, fly kites, chase each other through open fields, laugh without filters, and create memories that no screen can replace.
Because childhood is not just a phase of life—it is life’s truest treasure.
I wish every child gets a chance to sing their own beautiful song. |
