Months ago my sister in law had told me that she was planning to send my niece to a new school. Its a full day, six days a week school which focuses only on academics. I was surprised as the child was already attending one of the best schools in the city and does her schoolwork like her life depends on it. What was reason behind this sudden quest for higher standard of education?

My sis in law gave a speech about tapping higher potentials and preparing for a dog eat dog world. But the real reason, even if she hesitated to say it aloud, was the simple fact that she could be at peace at work thinking that the 11 year old is at school till 5 in the evening, instead of being alone in the apartment.

School was always considered to be the safest place for a child after home. Children would always be under the watchful eyes of the teachers and staff. But recent happenings in our cities have proved that school could be as unsafe as any other place. Parents could no longer be at peace, thinking that their children were at school.

How could we really protect our children? We could probably tell them scream out loud if a stranger or a 'friend' tries to  touch them in a bad way? We could encourage them to discuss everything that happened at school?

World is probably losing its sanity, lets weave a net of love and care around our loved ones. Lets take time to talk, lets make more phone calls. Love probably is the only thing that could make our twisted lives find some balance. Lets say it aloud 'No matter what happens I would be there for you.'

Sometimes when I close my eyes, I think I could change everything. I could give life to old trees, I could take people out of their sophisticated lives and urban homes and bind them once again with love and remind them of the things they have forgotten. I would change everything until there is no evidence  change, no evidence of time passed.

My four cousins were an integral part of my life once, I grew up with them, of course they were all much older to me. I looked up to them, they took care of me.

Now, in the dubious ways of the present, they are all battling different kinds of middle age problems, health issues, property issues, lack of money, excess of money, children getting married, children not getting married,  being somebody, being nobody. Why does life change people the way it does ? Why do 'somebody's move away from 'nobody's?

In a time when life hadn't torn them apart, took sides or played favourites, they all lived in harmony. They were jovial and fun. They stayed away from their father's idealism and  their mother's sense of self sacrifice. They moved with their college friends, organized college events and sang songs.

I used to listen to their college stories, sometimes with out them knowing. When they had dance rehearsals they would let me watch. I still remember the gaudy costumes they used bring for oppana and folk dance.

Today, I somehow remembered a song one of them used to sing all the time. I found it here (youtube ki jay)..

God, I still remember melting for the line 'kalamaamilanjiyethra pookkale kozhichu'.

I would always be grateful to all of them for being kind, irrespective of what life has made of them.