Recap
Fragments of time pass before my eyes. Their facets reflecting memories of a quarter century. Times of laughter, times of experience, times of deep friendship and times of loss.
Scene I
That hopelessly innocent time. Copying in math exams. Excursion to Vizag. Standing in awe in the Borra caves. Frolicking on the beach. Sitting in the last bench day-dreaming through boring classes. Fantasizing beautiful teachers. Going on stage in front of the whole school to receive quizzing prizes. Representing city in Calcutta. The big disappointment there. Afternoon breaks. Smell of freshly starched uniform. The opposite sex. Last day in school.
Scene II
Reality shock. Breakdown. Medical cows and engineering sheep. New look. Changed outlook. Forgotten sanity. Coming up for air. Brilliant decision.
Scene III
Wild days. Nizam’s. High hopes. Whiling away time under the shed. Endless discussions. Quizzing. Bunking classes. Classic Rock. Basketball. Mind-bending. Psychedelia. Setting records on the rock. Parties at parent-less homes. New friends. Discos. Getting pissed 20 times a month. Abandonded farmhouses and the police. Mood indigo and rock concerts. Romance and traveling. Drowning in music. Forgotten academics. World Cinema. Camping and trekking. Frying papads over campfires. French classes at the Alliance. Culture vulturing. Down and out in Coorg.
Scene IV
Bitter-sweet times. HCU. Alien classmates. Brief affair. Broadening horizons. Caste politics. Chinky love. Beautiful campus. Mushroom rocks and Peacock lakes. Asian Social Forum. Globalisation. No Logo. Academic pressure. Loneliness. Career doubts. DJ nights.
Scene V
A flight to a new world. Great expectations. Spectacular disillusionment. Solitary traveller. International junkie. Virtual love. Science and Art. The word. The image. A bitter relationship. Solitude. Superficiality. Selective conscience. Material desire. Money and pleasure. Fears and tears. Make or break. The big Doubt. The great Decision. The big Hope.
…and the scenes just go on. Nostalgia colors equally bitter and sweet memories in sepia tones.
January 1st, 2006 | Quote
transience: ah, did I? then that is my new year’s gift to you *winks*
finnegan: if only it would!
January 1st, 2006 | Quote
Perhaps it would intoxicate like a fine and subtle liquor.
January 1st, 2006 | Quote
what an appropriate time to post this. it blew me away. i am pondering some ideas that this piece sparked and i truly appreciate the little mental exercise. cheers!
oh, and happy new year’s!
December 31st, 2005 | Quote
finnegan: hmm…what a curious idea! I wonder too…perhaps like hot darjeeling tea?
Geets: thank you…you will see soon! and a happy new year too…hope the year ahead will be full of joy for you.
silvermOOn: no, not at all, my b’day is still a few months away…this was the skeleton of something old I had written…added some content to it so thought this was an appropriate time to post it…
Divakar: I know what you mean, such lovely times they were…
December 29th, 2005 | Quote
Dude, you really brought back those memories…..
December 28th, 2005 | Quote
Oh, did you mention a 1/4 century because you are 25 yers old, just had a birthday or about to have one?
December 28th, 2005 | Quote
Ponderous and obviously quite fitting for this time of year.Interesting post.
December 27th, 2005 | Quote
Now that’s interesting - a recap of the last 25 yrs as opposed to one of the last year! Kinda scary too…it’s like you’re sayin goodbye to us blogger-wasis! I hope not…
Liked the way you did this…
Joyeux Noel at Bonne Annee 2006 a toi…:-)
December 25th, 2005 | Quote
Is this the skeleton of 25 years? Wonder what all this would taste like if brewed and distilled and drunk from a paper cup?