The Witty Stride

– Satyakam Ray

The ’90s kids experienced the romance of school days. There lie many fascinating stories for readers to enjoy in their leisure time. It was a time when teenagers’ lives revolved around the pressure of board exams. They also spent time in a few sports sessions, including cricket. Many imitated Sachin or Shaktimaan. In those days, a few young, romantic individuals made the headlines in the informal chatter of the school common rooms. Their stories were also popular in hostels, playgrounds, and arenas. The romance was pure, as few had experienced love for the first time. Let’s dive into the never-forgotten school romance of ’90s kids.

When the adolescent stage is at its peak, new romantic Bollywood movies hit the theaters. A few romantic novels find their way onto school desks under the guise of preparing class notes. Then comes the euphoria of a subtle romantic ambiance and a sweet, lovely feeling called love. It’s a feeling sacred to young souls. They will never forget its charm later in adulthood. Dating is common in both urban and rural areas. Tinder-like apps reign supreme. These often lead to forced chemistry. The 90s were the epitome of romance. Hit SRK movies captivated youngsters’ hearts. They encouraged them to try out the slightly hidden pearl of the school days—romancing.

Infatuation is an attraction to a certain boy or girl. They are in the same or a junior class during school days. The interest arises due to appearance, social status, academic achievements, or exemplary behavior during the course. Many girls fall for the guy who tops their class or excels at sports. It’s a universal phenomenon that the topper is a crush for many girls or boys. Apart from studies, looks play an essential role in this infatuation process. The beautiful girl is the most popular; students from different schools make a beeline for her. The ’90s kids followed all these attraction rules.

If the infatuation becomes too strong, a few close friends, or lovebirds, help the school lovebirds become a pair. The love remains a secret for a brief period. The words spread rapidly. The couple is easily identified gossiping during sports hours, functions, or any other leisure time. During study time, the class notes help share heartfelt, profound messages. These are exchanged with the secret or known paramour. They pass with a few exchanges of hands across the study desks or chairs.

The ’90s kids had an intense experience of first love and infatuation. Their feelings were pure and honest, without the aid of mobile phones, texting, or CCDs. The Breakups were there, but the frequency was relatively low compared to today’s generation. Love didn’t blossom quite openly in those days. Parents, teachers, neighbors, or even close Kirana store owners kept a strict watch. These adults taught a moral lesson. They intervened if a couple was caught romancing in the nearby parks. It included school campuses or tuition centers. A few open-minded people espoused the school romance back then. Nowadays, school kids behave like adults, and the lust part is more prominent than in the 90s.

The author recalls a friend’s love story from their school days. After school, the person would wait an hour at the market near the school to meet their crush every day. The couple would chat and quietly head to their respective coaching institutes without fuss. The author didn’t know what happened to the lovebirds after they grew up or finished college. It is just a tiny example of the ’90s kids’ love story.

The gift shop owners had a good time during the ’90s kids’ love story. Birthday cards, New Year cards, and cards quoting love messages were in demand then. Chocolates and bouquets were also in fashion among the urban crowd for some time. Silent waiting for the crush is no longer ordinary. Secret looks during prayers, parades, or prize ceremonies are things of the past. Creepy smirks exchanged between ’90s kids have also vanished. They are now replaced with texting, voice calls, or video calls among teenage romances. Going to pubs or clubs during school days was unheard of among the ’90s kids. The silent, sweet, love-stricken schoolkids of the ’90s are now shocked to see today’s generation’s bold, adult approach. Nevertheless, times change, and so does the style.

The SRK hand pose by the wannabe lovers is a tad old-fashioned now. They used to practice it in front of the mirrors to impress their crushes. Do the handwritten love letters, crafted by “experts” in the hostels, seem antic now? Does passing on information about the time of the next secret meeting feel outdated? Or, does sharing the location with the help of close friends (love wingers) seem antiquated? These things are now accomplished in seconds via text or emoji. Still, the charm and innocence of the love appeal among the ’90s kids stay authentic to this day. Now, the adults remember these sweet romances of school days. They think about promises made to each other during school reunions. These gatherings are most probably held in an expensive hotel or resort. They are accompanied by their 1-2 kids, each with a different partner! Adulthood brings about significant changes, and the romance of ’90s kids is no exception. But we should enjoy the glorious past in a light-hearted manner to have a good laugh among school chaddi-buddies.