A Town of Memories...: Last Day @ School.

A Town of Memories...: Last Day @ School.: Today was the last day @ school..n I swear, it couldn't have got b8r or worse, 4 dt matter. I mean.. which principal 'kicks out' the last ...

Last Day @ School.

Today was the last day @ school..n I swear, it couldn't have got b8r or worse, 4 dt matter.

I mean.. which principal 'kicks out' the last batch on their last day??? Ours did.
Which security guard slams the school gates on the face of 100 students??? Ours did.
Which batch stands before the school gates and abuses the principal and the system??? WE did.
Which school has teachers standing with canes to stop the students from coming near the school? Ours had.
Which batch goes around the town on bikes.. cat-calling, screaming and creating traffic-jams?? We did.

We did it all... n I'm so proud of it.
Never in my wildest of dreams had I thought that we would be kicked out of 'OUR' school on our very last day. There was so much of anger, desparation and humiliation goin' on simultaneouly. and if this is how we replied back, I give a damn 2 hw ryt or wrng it was, bt I'm sooo not sorry. I had never seen this much unity in my batch evr before.

All these days, I had been feeling sooo sad that skul's geting over.. that I wud cry on the last day and all that, but 2day when we gathered up before the final parting.. I was not even sentimental. I was soo happy... I'd never been happier before. I'd nvr had this much fun before. M just soo glad.

Dunno wt the future beholds, but wnevr nostalgia pushes me into these lanes again.. this day would surely outcast all others. This has been THE BEST AND THE MOST MEMORABLE DAY of $chool Life!

A Town of Memories...: Living Life is like Driving.

A Town of Memories...: Living Life is like Driving.: A sudden philosophical thought zoomed past my mind and I wish to pen it down: Today while driving, I realized how similar driving was to l...

Living Life is like Driving.

A sudden philosophical thought zoomed past my mind and I wish to pen it down:

Today while driving, I realized how similar driving was to living this Life..
In the beginning, it is all so scary and you feel so nervous and insecure. Then things settle down themselves and you learn to make your way through.

There are times you fly and there are times you HAVE to slow down. Sometimes the system is tired and you have to stop, recharge and start again. Sometimes you overtake and sometimes you trail behind, uselessly. Sometimes the roads are smooth and sometimes there are invisible pitholes.
There are traffic jams all the time. Sometimes you are stuck up so dreadfully that you feel the jam would never clear up.. but ultimately, they do and you move ahead again.

The roads are filled with idiots and so is Life.. You just learn to ignore them.

Maybe that's why some smart man called Life - 'A Road'... 'A Journey', where every venture teaches you a new lesson and every ride has a new tale to tell. 

A Town of Memories...: The Last Sports Day.

A Town of Memories...: The Last Sports Day.: For non-sporty ppl like me, Sports Day had alwaz mnt 2 march well and dn sit in d gallery n eat!! Bt maybe, wn dey say dt "u realize d true...

The Last Sports Day.

For non-sporty ppl like me, Sports Day had alwaz mnt 2 march well and dn sit in d gallery n eat!! Bt maybe, wn dey say dt "u realize d true value of things only after u've lost dm", dey aren't totally wrong.

Today wn I marched for wt may b d last tym ever in my life, did I realiz hw much m gonna miss it all. When I departed wid dt green sash 4evr 2day... wn I cheered my lungs out during d relays.. wn I sung the School Anthem wid 'evryone' one last tym... wn v ran the Last Lap and dn wn v hugged each odr saying 'Miss u's.. it hurt.It hurt becoz v knew dt ds tym gone, wud nvr evr cum bk 2 us. Sports Day wud bcum history and Marching wud becum 'once upon a time'.

I'm so gonna miss the non-sense v tokd during d marchpast.. the tiffins v grabbd 4m anywr n evrywr.. THE BLOODY PIGEONS.. the cheers.. the rivalry on-field and frndshp off-field.. and personally, THE GREEN.

The Last Sports Day.. wr v marched elegantly in underneath the sun and melted noiselessly in the dawning dusk.

A Town of Memories...: Hope!

A Town of Memories...: Hope!: Einstein said, "I never think of the future"; and my mother says, "Think of the future, you fool!" . Right enough, Einstein was a genius an...

Hope!

Einstein said, "I never think of the future"; and my mother says, "Think of the future, you fool!".
Right enough, Einstein was a genius and I am not. But then again, if a hungry Einstein was made to sit at the dinning table with a plate full of delicious dinner staring at him and his father would suddenly ask, "You need to put in extra effort to crack the joints, do u think u r working hard enough?" or his mother would taunt casually, "With this kind of attitude towards studies, I wonder how much u'll get in your boards!", he wouldn't have remarked that!!


All these years, I feel like I have been inside a nest ~ safe, secure and care-free. And now it's time to spread my wings and fly away. But the first flight is never easy.. especially, when you know nothing.. neither your destination nor your path. Hour by hour and day by day, is passing away.. and colleges have put up admission details on their websites and to even just surf through them makes me nervous. There's just so much in mind.. form dates, submission dates, exam dates.. over that, pre-s and boards. And the cherry on the pie is that everything, now, solely rests on 'Hope'. "I hope I crack that".. "I hope I get into this".. hmh!! Maybe, for people like me, who are more or less a ship without a rudder, there sure exists a thing called 'Destiny'. You may call it silly, but for me.. it's kind of a refuge, an excuse!


There are infinite questions running across my mind and each question mark scares me a little more than the previous! Just hoping (there again.. 'hope') that 5 years from now, all my questions are answered.

A Town of Memories...: Whiskey down de throat...

A Town of Memories...: Whiskey down de throat...: This happened a week ago.. on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashami..   Four tired souls ~ Sonu, Pompy, Pearl and myself, laid on the ...

Whiskey down de throat...

This happened a week ago.. on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashami..

 

Four tired souls ~ Sonu, Pompy, Pearl and myself, laid on the rug in Sonu's living room, starring wide-eyed at the television screen at 3 in the night, watching a horror movie. We had another film lined up in row to be watched after this. In the interval, by chance, our dear Pearl felt an urgent urge for water but somehow did not have the nerve to fetch the bottle from the kitchen herself (none of us, actually could go alone at that hour!). So all three of us accompanied her. After the slow-motion task of tip-toeing to the kitchen, to switch on minimal lights to not wake up anyone, to drink (water) and then keep back the bottle.., we were just about to return back to our 'theatre', when my sister suddenly spots a whisky bottle at the back of the shelf.  "Wanna try, girlz??"... "Are you mad?", we shouted in unison. But somehow, youthful instincts and some kind of wild curiosity deep down wanted it to pass down the throat.. once!

"Umm... by the way, I'm okay with one sip", I said. "I'm fine with it too", Pearl seconded. "Not me.. I'll stand at the door and keep vigil.", Pompy backed out and chose to be the door-keeper in stead.
Sonu carefully takes out a small glass and pours a little bit of whisky.. Pearl's adrenaline levels shoot up in no time and before any of us could react, Pearl had gulped down the whisky.. as raw as it could be. The moment passed slowly.. the alcohol passing down her throat, Sonu standing with the bottle of water in hand, and Pompy and me, glaring bewildered! And suddenly the next second, Pearl was jumping mutely all over the kitchen shouting in whispers that her throat was burning as if some one held a flame to it. We helped her with some chilled water, which, it appeared, she swallowed faster than the whiskey!

It's my turn now.. and I am nervous. My first time.. and I don't know how it'll turn out. I'm already a little scared by Pearl's incident [read: accident]. I hold the glass carefully and sniff.. it smells like the ethanol in the chemistry lab! The glass is just inches away from my lips and Pompy panics.. "Hurry, hurry.. aunty woke up. The lights are on. Maybe she's coming this way. Faaaassssttttt!!". 

The situation in the kitchen, a second ago, was.. Pompy alert at the door, Pearl still caressing her throat at the dining table, I'm about to take my first sip and Sonu looking at me encouragingly. And now.. Pompy is jumping, Pearl runs to seal up the bottle like before, I dump the glass on the table and ask Sonu to drink it all, and poor Sonu, flabbergasted, has no option but to down half the glass at a go.. holding the glass with one hand, and shutting her nose with the other!!

And then Pompy says. "Chill, lights off again. She's back to bed." Relief spreads around. And before I realise, the glass is back in my hands.. Sonu and Pearl glaring down.. "Drink. We won't drink that entire thing again." But I'm too nervous. I grab a spoon... dip it into the glass and extract out a generous 'drop' of whisky and push it down my throat. The next minute heard me saying all kinds of disgusting words I could say at a go and I pacify only after taking 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and a pledge that I would never again, in  my life, put that 'ghenastic' liquor to my mouth again! Pearl downs the other half. Pompy's still at the door. We check our breaths.. it stinks. We grab some more peanut butter and before we are suspected of the 'sin', we tiptoe back to the 'theatre' to watch 'Delhi Belly'.. what a perfect atmosphere built up.. ;-)

Earlier that night during 'RAAT'. From back : Pompy, Sonu and Pearl.

A Town of Memories...: An Era to be cherished 4ever!!

A Town of Memories...: An Era to be cherished 4ever!!: School Life - a blend of countless emotions, a cacophony of melodious voices, a journey of unforgetable experiences, a plethora of sweet mem...

An Era to be cherished 4ever!!

School Life - a blend of countless emotions, a cacophony of melodious voices, a journey of unforgetable experiences, a plethora of sweet memories ...  a factual reality that would fade into just souveniers in a couple of months.

Twelve years have gone by.. and yet, it seems that just yesterday's tiny toddlers screaming 'ABC', metamorphosed into senior students babbling thermodynamics, in the blink of an eye.

Sweating over enormous syllabi and mugging up thick books on examination eves.. those unreasonable treats and hilarious birthday bombs.. stupid-silly fights and never-ending hugs.. those bunking of classes and gobbling up tiffins while the classes go on.. those secret meetings and ever-lasting stares at crushes...

          Feels wierd, only to think that just months later, these wonderful moments would slip into that bygone lanes of our life as we step into an unfamiliar world brimming with mundanity.

And now that the moment for bidding us farewell has come, it is time to acknowledge my gratitude to every single soul for making me what I an today.
Carmel Junior College -  a name etched in steel in the hearts of every Carmellite for being our 'home'.
Sister Flavian for her grooming, Sister Sylvie for her shaping.. the teachers for their constant guidance and friends.. well, for their nagging..
           a small, little 'Thank You' would not be enough for the care you bestowed, the  

           grace you showed.. for the love you gave. 

In tears we came, and in tears we shall leave.

          Hugs and goodbyes on the last day..

                  Autographs decorated with deep feelings..

                          A promise to be in touch forever...

                                   And our heavenly school life is over.

School Life.. truly, An Era to be cherished forever!

A Town of Memories...: From the $treets of /\/\umbai to the $hores of Goa...

A Town of Memories...: From the $treets of /\/\umbai to the $hores of Goa...: "Days ago, whenever this question 'The Best Moments of your Life?' arose before me, I used to be confused, never really knowing when to say w..."

From the $treets of /\/\umbai to the $hores of Goa..

Days ago, whenever this question "The Best Moments of your Life?" arose before me, I used to be confused, never really knowing when to say what! But now, I believe I know the answer, the right one.. and most amazingly, it is not just 'a moment', but 'moments' - ten full-fledged days dipped in the cream of enjoyment and baked in the warmth of independence..

Excursion, 2010 : truly a magical journey, as if spun out of an enchanted web. And even now, when I look back, feels like I was living a dream.

Initially, I was in a dilemma, to go and enjoy care freely, or stay back and study to gear up and get my stand again. Confusion hung heavily in the air, and happiness was knocking at the door. It was up to me, then, to either put on my shoes and step into the sunshine or stay back and avoid the tan.
Finally, there came a time when my head was bogged up with all the perplexity and I could not take it any more. It was time I decide, and so I did. I took a deep breath and ran to the door, unlocked it and stepped into a world full of happiness, opportunities and fun.

The first train journey without parents, the responsibility of self-belongings, adjustment with room-mates and ever-deadening batteries of cell phones with ultra-low-voltage chargers in the trains.. it was all new, it was all true.

A learning experience as it was ~ 

waking up on time, getting ready within minutes, crying over broken clips and lost combs devouring the food together, and dozing off with earphones still playing at the highest pitch..

to be glued in groups, to follow every instruction to the tee, to bargain at half the price and grumble over half-boiled rice..         

behaving mature at shops and re-living childhood on the beaches, moulding sand into castles at one place and hearts at the other and endless snapshots  anywhere and everywhere..

calling up mom every night just to tell her I was safe and then chit-chatting with friends till the wee hours of morning...

We felt like birds flying high in the sky... amidst the clouds of friendship and basking in the rays of freedom.

Wished that it had lasted just a day longer..

                 to live those moments a little longer..

                                                 to fly a little higher...

But yes, it is a very very happy and a proud feeling that the 'Best Moments of my Life' have been picked up from the $treets of /\/\umbai and the $hores of Goa.. :-)

       

A Town of Memories...: Remembering the Lady who built me...

A Town of Memories...: Remembering the Lady who built me...: "That day remains, and shall forever remain, one of the most vividly cartographed days in the fabric of memories in my mind. That day I lea..."

Remembering the Lady who built me...

That day remains, and shall forever remain, one of the most vividly cartographed days in the fabric of memories in my mind.

That day I learnt that Sister Flavian had been transferred, and that was her last day as the 'Principal of Carmel Junior College'.. yes, the fact took some time to swallow in, and even greater to digest. Sister was leaving.. My 'Pingu' was leaving.. and all I did was, collapsed on a chair and tried to gather myself, but however much I tried, I could not.. I just could not. It was a helplessly pathetic situation.. like a gigantic piece of glass had cracked into countless fragments and I was impotently trying to rejoin them.

As of then, she was not going miles away.. but just steps away. she was to undertake the responsibility of Bal-Vihar, the neighboring school for the deaf. But still, I felt incomplete.. we all did.
From the time I walked in through the gates of this coveted institution, I had always seen her as the all-in-all.. and her, only her, voice reverberated with authority every time she spoke on the intercom. It was hard to imagine someone else seated on that chair.. and even harder to 'listen' to somebody else's voice.

I still remember, that day when she stood on the stage, addressing thousands of melancholic ears, delivering her last speech as our Principal, the air in the hall breathed of dampness of tears. From teachers to students, truants to accomplishers, seniors to juniors, everybody cried. Nobody could let her go. The lady who built Carmel - who is Carmel for all of us, how could we let her leave?

From just a stack of concrete and bricks, she made CJC our second home. She made it stand high in the blues, proudly with self-dignity. She raised us.. she built us. We were her clay and she was our potter, and day by day, moment by moment, she strived to mould us into a beautiful human being, and now she would be gone. That holy candle who illuminated our dark paths, held our hands and led us through.. would be extinguished.

She was a lady every girl wanted to be.
When we were happy, she rejoiced with us, when we were despaired, she consoled us.. When we won, she congratulated us and when we lost, she encouraged us.. When we did something good, she rewarded us, and when we erred, she corrected us..
Her stern dignity enveloping her soft motherly soul inspired and attracted one and all.
Probably that was the reason why every eye was moistened and every lip trembled that day..
As for me, it felt like an integral part of me was being snatched away from my Life, leaving me bruised.

It's been nearly two years now.. time has passed and the hurt has healed, but the memories have not faded, and they never will. In the next couple of years, no one knows where one would be, but yet, the very name of 'Carmel Junior College' would always send me flying back in the cloud of time with nostalgic memories of 'My Sister Flavian'... and in my heart, her memories would remain as fresh as the morning dew on soft flower petals.

I began my first blog post with Sister Flavian.. but would end it on a little selfish note..
I wish, Sister, that once in Life you, acidentally or intentionally, happen to come across this post and realize how much you meant to me and what a void your absence has left in my heart..

Miss you Sister..
And hope, once again.. even if it is only once..
Destiny crosses our paths and I get to be enlightened by your purity.