Writing never ages. Even if it seems to be ageing, it seems
to get better like well seasoned wine. The layers of experiences or the series
of events, keep adding on to the passion or rather habit of writing. It was
with the first fresh sunrise of January 1, 2014 that I decided to start writing
for myself. But that should not be confused of being my resolution for the year
2014. As announced publicly, my resolution for 2014 will continue to remain a
secret till the time I realize it. Writing pumps undefeatable confidence in my
faith in life and dreams. Writing either adds wings to my desires or takes them
to an all new high. And thereby began 2014.
On the first day of 2014, I woke up at ease. No matter how
hard I had tried to get a new pair of sports shoes to go jogging from the first
ever morning of the New Year, my luck had different plans for me. A brand new pair of sports shoes did catch my
attention at a local Bata outlet. The single sexy shade of grey gave out a very
silvery feel to my determination to slip my feet into them at the soonest. Belonging
to the POWER clan of sports shoes, neither did it cost princely nor did it end
up setting my pocket ablaze. Alongside mom, I walked out with a broad smile on
my face. The next day was going to be amazing. But before the next day arrived,
I had different plans to begin with 2014.
I was lucky to have booked three tickets to Chander Pahar
(The Mountain of Moon) in advance. This was also my first visit to yet another
mall (Phoenix Market City) in an otherwise not so likable suburb (Kurla). As a
first impression, the mall engulfed my mediocre imaginations about it. The opinions
I held about it stood banished. My apprehensions vanished. Here we were facing
the mall; a monster of a mall. We walked towards the seven screens multiplex. After
collecting the tickets we treated ourselves to donuts at M.O.D and then spent a
good amount of time at Hamleys. Stepping inside we were on a joyride. Mom
pointed towards the section that comprised almost all the toy cars, one can
think of. At the same time, Mrs.Right busied herself with a flurry of soft
toys. And then arrived the time to set out on a cinematic adventure. Chander
Pahar turned out to be a Bengali movie with Hollywood finesse. Combining all the
elements of edge-of-the-seat adventure tales, Chander Pahar pulled us in.
Reviewing it would seem very average. The greatest of greats in Bengali cinema
and the best of all the bests from Indian cinema have lauded the formula
defying effort. It was nothing less than a Spielberg experience in Indian
context. Two hours thirty minutes seeped away. The first ever African Safari,
filmed in Bengali carried us to a tough terrain and then rapidly flung us back
to the strange experience of being in the maddening surrounds of Mumbai. The
first day of the New Year ended with an applauding round of dinner – home cooked
Misal Pav (a Maharashtrian delicacy that is still best-served at Mamledar,
Thane).
The alarm went off at sharp 6 am on the second day of 2014. The
new pair of sports shoes seemed to be waiting anxiously to meet their first
ever owner. Slipping my feet into them, I jogged, I skipped, I jumped and I
walked. The overall experience was extremely sporty. It was that lovely feeling
of having achieved something. What did I achieve? My sports shoes know it
better. Work wise everything remained calm. The stage seemed set to welcome the
third day.
We forgot attending a wedding of a family friend. But I remembered
to get my android phone back. This was for the longest time that it had rested
at the forgettable LG Service Center, located at a disinteresting location in
one of the oldest alleys of Dadar. The little amount of charge that was left in
the battery made the mobile spring back to life. The engineers had done
something amazing to it. My LG P970 Optimus Black was breathing again. The
software had been upgraded. The internal circuit went through a revamp. Right now
I am celebrating the fact that I didn’t have to spend a bomb on acquiring
another smartphone. But thanks to the Micromax phone that kept me connected to
the world. Happiness made a comeback.
Then arrived the fourth day of 2014. It was not the day but
the evening that made it much more special. I met my best friend Nikhil. The 40
km bike ride made us turn into bachelors again. Nikhil is still a bachelor. The
crazy bike ride without helmets protecting our heads ended at a lakeside
restaurant in Thane. Nikhil and I realized that this was our 20th
year of being friends. To celebrate the moment, we ordered for delicious food. And
then began a long round of conversation. From the first day of our college to
present day complications and simplicities, we spoke all. And then Nikhil
commented – From 1998 I have been waiting for my friend to start writing the
book that he had always been talking about. I suggest you start now. Nikhil
ignited the long lazy desire to pursue personal writing. He shook the heart
that had somewhere mildly stopped responding to the calls of my pen and paper.
He made me think again. Before him Mrs.Right has been urging me to make a
start. Before her many other friends and well-wishers have been advising me to
do so. Maybe the journey of writing has to begin now! But I have been
travelling for long. Maybe it is time to stop procrastinating.
The fifth day being a Sunday could have turned out to be yet
another lazy day. But I am still reeling with excitement. I finally succeeded
in defying routine. I read, I imagined. I laughed, I smiled. Above all, I opened
the long closed gates of my mind to accept and welcome the change that has been
trying to keep me inspired and motivated. At the turning point of life, looking
ahead to the rest of 360 days of 2014!
-vociferous
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