I stood in front of the balloon guy,
Smiling, giggling at the random shades,
I stretched my hand for the bright blue one
Eager to bounce it playfully
“For your son madam? Or for your li’l sister maybe”
He asked me
Shattering all my dreams
Smile now dejected I walked away
Grown-ups can’t play with balloons is it?
I looked transfixed at the bubbles around
Fingers playfully trying to catch a few
To not let them burst
To cocoon me in their rhapsody
“C’mon! How small a girl are you still?”
My momma’s exasperated voice
Dragged me back
I entered the wedding hall grace and splendor
Dreams and bubbles not for adults is it?
I looked and looked at the pretty green bottle
And stood transfixed by the yellow shade
Why can’t I get both free, I wondered
Maggi makers are miserly
“Really? Are you still confused about that ‘water-bottle’?”
My dad’s harsh voice
Grated my feelings
I just shrugged and blindly picked one
Elders don’t care much about free stuff colours is it?
I tried to stick my tongue out at the snobby guest
And splash water on the unsuspecting thing
Can I hide her purse away
And scream BOO as she turned the corner…
“What are you 4? Thinking such absurd things!”
My husband reprimanded me
As in a burst I confided to him
I smiled politely and offered some sweets
Adults behave maturely isn’t it?
I killed my joys,
I killed my dreams,
For with age is supposed to come maturity,
Letting go, compromising
Following the unwritten laws
Kill the heart
It’s the mind that rules
Walking the path of rationality
For the adult that I now am!
