Taking Stock

31 July 2006

More than half the year is over. So it’s time to take stock. Here goes…

Most important discovery:
1. The English have good reason to be as obsessed as they are with the weather.
2. It can rain absolutely any time in England. Seriously! Point in case: When I got into the train right now it was hot and dry. All of 25 minutes later it’s pelting heavy drops across the train window.

Find of the half-year: Paul’s. Nothing like a tall glass of Viennese hot chocolate with oodles of whipped cream.

Biggest boon-in-disguise: Losing my cell phone. I seriously should’ve bought a new one 2 years ago! (looking forward to a brand new Sony Ericsson K800i...yippeee!)

Best addition to culinary artillery: Nachos-salsa-cheese vd style – it has all it takes to make a yummm meal – easy to make, quick, spicy and heavy on the cheese ;-)

Important enlightenment: Football can be understood by women. And it can be great fun. Specially if watched live amongst crazed fans chanting slogans and screaming for murder!

Vital realization: Great friends need not be made during school and college only. Some of them come your way much later (are you listening Ritz?!) And also – it’s no fun shopping without them in an alien city!

Most eagerly awaited movie: KANK…who knows I might be in some of the frames! :-)

Greatest insight gained: There is such a thing as too many castles!!

Biggest learning of the year so far though is that some things are just not meant to be. And it’s better to leave them alone and move on forward...

It used to be like that…

There used to be a time when life was simple.

I remember the daily routine that I had for nearly 15 years – never getting up by the alarm buzzing away to glory, being shaken out of the deep slumber by mummy, sleepwalking into the bathroom to get ready, forcing down that much hated glass of milk and running away to the bus stop with things tumbling out of an open school bag. Getting back, watching TV, chatting at the dinner table, reading, spending endless hours on the phone, the arguments with parents and the fights with my sister, going out and staying in. There was so much order in all the chaos that seemed to encompass every aspect of life. Everything was taken care of – every object had its place in the house. The food was ready when I wanted it, the clothes were always clean and ironed and there was always cold water in the fridge.

Life still has a routine – I guess. Only the chaos in the order disorients me now at times. I can still find my things – only I have to look into the suitcases rather than the cupboards more often than not. The food’s still there – even though it’s out of a plastic box at most times. The old friends are around and the phone conversations still happen – when we manage to steal time from work and travel, stock markets and laundry.

I am not complaining – I love the way things are right now. But sometimes I can’t help but wish I could sneak off with the old gang to watch a movie and have some chaat and come back home to tell the parents I was at the library.

And I wish I could ignore the alarm as I did.