Other Halves

(Inspired by another blogpost I chanced upon)

She looked down at her baby sister, smiling as she noted the excitement in her eyes. Only a gawky thirteen-year-old could be so excited about a visit to the local fair. Oh, the sweet little pleasures of innocent youth!

Clasping didi’s hand firmly, she looked around, scanning the place in wonder. Every other day of the year, this same field would have meant nothing but a sea of grass to her, a sight all too common. But tonight the place was abuzz with activity. Merry-go-rounds, car-rides, food-shops, handicraft stores, stalls selling everything from pins to clothes – you name it. Her eyes settled on a pet store. She tugged at her elder sister’s hand. “Didi, buy me a bird from there!”

Voice in My Head

Sleep ends with the sharp sound of the alarm on my phone. With one eye lazily open, I check the time on my phone, 8:31 A.M. I reason with myself. If I sleep for another half an hour I could still have enough time to get ready, shower, have breakfast and be out of the house by 10 or 10:15 at the worst…

SNOOZE!

Have you ever been in love?

“Have you ever been in love?”

Clinching, isn't it? Put yourself in my shoes. Imagine being asked that question at three in the morning. Oh and that isn't all. Imagine being asked that question by a very cute girl who you hope likes you back. Yeah, I know you feel for me.

”Yes” is pretentious, “No” is blunt, and “Maybe” is ambiguous. Where do you hide then? There is no correct answer. In comes the reign of “umm” and “err” and “mhmm”.

Points of View

The crowd rises to their feet in a delirious frenzy of celebration. It was a great victory for the home team. I see the supporters standing all around me - there is absolute pandemonium in the stands. The ninety minutes of joy are over. I have to go back to reality now, return to an empty home, to the little pieces of my life that she left behind. Another week to go now, another week till I can be back here, amidst the smiles. Here, where I won't be reminded of what could have been, had I said or done things just a little differently. Will I ever get a chance to redeem? "This is madness", I whisper to myself.

Love is on the Cards

An idea pitched by Amit Shah.

You know how people claim they can foretell the future by reading cards? I'm rather a skeptic about the whole issue. But what if cards told you everything? What if, the circle of a man's love-life is inscribed in the suits that we deal with everyday, without a second thought?

Till We Meet Again

21^st March, 2013  A senior calls me up and says, “I don’t feel like taking off the uniform. I can’t believe it’s over.”

1^st April, 2014 – I don’t feel like taking off the uniform. I can’t believe it’s over.

I will grow up someday, and I will meet youngsters enjoying their school days. I will point to the building in yellow (I’m guessing it will remain yellow) and say proudly, “This is where I went to school.”

Greatness has an address.

Class XII, as always, was piped as the beginning of the end. We all knew this day was to come eventually. We all knew it would end. That one day we would become ex-students of the institution that has been our home for well over a decade.

Don Bosco was where I made my first true friends.

Don Bosco was where I learnt my first life-lesson. 

Don Bosco was where I got my first reality check.

Don Bosco was where I loved to be.

Oppa Bosconian Style. Last batch Picnic, 2013.

Although every year spent under the Bosconian shelter has been an unbelievable experience, the final chapter trumps all. The experiences in Class XII remain unmatched, and so they will remain, I believe, for the rest of my life.

Above all, my time in Bosco has blessed me with the best of friends. Every one of my batch-mates has made the journey a little better. Some of these guys I have known for fourteen long years – and have never had a dull moment.

Amongst the in'quiz'itives - Ribhu, Ritwik and Bikramaditya, the mainstay of the school quiz team, are friends who have stood by me ever since kindergarten. 

The final Bosco Fest – what more can I say that has not already been said? The biggest event of the year capped by the moment of happiness when everyone came together to make the spectacle a success. We aspired, aimed, and achieved.

Up on stage one last time - Chiaros Quro 2013

The times spent in the classrooms, the auditorium, the field and every other nook and corner of the school will remain in my heart forever. The laughter and the tears will always ring in my ears. The people who have shared the journey with me will always be my best friends.

Teachers' Day Drama - our last performance in the DBPC auditorium.

I sincerely hope my juniors appreciate the time they have left. For it flows fast, and is gone before you know it.

To the Class of 2014, you guys are the best. Life will go on, but “Bosconian” will always be part of our identity. Keep being the wonderful people you are.

Till we meet again, brothers.

Aspired. Aimed. Achieved. - Moments after the conclusion of Bosco Fest 2013.