If I say Bengaluru❤️ is not just a place but it’s part of my heart …Jayanagar 4th Block is the strongest emotion fulfilling that part !!. The growing up years with the shareholders of my soul ( cousins) in this beautiful,calm and homely locality of Bengaluru was like an unknown wish that had been granted !!!
Our mornings started with us walking to the school bus stop. The chilly Bengaluru mornings gave a ‘ story kind ‘ background to this mundane chore. The walk to the bus stop was a carnival by itself! Ajja or amma used lead us kids to the bus stop. Neighbours would just send their children to join us. There never was the need for them to ask Amma ” would you please take them along ?”……and also there was never an obligation towards Amma because she had ferried their children. Simple people – simple relationships !!
After school , cycling and playing in the by-lanes of this cosy neighbourhood with friends from different social strata ..taught us the essence of acceptance and self – respect. Studies was never a competition among us kids nor the mothers. What the Irani café was to Mumbaiites, the humble Iyengar’s bakery was to Bangaloreans. Some days of the week, Ajja would make sure the treats from the Iyengar bakery awaited us when we got back from school – warm vegetable puffs, khara bun and sweet bun.. ( half serving of each variety !) . The Iyengar bakery guy knew the numbers to be packed as soon as he saw Ajja walking in. Simple people – simple relationships !!
Jayanagar 11th main was the hub for the women folk. Prashanth tailor, Sridhar jewelers ,Balu steel pathre angadi (Balu’s steel shop) were the favorites of amma and Amba aunty. Prashanth tailor, a short guy with spectacles,always smiling never finished the orders on time. When he saw Amba aunty at a distance ,walking up the road going towards his shop,he would hide behind the cupboard or if he had time run out and hide behind the tree 😂 — saving himself from the reasons he would have to cook up for not completing the order . Amba aunty, knowing his hideouts would slowly walk towards the spot and ” ಗೊತ್ತು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದೆ ಇದ್ಹೀರ…ಬನ್ನಿ ಹೊರಗೆ. … ಯಾವಾಗ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ಕೊಡೋದು??”( I know you are behind there ..come out ! When will you give the stitched clothes ). Inspite of Prashanth tailor annoying her each time , he enjoyed the patronage of Amba aunty . When amma and aunty confronted him, all he did was flashed his paan stained teeth in the best smile he could give 😂.Simple people – simple relationships !!
Amma and Amba aunty went to Balu’s steel shop end of the month after they had collected sufficient money and we used to tag along only to see Balu uncle run his electric pen ..trrrrr……trrr as he etched their names on their respective vessels. When he packed the finished product for them he beamed with happiness . ..he always said ” Pray God gives you more“……. Simple people – simple relationships !!
Weekend evenings were a such a joy. Pappa ( dad) would walk us all to the Jayanagar Shopping Complex. As we walked the uphill from home to the complex with pappa leading and all of us walking in a line behind him, onlookers relived the scenes of the ‘ Pied Piper ‘😂😂.
The quadrangle in the shopping complex had a fountian .. we used to sit on the steps of the shops opposite to the fountain and wait for our share of popcorn and icecream !! Older people used to sit with their ‘friends for years’ talking about their bygone days and politics. Every other weekend was the same outing …but we cherished these moments. We lived the moments to the fullest. Simple wants and simple joys !!
At times, Prasanna mama took us to Sukh Sagar for post dinner icecream treats . On such outings …our icecreams upgraded from cones to sundaes 😋😋😋😉. The manager there knew our orders !!! As soon as he spotted us he would start getting the order ready. We always sat on the side steps of this joint … The ten of us and the adults!!! and enjoyed the sundaes till late into the chilly night 💓💓. We enjoyed the walk back home as a team. Simple wants and simple joys!!
We waited for the dinner outing that happened once a month ! The entire MVS clan going out for a dinner was the highlight for us ❤️. The place or the cuisine never mattered. US being together was the most important factor ! Simple wants and simple joys !!
After exams ,every year was the mandatory outing to MG road . We were eager to hop on to the double decker bus . MG road meant ice cream at the famous joint ‘ Lakeview ‘. Which enjoys its patronage till date !
The joys of growing up in Jayanagar is not measurable. The city has rapidly changed with the growth of various sectors of economy. The warmth and love continues to spread in the air of the city . However the city now being Cosmopolitan… has faded hues of simplicity. This city of love❤️, the emotion – Jayanagar will reside in the hearts of many who grew up in this home.
I cherish the city ,the emotion, all the love and moments I shared with the shareholders of my soul.
– SRao
L.I.F.E 
Every Childhood is littered with familiar stories of growing up and the little joys that form part of it.
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Aweeee brought back so many of my childhood memories ❤️ Totally agree with simple minds and simple people, simple joys…as time is passing everything is changing, people are changing,feelings are changing, things are changing.
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A few pennies gave so much of pleasure .
Simple era ! The air was different ..
your memoir flashes the good old days .
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