Reality Check

The booming IT industry never felt better, here I am with more money than I could imagine possibly earning, a laptop to boot and the bike I’ve always dreamed of owning ever since I can remember… I am supposed to be happy, I am supposed to be the next generation, I am… I

…………………… running free in the playgrounds, the laughter, the sweat, the scrapes and bruises; the heavy bag, my lunch box, teachers we loved and subjects we hated; the 50 paisa kulfi, 50 paisa soda, we were all kings.

Every Sunday we used to go to Cubbon Park (Bangalore), Lakeview was a treat on the way back while mummy ‘s was a cuppa at India Coffee house. Then Koramangala was a far away place covered by greenery and shade.

The whole colony used to be out in the evening, cricket and football and seven stones, drinking lime juice and eating murukku from different houses, no one minded. I remember only smiling faces, we never knew bad days existed, people were all around.

………………… College was open, we learnt so much for once outside the classroom, my first taste of freedom, this was where we were supposed to grow up, spread our wings and fly.
The endless discussions, the growing conscious, I learnt more about myself; here we made those friends for life, ones we’ll always miss. No one bothered about your ragged jeans or your uncombed hair; I was rich with Rs 20 in my pocket, we knew the number of seats on the front rows of every theatre. Here we sat in the holy canteens discussing the world at large, from sports to girls, to politics and society, love to music and did a repeat of it all. A world of dreams, of the freedom after earning and life in the fast lane

………………Today I sit, in a air conditioned office, coffee and food whenever I want, mobile phones, credit cards in my pocket, the internet and music to my ears. Everything I dreamt I have unless of course I leave out world peace. But with it I have gained a few more things like the words I, I and I.

I often wonder where are all those things so important to my life, time with family and friends, peace of mind, inocence abound and dreams I so vividly had.