I have completed sixteen years on this earth. All through my childhood, whenever I was slapped by my elder brother or sister, I have been looking forward to being an adult. I used to think that as I entered college I would move freely, breathe the friendly air of my own circle of friends. I used to be excited to think that after three years of fun and frolic, I would hopefully a part of the real big working world of adults. I looked forward to meeting people some of them I would like, others I would tolerate, and still other I would abhor.
I would imagine that the home work, the examinations the teacher’s angry glances the burden of the school bag and the dull uniform would not agonise me. The years rolled on and brought me to the sixteenth year of my life. The excitement which was generated by anxiously waiting for this year disappeared.
I feel more responsible for the welfare of my home, parents, education and many other things, I have started feeling apprehensive above my future. Competition in the job market and even in marriage market has made me to think so.
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Underlying these feelings of apprehension and excitement I have started experiencing a deep seated regret on leaving behind my childhood and teens. No doubts at this age I can no longer lose myself in my childish make believe world of fairies or in my teenage dreams, yet I miss my childhood. My childhood has not been very exciting: other than fracturing my arm twice and getting almost kidnapped from our home once, there have been no extraordinary incidents in my life.
I have had my share of mumps, influenza, malaria and other maladies. I have fallen off my bicycle a number of times, still I do feel scared when I think childhood was a period of sheltered life. I remember how the night before the examination used to work one up so much that I would run to my parents’ bedroom and lie between them. How my mother consoled me with her affectionate words !!
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So my sixteenth birthday has brought nothing wonderful. I have not even managed to get introduced to a girl friend. Life goes on and the earth keeps rotating in the same old way. Only, the world I perceive and live in is more real than my fantastic world of childhood.