Lost but not found

When I was in school, we used to have roadside traders set up stalls at our school gate. Day after day, they would battle the sun and rain, patiently waiting for the school bell to ring to sell their goods, which mainly consisted of candy and toys..

One such trader was an old Indian uncle who used to sell ice cream. No offense to BR and Haagen fans, but this man’s ice cream was the best I ever had! He would come by on a old motorcycle, park it across the road from the school, and would ring his little horn every now and then. We could hear his horn from our classrooms and the teachers would have a tough time keeping everyone in their seats.

Focus : Get out of class, get ice cream

I remember rushing down 3 floors from my classroom, going as fast as my short(er) legs would carry me to the bicycle stand, fighting the urge to hop on the bicycle to get to the main gate. For safety reasons, we were not allowed to cycle in the school compound. I guess it would have like a war zone if we did..the afternoon students strolling in to class, the morning students rushing to get out. There’s bound to be a mishap or two.

Focus : Cycle, cycle.get ice cream

Thankfully the school had also provided for a ‘safety’ man to get us across the road safely. I mean when you’re a kid, you tend to focus so hard on getting something and tend not to pay attention to other things around you, like traffic.

Focus : ice cream!

It was sold in
only one flavor: milk vanilla. It was so white and creamy, topped with just right amount of chocolate sauce and bits of broken almonds. If anyone ever thought to trademark his ice cream, I would gladly suggest a name-Heaven In A Cup. That ice cream was my companion for many many days on my ride home.

As all things come to an end, one day the old uncle never showed up. We tried asking around, but no one seemed to know what had happened. I was already in high school at that time and I felt sad that the littler kids wouldn’t get to taste uncle’s ice cream.

Funny the things we do remember from our childhood. I guess I am remembering things long gone as another episode of my life had to come to an end recently and I realize that at the end, memories are all that remain..

Peace to Ice Cream Uncle! Where ever he may be.