Re-Birth!

Genesis and new beginnings are recurring themes in our lives, there is something new at the end of every path. Tonight we had a party to bid adieu to our seniors, a "Re-Birth" as we called it. Such an appropriate theme, as none of them were same as the people who walked into KGI two years ago! The metamorphosis is worth the sweat and blood that you are regularly expected to put in here (they keep track of the gallons). This is the way we evolve, by going through a constant cycle. Reminds me of a line from a dedication I wrote for my seniors in school "... this is the end of a beginning and the beginning of a new end..." and may God grant you safe passage along the way!

A year has passed so soon, and at the end of it, I have realized a few things. I met (and re-met) a few people who are such an important part of my life now, and I hope that stays constant even though the distances are going to increase quite soon. I also realized that there are a lot of people I have met in this past year, but I actually know nothing about them. It kind of makes me sad that even here I haven't been able to get rid of my own barriers! Dee's aim for this year: Try harder. And then, there is this ultimate paradox of knowing, and not knowing a person at the same time. This has been the most difficult to deal with, but we'll survive!

This post is about reflecting back on the past year, and there are so many thoughts running through my head that I can't put down here! If I could, then I would be back home in Mumbai, living the relaxed life. Lab in the morning, arguments about lunch at noon, kadak chai at the tapri, inhaling the second hand smoke of a Classic Milds, traveling to Town to see a movie at Sterling, with dinner at Churchill's and dessert at Theobroma, or hanging out in Dadar, having a cold beer with bombil fry followed by a kalakhatta gola! No worries, no tension.

What worries me here and now is that this simple life may not satisfy me anymore. Sure, I miss it and I want to go back to it, but I don't know for how long will I be able to stay. Change is scary, and I can see it in me and my batch-mates. We will soon step into our new roles as seniors and mentors to the new kids who are going to here soon. I would be moving into a new house (or not?) and with new roomies. I can also see the change all around me, with people moving on and away. Even through all this, I hope we get the time to put in the effort of keeping our love and friendships going. Goodbye dear KGI Class of 2010, and good-luck. Let Your Light Shine!

"Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is before you can meet again. And meeting again after a moment or a lifetime is certain for those who are friends."

- Richard Bach