Earlier during school days, tiny things used to make us happy. A bright new pencil, eraser, or another piece of stationery that we will want to keep from being used for as long as possible so that it remains new. Just in time for the bell, I dashed back to class with a package of chips from the school canteen. Being thrown out of class after laughing uncontrollably at a textbook example that no one else found funny. We would beg the teacher in charge to send us out for games in the sandy playground during this ‘proxy' time. Exams are done, and it's time to rejoice. Uncontrollable laughter was a common occurrence for us back then. We'd be sitting calmly in class, discussing schoolwork when suddenly we'd burst out laughing. This could be caused by anything as harmless as a desk scraping back and forth on the floor, a loud sneeze in pin-drop silence, or even a teacher rebuking us.

We had a lot of respect for our teachers when we were teenagers, but we couldn't contain our emotions. I recall being forced to stand up and justify why I was laughing so loudly during a perfectly serious lesson that the teacher was teaching. All it took was a cheeky glance from a like-minded friend to send me into a fit of hysterical laughter as I tried to get some words out. Several titters erupted in different parts of the classroom. And the most terrifying part as well as the most hilarious was that I couldn't stop laughing! Tears streamed down my cheeks as I was escorted out of class. We never wanted to offend anyone with our jokes, and I sincerely hope that we never did. I recall the sensation of mirth — an irresistible tickle in my insides — coming straight from my heart, and I'd laugh out loud without a care in the world. And it was the most incredible sensation. It gave the feeling that the world was bright and beautiful.

After Grade 10, my initial "laughter gang" separated, with some returning to India to further education. The hilarity lasted for two years as we recruited new hires. Do I recall what we found amusing all those times we were surrounded by laughter? Is it true that I lack the spontaneity and hilarity of my youth? Yes, obviously.

Moving on is unavoidable, as the evolution of one's personality. We are all affected by changing conditions and situations. Life throws a lot of things at you, and it's difficult to avoid being affected. My laughter is often a relic from the past. Often I imagine myself as the girl in that crowded Dubai classroom from the 1980s, spreading joy and seeking inner peace with a laugh that has stood the test of time. She still comes to my aid when I'm in need.