There was always a child somewhere calling up, everyday. The memories of rainy days, mudball (football in a muddy field), and those never ending swimming sessions were always there somewhere around the corner. One could easily catch that, but that was never touched upon. Procrastination - the word that seems more appropriate with people's pending projects, perhaps most suitable to define what people feel like doing, know they easily can do, but seldom do! One of which is to going back to the childhoods.
About five years ago, kaleidoscope in a rain soaked July afternoon, took a photo of a setting sun, glittering the mud-water soaked tract of land at Haldia where his students were playing football. He posted in the facebook to get flooded by messages from his school and neighborhood friends. Everyone, all of a sudden seemed very happy to see a small portion of their childhood living at Haldia, at the backyard of a little known degree college where once child, now grown up teacher was experimenting with his camera. Quickly it was decided that on 15th August everyone will participate in a football match at none other than their childhood playground Bharati Milan Sangha. Its very close to where Kaleidoscope lives, but he recalled he didn't visit that field for about five years. One of his friends urged him to inspect if it was possible to go back to the childhood memories through that place. The place was extremely important given the fact that memories are shaped around place and person. It was a known place, until Kaleidoscope paid a visit. One fine morning Kaleidoscope took a longer route to see the field. He found it was no longer a place, but it was converted to the space to him. It was fenced and a notice board was hanging that in order to protect the grasses playing inside the ground in monsoon is prohibited! Kaleidoscope couldn't believed what he just saw. So, if a kid has to play, he has to be 'disciplined' to be able to enter into what was now become a gated field. The club which used to remain open for hours was closed and he knew the last door to their childhood was completely shut. He felt alien facing an unimaginable space of disciplining. He had to declare that the plan was over. He knew that opportunities to live an unbinding childhood has disappeared (read My playtime, our playtime and vanishing spaces).
Kaleidoscope has also been a cycle enthusiast throughout the most part of his earlier life. A small accident, some pain in his lumber joints and a lot of other aspirations made him drift away from the pedal, spokes, wheels and the sound of wind that blows around your ears and neck. It was a decade long break from his usual routine that involved cycling to places. His long-term fieldwork was never complete without a cycle ride for about 25- 30 km per day. Sometimes, it reached to 50. Bicycle was not just a mode of commuting, it was also a bridge between him urban, car-clad appearances in the field and a relatable person on bicycle.
Fastforward to the Covid-19 led lockdown. He bought a bicycle. This time a little sporty one to go to distances at ease. So, now, the impossible to reach lake, open field suddenly became reachable. He wishes to share the stories of the repeated lake visits in a different post. Here he just want to ensure, that childhood does exist in nearly the exact form in which Kaleidoscope left it. On his way to the lake, which is about 10 km, there is this open field. Where kids play football, yes they do, especially when it rains.
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