Bookaroo, the children’s literature festival has hit the city on April 30. As we left the office to attend the Day 1 of the festival at JKK, we knew everyone else in the office was jealous of us. I don’t blame them.

It’s rare that adults get a chance to behave like kids again and experience the world of children. Komal, Pallav and I felt like the luckiest beings on the Earth to gain such an opportunity.

Disclaimer: The content below contains material that some readers might not understand or if thoroughly understood might make them nostalgic and rekindle the child within. So, children’s guidance is advised.

As we reached JKK, we quickly got acquainted with the different zones: Kahani Tree, the Amphitheatre, Studio, the Auditorium, Craft Corner, and the Doodle Wall.

I hurried towards the Studio where Parinita Shetty was running the Monster Hunting Academy for 8-10 age group.

I, too, wanted to find the monster. I sat down and was given a sheet and a pencil. Then, started the search for the monster.

Parinita Shetty

Parinita: Iss Monster ka bas ek haath hai aur lambe ghane kaal baal hai jo jameen tak jaate hai. Jaldi se dhundho aur banao.

And all the kids started drawing the one handed long hair monster. I tried peeping into other sheets, but they hid them with their hands. *sob- sob*

Parinita described the different monster styles and the kids drew them, lickety-split, as it was in front of them.

Every child’s monster was distinct from the other, and my sheet had none.

Hey! I have a good explanation for that too. I was too busy thinking about the haunting memory of JuJu Baba. As a child, it scared the hell out of me. In the night, I clenched onto my mommy’s arm and slept because I thought JuJu Baba would take me with him.

The session ended, and I was brought back to the reality. I might have left the paper blank, but in my mind, I have hunted down the monster of my childhood, JuJu Baba.

Photo Courtesy: Pallav Bhargava