Recalling a
year is in itself is a task and yet here I am trying to unbox a decade full of
memories and then I will say why not? Isn’t it a story to tell. To come around
how much you have evolved, how much you went through and how different you are
to the person you were then.
The only
similarity I would have of when I started this decade and this day is, I still remain
a student and that I am at home on this date. But this journey from student to a student also is filled with being employed, serving across different
geographies, going places and meeting people.
Well I started
off the decade as an engineering grad in my penultimate year of studies. Learning
to look ‘cool’ and growing long hair was an easier option. That and the next
year brought me to my knees to realize that hard work did matter and it would
pay off.
2011 to
2013 had been probably most tumultuous, got down to being an employed citizen
and started in construction sites for about 2 years to resign and prepare for a
‘better future’. Cut off myself from friends just to do so and ended up landing
an opportunity for a Masters and a service with the Government. As luck would have
it, rather y laziness would have it, I did go on for the job offer.
2013 to
2018 these 5 years were of such learning experience that I couldn’t even
imagine. To serve at various places, solving myriad issues and coming across such
a wide gamut of people was an eye-opener. It did feel like that I had arrived
and there wasn’t any more to go forward. But, still got hold of a camera and
started learning the art, and I am at it still. Gifted a car to my father,
traveled to places and worked to make some people realize their dreams. I know
not how much I feature in their prayers but yes, the recollection of such
memories does give me joy.
Driving
through non-notified highways to get home quicker at night, to facing wild elephants
and long gossips with policemen on highway checkpoints. Freshest of teas,
budding gardens, tastiest rasgullas in the borders of Assam, the boiled pork at
Arunachal and what not and faking the top speed of the car to make a co
passenger afraid.
The advent
of 2018 however brought in some realization, that had I arrived, or did I need
more, and to see someone close move to an institute for studies spurred me, to
go and start preparing for being a student, working around to prepare for CAT,
do my duties, and hope for the best only to doze off during the exam.
Thankfully I
did manage to clear the examination and sneaked out to Kolkata to appear for
interviews while my friends knew of them to be dating trips (dating was a long-gone
activity). Nonetheless, I did manage to get through.
2019 brought
in the biggest decision for me, to leave a comfortable life of being a government
servant to be a student. And yes, as I did happen to mention, I am a student
now having brought unto myself the rigors of being one and jotting this blog.