Adventures of Raghu - "those were the days my friends!"

“I’m bored of studying for Monday’s history test Raghu” said Meera as she looked out of Raghu’s room window. She had been reading her History book for Monday’s test but now wanted to take a break from it.

Raghu was busy playing a game on his new ipad that his mother had recently gifted him, and replied to Meera half interested in what she was saying - “Hmm..”

Winter was on its way in. The days were becoming shorter, the temperature cooler and it felt good to get some sun on your body. It was always refreshing to sit on Raghu’s room window and look at the garden, the big banyan tree and the birds chirping on the branches outside.  

Today there was a slight cool wind blowing as Meera closed her eyes and felt the breeze embrace her face. She felt a pang of nostalgia as it blew off her face. She suddenly went back to that time in her childhood when she would swing in the park and feel the same wind blow on her face. Oh, how lovely that time of life was – carefree and happy, swinging in the sunshine, in the winds, in the rain.

“Raghu, do you remember how much fun we used to have swinging when we were in nursery? Your mom used to push both of us on the swings and we used to always compete to see which one of us could swing higher! Remember?” said Meera as she turned to look towards Raghu. “Hmmm…” said Raghu again. Meera dashed over to where Raghu was sitting and gave him a friendly but annoyed nudge - “Raghu! Are you listening to me or you’re just on that silly new iPad of yours again!” “Yes, I am listening Meera. I do remember, it used to be fun. But I’m just in the middle of my game right now” said Raghu in a very matter of fact kind of way.

Meera left the room half in frustration and half to just go downstairs and sit in the garden with the Banyan tree. For Meera and Raghu both, this Banyan tree was more than just a tree, it was like the great grandfather of the house. Whenever they were low, or had something on their mind, they could go sit with him and share everything with him. He always seemed to listen and give them some kind of answer. Meera lay down on her stomach next to the banyan tree, admiring its beautiful long and strong branches, in her heart talking to the banyan tree of how she missed just simply swinging like when she was little.

As she lay in her thoughts, suddenly she saw the banyan tree branches swaying and felt as though the banyan tree were inviting her to swing on its own branches. Meera got up in joy and cried - “Why don’t we put up a swing on your branches! It would be just like the old times, and a whole lot of fun!”

 Meera dashed upstairs to tell Raghu of her plan and bumped into Raghu’s elder brother, Raghav on the way. “Raghav, we want to put up a swing on the banyan tree outside. Can you help us?” said Meera a little embarrassed, but excited. Raghav laughed. “You both always come up with insane ideas don’t you! Okay, let me take a shower and come down. Go to the garage. Father has kept some old tires there and we have strong rope too.

 
We had thought of putting up a swing a few months ago so all the material should be there. Start looking for it, I’ll be back soon.”

Meera half decided to go upstairs to tell Raghu, but then remembering Raghu's infatuation for his new iPad, headed to the garage instead. Raghav soon came down with a print out of instructions on making a ‘tire swing’ and a friend of his, Maddy, who he had called over for some additional help. Raghav first found a sturdy old tire and washed it. While Meera was drying it, he found strong rope and a drill to make a few holes in the tire. The three of them then took all the material and went to the banyan tree where Raghav and Maddy inspected to find the sturdiest and thickest tree branch.

A few knots later, with the help of a ladder, Maddy and Raghav had tied the rope and tire on the branch, leaving some space from the ground. Maddy sat on it, removing his feet from the ground to check its sturdiness and on passing the test, let Meera on.

Meera excitedly jumped on the swing as Raghav gave her a push from the back. She was so happy, she was laughing. Hearing the chatter downstairs, Raghu had come to his room window as he looked down at Meera on the swing and smiled. There were some things that could only be shared in smiles and laughter, there were no words to really express how they felt.