My Childhood Toy Shop

Today I happened to pass the Toy Store - the one I used to visit when I was a kid. And I suddenly remembered the old times.

The first thing I remember is my heart beat suddenly rising with anticipation as I would approach the shop. There would be scores of toys piled up inside as well as displayed at the entrance. It was a kid's toy-dream world... The shop-keeper would smile at me. I was a privileged customer. I am sure he did not miss the fact that my eyes had gone round like saucers as I drooled over the sight of all those G.I.Joes and their vehicles, the cool plastic toy guns, He-man and his mates, all displayed in there. And then the smiling devil would tempt me with all the most expensive toys (he knew I loved G.I.Joes, I was a regular with him) - much to the consternation of my parents.

Things have changed now. As I pass by the shop, my breath no longer catches and my heart no longer goes dhak-dhak... The smiling-devil shop-keeper is standing in there. He catches my eye, but he does not smile. Of course he would not recognize me any more. Its been too long and I have changed quite a lot (the price we all pay for growing up)... I try to spot my favourite G.IJoes. But they are no where to be seen... Neither are the awesome big toy-guns or he-man or the local board games like "Nava Vepari" (indian version of Monopoly) or the local-made cricket bats with no labels on them... Instead there are some standard board games, branded cricket gear, really funny looking toy figurines (BenTen? Transformers??) and lots and lots of Computer and PSP game CDs... Hmmm, things have changed quite a lot in the Toy-world...