Living in a city is one of the most exciting and life-changing experiences a person can experience.
The hustle and bustle of a big city environment can offer so much more than small town life – from access to a diverse culture and endless entertainment options to a range of job and education opportunities.
But for me, nothing is better than living in a village surrounded by the beauty of nature and the peacefulness of rural life.
Growing up in a crossroad village bordering three small towns, in the heart of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, I was able to experience rural living at its finest.
Despite being small in size, my village was full of life and full of stories and events that kept us all wide-eyed and entertained.
The local people mostly depended on the nearby fields to make a living, and all the adults and children would get up early in the morning to work in the fields.
The air was filled with the sounds of birds and people exchanging stories and gossip.
The small school in our village would be my second home. I would love to study there and attend the village fairs together with my teachers and classmates.
The rustic scenes of the village fairs – the colorful items on display, the aroma of hot food, the vibrant music – remain a vivid memory.
Even though there were no big shopping malls or movie theatres, there was never a dull day in my village.
We never got bored because there were endless activities to keep us entertained.
The village Gods were worshipped in almost all the homes in our village and every activity was conducted in reverence of these Gods who were believed to bring the blessings of good luck and prosperity.
Thus, a strong bond of unity and respect among people was maintained.
We all looked out for each other and there was a deep-rooted sense of compassion and understanding for one another’s needs.
The life of my village will remain close to my heart until I draw my last breath.
Those village stories, the rustic scenes, the overwhelming smell of nature, all of it brought out the best in me and for that, I am forever thankful.