These tiny little nozzles that spring out of the ground at their preset times and circle around sprinkling water to maintain the greens, continue to amuse me.
I’ve passed them on the side of the walkway while running in the morning and enjoyed whatever little cool sprinkling of water-drops they had to offer. There have been times where I’ve walked out well dressed for an occasion and dodged them to keep my clothes dry.
At night or early morning, depending on how you perceive it – I’ve stumbled on them. Just the other night walking back from some place, wobbly, tipsy, floating through the walkway as I was making it back home, I just stood and starred at them in the background of tiny night-lamps that lid my way back home.
How I perceived these sprinklers just like the ones in my mind, sprinkling controlled drops of memories every now and then in my head. How those sprinkles had different impact on myself. Sometimes I enjoyed and embraced them, how sometimes I dodged the bitter memories and how I just stood there amused caressing some beautiful letdowns, how I cherished those butterflies in my stomach.
Except for those sprinklers have a schedule and ones in my mind, I’ve no control over.
Neo
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Story So Far …
It wasn’t the long goodbye as I arrived at the Mumbai International Airport, only to find out that a bunch of Gujjus (and I meant at least a few hundreds) have come to see their five friends off. Gate ‘C’ of the international airport was more crowded than Dadar station platform (A local-train station in Mumbai) in the anticipation of Virar local.
Mom, dad, brother and my brother’s closest friend made their way to the airport and I didn’t have space, time or the peace of mind to talk to them before getting on the flight. I couldn’t help but remember the last time I left India for Germany, when my mom’s eyes were moist as I hugged her, dad with his ‘take care of yourself Son’ pat on the back and brother overjoyed as there will be no Big Brother around… at least I had the time to soak all of this in. This time around was the most hurried and stressful Goodbye. And I fear it will be some time before I see them again…
Silver-lining was that all my baggage got through without any additional charged and I came out see my folks for one more time. My joy and peace somehow reflected in their smiles as well. And once those glass doors automatically shut, I turned around and doubled up towards immigration counters.
After all the formalities, I found myself sitting in the cramped window seat of the Air France flight to Paris, the same one I must have taken a few years back to reach Germany. I tried but I couldn’t be as psyched as I would have liked to be.
..Morning touchdown at Charles D’Gaule Airport and I didn’t find myself stunned with the magnitude of the airport or amused by the French beauty. I walked around all over the airport while waiting for my connection to Boston. I realized that until Europe it was a familiar territory, beyond this point every inch of the space, ground and society was alien, was foreign. As my flight to Boston took off, the blinker started showing flight route over the Atlantic Ocean and my mind wondered in the exact opposite direction… Berlin, Blackforest, Mumbai, Hyderabad, B’lore, New Delhi.
It was a long and boring flight but eventually we saw the Boston skyline. I felt excited for a second as we descended over the by towards Logan international airport.
I had pictured this very moment in many different ways in my mind. I had thought of making it to the land of opportunities, making something out of myself, starting afresh, making it big and so on. However, all of these thoughts and feelings of excitement had abandoned me and all I was concerned was get my luggage, clear the customs and make it to the last connection. A week later I still think about it and feel, it is one of those brief moments in life that offer you more thrill as you wait behind the curtains rather than being at the front line of it.
After three flights, two bus rides and a cab ride, I finally made it to Z-1, Fountain Park – my new home.
Scattered furniture, stinking house, two strangers occupying it as stop gap arrangement, dusty and dirty room, toilet dirtier than public facilities greeted me with door flung open. Aakarsh walking up in his bermudas, with a widest smile on his face, promise of beer in his smile and joy of meeting a friend saved the day for me at the end of 35 hours journey.
Neo
Mom, dad, brother and my brother’s closest friend made their way to the airport and I didn’t have space, time or the peace of mind to talk to them before getting on the flight. I couldn’t help but remember the last time I left India for Germany, when my mom’s eyes were moist as I hugged her, dad with his ‘take care of yourself Son’ pat on the back and brother overjoyed as there will be no Big Brother around… at least I had the time to soak all of this in. This time around was the most hurried and stressful Goodbye. And I fear it will be some time before I see them again…
Silver-lining was that all my baggage got through without any additional charged and I came out see my folks for one more time. My joy and peace somehow reflected in their smiles as well. And once those glass doors automatically shut, I turned around and doubled up towards immigration counters.
After all the formalities, I found myself sitting in the cramped window seat of the Air France flight to Paris, the same one I must have taken a few years back to reach Germany. I tried but I couldn’t be as psyched as I would have liked to be.
..Morning touchdown at Charles D’Gaule Airport and I didn’t find myself stunned with the magnitude of the airport or amused by the French beauty. I walked around all over the airport while waiting for my connection to Boston. I realized that until Europe it was a familiar territory, beyond this point every inch of the space, ground and society was alien, was foreign. As my flight to Boston took off, the blinker started showing flight route over the Atlantic Ocean and my mind wondered in the exact opposite direction… Berlin, Blackforest, Mumbai, Hyderabad, B’lore, New Delhi.
It was a long and boring flight but eventually we saw the Boston skyline. I felt excited for a second as we descended over the by towards Logan international airport.
I had pictured this very moment in many different ways in my mind. I had thought of making it to the land of opportunities, making something out of myself, starting afresh, making it big and so on. However, all of these thoughts and feelings of excitement had abandoned me and all I was concerned was get my luggage, clear the customs and make it to the last connection. A week later I still think about it and feel, it is one of those brief moments in life that offer you more thrill as you wait behind the curtains rather than being at the front line of it.
After three flights, two bus rides and a cab ride, I finally made it to Z-1, Fountain Park – my new home.
Scattered furniture, stinking house, two strangers occupying it as stop gap arrangement, dusty and dirty room, toilet dirtier than public facilities greeted me with door flung open. Aakarsh walking up in his bermudas, with a widest smile on his face, promise of beer in his smile and joy of meeting a friend saved the day for me at the end of 35 hours journey.
Neo
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Incidental
Downing the last sip of beer, Alan assured me; “Brotha, an airhostess, a model and a doctor. I will date them. And who knows when one might find their kind.”
“Air hostess?,Oh God Me Too. Why not. But, isn’t that being over ambitious even for you ?” – I said as I chugged the beer.
Kept the change back in my pocket, gulped a big one down and tried listening to what my friend was shouting in my ears. Drowning music, tiny smoke clouds floating over and lack of space and partner to dance… and I felt for n-th time, ‘Oh Yes, same old 10D. I might as well be listening to ‘Lemmon Tree’ – nothing ever happens.’
However, that evening went by a bit differently. Quite spontaneously but strangely I danced with her. After a while when we extended hands to formal introduce each other, it was only matter of putting two and two together for me to figure out that she is the Flight Attendant. Deductive logic used for some other discussion but here I was shaking legs to deafening music at a local club with her.
Now, from a spy to a postman, from an astronaut to a clerk, from a painter to a judge all are potential great human beings but share different Professions and hence share a different aura. And owing to Alan’s conversation, it felt reasonable to be thrilled about profession of the person I had just met.
There are a few times when you feel and act much younger than you are. You ought to remember those.
For what it’s worth, sitting on the pavement - drunk and hearing the personalized fasten your seat belts announcement was unique and will bring smile every time board flight.
It was only a while later at an after-party that I learned that she was also an interesting person that I would have like to meet again.
Neo
“Air hostess?,Oh God Me Too. Why not. But, isn’t that being over ambitious even for you ?” – I said as I chugged the beer.
Kept the change back in my pocket, gulped a big one down and tried listening to what my friend was shouting in my ears. Drowning music, tiny smoke clouds floating over and lack of space and partner to dance… and I felt for n-th time, ‘Oh Yes, same old 10D. I might as well be listening to ‘Lemmon Tree’ – nothing ever happens.’
However, that evening went by a bit differently. Quite spontaneously but strangely I danced with her. After a while when we extended hands to formal introduce each other, it was only matter of putting two and two together for me to figure out that she is the Flight Attendant. Deductive logic used for some other discussion but here I was shaking legs to deafening music at a local club with her.
Now, from a spy to a postman, from an astronaut to a clerk, from a painter to a judge all are potential great human beings but share different Professions and hence share a different aura. And owing to Alan’s conversation, it felt reasonable to be thrilled about profession of the person I had just met.
There are a few times when you feel and act much younger than you are. You ought to remember those.
For what it’s worth, sitting on the pavement - drunk and hearing the personalized fasten your seat belts announcement was unique and will bring smile every time board flight.
It was only a while later at an after-party that I learned that she was also an interesting person that I would have like to meet again.
Neo
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Keine Pause !
She is putting on the make up. Mascara, lip gloss and the pink lipstick, some gloss on the cheek and now come out the heart shaped danglers for her ear. Her hair tied back and nails painted pink, she reaches deep inside her bag and pulls out a costume and wig. It is a nurse’s costume and a red wig.
No it isn’t my one of my sex fantasies; she is getting dressed – front of my eyes, right across the aisle, here in a train bound to Karlsruhe, Germany.
Not the thing that was on top of my mind when I woke up two days back but hey I’m not complaining.
A couple of days back, minutes away from my 26th birthday I walked anonymously in the crowd, nursing myself and my drink as well. Come 12 O’clock nothing changed but I got a year older. Boom.
Made my way back to my apartment and passed out. Birth days have a way of making you feel special but old. I think the price is well paid. Made it to work, dressed in a shirt my friends bought me and hashed out plans to watch Iron Man 2 and make it in time for happy hours at TGIF. Turn of events (which I shall not delve in to) at work just bolstered the idea of having fun as soon and as much as I could.
Got hammered at TGIF, cruised to a theatre to watch Iron Man 2 and then back home to
drink some more and pack. I had a flight to catch in about 3 hours for Germany.
Roomie came down to see me off, offered that I should take one of his jackets and I obliged. Made it to the airport and found out that some of colleagues were travelling on the same flight. Well, it is always nice to see people you know and that too unexpectedly but there are times when you just want to be by yourself. At least I’d though about thinking something and the thought of not able to do that thinking was annoying me.
A lot ran through my mind, a year back I was outside the gates, seeing some one off on the same flight, the promise to board the same flight in a year, now boarding the same flight but for a different destination, touching down in Frankfurt and then making my way to Black Forest, to my friends and host family, watching the sunset from that glass roof of mine, beer binging, football and jogging in the forest, and enjoying German bread and cheese. Sunk in nostalgia, I downed my drink on board EK525 and tried getting as much sleep as I could enroute Dubai.
After bidding adieu to folks from my organization, I was truly by myself and kicked, because when those monster wheels come out for the second time from the belly of the Boeing, I would be where I really want to be. Deutschland.
After two plastic meals, three beers and 7 hours in the back of the flight between two hefty Germans, I was more than kicked to get rolling. I got through immigration control, took a shuttle to the train station and I was off to Wiesbaden. When the train got in, I wasn’t sure if she would be able to make it to pick me up. But she did. She was there, in a black jacket, short hair, excited, searching for me.
Meike, I had met her four years back in Germany and then a few years back in India. We were in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai at the same time but interestingly, we only managed to meet in Mumbai. I’m sure none thought of when we would meet next. What was so great about meeting again was that a lot has changed in and around but it was still very exciting to see her.
We spent the evening sitting on the balcony sipping German beer and catching up about what had passed by in the last year and a half. As the German summer draws closer evenings are stretched longer. It is simply priceless to enjoy the evening glow that normally lasts for half an hour, experience it stretch over a couple of hours. In a short while, evening gave way to cloudless night and led us to local pubs for some drinks and night life.
Like a kid in the sports shop, I wanted to see and experience as much as I could in as little time as I could. Eventually, we made our way back home by midnight.
And after two days of travelling, partying, absorbing, I finally took a pause.
Saying Goodbye to her this morning was equally dramatic, the train door closing automatically and both of struggling to keep it open so long as the wheels started rolling. Something inside you just shrinks and twists, when you say Goodbye without knowing when you shall meet the people you love again. It was the same feeling inside me.
Soon a few other swirling thoughts took over as the wheels started rolling. In addition to watching the mascara, lipstick, costume and wig come out, I was thinking of meeting my host family. And my mind was travelling faster to the destination than the fast paced Deutsche Bahn.
No it isn’t my one of my sex fantasies; she is getting dressed – front of my eyes, right across the aisle, here in a train bound to Karlsruhe, Germany.
Not the thing that was on top of my mind when I woke up two days back but hey I’m not complaining.
A couple of days back, minutes away from my 26th birthday I walked anonymously in the crowd, nursing myself and my drink as well. Come 12 O’clock nothing changed but I got a year older. Boom.
Made my way back to my apartment and passed out. Birth days have a way of making you feel special but old. I think the price is well paid. Made it to work, dressed in a shirt my friends bought me and hashed out plans to watch Iron Man 2 and make it in time for happy hours at TGIF. Turn of events (which I shall not delve in to) at work just bolstered the idea of having fun as soon and as much as I could.
Got hammered at TGIF, cruised to a theatre to watch Iron Man 2 and then back home to
drink some more and pack. I had a flight to catch in about 3 hours for Germany.
Roomie came down to see me off, offered that I should take one of his jackets and I obliged. Made it to the airport and found out that some of colleagues were travelling on the same flight. Well, it is always nice to see people you know and that too unexpectedly but there are times when you just want to be by yourself. At least I’d though about thinking something and the thought of not able to do that thinking was annoying me.
A lot ran through my mind, a year back I was outside the gates, seeing some one off on the same flight, the promise to board the same flight in a year, now boarding the same flight but for a different destination, touching down in Frankfurt and then making my way to Black Forest, to my friends and host family, watching the sunset from that glass roof of mine, beer binging, football and jogging in the forest, and enjoying German bread and cheese. Sunk in nostalgia, I downed my drink on board EK525 and tried getting as much sleep as I could enroute Dubai.
After bidding adieu to folks from my organization, I was truly by myself and kicked, because when those monster wheels come out for the second time from the belly of the Boeing, I would be where I really want to be. Deutschland.
After two plastic meals, three beers and 7 hours in the back of the flight between two hefty Germans, I was more than kicked to get rolling. I got through immigration control, took a shuttle to the train station and I was off to Wiesbaden. When the train got in, I wasn’t sure if she would be able to make it to pick me up. But she did. She was there, in a black jacket, short hair, excited, searching for me.
Meike, I had met her four years back in Germany and then a few years back in India. We were in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai at the same time but interestingly, we only managed to meet in Mumbai. I’m sure none thought of when we would meet next. What was so great about meeting again was that a lot has changed in and around but it was still very exciting to see her.
We spent the evening sitting on the balcony sipping German beer and catching up about what had passed by in the last year and a half. As the German summer draws closer evenings are stretched longer. It is simply priceless to enjoy the evening glow that normally lasts for half an hour, experience it stretch over a couple of hours. In a short while, evening gave way to cloudless night and led us to local pubs for some drinks and night life.
Like a kid in the sports shop, I wanted to see and experience as much as I could in as little time as I could. Eventually, we made our way back home by midnight.
And after two days of travelling, partying, absorbing, I finally took a pause.
Saying Goodbye to her this morning was equally dramatic, the train door closing automatically and both of struggling to keep it open so long as the wheels started rolling. Something inside you just shrinks and twists, when you say Goodbye without knowing when you shall meet the people you love again. It was the same feeling inside me.
Soon a few other swirling thoughts took over as the wheels started rolling. In addition to watching the mascara, lipstick, costume and wig come out, I was thinking of meeting my host family. And my mind was travelling faster to the destination than the fast paced Deutsche Bahn.
Monday, March 22, 2010
A Year Gone By
Most days of our lives are insignificant. They pass without any stress, without registering any significant memories. But a few days leave their mark, forge a memory that is hard to wipe out, leave you with sweet-bitter taste and those are the ones you remember. Today is one of them …
I’m awful at remembering birthdays and anniversaries, yes, even with Facebook, I find it tough to keep pace. However, I remember, this day last year, I woke up late than I had wanted and shrugged of the hangover. I pulled out my favourite sky blue shirt and dark blue pants to go with it, crisply ironed. Polished shoes, laptop bag and jet-washed black pulsar, occasion – a travel writing workshop.
I love writing but that is not why I went there. No one can teach you how to write, but they can tell you what to write, where to sell it and they can put you in touch with people with the interests as yours. And as a matter of fact the workshop did put me in touch with someone I would have otherwise never met.
I knew half the people in the room, half of the remaining weren’t remotely approachable and I don’t remember the rest. But it really didn’t matter once She casted a look and offered me a seat and then blatantly copying her email and then graduating to ask her number and eventually asking her out follow, which is why I know remember today last year…
What followed after that deserves another post and a different platform.
A year later, a lot has changed. There is small real estate permanently booked in my brain for the beautiful time spent and lasting memories forged. What hasn’t is- I still don’t know what I expect from each day and each new experience I am about to embrace. I’m equally clueless about what next six months of my life would bring, where would I be next year this day, whom will I celebrate my next birthday with.
And as in-flight light go dim, rubber burns the tarmac, I feel that jerk and push back in my seat & my horizon tilts, I just soak it all in…what has passed and fill my lungs with a deep nostalgic breath for what awaits on the other side
I’m awful at remembering birthdays and anniversaries, yes, even with Facebook, I find it tough to keep pace. However, I remember, this day last year, I woke up late than I had wanted and shrugged of the hangover. I pulled out my favourite sky blue shirt and dark blue pants to go with it, crisply ironed. Polished shoes, laptop bag and jet-washed black pulsar, occasion – a travel writing workshop.
I love writing but that is not why I went there. No one can teach you how to write, but they can tell you what to write, where to sell it and they can put you in touch with people with the interests as yours. And as a matter of fact the workshop did put me in touch with someone I would have otherwise never met.
I knew half the people in the room, half of the remaining weren’t remotely approachable and I don’t remember the rest. But it really didn’t matter once She casted a look and offered me a seat and then blatantly copying her email and then graduating to ask her number and eventually asking her out follow, which is why I know remember today last year…
What followed after that deserves another post and a different platform.
A year later, a lot has changed. There is small real estate permanently booked in my brain for the beautiful time spent and lasting memories forged. What hasn’t is- I still don’t know what I expect from each day and each new experience I am about to embrace. I’m equally clueless about what next six months of my life would bring, where would I be next year this day, whom will I celebrate my next birthday with.
And as in-flight light go dim, rubber burns the tarmac, I feel that jerk and push back in my seat & my horizon tilts, I just soak it all in…what has passed and fill my lungs with a deep nostalgic breath for what awaits on the other side
Friday, March 12, 2010
Is it Just Me?
When you are waiting for a moment, waiting for a decision, or waiting for someone or just waiting for something to happen…while pretty life stealthily passes you by and all you can focus on is the painstaking wait and a few run of the mill hurdles which now all of sudden seems like mountains.
You tend to deploy day dream, self consoling and all other forms of distraction to get you by. And there is always the classic remedy, looking back at your past,
In my case, the long walk by marine drive in the stormy weather before results, deep breath before jumping into the sea prior to the sea swimming competition, clearing of throat before answering the German official at the embassy, the pause before asking her ‘so what do you say?,’ getting on the flight after a sleepless night and looking out of the window for the reassuring sunrise…
You tell yourself, it has always worked out. You had no way but one to go and doors opened, people nodded, you were able to be at the place at the right time, so it will be…
I wonder, if in situations such as these we only tend to think of the times when ‘we did actually make it’ and filter out all the rest or did all of you always made it…you know when it mattered to you the most…
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Boys To Men To Boys
I
She rang the bell - adjusting her hair and her dress while waiting impatiently to see his cheerful face through the grilled door. Dressed in formal trouser and shirt, he left the pasta on a mild flame and rushed to the door to let her in.
Since evening he had been busy cooking or at least trying. Garlic bread, mushroom soup etc was ready and now was the main course – pasta with white sauce. Earlier he had bough her favourite ice-cream and kept it in the freezer. He had carefully decked up his drawing board with an apt tabletop and set up a nice table with a lit candle on the terrace with two out of place Neelkamal chairs to go with the table. Wine glasses were missing but a Sulley Merlot was there and he had managed to mine out his swiss-knife to open it just at the right time.
They sat under the well laid out stars and pleasant moonlight, with flickering candles. She didn’t expect one bit of this, considering she knew, he has always been ‘let us order-in guy.’ She blushed as she gulped down the first sip of her wine and in return he smiled back.
As the clock drew closer to 12, she felt like a drive. A long one. He proposed, “How does Mumbai sea face sound?.” Without a delay of a minute, candles were blown, drawing board brought in, vessels dumped in the sink, socks n shoes and thud of the main door and her cars engine came to life.
Couple of hours later, they were at the sea face, watching the fire-works as they bid adieu to a great year together and got ready to reel in a new one. Phones rang, kept ringing, he picked one out of those calls. And they were off to his friends house party. ‘Hawaiian,’ it seems was the theme. Hosting couple opened the door and these two sober souls mixed with the rest.
She nodded, “You could drink. I will drive.” He smiled and obliged his friends. Shots, shooters and hugs followed. They left the party in a while, she drove this time.
On the way yet another call, yet another party at the farmhouse…they turned the wheel.
Next morning, he woke up earlier, milk and coffee was hard to find, he managed a litre of mineral water for her and they hit the road again. It was time to go home, their respective homes.
II
Rubbing eyes he woke up to see it was already 9. Fighting off the hangover from the 30th, he rushed to the washroom. Clock was already breathing down his neck. “We are supposed to leave. NOW.”-Dad.
He rushed, got ready the best he could, prayed a little and rushed to the car. Took out the parallel parked car, plugged in some floyd and waited for mom and dad to come out.
Drove up to the beach house. Picked up some beer on the way.
He hung around with all the uncles and aunties and reminiscing the old days. Later he walked up to he sun-set point and spent the whole evening there, trying to put the pieces together since he last came to this place.
From playing and cheating, staying up, ghost stories, childhood girlfriend, driving cars, to goofing up, flicking beers to father and son conversations, uncles’ advice; everything cluttered his mind. Beyond a point, he just pressed the speed dial and rest is personal.
With the setting Sun, there some strange peace and content in his heart, there was a joy of having made it to this place eventually. There was some excitement to welcome the new year and spend the first day of it at the beach. Spend the bright sunny day at the beach with people he grew up with, sip on a few beers, swim out in the sea and take a long walk on the beach with his father.
When the clock struck 12, mom and dad were the first people he hugged. Probably there was a lot going on in his mind but; “It is gonna be a great year” were the words that made it through the vocal cord. And he hugged them tighter.
Next day he drove back with his parents, messaged near and dear ones and spent a peaceful evening with them.
III
They both walked into the new years with some resolutions, thoughts, decisions, preferences etc…and by the time the parties were over some of them were already on the back-burners.
From the time they could remember ‘partying’, there was something different to each new years, and this year was no exception.
Boys to Men to Boys and so it continued…
Neo
Since evening he had been busy cooking or at least trying. Garlic bread, mushroom soup etc was ready and now was the main course – pasta with white sauce. Earlier he had bough her favourite ice-cream and kept it in the freezer. He had carefully decked up his drawing board with an apt tabletop and set up a nice table with a lit candle on the terrace with two out of place Neelkamal chairs to go with the table. Wine glasses were missing but a Sulley Merlot was there and he had managed to mine out his swiss-knife to open it just at the right time.
They sat under the well laid out stars and pleasant moonlight, with flickering candles. She didn’t expect one bit of this, considering she knew, he has always been ‘let us order-in guy.’ She blushed as she gulped down the first sip of her wine and in return he smiled back.
As the clock drew closer to 12, she felt like a drive. A long one. He proposed, “How does Mumbai sea face sound?.” Without a delay of a minute, candles were blown, drawing board brought in, vessels dumped in the sink, socks n shoes and thud of the main door and her cars engine came to life.
Couple of hours later, they were at the sea face, watching the fire-works as they bid adieu to a great year together and got ready to reel in a new one. Phones rang, kept ringing, he picked one out of those calls. And they were off to his friends house party. ‘Hawaiian,’ it seems was the theme. Hosting couple opened the door and these two sober souls mixed with the rest.
She nodded, “You could drink. I will drive.” He smiled and obliged his friends. Shots, shooters and hugs followed. They left the party in a while, she drove this time.
On the way yet another call, yet another party at the farmhouse…they turned the wheel.
Next morning, he woke up earlier, milk and coffee was hard to find, he managed a litre of mineral water for her and they hit the road again. It was time to go home, their respective homes.
II
Rubbing eyes he woke up to see it was already 9. Fighting off the hangover from the 30th, he rushed to the washroom. Clock was already breathing down his neck. “We are supposed to leave. NOW.”-Dad.
He rushed, got ready the best he could, prayed a little and rushed to the car. Took out the parallel parked car, plugged in some floyd and waited for mom and dad to come out.
Drove up to the beach house. Picked up some beer on the way.
He hung around with all the uncles and aunties and reminiscing the old days. Later he walked up to he sun-set point and spent the whole evening there, trying to put the pieces together since he last came to this place.
From playing and cheating, staying up, ghost stories, childhood girlfriend, driving cars, to goofing up, flicking beers to father and son conversations, uncles’ advice; everything cluttered his mind. Beyond a point, he just pressed the speed dial and rest is personal.
With the setting Sun, there some strange peace and content in his heart, there was a joy of having made it to this place eventually. There was some excitement to welcome the new year and spend the first day of it at the beach. Spend the bright sunny day at the beach with people he grew up with, sip on a few beers, swim out in the sea and take a long walk on the beach with his father.
When the clock struck 12, mom and dad were the first people he hugged. Probably there was a lot going on in his mind but; “It is gonna be a great year” were the words that made it through the vocal cord. And he hugged them tighter.
Next day he drove back with his parents, messaged near and dear ones and spent a peaceful evening with them.
III
They both walked into the new years with some resolutions, thoughts, decisions, preferences etc…and by the time the parties were over some of them were already on the back-burners.
From the time they could remember ‘partying’, there was something different to each new years, and this year was no exception.
Boys to Men to Boys and so it continued…
Neo
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