What’s your favorite candy?
The summer vacations, during my school days, invariably had to be spent at my Maternal Grandparents home. It was a practice to be strictly followed year after year without any deviations and the moment the vacations began, we were away.
There was huge enjoyment in just hanging out together with my cousins. Playing games, eating sugar candies and sweets and simply wandering around the city during the day with no purpose at all, made me really happy. The evenings used to be cooler and a bit more enjoyable.
I was much closer to one of my cousins with whom I had a great rapport. We used to be together most of the time, from morning till we went to bed. He stayed just a couple of blocks away. In the afternoons when the weather was extreme, my mother used to force me to stay inside, but at the slightest opportunity I used to run away to my cousin’s home.
My cousin’s family was passing through a very difficult phase both emotionally and financially. Though I didn’t have the complete understanding of the problem at that time, but I knew that something was definitely not right and that there was surely a financial crunch.
Time simply passed by and as all good vacations come to an end, this one too was on its last legs. I used to start getting upset when the vacations were about to end, some what akin to having Monday Blues and eventually the day arrived when we had to say goodbye. We were to leave early in the morning. My cousin told me he would be there to see me off, but since it was going to be early, I doubted his coming and said goodbye to him the previous evening.
The next day we boarded the rickshaws. I kept looking for my cousin, but he was no where to be seen, I was sure he would be sleeping. Our rickshaws slowly trudged and the moment we were to leave the gates, my cousin came running. I couldn’t get down. He quickly handed me a small box, beautifully covered with a decorative paper and told me to open it after boarding the train.
I took the box and waived him goodbye, and wondered as to what was in the box.
We boarded the train and ever so excitedly I opened the box. It had two packs of Poppins in it. I used to eat a lot of Poppins. I loved it. The Parle product of rounded colourful sugar candies was a hit with children and I was no different. But this pack of Poppins was different. With the little money he had, my cousin had given me an unforgettable parting gift. With all the difficulties in life, he ensured that he still had lot of space for me in his heart. It was very emotional for me.
My cousin battled it out and eventually became a successful businessman. That had to happen. He was focussed , hardworking and had a virtue of savouring relationships.
Kudos to him, kudos to Poppins.