The SSC exams got over today. A news item about the jubilation and excitement that the students felt brought cherished memories of my own school days.

Exams over, especially the SSC exams, meant a long summer holiday with literally nothing to do, or should I say everything to do. As Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes fame rightly said, “There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want."

Summer vacation meant…Daily visits to the library to pick up books and comics to read. Back to back movies to watch on long lazy afternoons, courtesy the friendly neighborhood cable guy.

An extended stay at my maternal grandmother’s house in Ahmedabad. Playing games like hide and seek, seven stones, blind man’s buff, cricket. A sixer breaking a window. Cycling races in the building compound. Scraped knees…and bruised egos. Kulfi, ice cream, cold coffee, lassi, ice golas, chocolates (sponsored by dearest sweet grandma…) Parathas, veggies, dal(with oodles of ghee), and sweet curds. Water so chilled, it seared the throat. Mangos and watermelon. Sneaking to the terrace and feasting on the sour and salty chunks of raw mango spread out to dry for yummy mango pickle. Beating the slumber time set by the adults and subsequently chatting into the wee hours of the night discussing every topic under the sun…or should I say stars.

Teary goodbyes and promises to keep in touch. No email, mind you, only charming old-fashioned letters.

The announcement in the newspaper for the date of the results. Fear and trepidation. Nightmares about scoring low marks. Queasiness in the tummy. Long walk up the short flight of stairs to collect THE mark sheet. Finally, euphoria and relief...at having scored top-notch marks.

Truly a roller coaster ride of emotions, if ever there was one!!!