The Fruity Story

Summer Vacations, the best time of the year. Everyone has some or other plan in his Summer Vacations. Typically Individuals plan for a long visit to some new destination with friends & family people plan to visit there natives, relatives & spend some quality family time.

Thats me on the Left with my Cousins

Till my school days, I always visited my father’s native “Kasar-Shirambe” in every summer vacation, it’s a Small Village near “Kolhapur” where I currently reside. The time spend there is like re-visiting your past. It’s just peaceful to be with your elders, your home, and your friends. We are pampered by our grandparents. Grandparents love is just grandparents’ love. I love my grandparents a lot. My grandmother used to wait eagerly, just for this time of the year for her grand-children. I used to travel along with my mother & sister to my Village. Father used to come just to drop & pick us up. (Being a Businessman gets u very less family time).

  

We stayed almost a month at Grandmothers place. Native was a Village and at my school days there were no Television, no Mobile, no Videogames nothing. So entire day was just wandering around with my village friends. Early morning start was with fresh Cow milk & believe me it’s just awesome. My grandmother & uncle used to milk the cow & I used to go to the dairy to deposit the milk. Everyday bath was at the Well which was not so far from home. Thanks to the Well I m able to swim today. I used to go our farm with my Uncle along our cattle. I loved to grab a stick in hand & run around them. This was like a daily routine schedule for entire month. Good thing @ vacations is school time is there is no home works so it’s like stress free life. My old Grandmother was always in tears wishing us good bye. I still have those coins, money notes given by her, that’s a priceless thing to me.

Mahadev Temple at the Tip of Hill

Village View from Top

Visiting native became rare during the transition period of School to College. I did visit Grandmother but the vacation wasn’t long as it used to be. But we used to visit back once again every year for the annual traditional function at our Village Temple which is at the peak of Hill right just near our farm. There is this huge fair, which I liked the most with lot of games, plays, eatables etc. it’s like a second Diwali every year.

Time never stops & so does Life. I was completing my Engineering, my both Elder Sisters were married & I was a Happy MAMA of 2 nephews & 1 sweet Niece. Now the tables had turned. My mother was a Grandmother who now eagerly used to wait for summer vacation like my grandmother for her grand-children's visit.

Three Little Angels

Mama-Bhache: Look-A-Like

Famous Ratnagiri Hapus

I liked summer vacations as I enjoyed playing with my nephews & niece. It’s always fun to be with small ones. My father always bought Mango boxes ( Ambyachi Peti of 5 Dozen) on the same day on arrival of my sisters. All kids love mangos.

Only eating, wandering, playing that’s the only schedule. I had also purchased a Video game for them to play. 

All time Favourite : VIDEO GAMES

We still play lot of indoor & out-door games. As all mothers instruct, indoor game day time & outdoor game in the evening. We used to go swimming at a lake which is near my home. Later followed by indoor games like playing cards, Business ( Vyapaar), Carom( the favorite game of all times) & the last option Video game. My mother never liked us playing video game, as we have to stare at the television continuously for hours. Evening was cricket time along with some fying disk, badminton, football etc.

I always used to Bunk college whenever my Sisters visited with children. I can recall the same moments I used to spend at my father’s native with my grandparents.

Nusti Pala-Pali

Fun with Soham

I know how my grandmother was, so I used to pamper my nephews the same way by spending most of the time with them. Even if I went out in the city to visit friends, my nephews used to accompany me as I used to allows them to ride the bike by seating in the front seat ( almost on the petrol tank). It’s every kids likeliest thing, to ride a bike (which he can’t even hold or carry). They used to simply sit in front & lean forward & blow the horn. But I never complained. I used to ask them to sit with me on the driving seat while driving Car but there was always fight amongst the 2 nephews for the driving seat so the deal was one will seat while going for a drive & other while coming. It was like a unwritten Mutual consent.

After having spend an entire month my Sister was about to leave to her home to Pune. But my nephew wasn’t ready for it. He cried a lot & requested my Sister if he can stay alone, but that’s how children’s are, he might say so but after an hour he will definitely cry for his mother. My mother asked to delay the travel plan by a day. Omi was very happy. We bought Mutton again that day as both my nephews & also niece loved it.

The day same was spent in similar manner. Next day packing was done & all were set to leave. Omi wasn’t happy @ leaving her grandparents. He was like glued to my mother since he woke up. He cried a lot & so did my mother. But after my mother promised that either we will visit Omi to his home if not then Omi will stay with us for 1 extra Week in Diwali. I was going to drop Sister on the Central Bus stand.

Bus station is hardly 3-4 kms from my home. As always Omi was seating in front seat on CBZ. We reached the station within no time. As vacations were finishing there was lot of rush on the Kolhapur central ST stand. I parked my bike inside the station & went to the enquiry counter to check on the Bus timing. Meanwhile Omi was feeling restless & my Sister was irritated by his behavior. The Bus had already arrived at one of the platform. I quickly went in the mob to grab seats & fortunately was able to get 2 of them. I kept her Luggage on the space over the Seats. Good thing it was an Asiad i.e. the one with the Cushion. It’s good for long journeys though. Omi grabbed the window seat as all children’s do, even I was one of them.

Meanwhile the Conductor arrived & starting taking tickets. We were very lucky to get seats right away as there was again a long queue. Bus was packed to its capacity. Good thing @ Asiad there are no standing seats. So it’s easy to travel with some space.

As I was talking with my Sister, I noticed Omi wasn’t looking at us nor listening our conversation. I just raised my eye-brows enquiring my Sister what happened, she said he wants something to eat & drink, but she dint want to give him as he is not used to travel with early food before journey & also he had heavy breakfast in the morning. I said to Omi I will bring him some refreshment to eat, till then the Driver had also taken his seat. I again said the bus won’t leave till I come back. I went running to the bakery near the station. I knew that Omi likes fruity, so I was curiously searching for it. To my surprise I was unable to find at few of the shops near the bus platform. I looked back, Omi was staring from the Window. I went to the Main Canteen, where I was able see packs of Fruity. But there was lot of rush at the counter. I grabbed my mobile if my Sister had called, but there were no calls. Somehow I got 2 Fruity from that busy Counter & my Phone rang. “Shit” , I knew it was my Sisters call. I took the call & my Sister said “ We are on our way, don’t buy anything”, in the background I heard Omi’s Voice shouting on her “Mala Fruity pahije mhanje Pahije”.

My Sister said the bus is almost out of the premises of ST stand & I won’t be able to make it to them. As a standard communication before the journey she said she will call once they reach Pune. For a Split second I dint knew what to do, I had these 2 Fruity in hand & I had promised Omi I will bring him the same. Again my phone rang & this time it was my mother whom I told Fruity story in a minute. Her reaction was “Arr,,,Bichara majha Porga,,,,Bagh jawal asla tar palat jaun de,,,,,,!!!!!”

That was the only thing in the entire world I was wanted to hear. Sometimes just some words of emotion, some words inspiration that’s all we need. I grabbed my keys & made a sprint to my CBZ. CBZ has a small storage above the speedometer; I was able to keep both the Fruity easily. And the chase begins.

I was on my way in no time. There is a Signal just outside Kolhapur Station i.e. Dabholkar Corner. Luckily it was RED & Omi’s bus was just at the front line. I was on “Street Hawk” mode, continuous horn & high RPM, all I want to do was to reach that bus anyhow. I made it to the Bus & Signal was green. I was almost there at Omi’s window but Bus took off again. It’s a small road near the signal & bus was on the right side & so was Omi. I was just trying if I can get a small space to overtake the Bus, but couldn’t make it. The Bus came to next roundabout i.e. Kawla Naka. For the first time, I was happy seeing the traffic in front as bus was coming at halt. I raised the RPM as I got side to Overtake. In a split second I was at Omi’s Window. I can clearly see the disappointment, anger on Omi’s face.

Fruity: One for the Road

The first thing I did was to reach for the Fruity. I was able to take one, I blew horn but as Omi was still angry, I was unable to get his attention. I went close to Bus & popped it inside the window.  Omi saw the Fruity in his hands & saw outside. I was so happy to see him Smiling looking at me. He shouted “Aai Aai bagh Mama……!!!”. He waived his hand.

But the bus was again in motion. I was happy that I was able to give him at least a Fruity. I saw Omi lookingout from the Window. I again followed the bus & as was able to pop another Fruity to Omi’s window at some further distance. My Sister initially smiled but shouted at me & asked me to leave & signaled that she will call me. Omi was very happy, I could see the watering eyes with a smile on his face.

Eyes & Smile are a unique combination, very rare. But that the purest of emotion you can ever see.

My Sister called me to tell the storey on other side. She said Omi was on his toes when I left the bus & the bus started to move. He was seating on the bag on his seat & looking out for me at all places possible, but I was nowhere. As we were almost out of the station Omi started crying, “Mama kutha gela……..To Fruity deto mhantlela,,,,,tuja mula mala nahi milnar ata Fruity……!!!!!”.

That’s when she called me to inform not to come & Omi kept shouting he wants it. Omi was very angry & crying a lot. He again said “ Mama deto mhantlela Fruity ani parat alach nahi……!!!!”,,,,,and the next moment there was a Fruity from nowhere right in his hands. She said he dint knew what happened, where did this fruity came from…….that’s when  Omi saw me & shouted Mama….!!!!

I was very glad that I kept my promise because it’s a deal with my nephews, “I will never break a promise that I will make & never make a Promise that I will break”.

Life is all about enjoying small small things. This little Fruity made their entire journey happy. Omi was happy getting what he wanted & I was happy to keep the promise I made to my beloved nephew Omi.