Before the onslaught of summer camps, hobby classes, and ritualistic trips, summer vacations meant some badass adventure.
With iPads and PlayStations in every living room, the old school fun that we pulled off on the streets sounds almost strange.
The mango tree was your adda for ganging up. Landlines served the noble cause of prank calling. Adventure sports? How about hunting for snakes in a pond!
And it did not just stop here… After all, what is a summer break for if not breaking the boundaries and letting loose.
Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment!
The stage was set as you watched Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Zanjeer and so many other classics on rented cassettes with your gang.
Khaas Mangoes
Summer vacation was all about mangoes, raw from the trees or ripe ones chilled in the fridge. However, nothing sets right a hot afternoon like unripe mangoes with salt and chilly powder. Yummm!
The Chillar Party!
.gif?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Forming a secret society with friends, with its own secret codes and gestures. Going on little adventures with your friends gave a rush like no other.
Hunting for Snakes in the Village Pond
So what if fishing was not your thing? You were a pro at peeping inside the village pond and catching tiny snakes! The best part was when you’d grab a big one and all your friends would run away in horror.
Dancing in the Tubewell Was 'LOVE'
.gif?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Bathing in the tubewell with friends, and being the first one to get out so that you can hide their clothes!
Eat, Eat, and Eat!
Peeled kilos and kilos of mango for grandma’s achaar. And then ate so much of it that you felt sick.
Sleeping Under the Stars Was Heavenly
No electricity, No problem!
When ‘Art & Craft’ Meant Business
Making envelopes out of waste paper and then selling them to earn money. Summer vacation was the best time to let your creativity flow, and save some cash too!
Stealing Visitors’ Bicycles Was Fun
When people came visiting your neighbours, their bicycles would be gold! You’d take these cycles for rides and then keep them right back before the unsuspecting souls wrapped up their visit.
Sometimes the bicycle tyres suffered punctures, but shush, you saw nothing.
Prank Calling Strangers
.gif?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
The pre-Truecaller age of landlines will be sadly missed by us all!
Bored to Death!
When you passed time by burying dead spiders, collecting tadpoles in a jar, or taking long walks on uncharted streets. In short, just waiting for the vacation to get over was its own kind of fun.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)