When I was ten years old, I wrote a story that won me two tickets to Essel World, and 4 tickets to Nehru Planetarium. Going to Mumbai was impossible, so we passed the tickets on to friends in Mumbai. I have no recollection of being upset with it, or in any way deprived. I think the friends who used the tickets felt far worse than I did!
When I won the same things again, a little later, my parents and our friends in Mumbai decided that somehow, this time, little Varsha had to go to Essel World. And so, we planned it.
This was a time when I was obsessed with writing down everything to be sure I did not forget treasured experiences. I wrote down all kinds of details, including what we ate and where. At Nehru Planetarium, there were weighing machines that were fascinating. “On the moon, I’m 6 kgs,” I wrote. I wrote all the details. What I weighed on earth, Jupiter, the sun… Figures and facts – everything was recorded in my diary.
There was one ride that I still remember as my favourite. I can’t remember how many times we went on that ride, but I remember how thrilling it was and how it was our parents who said, “Enough, let’s move on to something else.” It was called the Zyclone, and it was the most thrilling ride ever.
I have written about nothing with respect to that ride. The only thing I seem to have thought worthy of recording was a sign there, saying Please take care of loose cloth and hears.
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