Chowpatty Beach & Panthers...

My cousin Veensey called yesterday, she's come down from Delhi and wanted us to have a picnic. It instantly took me back to the numerous picnics we used to have as kids. You see, we were a large family and spread out all over India. Once a year, usually in summers, the whole clan would gather at my grandparent's place for a reunion. This was usually spread out over a month long period and was spersed with a whole bunch of picnics. Most were impromptu, we would all pile up in my uncle's car (a Duker Fiat, blue one), you know where the doors open "the other way" and go off to Chowpatty beach (default picnic destination). It's a small car, but had an amazing capacity inside to take in 8 adults and 5 kids (on the adults laps)..!! Throughout, we would be yelling "Chowpatty jayenge toh bhelpuri khaayenge..." (it's an old hindi song). It's weird how everyone has a concept of space now, we never gave a thought to it back then.
Now, this reunion was from my paternal side, my maternal side had its own reunion in winter. Here too, the picnic used to come to fore... but this time it was in scooters. Ours had a "side car", my uncles had the single scooters. So in the sidecar would be 4 kids, plus one sitting between 2 adults. I still r emember the one from Marol to Powaii via Aarey Colony.... Man!! That was some ride!!! Sandy, Shilps and me kept telling stories about the Panthers in Aarey Colony (there used to be, there still are) and how they can just jump into the scooter and take small children away...
Vidya was terrified then (she was probably around 4-5 yrs old) and Archie, well being Archie said what only Archie could say.. "Anndaa panther kuda naan kusti pannuven" (I'll wrestle with the panther). Of course, we got a nice rap from the adults for scaring Vids, later.

Nowadays, we never seem to get time for picnics. Sometimes, I think our parents had it better then. Life was more simple, more uncomplicated. We complicate our lives unnecessarily. Always want more and more, but it's never enough. Looking back, we had much less than what we have today, but we were happy, truly happy.

I'm going to hold Veensey upto the Sealink drive next week and Vids to another drive from Marol to Powai.

It's time we had those picnics again, it's time we made life simple again....