A small town girl in a modern world

Ihave reached that juncture, which is popularly called the dusk of life. When I go down memory lane, I can recall many moments worth celebrating and cherishing. There is also a sense of contentment that I feel for having led a meaningful life.

These days, it is commonplace to compare our generation with that of youngsters, and glorify our times. But I confess, if there were some blessings, there were some drawbacks as well. We were not aware of the world around us, we had little exposure of any kind, be it political, social or scientific.

Being a small town girl, our life was confined to our homes. We went from our home to school or college and back. Girls were not supposed to be heard or seen. Brothers were prioritised, especially when they had four sisters. We accepted this discrimination as part of our upbringing. Though we were given a good education, there were certain boundaries which we did not dare to cross. The only exposure to the outer world was a drive in the car about once a month. Our elder brother would take us out, and park the car with its back to the main road, with us facing the wall of a massive house (Grindlays Bank House). We were offered ice-cream, but we were not supposed to step out of the car. Anxiously, we would wait for the next trip, which would hinge on our brother’s whims.

Not much changed when I got married. Ours was a big joint family, you were only allowed to move around in the evenings, that too not very often. Gradually, events started taking a new turn. We started going for vacations. I used to visit my parents as they had moved to Delhi and life took a new pace.

Before marriage, we were not allowed to go to restaurants, and there were hardly any at that time. But this newfound freedom after marriage was an additional bonus. Within a short span of time, I started learning the norms of a socially acceptable life, step by step. As the journey of life continued, the world around us also started changing.

Never having had a chance to travel by air earlier, fastening the seat belt was a major ordeal for me. I would fumble with the seat belt, taking care to look around and ensure that I was not being watched. There are many other things, which seem hilarious in retrospect. I am not ashamed of confessing that staying in a luxury hotel was quite a task for me. Sneaking into a tightly tucked bed was no mean feat. I would end up feeling drained after using all my might to pull the blanket from under the mattress. It’s an overwhelming experience, and by the time you get accustomed to it, it’s time to check out.

But I am learning with time and trying to keep pace with the modern world. I watch my children, dealing with electricity and telephone bills or other kinds of complaints. They press a few buttons on their smartphones and the deed is done. I proudly declare that I am very comfortable with modern gadgets and apps, be it Facebook, Google or Instagram. I feel it is important to move with time, to count the blessings of our modern world, and enjoy the hi-tech life.

I guess the small town girl in me finally did become modern after all, in ways I’d never imagined.

NOT MUCH CHANGED WHEN I GOT MARRIED. OURS WAS A BIG JOINT FAMILY, YOU WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO MOVE AROUND IN THE EVENINGS, THAT TOO NOT VERY OFTEN. GRADUALLY, EVENTS STARTED TAKING A NEW TURN