Childhood is a blissful episode in our life. There is no work to be done, no responsibilities to take. It’s a phase when we have the proverbial twinkle in our eyes. Everything is new, and hence surprising. Childhood is when we divide ourselves between the real world and the imaginary. We believe as much in ghosts and fairies as we believe in things around us.       

By the time you are old enough to be considered an adult, you realise that there are heaps and piles of responsibilities that you need to fulfill. And then you dream of becoming a child once again, living the easy life without much tension and worries. Sadly, this illusion of going back to the past doesn’t last long, as reality drags you back to the world you inhabit.

The dream-like, blissful world of childhood is totally different from the reality we encounter and the problems we face as adults.    

Along with handling many responsibilities, being an adult also means earning your own living. So you enter the job market and work hard with the aim of earning enough to live a good life. Without employment and a proper salary, the society won’t respect you. After job and salary comes marriage. Matrimony, which previously seemed awkward, now sounds like a natural course of life. And after a heart break or two, you do end up getting hitched. Your dreams and your lives now get intertwined with that of others.

In the blink of an eye, you also become a parent. The responsibility of taking care of a new life hurls down onto you now. After that, at least for most of us, life revolves around our kids, our blood. Their happiness becomes ours. Their sadness brings tears to our eyes. All we want to do is to make sure that they get to enjoy the best, and live a happy life. That’s how we grow old: rearing kids, fighting with the world, earning and spending money.

In the process of doing all these things, and accomplishing so many things, we tend to forget that once upon a time we were kids. Back then, we had twinkle in our eyes, and lived between the real world and the world of dreams. We shared this world with daemons and dragons and angels and witches. We believed animals could speak.

 That’s how you grow old: killing your own childhood. But then, it is also the time to leave this world.  Slowly, your body withers and becomes frail. Death knocks at your door; it’s time to leave.

It’s sad that we leave this world with shriveled faces, teary eyes, angry hearts and poisoned minds. If only we had the ability to go back to our childhood. At least, we could then die with a smiling face and a happy heart.     

Sapkota is doing his A levels from Budhanilkantha School