And the new sun rose....

.
......bringing in a new year. Or something on those lines ran the poem. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there to see it rise. “Sleeping like a baby,” as my mother puts it. Which is something I am in no position to verify or contradict never having been in a position to observe myself sleep. But it also raises another issue that I am in favour of at times, but mostly not. This “baby” syndrome. Somehow, the “baby” tag has always attached itself to me. We’ll come back to that in a minute.

Firstly, Happy New Year, everybody. Wish all of you a very prosperous etc etc.

Its back to Kgp again. And because this time I had to drag the comp along in the car, we had to leave by 7 30 in the morning so that my mother would be able to drive back while it was still daylight. And that meant “early to bed” on the last day of last year. This time round, though, my rebellious streak curbed itself for reasons I cannot quite fathom. Was docilely back in the evening by 8 so that we could leave for my aunt’s place in time for the dinner invitation. And when we got back home around 10.30-11, and I finished my packing, it was nice reflecting on a few things that I do seem to take mostly for granted. For most people, hereon are just reflections and boring ruminations, so it would be wise to leave now :D And happy new year again to you.

As a sort of background introduction, let me just talk a little about the “baby” thing I mentioned earlier. For reasons that I am not very sure of, and definitely having nothing to do with physical appearance, I have, in most circles, been labeled a “kid”. This started very early, at around age 7-8, if I remember correctly, when I joined the guys in the para for cricket. Somehow, everyone there was older than me, and I was the kid. I remained that way for as long as we met to play. Since, they have (thank goodness!!!) stopped reminding me of the fact. :D In school, I was on the younger side in my class, and that didn’t help. Among my cousins, at least within comparable age groups and those that I have occasion to meet, I am again the youngest. The ones younger to me are 8-10 years younger. And what the heck, till date, no girl I have gone out with has been younger than me!!! As a result of these and being the only son as well, I had, on the positive side, plenty of opportunities to let myself be spoilt silly. And while it was fun sometimes (well, most times, actually), there were occasions when it got irritating. I mean if I was leaving my aunt’s place, I did not find it amusing to be told by everybody from grandmother to mother to aunt to cousin-2-years-older-than-me-with-big-silly-grin-on-her-face that I should be careful crossing the road. And then suggestion by aforementioned cousin that she should come back after helping me cross the road. And to drink water regularly and have fruits and have food on time.

Perhaps, in this sense, the chance to go to a hostel was like a godsend to me. Freedom, finally, I thought. It was, too. I couldn’t wait to start. So keen was I then that I fought with my parents to not fill KGP in my options. (Didn’t win that one :() And while the advice flowed over the phone, I could pick and choose which ones to heed. Two and a half years of terrific fun. Some good luck, some very good luck, some bad, some very bad. Near misses, reprieves, amendments. Ecstasy, despair, anticipation, excitement, nervousness, fear- been through all of them. Feels good at the end of it. And a rocking winter to top it off.

Yesterday ended the year in which I entered the third decade of my existence on this unearthly planet. Innumerable lessons later, having worked through disillusionment, struggling to find faith, finding it, then struggling to retain it, I find myself strangely hardened. An ardent believer in destiny.

And as I sifted through some of my childhood stuff absently yesterday, I realized that I might well have spent my last vacation at home. An internship in the summers, placement season next winter, and then the summer after the final year. Not sure where I will be and how much of that summer I shall spend at home. It was a strange feeling. Over an entirely different matter I was wondering, a few days ago how much of myself had gone with that “matter”. I wonder how much of myself I will be leaving behind at that house, and how much of that place will defines me today.

Thanks to all the people who made these winters a memorable one-Kgp pals, old school pals-now scattered across the globe, fortunately home for these hols- and to all those who made so many other ones memorable-friends, relatives, seniors, batchmates, juniors, one and all. Just thought I’d mention it, especially since I am associated with the type who rarely react ;D and lack most of the finer emotions.

In other news, best wishes for R&C. R is one of my oldest friends and I just came to know about them. And many thanks to him for some wonderful times this winter and through many summers before this. Met S who I thought was very sweet. Nice, simple, and fun. And by the looks of it, they share a very special friendship.

ManU has almost thrown away every possibility of winning the EPL back.

Its been a nice journey. Through DBPC, Zeeshan, Ms P’s, B.Byte2k++, Rollick’s Square, Durgabari, Priya, Bawarchi, IIT, CCD, BarBQ, Hobby Centre, City Centre, Forum, Illuminations, IIMC, LS, Park, SF, GCs, to today. Feeling hungry after so much…..typing.

PS: The mind keeps wondering back to an auto in Park Circus, (black?) magic on an early morning Dhauli, a familiar voice on a wrong number call. Save the last laugh for destiny!!!