Memories #04: Neighbourhood

Smells, sounds, faces, spaces: things that trigger some... memories.

I remember my house having low walls around the compound. We could actually jump over the wall to get to the neighbours homes.

I remember my neighbours were goons. Or at least that’s what my father said, I just thought they were a bunch of good looking bad boys.

I remember my first crush was my brothers best friend. The quintessential tall, dark and handsome boy. Wonder where he is today.

I remember my brother had friends all over our neighbourhood. I made one, that too very late in life.

I remember they would all skate and cycle through our lanes. All of them were cool kids for me.

I remember they would all sit on one girl’s building compound wall, which was low as well. And they would gossip and people watch. How I longed to be able to do that with them.

I remember they were all older than me. They all saw me as this little kid. I was a little kid.

I remember they would take walks around the neighbourhood till late at night. They would walk through the graveyard and spook each other out. I wasn’t allowed on those walks.

I remember the movie theatre being a two minute walk from home. The number of movies I saw as kid was mental.

I remember my brothers first girlfriend was the "‘sexy” girl he had managed to “hook”. She was the first to tell me that my brother actually liked me!

I remember my first neighbourhood friend. She had a bunch of Pomeranian dogs. Her mum baked the best cookies and she would wax my friend at home with cold wax.

I remember loving the name Althea, one of the girls in our neighbourhood, I remember her being very cool.

I remember our neighbourhood having an annual day. The boys built a stage and everyone performed. My crush fell of the stage mid dance! The song was Iko Iko. Now every time I hear this song I’m taken back to 1992.

I remember our lane was a long one, our bungalow was the first one to the left, the building opposite us had a computer office. We had neighbours in that building called Dolly and Polly. Behind us were the goons, opposite them the building had my brother’s then girlfriend. Then there was a huge society like set up, with small bungalows to the right, filled with friends of my father and the left had a building with my brother’s sardarni friend. Through this ‘society’ I could walk to the next lane all the way to my school friend’s house. The end of our main big lane, the right had Althea’s and my best friend’s home and another route to my school friend’s house, the left was where the boys lived. My brother’s friends. One was very cute, one had the latest video games and the third was the oldest boy of the group and one of my favourite persons growing up.

I remember this neighbourhood being super safe. We used to be out till sunset. Mainly my brother it is I speak of. I was either a homebody or I used to sit on my famous tree (read here to know more) and watch everything happen around me.

I remember knowing everyone. We would walk down and say hello to almost everyone who passed us by.

I remember being able to guide postmen, courier people to homes just by the name of the person for whom the parcel was.

I remember crushes and heartbreaks that took place amongst the ‘cool’ guys and girls. Some I wished would last forever, some I knew even then were a mistake!

I remember celebrating Holi and New years with these kids.

I remember dancing to Chandni on my crush’s terrace at one New year party, where my cousin who was ‘in love’ with him as well, got so jealous and was mad at me. We were 11-12 maybe.

I remember my brother’s friends coming home to play on the Nintendo. I remember wanting to play with them.

I remember my dog hating every single person who entered our house. So opposite of my dog now who is a sucker for love. My old dog was a Lhasa also with an attitude… the new one is a retriever: a sunshine pup.

I remember a happy childhood, for the most part.

I remember most of the people in my neighbourhood as nice people.

I’m not in touch with a single one today.

🌻

Here is a map to give you perspective!!