Toy story

A friend of mine yesterday said that it is hard to think that i played with toys even when i was a kid. (??). I dont know what she thought, but i promised her that i would write my toy story here in my blog.

When i was a kid, i really was an ordinary kid. I loved toys like any other child. I reckon playing with my imaginery soldiers (can be toys or pens or just my bare fingers) in a never land battle field. And when i played, it was always fights and fights forever. There wouldn't be any story. And thanks to our tamil cinemas then, my hero would always start fighting only after getting beaten black and blue. Later when the hero raises, the villain had no chance of standing before him...dishoom, dasham, ghumaal, dumeel...thats all.

The first toy i could ever remember was a small rubber teddy bear that would make sound when you squeeze. I had a pink colored one and my brother had the same in yellow color. Then a baby doll that closes her eyes when we tilt it a little bit. i.e., it would close its eyes when we lay it flat. This baby doll was a favourite of my father's sister who was studing 7th or 8th then. (so young athhai(aunt) because she was the 7th daughter of my grandpa and my father was the first son). When she comes home for leave, she would shower this baby doll, dress it, comb it and even feed it by keeping some food in its mouth. We loved watching my doll and aunt playing together.

Then i remember having a military Jeep and my brother got a fancy red car. Then a blue soldier toy. And the best ever was my he-man. I invited my friend home just to show it to him. Most of the afternoons, i would just lay in my bed playing with that tough guy. (dont remember what my brother got when i was having this blue soldier and he-man.)

My brother grew sooner than me and get past this toy era. He started playing with neighboorhood boys and girls. It took a long time for me to get out of my never land battle field. In fact, very longgggggg.

My dad being a government officer, used to get transfer often. Everytime we moved, we would trash the toys or give it to relatives. So when i reached 7th standard, there was no toys to play with. Our play shelve was full with cricket bat, stumps, shuttle cork bats, basket ball, chess and carrom board. Somewhere inside me, i still wanted a soldier toy. I was so shy to ask my dad since i was a little man already. And i was scared what my mom would say. As always, I bugged my brother to convey it to my dad. I would do some help to my bro and would ask him to do this favor in return. This continued for months. Somehow or the other, we didn't express my desire.

One day, there was an ad for dabur honey. Buy a medium sized bottle and you get a soldier toy free. It was my time to act on. I showed the paper to my bro and we decided that we would ask for honey which we said is good for health and insist in buying dabur honey. My dad was trimming his moustache. I went near him casually (nervous inside) doing something else. My brother followed me to the dinning table and we were unnecessarily moving things in the table signalling each other to start the conversation.

Finally i spitted it out. 'Daddy, look at this ad. This honey is good one, my friends said.' Without turning back he said 'yes honey is good for health. I would buy you one'. Then he continued his work. Half part was done. I looked at my brother. It was his turn to tell my dad to buy the same brand so we can get the toy. 'If we buy this honey we get a toy free. Jeevan wants the toy'. He said it easily (it was my problem right) and we (or I) anxiously waited. 'Ok, I will surely buy' my father said again. We ran to our room and i was so happy and waited for the honey bottle.

Two days later, honey bottle arrived as my father promised. Different brand and no free toy. :(

The longing for the toy grew inside me and i could not take it anymore. I took a brave decision few months later and asked my father shamelessly. I could not say if he was shocked or surprised. He was laughing a little. 'You have grown like a man and you want a small toy at this age?'. It was a casual question but it hurt me inside. I said 'Alright fine' and turned back. Something told me that my father would definitely buy me as he cannot see me feel like that. That weekend, my father had to go for a two days camp to some place and he came back on a early morning.

I stealthily went to his room and searched his bag when he was sleeping. I checked his table and his cupboard. Alas! There was no toy. Disappointment. Frustration. Upset. I went back to my room and promised never to ask anything and talk to my dad for some days. It was bright and sunny outside and i went out and sat outside the home thinking of something else. Dad called me from inside. I went to his room as a silent boy and stood there without talking. My father took the small packet from underneath the bed and opened it. It was a small red soldier, exactly what i asked. I forgot all my feelings earlier and thought inside 'my dad is the best dad in the world.'

Happy time started for me and i started playing with it for years.

Yes, I am little embarassed to say that it all happened when i was 13 years old. But what to do? The child inside my heart is still alive. Waiting for my kid so that I can be with toys once again. :)