Bottled Chronicles
A Saga of Durability
After coming across an Instagram post featuring a water bottle and its caption, memories of a similar incident in my own home rushed back to me.
This tale revolves around my daughter, Mita, who attended a prestigious public school in the capital of India. As a middle-class parent, my inclination was always toward purchasing products that were durable and safe for children. Mita’s enduring bottle transformed into more than a mere water vessel; it became a silent witness to the unfolding story of her life. Throughout her elementary school years, it weathered clumsy mishaps, shared secrets during lunch breaks, and endured the wear and tear of countless backpack journeys.
Mita’s desire for a new bottle stemmed from observing her younger sister receiving fresh ones regularly due to a habit of misplacing hers. Despite her requests, she found herself stuck with the same reliable bottle. Attempting to distance herself from it, she even left it at school, but the bottle managed to find its way back to her. Frustrated, Mita issued an ultimatum, threatening a strike unless a new bottle was acquired. After some negotiation, we agreed that a replacement would only be granted if she lost or broke the current one.
Upon entering the next grade, Mita’s longing for something new intensified. The once-beloved bottle seemed outdated compared to the allure of sleek designs and vibrant colors. Subtle hints to her parents for a replacement fell on indifferent ears. One day, as the familiar yellow school bus wound its way along the roads, Mita succumbed to the allure of change. In an impulsive moment, she bid farewell to her faithful companion by tossing it out of the bus window, symbolizing the end of one era and the beginning of another.
As the bottle clanged onto the roadside, marking the passage of time, Mita grappled with mixed emotions – guilt for abandoning a steadfast friend and excitement for the promise of something new. Unbeknownst to her, this impulsive act would become a chapter in her coming-of-age story. However, fate had a twist in store.
A parent, following the bus due to their child missing it, witnessed the bottle’s fall. They retrieved it, recognizing Mita’s name, and returned it to us. While her attempt to part ways with the bottle didn’t succeed, it prompted us to honor our promise and get her a new one. Mita’s unplanned adventure added an unexpected twist to the narrative of her growing up.
