Fond memories of sleeping under the stars

WE COMPETED TO IDENTIFY THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CONSTELLATIONS BESIDES SPOTTING SHOOTING STARS AND MAKING SECRET WISHES. WE SHARED STORIES AND GIGGLED AWAY INTO THE NIGHT TILL FINALLY SLEEP TOOK OVER

For those of us Indians born before the 1970s, there are probably fond memories associated with sleeping under the stars, literally.

Though some part of my childhood was spent in Africa where my dad was posted, I clearly remember the times when we all (my parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins) used to gather at my maternal grandparents’ home in Jalandhar during the summer vacation.

The days were spent leisurely playing carrom board or cards amid Roohafza and cold sweet lassi breaks and a race to the roadside to grab the fattest stick kulfi from the street vendor ringing his bell incessantly to herald his arrival.

There were fights and brawls too, and our consistent complaints against the hot weather because the place we lived in Africa was a plateau and had cool balmy weather throughout the year.

Certain things were strange and novel to our small innocent selves.

I was intrigued by the woven rope beds called manjis that were laid on the top floor open terrace of the house.

Aligned in rows along with a few modern additions of some folding beds woven with broad plastic bands, the whole family was to sleep together. But it was not an easy task.

Post-dinner, one of the cousins was assigned the duty of carrying rolled up bed linen, comprising a thin cotton mattress called ‘tulai’, a cover sheet and a top sheet. Some of the older uncles were just content with the thin sheets minus the mattress.

Initially, as a kid accustomed to thick spongy springy beds in my home, the low-lying ropy manji seemed extremely uncomfortable.

Add to it the drone of the mosquitoes hovering around that gave me nightmares of getting malaria. But there was a solution to these problems. Oodles of mosquito repellent creams were slathered on and pedestal fans erected that further helped shoo away the offending mosquitoes. Being a guest, I was given the favour of using two of the thin mattresses instead of one.

Gradually, the beauty of sleeping under the stars in the cool breeze began to sink in. We competed to identify the maximum number of constellations besides spotting shooting stars and making secret wishes. We shared stories and giggled away into the night till finally sleep took over.

Decades have passed and now we are slaves to air-conditioned rooms. But nostalgia knocks on the door sometimes. My husband, who belongs to the same era suggested yesterday while we were sitting on the terrace that we buy folding beds and sleep in the open under the beautiful starlit sky like the days of yore.

The idea was tempting but will it be secure enough in these times was my question.

What do you think?