The camera that wasn't

Sometimes I wish, I had a camera as a kid, to capture moments, places that keep flashing in my head. They are imprinted in my head but time fades away the details. The little things slowly disappear. Photographs help in remembering them. I wish I had photos of Kaji House in Kalimpong, of the tree in the garden outside, which used to be my favourite hang-out spot (literally... it had an awesome branch which was perfect to hang on to and do acrobatics on). I don't even have photos of my dogs I had then, the first one was called Mickey and the second Julie. Julie lived a long happy life and was my favourite. The beauty of Kanchenjunga on a full moon night is something thats in my head but I can never explain its beauty to anyone nor show it. Unless I am lucky enough to spend another night in Kalimpong on such a clear full moon night.

I remember how my Dad returned with one slipper on while the other was washed down the stream near our house while he was trying to cross it. The rains had turned the sad little stream into a furious water force. I remember the bottle-brush tree in which there was a wasp's nest and on a fateful day I poked it with a huge bamboo and was chased all over the compound and bitten in quite a few places. I remember our farms on which I spent my weekends digging, looking for treasure (it all started because I had managed to somehow find a silver chinese coin while helping my caretaker prepare a part of the land to plant maize). We also grew peas, carrots, pumpkins, squash, bitter-gourd, tomatoes and chillies.

Mom used a wooden stove to cook food. It was a huge place made of mud, with a large storage place for wood right above it. I used to love sitting in front of it and warm myself during the winters. Unfortunately, I can never see those moments again but just try and remember them as long as I can till the day I can't remember them to miss them anymore.