If Only..!

If Only,
Samosas and puff pastries were vital for good health, 
Hot gulab jamuns aided in digestion,
A slice of cheese a day, kept the doctor away,
Dollops of butter promised sharp memory,
French fries kept the blood pressure in check,
Chips and wafers had an age- defying substance,
Dark chocolate cake was crucial for brain health,
Sugar candies and gummy bears provided lots of fiber,
Potatoes had negligible carbs and lots of antioxidants,
All white breads provided Vitamin B, C, D, E &K in abundance,
Cheesecake was the recommended food for glowing skin,
Paranthas were prescribed for balancing cholesterol levels,
Avocados replaced "garcinia cambogia" as the weight loss drug,
Whipped cream and sour cream were known to elevate sexual energy,
Rice and pasta were the super foods which kept us slimmer,
Sodas had nutritious calories rather than empty calories,
Ice- creams and gelatos were known to heal menstrual cramps,

Chocolate chip cookies comprised of all nine essential amino-acids,
Doughnuts and sticky buns were endorsed for good vision,
Steak was the lean meat which happily replaced chicken,
And last but not the least, alcohol was recommended by doctors as a blood purifier!
P.S. If all of the above were true,

Obesity would become as rare as foreign accent syndrome,

And the world would be a happier place for food lovers!

Childhood and Summers

The scorching heat and the soaring temperatures,
The cool breeze of respite in the verandas,

The zest to do the school holiday- assignments, 

The eventful afternoons spent working on projects with friends,

The countless board- game sessions with friends and family,

The matinee movies on the local cable channel,

The evenings spent playing gully- cricket,

The joyful holidays spent at grandma’s house,

The spices and pickles laid out in the sun to dry, 

The cool and refreshing air of the air coolers,

The frivolous fights with siblings and cousins, 

The gobbled down glasses of lemonades and mango coolers, 

The gazillion varieties of delicious mangoes,

The endless wait for the popsicle vendor to pass-by, 

The evening strolls in the community park,

The breezy nights spent lying in the cot, gazing at the stars,

The deep yearning for the monsoons to begin,

The first showers of the much - awaited monsoons,

The puddles of water and the muddy playgrounds,

The gang of half- naked kids flocking the street,

The cavalcade of paper boats floating in the alleys,  

The aroma of tea and fritters wafting from the kitchen, 

The earthy smell of the ground after the rain,

Followed by chilly nights when kids cuddled in bed with their mothers.

P.S. An ode to the summers of life and celebration, of simple childhoods and a lifetime of memories.