There is one problem if you play cricket, badminton you can hide but to hide from yours parents that you haven’t played marbles was really a hard thing to do. Your cloths tell the whole story. As wisdom increases with the age you think that you should have played some more civilized game but at that age I was a junkie of this game.

The second game that we used to play was chainbreaker. I don’t know about the general name. This name was coined by us. This game was really strange. One boy out of the group was made a thief. There was an honest rule to select a thief but the majority always selected someone to whom they hated most. A circle was made on the ground. Each time thief came out he had to touch someone. Whenever he touched that boy too became a thief. Next time they both came together to make a new thief holding their hand. Now if outside the circle they separated in trying to touch others they were subjected to the serious betting by the rest of boys till they reached the circle. In this impartial, cruel game most of the time the child that got most punches was one who has unpleasant face. And who at some point of time did something against the fraternity. This game had a great advantage. We sorted out all the differences and this was done just playing this game. As we grow older there are many unpleasant people in the neighbors. They regularly complain that your generator, wires, child, wife and anything with whom they can relate you is making problem for them. You want to scold them, beat them but because of social bounding you can’t. It would have been great if we could play this game after getting older.

Almost nothing was needed to play these types of games. No money, no paraphernalia-a little space and few boys. For space we had a place on which landlord was not able to build a house because of some money problems. He was a lawyer but he could not put us in jail just because we were playing on his property and making lot of noises. Childs were no problem we had them in plenty. But now a problem started. Children who were coming to play were decreasing day by day. We had to find out the reason.

On a little investigation I found that my friend Gagan got a videogame from his Delhi relative. Every new thing has a lot of craze so this game was no exception. After school with some stupid reasons most of the children’s went to Gagan house. Gagan was now a hero. What ever he said most other readily agreed. No body wanted that there friendship with Gagan broke at this crucial point of time. He sat at the center chair and that from the black box took out the videogame. Then he connected various wires. And then we all entered into world of Mario, Ninja and Mongli. He had the power to control all these characters. With just a little movements of his finger they jumped, kicked, and punched. How easy it was- no need to dirty your cloths, no broken bones, no abuses from the friend’s parents as if their children’s are going to be famous personality. The stupidity of playing pbles, chainbreaker started to come inside the mind. 

Gagan was enjoying the fame that he was getting. He was not used to it. As a incentive of supporting him sometimes he gave his game to us for playing. On other days even its view was difficult. It was kept at some place which even his parents were not aware of. No body was allowed to touch his game. It was kept as if it was some sort of sacred book. If elder don’t read it that OK but children should not even try to read it.

Company of smoker makes you a smoker too. So the company of Gagan, and other videogame junkies raise a desire to have a videogame in my home too.

I was thinking of Videogame day and night. It color, its size various games in it- whole day these thought kept revolving in my mind. Like a mother who is constantly thinking of her little child- I was thinking about my videogame. These thought kept bugging me even in my dreams.

Buying videogame was now not a choice but a necessity. But to say father that I require 2000rs and then to assume that he will give without a blink was as illogical as it could be. He kept in front of me some unachievable goals.

“Bring 1^st rank in the class.”

“Stop drinking cold drinks and eating too many chocolates.” Etc.

Now it was better to find some other options then to agree on these terms. But child have very little options. No wealthy friends, no credit cards, no business, equities or mutual funds. My savings till now was just 500rs and other 1500rs needed for a decent game was my headache.

I was dependent of my parents. If they can’t pay the 1500 at one go then I had to take it part by part. I was not honest- how can one be if he has an impossible target to achieve. Like a politician I showed a false list of things on which I was expending. But the extra money was going to the piggy bank.

I was also dependent on relatives. They were a big source of money. When ever they left after meeting my parents they put a 100rs note on my hands and told, “yeh lo batay chocolate kha lena(Take this and have some chocolate for yourself).” My natural reply would have been, “No, No I don’t require it.” These days also I wanted to say this but that sentence was not coming out of my mouth. My need was getting bigger then the formalities. I was praying that more such relative arrive. Like a waiter I was serving them well so that at the end I get a good tip. But when they left with just a pat on my back- I was as helpless as a Waiter is who doesn’t get a tip after a good work. But soon little drops made an ocean and I had this magical sum called Rs2000.

Regular saving made me a miser. I found myself little hesitant to invest a big sum on a videogame. Again I was juxtaposing it with pebbles, chainbreaker etc. Also 10^th class examination was near and I had to prepare well so that I can get admission in some good school in Chandigarh . Also there is a general truth that as time increases the desire decreases (love is exceptional case). On my birthday I thought to go against my brain and follow the heart. I went to buy a videogame. A snazzy videogame was selected. But before my hand reached the bag to get out the money my friend detected a problem. Shopkeeper had no other piece so he gave a date instead on which his stocks are going to arrive.

That date came and passed. I never went back to buy the game. My 10^th class examination dates were declared. That might have been one reason.