Generations..

It was a Sunday morning; I got up relatively late compared to the other working days so I decided to sit in the lawn, to feel fresh.

As I walked in the lawn, towards my chair bare feet I could feel the cold breeze blowing. This reminded me of my childhood days when my whole family would get up early and have breakfast in the lawn.

I was still going through nostalgia then my maid’s scream got me back. She came running towards me and handing me my cell phone.

Without looking at the caller’s name I switched off the phone and told her to keep the phone inside and get me tea and biscuits.

I started looking around. Everything seemed calm and peaceful. The tweeting of the birds filled the surroundings with music. At this point I felt that our busy lives have taken us apart from the nature’s harmony and peace.

The sounds we daily hear are of mobiles, intercoms, car horns, and most of all television.

Then my maid came with the tea, and started asking about the daily routine matters.

I told her do what she feel like, and leave me alone. Then she said what to make for lunch.

Silence hit me. I was out of words as what to cook for lunch. Then I simply said cut the vegetables, thaw the meat and chicken.

Again she asked what to cook? I said go I will come and cook myself.

When she left I realized that our lifestyle has been such that we eat every type of food daily. Everyone has different choices.

 My childhood was different we would eat simple food. We were not aware which food contains good/bad carbs, proteins, vitamins, and fats, although we have studied about it but only were aware of ghee as fats.

For lunch and dinner menu I started thinking what to make. My brain storming started with Shakir as he eats everything but different menu for lunch and dinner. Fatima likes chicken dishes. Hamza likes desi food daal chawal, kari khichri, and mix vegetables. Laiba being the youngest hardly has any preference.  My hubby due to exercise regime only good carbs and proteins are on the list. As for me I can fit anywhere.

As I was sipping tea I saw a cat running after the butterfly in the bushes. The cat was continuously running around the bushes with the motive to get hold of the butterfly.

This reminded me of the game, where all of us friends and cousins would sit in a circle and one would run around with a crumpled paper in hand singing “I sent a letter to my father……” then finally it would be dropped. Everyone would check and one who would find it would catch the runner and if caught would be out of the game and if sat in the catchers place would win and game would continue.

These were my childhood days. And now a day’s children hardly play outdoor games.  They want lavish tennis and squash courts. Proper football ground with proper gears.

The children of today have lost their childhood. They are living in a machine world where everything should be perfect.

Playing hides and seeks, dark room, seven tiles, and many more to name are not their cup of tea.

My childhood had memories which brings smile on my face today even. But what I see on my children faces is boredom and unhappiness with ample luxuries.

The children of today have lost the drive to enjoy without luxuries.  As a child I remember getting clay toy utensils from my Grandma and thanking her ample of times.

Now even if you gift the best gadget to your kids the look of happiness will be miles away from them. If asked aren’t you happy the answer will be my friend had it a month back and now I have it.

The emotion of being grateful; has diminished from today’s generation.

Similar thoughts were weaving a net in my mind then I heared Laiba calling out my name.

I got up and ran towards her.

Laiba said “why are you outside, in dhoop you are not wearing slippers pointing at my feet.”

I told her sometimes it’s good to walk without slippers, and dhoop is good for us.

She said, Hami Bhai and Baji are up and all want to eat egg.”

Then I hear Fatima calling for me, saying that dad is up too.

I tell her fine and then I pick my mug and start walking with Laiba asking her about her sleep.

Before I enter the house Laiba runs and gets me my slippers and keeps her slippers at one side and walks in bare feet.

On this husband asks Laiba,” where are your slippers?” she answers back by saying “Papa it’s sometimes good to walk without slippers.”