Over, eh?

So I graduated. Finally. The black robe. The ocassion. The ceremony. The stage. The audience. The memories. The friends. All were there. But I missed some people. People who contributed immensely in I becoming me.

I missed my parents and my brother. For they made me. Really. This guy, who is going to walk out tomorrow into a largely unknown world, is their creation. Almost completely.

I missed some of my closest friends. Most of them are busy attending to their own vocation. But it would have been great to have them here. They have been my buddies with whom I have played, laughed and fought. Who have known my craziest dreams and wildest ambitions better than anybody else. Who have known my trials and tribulations of the last twenty years in all matters academic, personal and professional. In a life of 25 years, two decades is a lot of time. This is to you Amit, Kapil, Nikhils, Pinak, Priyanka, Puneet, Rishi, Shashank, Vishal!

I missed her. Without any disclaimers. Without any what-ifs. In her company, I learned. I enjoyed. I did crazy things. I felt good. I know probably I wont meet her again. That is our mutual decision. But for this one evening, I would have been happy to have her by my side.

So the student life is over. I hate nostalgia. I avoid reminiscence. Also I am not a very emotional person. So tears dont come easily. I have no memory of the my first day at school or college. But there are incidents from the two years at pre-school, ten years at school, two years at junior sollge, fours years at engineering college and two years at b-school that I remember. Most of which were random but generally fond. The ones when I was in control and the ones were I had no control. The ones when I laughed and the ones when I cried. The ones which I loved and some which I hated.

So I will miss the teachers. The benches. The bell. The exams. The uniform. The punishments. The wooden ruler. The notebooks. The blackboard. The white chalk. The summer vacations. The picnics. The friendship days. The bunked lectures. The crushes. The college festivals. Cricket. The labs. The vivas. The results. The annual day. The farewells.

Onto the boardroom now. Life will be a cubicle. Looking forward to.

30 Minutes

I have never had many regrets. Have taken things as they come without worrying too much about what has gone by. Good and bad days are all a part of the experience called living (gyan alert!). I have lived by instinct. I have preferred simplification. In situations. In relationships. For me pursuit of happyness lies in pursuit of simplicity.

But things were anything but simple till some time back now. Mind and heart was been full of unhealthy clutter. Created at times by people around me and on occasions by the situations I have found myself in. I have lived through it. Still. Growing restless with it. Hurting and getting hurt. Behaving irrationally at times. But Cest la Vie I tell myself!

Life is good again. Fun. Unpredictable. And yet Simple. Like the way it should be. Like the way I like. Just like it was once upon a time.

Right people occupy important space in my life. For whom I want to care. Who I can call in the middle of the night and share a good laugh. Who share my idea of good life. Who know how to have a good time.

Immediate future is figured out. Almost. At least I know 'whats up' for me for the next six months. Can't plan any farther than that. But it's good enough. Have I found my calling? I am not sure.

Friends are getting married. I am happy for them. Excited too. There is a lot of fun to be had at their expense now! I am not getting married. Not anytime soon. At least I am not planning for it. Conjectures I strongly believe in. In such matters. What is meant to happen will happen when it has to happen. Why try hard? And who is in a tearing hurry anyway?

Mom is happy. Relieved I must say. My academic education is over. Dad is happy. With I no longer a dependent, he is chasing some of his long cherished dreams. I am happy he is. I have always felt my generation's parents who grew up in the India of 60s and 70s have had to make too many sacrifices. They have had to live always for others. For their parents. Their children. Thus altering and even crushing their cherished ambitions. Dad-Mom, you have cheered for me for too long. Role reversal I say. Now!

PS - Cant figure out the title? Give it some lateral thinking! I will be proud of you, if you get it. Nevermind if you don't. We will still be friends on Facebook.