Hey there, Medium readers! So, guess what? After years of burying my nose in textbooks and drowning in assignments, I finally managed to escape the clutches of academia and step into the real world. And where did I end up? None other than Lake Mall in Kolkata, the very epitome of retail therapy and childhood nostalgia.
Just having fun! Thought of taking a random picture!
Now, let me set the scene for you. Picture this: me, Vinayak Singh Oberoi, an 18-year-old who’s more accustomed to the sight of textbooks than shopping bags, strolling through the corridors of Lake Mall with none other than my dear mother in tow. It’s like stepping into a time warp, except instead of dinosaurs, there are designer stores and the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee.
First things first, we hit up the food court because, let’s be real, a hungry teenager is not to be trifled with. With so many options to choose from, we embarked on a culinary journey that ranged from cheesy pizzas to spicy street food delights. Let’s just say my taste buds were in for a wild ride, and my poor mother had to witness the aftermath of my food-induced euphoria.
Just kidding!
But the real fun began when we stumbled upon those larger-than-life cartoon characters scattered throughout the mall. Now, remember, I may be 18 on paper, but in my heart, I’m still that kid who believes in the magic of childhood whimsy. So, naturally, I couldn’t resist the urge to strike a pose with every cartoon character we encountered.
There I was, a grown-up (supposedly) teenager, cheesing it up with Mickey Mouse, giving a thumbs-up to SpongeBob SquarePants, and even attempting to out-flex Popeye the Sailor Man. My poor mother couldn’t decide whether to laugh or pretend she didn’t know me, but hey, it’s all in good fun, right?
Of course, no visit to Lake Mall would be complete without indulging in a bit of retail therapy. From trendy fashion boutiques to gadget stores that would make any tech geek drool, there was no shortage of temptation. And let’s just say my wallet took a beating, but hey, you’re only young once, right?
Come on! I am 18!
As the day drew to a close and we bid adieu to Lake Mall, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to relive a slice of my childhood. Sure, I may be older now, with responsibilities and deadlines looming on the horizon, but for a few glorious hours, I was just a kid again, lost in a world of laughter, silliness, and cartoon characters.
So, here’s to embracing the whimsy of youth, even if it means embarrassing yourself in public and making your mother question your sanity. Because in the end, it’s those silly, spontaneous moments that make life worth living. And who knows? Maybe next time, I’ll even convince my mom to join me in a round of karaoke at the mall. Now that’s a memory worth making!