MY CHILDHOOD DEN
May-27-2014
12:20 am
I apologize for the clumsy title. But I couldn’t think of anything more unusual considering it is midnight- my usual creative high time. Sigh. It’s been very long since my imagination has been betraying me and so has my laptop. I was sitting in my attic munching away at my favourite juicy water melons and feeling the cool breeze blow through my hair, when I began recollecting my childhood memories. All the corners that used to be my favourite hiding places including some pits between the garden plants, the mystic generator cage and more so. I’m trying to seal a very interesting part of my childhood down the years but I might slip here and there.
I loved hanging out at Mrs Benedict’s place maybe because that was my first close encounter with the animal kingdom. Her house was tiny, crowded, vivid, wacky and messy all at the same time. It had a huge garden area all around, which she turned into a unique menagerie. But it was rather infamous among the mothers of our colony for obvious reasons. Kids were strictly instructed to stay away from 14-A Kodesia Enclave.
To begin with, she had this adorable pet dog I called Tuk-Tuk because she was such a sloth. She wouldn’t even bother to bark in the least if God forbid any burglar walked in someday!
Whenever I’d pass by in the evenings, Mrs Benedict used to be watering the plants and Smoke would always be hanging loose on either of the two tall papaya trees in the garden area. Did he love the woody scent of the papayas?? I’d always wonder. But Mrs Benedict later told me Tuk-Tuk hated the huge black cat and would scare the daylights out of him if he’d enter her territory. That was the only possible accomplishment she had to her name!
I remember she had a big French window looking out in the garden. The garden was another thing altogether. A fully functional kitchen garden she had with tomato, radish, carrot, mint, chilli plants and papaya and guava trees. I loved spending time in kitchen garden where every morning I had the duty to fetch vegetables and flowers that were fully bloomed. Sometimes when I’d be reckless (which was a lot of times), I’d lie curled up on the grass, under a tree with a cushion and a book in hand, then Piper (the baby lemur) would rush out to me and I’d chase him around in the bushes. This process involved a lot of bruises since he kicked, and screeched. Anyway, after the whole taming him down would be over, he’d end up sleeping over in my left arm which tickled a bit but was cute anyhow.
And of course I have an elephantine memory on this; she had a really grown-up son too, who hardly used to be there and would be busy working at his computer whenever he was around. After all, sight of a human being was a refreshing change for the eyes sometimes!!
Ohh... Did I miss out on Chester (the turtle)??
Well, the eldest Man Of The House he was. And I somehow incredibly always knew when err.... he needed to heed nature calls. So I’d pick him up, huge shell-like thing he was, and rush him to the garden area.
In those nights when exams wouldn’t let me sleep, Mrs Benedict’s birds would sing, flutter and cheer me up from their cage even at night. And I’d stand in my balcony and look out into the night, the moon, and few specking lights here and there. Who says you can’t see breeze, I could, back then. It was always so quiet and peaceful there.
I loved those hours I spent in the world’s most amazing neighbourhood ever, where I watched television eating away at chocolate ricotta pies that she’d prepare during Christmas, had my first acquaintance with the computer world, Piper! A living memory of my comradeship with “the animal kingdom”, and the X-mas trees we planted from the garden pots are now taller than the house itself. Whenever I cross that road across Kodesia Enclave, I can recognize my DEN because of these two huge trees. They’re always there.
We all respect you, not because you are an amazing photographer but you are a good human.
Many many happy returns of the day
Words
— so innocent they are,as standing 
photographers,who use their eyes as their photography equipments.
Well, you are another year older and you haven't changed a bit. That's great because you are perfect just the way you are.
We hope you have a wonderful day and that the year ahead is filled with much love, many wonderful surprises and gives you lasting memories that you will cherish in all the days ahead.
You are an original. There is a special magic that makes you who you are. On your birthday, may you never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten. Be happy being on our list of favorite people.You are not getting older. You are a flower just beginning to bloom.
People give one another things that can't be gift wrapped. But on this special day, you have given us that one preciously wrapped thing- the gift of your words, a piece of your heart blended with your creativity and imagination. 
In the soft gleaming night of stars,
Millions Of Greetings,
Some things are good immediately and others improve with time. You started great and soar even higher. Blowing out another candle should mean that you have enjoyed another year and made the world a better place than when you blew out fewer candles. You are not getting older. You are a flower just beginning to bloom.
When you find there is no hope, she would stand up, hold your hand and say,"There is always a hope at
the end. It depends on us, how we deal with them. We can look at it
as a hopeless end or an Endless Hope." 
Our hope for your day
The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of your life, the clearer you can see through it.
