As I sat in my dirty room, unpacking my transit luggage… I came across some provoking thoughts.
Those dusty brown cartons brought me face to face with my long lost innocence. Beneath all the recent career driven documents, the 21 years of my life lay buried. My old journal that mom secretly read, more journals written in code language, SLAM books from different parts of my life, old school books and notes, photographs stuck between two RS Agarwals, old badges and medals, and my childhood.
They all revealed themselves to me in the most picture perfect manner, as if to remind me of the great friends I have had in my life, that made the journey worthwhile. A torn pocket of my Mothers’ International School shirt….reminded me of Purva (Purva Chawla) the first friend I ever made in my life. In a class full of strangers, (Class 1C), where everybody was being cold to me for maybe I was from Bihar and not from Delhi. Purva was the only one who not only was polite to me but also defended me. I can never thank her enough for that. She is still the angel she was in 1st standard.
That torn pocket also reminded me of my friend Pallavi Sinha, who stood by me till I stayed in MIS. She was and still is as lovely and warm as ever. Nupur Raina, my best buddy in 6th, also as much as angel, was another friend who let me be myself around her. I have had some wonderful times with you all and I wish I never left MIS…so that I could enjoy the ashram cake with you all throughout my school life, if not play in the jungle gym, then at least walk around it discussing our crushes. I miss you all.
That pocket was lying next to my album from Tripura, which contained the pictures of my 13th birthday party. A brief but amazing time of my life! Beneath it was my tie from Bishop Westcott Girls’ School. Oh I cannot even begin to explain how that school changed my life! I am what I am today because of that boarding school. I can never forget the dormitory…the washrooms…being locked in the washrooms…the beatings…and most of all the boarders. Life was life there. in between the pages of a note book I find a letter written to me by Lipika…my personal angel. She wrote that letter to me from her hostel…2 years after Westcott was over. She discussed her life and how it was in Westcott. I SMSed her right there. Ayasha, Ruchira, Shivangi, Shilpi, Bharti and my best buddy Jass”mine”..all my Westcottians…you have no idea how much I love you. I had no idea either, until today.
One carton was done and I moved to the next one. The first notebook that touches my vision in a novel I wrote in 12th, which had all my friends in it. It was our story! I thought I had lost it! My DAV friends! Krishna, Lucky, Apurva and Isha! Oh gosh I miss the burger with you all at PP! remember our music video? I love you all and you must know that.
Oh and what’s this?! My Film making notes! the ink blue AAFT file! Oh that’s love at first sight! It not only gave my passion meaning…it also gave me Deepu, Minu, Aman, Atul, Kevin, Shaila and Monica. Lights Camera Action Cut and the much awaited Pack up! the maggie and coke in the canteen and the productions! And the Fashion SHow and DJ night! i miss you all as much as i love film making!
I could not believe these cartons gave me you all! I thought I already had you guys! No! I didn’t! but now I do! But what more could these cartons give me? I kept unpacking. And I kept on giving me myself back! Yes! I found myself! Or rather what I used to be! Oh some old poetry! Some transforming signatures! Old coloring books! Some promises I made to myself…I could not believe I was that! Where has the innocence gone? In which carton did I lose myself? Why am I so shrewd? Why am I almost savage!? What happened to me?! Why the hell do I have these things preserved if I AM a savage?! Then I came across the transparent file of my resume. It had all my achievements till date that could sell me! However, some old empty water balloons had made their way into the file! Colorful and small balloons on my black and white achievements…reminding me of the days I spent with you all…the days that made me the person I am today…in contrast to the achievements that made me a savage!
It’s hard to find a true friend today…I am blessed to have so many!
