Rasna

It was the month of April. The days of Summer had already begun. The Summer heat was already being felt in the air. It was 10 o'clock in the morning but still it was really hot. I was with my mother returning home. I was very happy that day because the exams were over and summer vacation has started. My mother too was happy and she look at me and said, "your summer vacation has started. Do you know what we are going to buy from the groceries store?"
"Rasna" I look that my mother and replied.

Rasna was an integral part of my childhood. Rasna was not just a drink but it was a sacred summer ritual. When the school exams would get over and the summer vacation would begin it would be a family tradition for us to buy the packet of Rasna. The packet of Rasna would contain a vial containing the orange concentrate and a powder mixture. I remember that my mother would give me a big pot to make the Rasna concentrate. The vial would stain my hands. I would spend good amount of time to make the Rasna concentrate. It would be a fun activity for me.

While making the Rasna concentrate we would taste it several times to see whether the taste and consistency are appropriate. While preparing the concentrate itself we used to consume a lot of Rasna. It was hard work but it was rewarding as well. I remember how much I used to love making it.

After the concentration was ready the next step was to fill it in bottles. At that time I would take the smallest of the mug so that I can get the maximum fun out of it while filling it in the bottles. I would do this slowly so that they would be no wastage and I would get to spend the maximum time in doing this activity. After the concentrate was filled into the bottles the next step was to rinse the pot. We would rinse it with drinking water and would consume it.

In the evening when dad would return from the office that time I would make Rasna for him and give it to him instead of tea. He too would be delighted to have received a cooling beverage instead of hot cup of tea. He would say to me, "it looks like someone's summer vacation has started". I still clearly remember those days.

The Rasna concentrate that I would make on the first day of the summer vacation would generally last for the entire summer. Each day after coming home from the hectic day of play we would relish the cooling Rasna drink. Those were the simple times when the simple pleasures meant a lot.

Today when I look back at those days I think to myself how wonderful our childhood had been. We did not require anything expensive or rare to have fun. Something simple and affordable like Rasna was valuable to us.

Today when I think about Rasna it is not a drink for me. It is a ritual, a tradition, an emotion, and the entire childhood in a small glass.