The Slow-paced Times

 

As per the theory of relativity, time was slower during our growing up years. It left much time at the villagers’ disposal to while it away in chaupal gossips and idle talks over hookah and cards. Grandfather loved mathematics. Since almonds strengthen the brain, from where the sprouts of mathematics originate, he loved almonds as well. So we siblings would break almond shells in the open yard in front of our house. In a bucolic world thirsty for happenings, it presented an interesting episode. The neighbors would creep out and sit around. They counted the number of almond shells broken. Then all of them had interesting bits of information to share about the best way to hit to break the shell cleanly. Just imagine the amount of time at our disposal during those years.