The current lot of kids is arguably the most active bunch our society has had since it came into being. Their daily schedules are jam-packed with school, homework, sports coaching et al, but their ‘Duracell’ batteries just don’t seem to get discharged. Whatever the weather might be like-they’re always up for a vigorous play session.
On the day of Mahashivratri, the kids sat down at the park for a board game session. In my head, I knew it wouldn’t last long, because these little lads are not cut out for indoor games. Outdoor games are more their jam. Needless to say, barely ten minutes into the game, each one got bored and it was ‘game over’ for them all.
The budding athletes weren’t done yet. They got together again at noon for a game of cricket under the blazing hot sun. Being only 5-6 in number, these ‘jugaadu’ kids donned multiple hats. From batting, bowling and wicket-keeping to being the voice of the umpire and commentator, everybody chimed in whenever they felt like. Nobody knew who was on whose team and nobody seemed to care either, making it a hilarious hotchpotch. Sportsman spirit was on full display with them giving credit to each other and hi-fiving to celebrate a wicket, but so was healthy aggression. Two hot-headed kids got into a fight about whose turn it was to bat next. Within nanoseconds, the cricket match turned into a wrestling match. After considerable ‘Dangal-style’ utha-patak, the fight was finally resolved in a very childish ‘akkad bakkad’ style of toss, which to me, as an onlooker, was the unexpected punch.
Just a handful of boys delivered entertainment so wholesome, that I stood on my balcony for a good 30-45 minutes braving the scorching heat to witness the fun that unfolded. Talk about making hay while the sun shines!
