Grandpa waiting to pick us, no mobile but fine will he do
The train chugged to a halt, out came we and huge bags two
For grandpa I would have always grown thinner
Said he to dad, the luggage could have been lighter
Dad always said that heavenly charm this place has
As mom glanced towards grandma, a pearl drop it was
Didn’t mom and dad look a few years younger
More than these drops of rain, can anything be truer
Summer was the time for the king among fruits, mango
Innocent were we that beauty caused a tango
Mangoes we devoured even if it meant rashes on our faces
A cousin so tempted that she could not mind her braces
Lunch, the table bore brunt of our hunger the highest
Wasn’t Darwin right when he said survival of the fittest
Everyone demanded fish fry one piece too many
Flicking an extra papadam, of me was it canny
Afternoons for hide and seek, today a long lost game
Temporary lock up in the dark room was punishment so lame
For never did we allow grandpa to take his nap
Today the hiding places I see, I ask, why in our bones no snap
Evening we played cricket, our Sachin batted left handed
Into Mathai uncle’s compound, often the ball landed
He and his dog roared that the police they would call
Didn’t he realise what happens when kids have a ball
Indigenous where the games that we found
Surprise that we had no computer, but still games abound
Guests when the girls played kitchen were we
Girls passengers when we played bus, driver and conductor we
Days passed, rushing came the time to go back
Promises made, next year again will we back
One month gone, I was darker and stronger
Question my mind asked, why can’t this be longer