Tamer and Marry are two good childhood friends. Marry went to Delhi to pursue her master’s degree while Tamer stayed back in the village to look after his old parents and his younger siblings.
In Delhi, Marry enrolls herself in a part time job in a cafe for her pocket money.
One regular evening, Marry comes back to her room from the café; she lies on the bed, checks her phone and taps on one Facebook notification. She opens the notification, and sees a meme shared by Tamer with a caption “Do you remember this?” (with a tears holding back emoji), a couple of children could be seen in the meme playing with marbles; all covered in dust, all totally focused on one single marble.
She smiles and replies texting; of course I do remember, those days were something else. Both start to chat.
Tamer: I know right, but the sad thing is, kids nowadays do not play how we used to, they are always occupied with smartphones. They are missing out the real enjoyment and happiness.
Marry: But they are helpless, the parents give them access to cellphones since childhood and the education system has also changed because of the Covid, making the use of smartphone necessary and inevitable.
Tamer: True, back in those days, there were only landlines followed by the keypad phones.
Marry: And how all my neighbors would come to my house to make a call.
Tamer: Now when I think of it, I feel sad because those days will never come back, all we can do is remember and cherish those moments.
Marry: Exactly, anyways I hope you are doing good. I just came back from the café, so I am a little tired, we will catch up some other day, Bye.
Tamer: So far so good, all right then, do take care, Bye.
After the conversation, Marry turns off the phone and starts thinking while looking above; ‘Oh I wish I could use a time machine and relive those days. ’Marry turns towards the window, looks outside and realizes how the world has become a totally different place and how one should cherish the past, adapt to the changes in the present and hope for the best. (By students of 1st sem, MA and PGDMC)
