" And that's how we met........."

I was absolutely bored. How long was I supposed to wait, and that too, to just ask one simple question?

I was outside my class, and I was waiting for Mam to come outside. That's it. I was not going to wait any longer. I picked up my bag, and barged in. And, 'Crash'!. I banged into someone, who was coming out. " Arrghh.! Can't you even see where you're going!?!". Not a single apology, and with a look of complete unconcern , he marched out of the gate. This was our first meeting.....

I never ever imagined, that 2 months later, I would be sitting an chatting with the very same guy, whom I had just banged into. My initial reaction was, that this guy had absolutely no sense of direction, and was completely crazy. I saw him drive down the lane, with unimaginable speed....( I was just hoping that he at least doesn't bang into someone on the road!)

We met again... and this time, we were attending the same lecture. I was sitting on the second bench, and he walked up to me, and guess what, he actually apologized for his behaviour the other day... For a minute, I was surprised that why should he even bother to come and apologize after a week, when he simply walked out the other day. Well, i acknowledged his apology with " It's okay" and the class continued. I thought, that would be the end of it, but I was mistaken.

We met again the next week, and this time, we actually had a conversation. The class was yet to start, and my friend hadn't come as yet. We had a causal conversation, about our colleges... and so on. I realized, that he was not altogether what I had imagined him to be. Cold, arrogant, self -centered, and oblivious to everything around him.... was all he was not. I realized that he was quite a different person. God knows, what was wrong with him that day.  He actually had a good sense of humour, was open minded and  friendly.We had similar tastes in music, and many other things...... In fact, he'd asked me to listen to " Stereo Love", which has become one of my favorite songs today. We spoke for quite some time, and then, some time later, our class began... . Some more meetings like these, and 2 months later, we became very good friends.  Conversations continued, and we got along really well. He was someone I could speak to anytime...anywhere.... and till date, he has never ignored my call... And today, he is one of my most cherished friends...( It's one thing I really appreciate in him)

As time goes by, people change....... so many situations occur, which make people change. But, his attitude never changed. He was always the same guy - practical, jovial, and yeah, how could I forget the main element- his smile. That smile, with a hint of mischief ..... which made him look like the most innocent person ever.

A time came, when we didn't speak for ages... maybe.... 3 months...

And one day, I call up... expecting something like '  Hey, Hi. How are you.? ". He was someone who would always understand. He once told me, that no matter what, he would understand. Contrary to this..... I got something like ' Oh God!! Where were YOU..!!??!?!.". I was pleasantly surprised... that he actually remembered I exist. I believed.. that maybe my presence doesn't really matter.... and my absence wouldn't really affect him....But , I was wrong.( At least I'm hoping that I was wrong.) Well, later things got sorted out, and it was the same as ever.....

In life, we make so many friends... meet so many people. But, everyone is not there to please us. We have misunderstandings and differences.... we meet... we separate....

But, sometimes... when we have something, we don't realize it's value. Even between friends.... we sometimes don't realize their value when they're there with us.... But, in their absence we realize their importance in our lives, that we still miss them... and what they mean to us....

So, whenever you have someone in your life, who cares about you...and whom you really cherish.... let them know that they're important.... that you care.... and, don't ever let them go.  Because.... " You may lose a diamond.... when you were busy collecting stones"

" I know that it hurts....... But why continue doing all this?"

We were sitting in a coffee shop. And I felt.... as though everything around me was frozen. He sat across the table..... in complete silence.... and I felt, as though the whole effort of making him come outside the house with me was a waste of time.... It was now more than 15 mintues... and not a word from him. Even the coffee was now cold, and that was the end of my patience! " Come on, speak up! What's wrong? You can't just carry on behaving in this manner!"


And finally... the truth. No points for guessing the reason. Someone broke his heart.... and yeah... all I could say was..." I know it hurts....". If you're reading this, at the moment, I can sense the thoughts going through your mind...." Poor guy, .. how sad... oh, this always happens.. but he should move on.... it's not the end of life... he'll get someone better.." and so on...


Now, as a true friend should do.. I tried to ease his pain, tried convincing him, that it was not the end.... that maybe... it was not meant to be.... and he should try and forget it... like a bad dream. But, really, if it was all that easy, I would have succeeded in 10 minutes.... and he would have walked out with me, happy and relaxed...


But, ofcource... that didn't happen.


Sometimes... our mind refuses to believe the truth. We get so stuck up with a few things... that it's difficult to let go. I'm using the word difficult, because it's NEVER impossible. we just tell our mind, that it's not possible. And so, it never is. How can any change affect you, unless you are ready to accept it from within? How can anything said to you, matter to you unless you are ready to believe it? Change, like self-confidence and belief.....has to come from within... You need to yourself realize, that no matter what, you will not let anything affect you to an extent.... that you will not give up everything... and not hurt yourself. Someone has so rightly said, " Just as no ship can sink, unless it lets the water in.... No one has the power to hurt you, unless you let them do it.."
And well, I have something to add on..."AND,  The one's who would actually DESERVE that power... will Never hurt you..."


Sometimes, we need to stop analyzing the past.
Stop planning the future.
Stop trying to figure out precisely how we feel....
Stop deciding with our mind... what we want our heart to feel...
and Sometimes.... we just have to keep faith..
Keep faith and believe, that someone... somewhere cares...
And it is for that person, that I will be strong...
I will never give up.....


We all have our heart breaks..... everyone gets hurt..
But, we should realize, that it should be taken as a experience... and then we should move on.... What's the point in brooding over the past? If you're going to be lost in the past... How will you step into the bright future?


Moreover... what actually pained me... was the lack of concern for others.
He was hurt... but, because of his attitude.... others who cared for him were also hurt. Everyone is not going to be sweet to you... and behave as you like them to do so..... But, because of just someone who hurt you, is it really justified to hurt the others who care a lot for you? And this is what I tried explaining to him.
As Shelly rightly said, " If winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"
And so,
" Dance as though no one's watching...
Sing as though no one can hear you..
Live as though heaven is on earth...
And love as though you've never been hurt before........"


Life is not always going to be all smiles.... there will be tears...
But, you need to look past the tears and see, that for every one person that may hurt you... or dislike you... there are many more who love you and care for you. Now, it would be upto you, whether you choose the tears... or the smiles........

" It's Never gonna be a goodbye........."

Time goes on…. It never waits for anyone…..

Today, it’s officially the end of my 12^th…. But for some reason.. the feeling doesn’t seem to sink in….

When the examinations were on….. I was praying for them to get over… and now, that they are actually over…. I’m remembering all those times…. Standing outside and doing our last minute revisions…. Waiting in line to enter the hall…. Closing our eyes before writing..and praying that we'll manage well…..

 Even all that was quite an experience…..

Everything will change from this point onwards…  All of us, will go in different directions.. different career paths…. And so on….. we all have our plans for life… and I truly hope.. that all our dreams get fulfilled. ….

But…. There’s only one thing I’d like to tell all my friends... ….  Take your decisions very carefully…. Obey your brain and mind… BUT. Don’t forget to listen to your heart…….

Life is a journey…. But, don’t forget to enjoy it as you pass though the various stages….

Sometimes… things may not always work out… But learn to trust…. Learn to keep faith….

You know, I still remember my 10^th Standard farewell. Everyone was hugging each other… and making promises of keeping in touch….

But, how many of us actually made efforts of keeping in touch later? How many of us, bothered to give a call to those who mattered, and ask them… even lets say… once in a month….about how things were in their life? If you did, then great… But, if you didn’t, don’t you think it was unfair on both you, and your friend as well?

 We sometimes get so busy in our lives….that we forget those who once mattered… and sometimes… new people take their place…. Times change… people change……

I also made this mistake. These two years…. Seemed to have distanced me from a few people…. who really mattered… and yes, still matter in my life. So, I promise to myself today, that this time, I’m gonna make it work. I’m gonna see to it, that I will give a call to all my friends, no matter where I am…. Or where they are…... No matter whether we meet or not…. Even if it means a simple ‘ Hi, How are you’….. I will do it… Because…. Some relations are meant forever.... but you have to make them last forever..… So, to all those who really matter ……..” It’s NEVER gonna be a goodbye…”

" 80% of the final exam will be based on the one lecture you missed and the one book you didn’t read"

" Oh My God.!!! And Its a SIX!! Straight into the stands!!!!! And that shot completes Tendulkar's centuary..!!"


Well, How exactly did cricket and examinations, both come into the picture?
 Well, how could it be possible.... that the World Cup is going on.... and I miss it out?


This is exactly how my 12th Board examinations went......
The day before Mathematics paper, I was more bothered about the India v/s South Africa match. . . . . ( Oh, not only me, but most of my friends who are cricket fans, were watching with me)
I am SO glad, that the World Cup is going on. At least I have cricket to look forward to....

Some papers were a nightmare...... Sometimes I think, that what if I had studied a bit more.... But then, as I think back, I feel, that no matter what, the papers would have gone in the same manner. NO Change. 

Everything is so tedious....
This time.... of giving all these papers... has been like.... SO SLOW! Seems as though God has cursed the clocks to run at half the normal pace. I so envy those people who finish before me. Some of my friends, even finished a week before my exams will get over..... And here I am, sitting and going through all those heavy books.... But well, as Shelly puts it, " If winter comes, Can spring be far behind?" So well, I will have my holidays starting soon :)


I find it a bit hard to believe that now, after just two papers ... I'll be saying a definite goodbye to 12th.... It's so weird. One moment, I feel happy and excited at the prospect of finishing my 12th and the long vacation before me.....But at the same moment... I feel, as though, now what next?
You know, till today, it was as though predetermined. After 5th, then 6th..... and so on. But, after 12th, now what?
All of us will be going in different directions.. making different decisions.. that will shape our future.... It's like saying, that this is the end, and now we're going step into that ' so called real world'. Over the next few years... all of us would be shaping our lives.... But, I hope, that whenever we all look back..... we would cherish all those happy memories.... and times.. that we shared together........


" Memories play a very confusing role in our lives.....
They make us laugh, when we think of the times we cried together...
AND
They make us cry... when we think of the times we laughed together...."

The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word. ~Mata Hari

" And Five, and Six
 And Five , six seven eight.!
And start once More.! I want it to be perfect.!  I want to see more energy!"

These are typically the words , that echoed throughout the dance practices during  the speech day preparations. I, along with my other friends, would be performing classical fusion on Kathak and Bharatnatyam. There were other styles like hip-hop , rock - n - roll, and disco as well.  And, I was really excited, because, not only was this my first and last performance in school..... but also my very first choreography , in Kathak..
                         Never before had I thought..... that I would ever be able to choreograph a complete song..... and this time..... I actually surprised myself.  Earlier....the idea never struck me, as I had no inclination whatsoever to try out classical.... But later, when I saw that the other styles had more than enough people to participate........ I thought... " Why not classical?
 Let's Do It".
                        Did you know, there are short-cuts to happiness......... and dancing is one of them. Those days..... of setting the songs........ relentless practices.....loads of fun... missing AND bunking classes...... were one of the most memorable days of my college life. I still do remember the day, when I was walking back to class with Ishana, and I remember telling her, that with basketball matches  now over... I had nothing else to look forward to in college...... and her reply was..... simply... " Aare, U wait na, there's still speech day coming up". That was it. And it was the beginning of another interesting phase in my life...... 
                        I not only owe all the fun and dancing .... to this speech day... But I owe something far more important to this day of my life..... which I can never forget... and for which I shall be always grateful. I learnt Kathak for 5 years....... but then, due to some reasons.... I left it. Let me be a bit truthful...........I left it, because I did not give it due importance of my life... and I realized this mistake... long after I had done it. But, this speech day dance, gave me the chance of making up with my Tai..... I invited my Tai - my Guru.....to come and see this dance. Very few actually know, that the very reason of me dancing the way I did that day... was because it was all for her.... a complete dedication to her...... My every movement.... my every step... my every turn..... my every look..was dedicated to her. I was dancing before her.... after like three years..... and I wanted to do my best.
             So , on the final day, when we were all dressed up and ready..... a bit jittery and nervous.... in the wings..... I was not nervous because there were so many people out there watching me.... but I was nervous.... whether I would be able to give a good performance.... and whether Tai would like it...... Afterall, it was a dedication to her... and it just HAD to be PERFECT.... My only concern was, that I had to manage the 8 rotation peice, and it had to be on the beats. I had hardly managed it in the reharsals...... but I was hoping I get it right..... and I did....... and then, throughout the  whole dance I was smiling like a idiot.... :P
But........ the most important thing that I learnt that day was ...... that " Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another..." And that day..... I danced with my heart....

" We don't like Basketball........... We're Crazy about it!"

               " For some reason..... it was a nice feeling.we were so tired, that even the juice... though slightly warm due to the afternoon temperature, seemed like nectar at that moment. God, How much more were we expected to run! And then, "The shrill sound of whistle"... arrghh... Sir was back. " What are you'll doing. Kya, itne me hi thak gaye? Aur bolte ho, ki Under 19 matches kheloge.. Stamina to kuch bhi nahi hain...!" AND, that was the end of our break. Back to practice now. "
              Now, that everything's going to be over..... we'll all go our separate ways....I'm going to miss those basketball practices. Of cource, it's not that I'm never gonna play again.. I will, but... I'll miss my team...... And I'll miss all those people with whom I shared the most beautiful moments of my life......

             We are the FIRST batch to be passing out of St. Mary's Junior College... and we were the First team to play Under 19, from our college.  "One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team". We've all had our disagreements... and problems.... But, in the end... I feel that we were the BeSt team EVER..!! All of us rock.... !! Those memories... will always be etched in my mind...... Those tiring practices... but nevertheless feeling proud of ourselves whenever our coordination was perfect..... playing with our Juniors.... and defeating them .....playing all those matches..... losing..but then training hard to reach those Finals......AND, Finally the celebration and Having pani-puri...... And... even after the matches were over...... we always played in the breaks...... I'm sure you guys remember the 'girls v\s boys matches.....and as always....,they were always worth watching.... :P

        Ps - to Ishana. You definitely owe most of your baskets to my stupid theories... lol. But you have to agree, they worked for you. Even now, try smiling before you shoot, it'll go. :) And, I am SO NOT sorry to have irritated to so many times.... :D ANd again... thanks for everything.. :)

And, Desai, how could I not mention You. :P Thanks a lott for everything, ..!! And well, How could we forget.. that you were the one who Always asked the teachers for permission whenever we wanted to bunk class and play.. :P lol

Namas - Thank you for being there, and reminding me, that I can afterall.... play.  :) You taught me loads... and we all would not be able to win without you... But moreover... this team was incomplete without you. 

Namrata - Thanks a lott for always encouraging us...... on the court.. and even off it. ...... :) 

Mohini -  our speeds usually matched.... which was NOT always a good thing... :P . Even today i'll hate playing against u .. :D
I guess i remember the match with the Under 17 team, when we were against each other, and we kept running around.... which annoyed the hell out of the others..   :D 

      

              For me, each day was so good... and it's all because of basketball. I actually would get bored for attending college.... But ever since the team was formed.... the same boring days transformed into the best days of my life........ This phase of my life.... was really one of the most memorable of them all..... and it would never have been possible.... if all of you were not there.... and this post is a special dedication to our team... WE ROCK>>>>!!!!