Some childhood memories fade. Others stay etched in your heart forever. This is one of mine.
I was in 3rd grade when my family that’s my dad, mom, brother, grandma, and cousin, went on a trip to Varanasi from Odisha. My dad had planned the entire itinerary, and we spent our days exploring temples, enjoying the food, and soaking in the city’s energy. On the last day, after visiting Triveni Sangam, we were supposed to head straight to the train station. That’s exactly what I believed we were doing.
The guide arranged three rickshaws: one for my mom, brother, and cousin; one for me and my grandma; and one for my dad and the guide. My rickshaw started first. At first, I could see the others behind us, but as the streets grew crowded, they disappeared from sight. I was only eight, and a quiet panic began to rise.
When my rickshaw reached the station, my parents were nowhere in sight. My grandma was with me, but she didn’t know Hindi, and neither of us had any money. I asked the rickshaw driver to drop my grandma and me at the station so we could wait for my parents. He refused, insisting we couldn’t get down until the fare was paid. I felt trapped and scared in the middle of a crowded station, with no way to reach my family as there were no mobile phones back then.
In that moment, I made a small but brave decision. I climbed onto the seat of the rickshaw, hoping that if my family arrived, they would see me. That tiny act changed everything.
After a while, I spotted the my dad and guide in the distance, frantically searching for me at the overcrowded station. I waved my hand and shouted, and my dad rushed over. Soon after, we reunited with my mom, brother, and cousin. When I saw my mom, her eyes were swollen from crying. She thought she had lost me. Only then did I learn what had happened: after getting into the rickshaw, the plan had changed. They decided to visit a nearby Shiva temple before heading to the station, but no one had told me.
To this day, I feel grateful that I didn’t have any money with me at that time. If I had paid the fare and gotten down with my grandma, I don’t know if I would have ever found my family again. That moment still feels like I was being protected.
What is one childhood memory that has stayed with you, shaped you, or taught you something about life?
Comments
6 responses
You may feel humbled and protected looking back at that moment, and that itself shows your humility. But the way I see it, it was your quick thinking and instinct, even at that young age, that helped you the most in finding your way back.
Loved reading it – keep writing.
Thank you so much. It means a lot that you saw both sides of that moment, the fear and the instinct. I truly appreciate your encouraging words.
This is such a powerful memory. The way you described the fear, confusion, and finally the relief of finding your family made it feel incredibly real. That small decision to stand on the rickshaw seat showed so much courage for an eight-year-old. What could have become a heartbreaking story turned into a reminder of how instinct, hope, and love can guide us through chaos. Your ending about feeling protected adds such an emotional touch.
Beautifully written
Thank you for your beautiful feedback, loved it!
Yeah, I know the story. My grandmother told me many times whenever we went to a function or to my maternal uncle’s house, she would tell us that whenever we sit in a rickshaw, we all must sit together in the same one
Thank you, Aniya, for your lovely feedback. My mom was right. Staying together really matters, especially in situations like the one we went through.