Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Let bygones be bygones

I stay in Bangalore, a thousand miles away from my home, where I spent my childhood. When my mind is blank, and I am not thinking about work or anything else, I ponder over the past. I know those days will never come back, but to even re-live those moments with memories is truly nostalgic.

Recently, there have been a series of power failures in my area. "Damn it!!! @$#%3 @##@$ @#@$". No other thoughts come to my mind when the lights go off. When it starts raining, I curse the rain gods for the untimely downpours. Everything seems to have changed now.

We used to wait for the power cuts everyday when I was a child. Just before the scheduled power cuts, everyone could be seen getting ready with their snacks, water-bottles and other paraphernalia and walk up to the terrace. Those were the days when I learnt and actually saw the Pole star, the other constellations that we read in our Geography books. We talked about a lot of other things. About animals, birds, the moon and the sky. We talked about school. I miss those conversations. And I am sure that my parents miss that too.

When I was a child, I used to love the rains. I loved getting wet. Everytime it started raining, I made it a point that I had a good excuse before walking upto my Mom, for not using my raincoat. I enjoyed those summer days when it was a routine exercise for everyone to get rid of the mosquitoes every evening by burning mosquito repellants.

We also used to go for a walk after dinner, or played badminton right after our dinner during the winters. The Saturdays and the Sundays had a host of TV programs lined up for us, and everyone had a reserved place for him/her and nobody was late. We had only 1 television set and only 1 channel.

Sundays were really fun, when each vehicle in the house, including my bicycle had their weekly bath.

And now, I let my bike collect all the dust and mud until I give it away for servicing. I curse the mud and the overflowing drains when it rains. I use All-Out/Good Night to drive away those irritating mosquitoes. Even if it's not raining, I put on my jacket, just in case. I don't even remember when was the last time I looked up into the sky. I don't play badminton anymore. I keep on switching from channel to channel and end up watching nothing at all.

Sometimes, I feel sad about all these changes. But, you know what? There's an saying for everything.

"Let bygones be bygones"

11 comments:

  1. I feel that I have lost sight of what life is meant to be, I work I work I save but for what. I log into my office PC everyday, sitting in the cubicle thinking what is it that I really should be doing.One I was the best in what I studied I had passion, now I am in a thankless IT job. What I had dreamed can't be just a bygone thought. In a few year even this thought will be bygone.

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  2. @Anonymous: I didn't actually suggest that we should "Let bygones be bygones".

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  3. @ Kumar, I agree with you, what you have introspected is my reality. And will have to change it one day. Difficult choices, but I value a good life than anything else. I only have vague idea of what a good life is.

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  4. I would say...there are a few things..which you can not change...but..there are a few things you can work on..to recreate the magic of the old..
    -->you can always disconnect your cable connection.

    -->You can go to your roof..(if you have one..) where the power cuts happen

    -->Yo can still take time out and look up in the sky

    -->You can still get wet..(just don't bring your mac with you)

    There are a few things which are not worth letting go..and it pays in the long run to hold it for ever.

    Go for a vacation...and yeah..buy a badminton racket as well :)

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  5. @Kunal: Agreed. I don't have a access to the terrace btw. I could buy a racket, but there's no one to play with. :(

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  6. its the bitter truth right. touching post. we love our childhood place no doubt.

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  7. @sush: As much as we love them, we miss them when we get older. :(

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  8. Hmmm. I missed those moments a lot. Sometime I feel really bad when it is raining and I cannot pull over my shirt and enjoy the pouring water. Sometimes I miss mom's galiyan and such other things. I know I cannot change these things, it is easy said, go to terrace and relive the moments but will it be possible to bring such curious conversations back in our discussion, can I ask my mom and dad to answer my innocent and stupid questions when I am myself mature and can find them myself. No. "LET BYGONE BY BYGONE" and cherish the old n sweet memories instead feeling bad about them.

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  9. u hate the rains??? and power cuts reallyyy... damn... i somehow still luvv emm ... but yes, lyk u mentioned we tend to move on from things taht use to bring a smile on our faces to ignoring them later on ...lovely read...

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  10. Hey that was a nice post!Yeah, childhood is what that is extremely missed by each one of us. Power-cuts were always enjoyed as a child, but as we grew up they turn to be pretty annoying!

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  11. @Cartic: Thanks. Yeah, I also liked playing with the candle and wax then. :)

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