The voluptuous sky is bearing its rage over the land below, with thunderous rain. The sky is becoming cloudier, and the soil is becoming muddier. The ambiance is chilling, with wind hushing in from every direction. The little streams are sprouting up in the corner of an alley on the busy streets of a colony. The ladies are running to the rooftop to collect their dry clothes. A bunch of unruly ruffians are marching on the road. They usher in creative sparkle. They enjoy the small happiness of life in the pool of suddenly formed streams of rainwater. All they have in their hands are some perfectly crafted paper boats and some architecture-failed designs. Do they care about the bitter name-calling by parents? Do they care about being chided by neighbors for not getting back home? Do they care about mere pellets of rain piercing through the mischievous playgrounds? Of course not. Their only concern is balancing the paper boats in the muddy water and taking pride in whose boats float longer.
The lively description of the ambiance evokes a deep emotional chord in 90s kids playing with paper boats. Kids crafted ships using rough class notes and old, used newspapers. They played in the rainwater at the start of the rainy season with siblings and friends. It was a ritual back in the ’90s. All the ’90s kids had this experience at least once, regardless of discrimination. Whenever it started raining hard, the kids would be happy. They loved the possibility of an awesome rain party with friends. The excitement was palpable on their faces, and the preparation for the mud-water dance was spot on.
Many kids were superstars among their peers because they quickly built the best paper boats. Paper boat making was a quick life hack among ’90s kids. It has been an art form throughout history. The artists are still revered. The seniors taught the younger kids the art, and the tradition was passed down in this way forever. Not sure if today’s kids know how to make paper boats, though! The manual on making a paper boat remains in the subconscious of ’90s kids. During reunions, adults now discuss this art form at length. This patented art form should not be allowed to leave India at any cost!
Down memory lane, these past mischiefs were a significant reason for the bonding between close friends or chaddi-buddies. The art of making paper boats and rockets was taught on the class back benches by some good old friends. Rockets flew in the classroom. Teachers reprimanded students afterwards. These instances showcased the mischievous side of ’90s kids. The paper boat specifically gave young adults a reason to laugh at silly jokes. It allowed them to share a lovable memory with close friends. Many ’90s kids slipped in the mud. They were either running with a paper boat or dancing joyously in a pool of water. Those experiences are of a lifetime value and can’t be replaced by any EDM-induced beach party themes.
On a deeper level, the paper boats’ philosophical virtue can be seen as an analogy for life. The paper boats float in the running water for a few minutes before sinking. The kids then raise them to float again, allowing them to float longer. It is a replica of real-life situations. Life’s boat encounters the problems we face every day. Time propels us forward in the rush. Once again, we march onward with optimism and hope, gearing up for the future. We get knocked down by the unassuming winds and the uncontrollable pace of life. This process is repeated throughout our lives. We continue till the last day. Eventually, we finally give up and do not rise again.
Recently, a soft drink brand has capitalized on the concept of a paper boat to create memories and generate revenue. The Paper Boat brand drinks are a throwback to the 1990s, when we enjoyed aam panna and other treats. Paper boats are a testament to both straightforwardness and creativity. They fill our hearts with joy and bring smiles to our little faces. During festivals and carnivals, paper boats were used to attract kids. A surge of optimism fills the paper boats. It is a test for patience and holds a pinch of elixir to enchant the memory forever. They carry the essence of every ’90s kid in the muddy water of alleys from back then. Now, they run as a reminder to take life a little bit slow and enjoy every bit of it. No matter how much you try to stay afloat, you will fall and rise again to get back to drowning! It is the life of a paper boat! Or we are metaphorical paper boats in the muddy waters of life, trying to stay afloat!
The Witty Stride 