It is enchanting the way a taste, or a smell or a scene brings back memories of growing up….

A piping hot water bath with chandrika soap brings back memories of growing up in Vile Parle. We lived there till I went to the 5th.

In a time when a building society meant fancy dress competitions, celebration on all festivals. Visiting homes for haldi kumkum. When birthday parties were made with Kissan Orange Syrup, and home baked cakes. Gifts would be under Rs.11 😀 usually that in lots of little envelopes. When teachers would tell students not to get expensive chocolates, but boiled sweets, because other children in the class may not be able to match up. And, parents would nod their head sagely and agree to this statement and say children must learn to share and children must learn the value of money. Where it was ok to go to school with kids growing up in the slums as well as in the posh flats.

It was a time when it was completely normal for random strangers to drop into your house on a Sunday because they wanted to watch the Hindi Feature Film and didn’t have a TV. It was a time when you would make friends with people three buildings away because they wanted to use your phone.

It was a time when tuitions were taken by a small percentage of very weak students, the rest of us used to be out playing. Chor Police, Lagori, Running around the building.

It was a time when untied hair was considered a sign of mourning or illness and girls used to have their hair oiled by their mothers, and where mogra in their hair. The more daring ones wore roses.

It was a time when we used to get wheat ground for atta – at the nearby chakki. (I still try and get that done – a mix of grains for fibre. )

Its strange that a fragrance unlocks so many snapshots .. …