Its been a long 22 years, or was it all too quick?! I wonder… Profoundly insignificant from a much larger perspective, yet a wholesome entity for the self, I feel humbled as I begin to contemplate the journey which life has taken me through, till the present day. Expectedly, the path has been chequered with a variety of shades, both defined and undefined, that have contributed in their own unique ways in making me what I am, for better or for worse…
As I coax my rather eager memory (significantly assisted by dusty pages from photo albums) far back into increasingly obscure lanes, I see quite a few distinct images of myself as a pampered toddler (being an only child), blissfully lost in the divine innocence of early years…
Yours Truely!
I’d say, one of the most definitive ingredients to my mental buildup during my formative years was school. St. Thomas’ Boy’s, was for me, heaven on earth (though I’ll admit, the realization came in woefully late!). I remember those days when I used to loathe being woken up early and then having to tag along, rather reluctantly, with mom to school. Mom, being a teacher in the same school, it was particularly difficult for me to get away with my numerous pranks! How I long for those carefree days.. I miss the great big buildings in my school, the wide green lawns, that ancient tree which graced our sights from the classroom..beneath which was our favourite haunt during lunch breaks.. I miss our canteen which served the primary purpose of being our safe haven whenever we skipped classes, which was often! I miss gazing at the grand architecture of the church which stood high, mesmerising us with its exalted presence.. it was an embodiment of colossal strength for us, weathering many a ferocious tempest!
The School Entrance..
Our school logo.. Estd - 1789!!
Part of the campus.. in front of the High School building!
I long for my mother’s touch which awoke a disgruntled me every morning, sharp at six! The twinkling sounds from clanking cutleries, which were a prelude to the mouth watering aroma that wafted out of the kitchen now seem to be elements from an altogether different world!
Fourteen years that I spent in school, right from the nursery days flew by at an astonishing pace, as we tried to scramble along clumsily, at its wake. As if conjured out of nowhere, we found ourselves staring at “The End” of high school days.. What ensued was a mad rush to secure seats in colleges, and I found myself enrolled for an engineering course at a college, more than a thousand miles away from my home state…
Its been more than three years since, and I find myself in the fourth and last year of college, that would complete my major. Life here has been a one of a kind experience.. away from my parents, and the safe cocoon of school, it has been quite the “struggle” for existence here.. And of course, its been marred with severe bouts of nostalgia, homesickness and repeatedly unsuccessful sessions of self discovery! Rather miserably, phonecalls from home to keep up with news back there, and the internet are the only lifelines..
Like Dumbledore in “Harry Potter” so succinctly stated, it doesn’t do to dwell on dreams.. I could have droned on about various incidents from the years that went by.. but at present, they are best left untouched in the long drawn pages of memory.. Maybe another time!
As I sit back and contemplate this journey of mine, I wouldn’t go on to say life has come full circle or been subjected to other such poetically profound phenomena! There have been ups and downs, a few highs and a few nasty falls.. yet, the path continues.. and I remain a zealous commuter, armed ever so often with new experiences and knowledge that add to the already bulging pile.. I don’t know where this journey will lead me to, or more importantly, what it’ll take me through.. I walk on, with hope in my heart, and a rather long “bucket list”!
The days that we spent together seemed so unremarkable then…The moments just like any other. Many a time had I been rude and you just let them pass…ever forgiving..ever loving. Yet, I could never “see”.. or maybe I “knew” but never acknowledged it – to myself. There were never any demands or expectations from you.. you were just a silent companion by my side.
