Old Memories

As the first light of dawn kissed the sleepy village, young Bala eagerly embarked on his journey to school. He relished the feeling of the cool, dewy grass beneath his bare feet as he walked through the winding paths. School was quite a distance away, a good 45 minutes' walk, but Bala didn't mind. For him, it was an adventure every day. Along the way, he joined his friends, a merry band of boys, as they made their way to the school grounds. Girls, on the other hand, walked in their own groups, giggling and chatting amongst themselves. There was an unspoken rule about boys and girls not mixing, but Bala didn't mind. He had his friends, and that was enough. Their conversations were filled with dreams and aspirations, fueled by the latest movies they had seen or the upcoming funfairs in the village. Sometimes, they even dared to talk about their crushes, whispering secrets about who liked whom. Despite having very little pocket money, they found joy in simple pleasures li