Going!

I’ll be leaving in an hour.

I’ll be leaving home.

Just now, I was talking to Guddi Maasi, and she asked, “Dil taan nahin ghat reha?”

“Ajje takk taan nahin. Parson ghat reha si thoda jeha, baaki kal jaa ke pata lagu!” I replied.

Tiwana Uncle wished me luck, and said that he had just one thing to say- that sincerity and hardwork always pays. “That’s the experience of my life,” he added.

I’ve talked to almost my entire extended family today.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve met most of my close friends.

Each day has felt so special.

Each day has brought a few memorable moments with it.

Each day I’ve felt so rich- with the love, care and warmth- of my family and my friends.

Just a little while ago, Twinkle gifted me a ppt that I had seen her preparing earlier in the day- it had pics of everyone in the family, starting from Beeji, appearing one by one- and in the end, a Good Luck message. It was so sweet!

I’ve just mailed the ppt to myself.

I know I’ll be seeing it again, and again, quite soon.

In the evening today, I’d had the scraps that I’d collected from the seniors, my friends and my juniors over the last year-and-a-half, bounded into a scrap-book.

I’ve packed my old diaries, and photographs…..and hey! I’ve forgotten ‘Vine’!!!
Have remembered it in good time! (a mental note made to add it as soon as I stop writing).

The luggage is already 8 kg overweight. But that’s ok!

I added Dilraj in my messenger list. Till now, it made no sense- at one time, only one of us could be online. Tomorrow by now, we would have had our first chat.

It’s a new beginning.

I’ve been telling Dilraj to click my pics before I go.

Then, we can compare the ‘Before’ and the ‘After’ pics.

“Maybe, by the time you come back, I am not here,” he said.
That’s probable. He’s in 12th now- his ‘decisive’ year.

I’m going today.

I don’t know when I’ll come back.

Manu came home 2 hours ago. For these few hours, we are all together- Manu, Twinkle, Dilraj, Harsh and me. When next? None knows.

Twinkle just came to ask how much of my work is left. “We are all sitting together,” she said.

I’m going to join them.

I’m going to live this last hour with them- my family.

I’m going away from home.

A Boat beneath a sunny sky

A Boat beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July —
Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear —
Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die:
Autumn frosts have slain July.
Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.
Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.
In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream —
Lingering in the golden dream —
Life, what is it but a dream?

Lewis Carroll

The Alvida Chronicles

I’ve decided to chronicle every day of this week. I’m flying to Bangalore on 9th morning. I know there will be times there when I will want to relive these wonderful days.

It’s been almost two weeks now that every day has been bringing something new and exciting.

So, before the chronicles start, here is a quick recap of the past few days:

Awesome Weekend 1

Awesome Weekend 1

Date: 24th Nov
Time: 10 am

It’s a Saturday, and I’ve just woken up. The day seems just so relaxed! The POST project is going on. I’m supposed to do my share of coding on Friday and Monday. Monday evening is the deadline we’ve given to ourselves. I’ve done no work on Friday. What I did was go to a movie with Jyoti (we were ready for any movie- so we watched Bewoulf), and just hung around with my friends. Ran home at the earliest hour I could.

So, my yesterday has been great! And the tomorrow looks full of promise too! I feel just so rich!

Dilraj (my brother) is going for a movie in the afternoon with his friends. None of my friends will be able to go for a movie right now. (11-3 is the only slot I have free today).

So Harsh (my sister) and I decide that we will go by ourselves.

We get ready, and reach theatre Kiran. Despite the effort we made, we are 15 min late. “Doesn’t matter,” I say. It’s just ‘Om Shanti Om’ after all, and I’ve heard it’s a dumb movie. 15 minutes of dumbness is no major loss.

We get the tickets and get in.

I enjoy the movie.

It’s a good one-time watch. It entertained well.

After that, I get a hair-cut. It’s come out well (Ahem, ahem)

It’s already 4:30 by now. I drop Harsh at home, and leave for the Sangeet of Jassi’s Didi.

It feels great to meet the seniors. I’m meeting some of them after many, many months!

It’s a traditional sangeet. I hear many songs for the first time. I love listening to them!

Then comes the time for Jaago.

We are at the forefront, crying out loud “Gwaandhiyo jaagde ke sutte”. That’s the one line we keep repeating, again and again, and again, and again. We laugh each time we do so.

We dance at each house where the Jaago goes, and a gidhha call for the bride’s sisters and brothers is made.

I leave at 8:30, coz I’ve to pick someone up.

I go to Kanchan’s place. She’s ready and is waiting for me. We have a night-spend at my place tonight- Simran, Kanchan and me! The fun has just begun!

We spend the whole night talking.

It’s 5 am when I finally doze off. Kanchan and Sim persevere for another half hour.


Date: 25th Nov
Time: 10 am


I’ve just woken up. It’s the beginning of another great day!!!

I’ve to get a head-bath, and iron my clothes, and get ready and reach the Marriage Palace by 11:30! That’s the time I’d promised yesterday.

I reach there at 12:30. Late as always. Everyone knows by now.

Yesterday there’d been eight of us- Jas, Kaila, Bindra, Sujeet, Varun Verma, Swedha and me. Today, Deepti, Varun Jindal and Sumedha too are there.

The shaadi is going on neeche and that is where all the baaraatis are. But, we’re all sitting on the terrace of the palace. We’re having a good time chatting. I tell them that this maybe my farewell get-together with them- I may get posted out of Chandigarh. “So, please let’s definitely play a game of dumb charades at least once today,” I say. They grin at my attempt at sentimentality and promise that we would.

We literally set the stage afire that day! I’ve not danced like that since my cousin’s wedding last Dec. It is so great!!!



We are having such a good time that I just don’t want to leave! But I have to- we have a class get-together planned for the evening.

So, the scene now shifts to UIET-14. Only our group- Nitin, Jassi, Kanchan, Sim and me- turns up along with Aditi and Rajesh. Harmeet joins in briefly too.
We sit in the parking, and talk randomly.

The darkness sets in. The orange lights that I so love are switched on. I love looking at UIET and the surroundings swathed in that ethereal glow.

We walk to Stu-C, have a coffee there, and walk back.

Then, we go to the University Market.

By now, I’ve started getting phone calls from Deepti. They are waiting for me.

I will be going with Jassi- she will drop me at the sec 35 hotel where Mohina’s brother’s Sangeet is.

This is my last assignment for the day.

Deepti, Kaila and Sujeet are already there.

Once again, we dance a lot.

I grin. In the walk to Stu-C, my feet had felt so tired, having danced all day in heels, and yet here was I dancing again.

It is around 11 that my brother picks me up.

Once home, I can barely change into my night suit before collapsing on the bed into a deep, deep sleep.

It has been a happening weekend!