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..."