Crush Factor

It was a beautiful monsoon evening. I had a deep urge of having a corn treat. But I had no company. I thought I better explore the familiar streets all alone. I always despised doing that, but the urge to relish a corn snack made me do the unreasonable.
As I approached the stall a strong aroma of butter and corn tempted me all the more. My weaknesses surfaced and I greedily ordered two sweet corns with butter.
A succession of thoughts engulfed me while I looked around and observed the vehicles pass by. Suddenly, I saw a familiar face. It was ‘X’. Almost all the girls I knew, in my high school, had a crush on him. Going by math, I’d say he had 9/10 female fan following from our batch. I was one of them too. Every time I saw him, I would be amazed at the way he walked; talked, dressed, smiled… everything he did seemed perfect. He would kill people with his eyes.
But that day, I realized a lot had changed. He looked weak; his eyes had lost the spark, his smile had lost the charm. He crouched while he walked. I assumed that he was suffering from a grave illness. Or was he studying too much that made him ruin his health? Or did he do something nefarious and doped himself to this state? Mind was framing irrational questions.
I was sure he wouldn’t recognize me. He didn’t. But I realized that the attraction factor had become zero. I did not find him a “crush material” anymore. I wondered how dynamic the emotions were.
I called up a common friend to enquire what was up with ‘X’ and that was when I came to know that he was in a rehab for almost 2 years. He was addicted to alcoholism. His charm had vanished, and had the attraction.
I had decided to explore a familiar street and indeed I came back home with an outcome. There are things beyond mere appearances and those things are very profound. The dynamics of emotions can put you in places where it is really difficult to accept certain things. The appearances will change with time. But acceptance to something more than appearance is foremost and that would keep a relationship going to the very end.
The first step would be accepting ourselves the way we are….
…..and learning to have fun all alone while relishing a sweet corn on a beautiful monsoon evening.

My favorite 7 Places on Earth.

My favorite 7 Places on Earth.

1) Home : There is no place like home. Period.


2) St.Joseph’s Convent Girls High School, Nagpur:
I love every nook and corner of my school campus. From Prem nagar, to the girls toilet block, the auditorium, the classrooms, the place under the tamarind tree, the labs, the throw ball court, the assembly area, the school bell, the Chapel, and the staircase too.
There are so many memories that are very deeply engraved in my mind. The days that I have spent in school are so far the most amazing ones.


3) Reliance, Bavdhan, Pune :
This is one place where I would love to go back to for every birthday celebration and for no celebration as well. People talk about night life. We had a ball at this place. I still remember the intense discussions on life, career, and marriage. We have celebrated almost every birthday at this place. Cutting cakes, emptying beer cans and having fun like kids. This place was a hangout for us after a hearty dinner at our very own Spice and Ice (Bavdhan, Pune). The cool dudes would smoke out their frustrations and make the ladies glad by offering them peppermints. I can still recollect every tang of the food, and the peppermints. How we discussed about how our lives would be after a few years. The few years are over and lives are indeed different.
One very vivid memory at this place is the Dumb Charades game that we played. One of us was struggling enormously to mime out the movie “Desparado”. The links, the interpretations, the laughter on the stairs of Reliance, Bavdhan creates an unforgettable remembrance. This is one of my favorite places.


4) Vanaz, Kothrud, Pune:
The growing up part happened to me, here. Transformation from an enthusiastic girl to a responsible youth happened at this place. This place is an open land, more of a playground, with an open sky to look at. I somehow wonder that stars shine brighter there. It is nothing extraordinary, but it is beautiful. Perhaps, the companies I had made it beautiful.


5) Walkers’ Street, Civil lines Nagpur:
You find yourself amidst nature when you are on this piece of land. The trees are lush, green and welcoming. The chats, the workouts that I had here, with my friends are treasured.

6) SRCM Retreat Panshet, Pune:
It gave me whatever I wanted. I love this place.


7) Delhi:
Cousins, fun, food, hangouts, fun, cousins, fun….did I say Fun? Yeah… Fun J

The tagging business is fun. I thought I’d begin a trail. The lucky number for me this month is 7. So I have mentioned 7 of my favorite places and I am tagging 7 of my blog buds!!

Jincy (http://cordonedbyme.blogspot.com)
Abhishek (http://abhisheksmusings.blogspot.com)
Sudip (http://caughtoffside.blogspot.com)
Sanil (http://skhajone.blogspot.com)
Salil (http://theseekerlurks.blogspot.com)
Amrita (http://amsko.wordpress.com)
Malathi (http://justsurvivingontheedge.blogspot.com)

Teachers' Day

Today was a very very special morning. I had a few students less in my class. I wondered about my capability of keeping them glued through the entire session. The attendance was varying and that gave me a pessimistic idea about my teaching abilities. But things were totally different. The absent lot came to me after the class and gave me an invitation for a teachers’ day function. They said they were preparing things for us and that was the reason why they had to skip the class. They said they would happy if I came over for a small function that they had organized for the teachers.
I slipped into a deep introspection.
Am I really a teacher? Am I really good at what I am doing? Do I deserve all the appreciation and respect that the students are giving me. A knock on the door brought me back to reality.
C: Ma’am, Invitation.
Me: Thank you so much.
C: We have something special for you. You have helped us improve ourselves and we want to give you something in return.

I was speechless.

I had another class after my morning batch. The next class was the concluding one for that batch. They wanted an extension. They wanted some more time so that they could learn things beyond mere nuances of communication, body language etc.
I always look for a feedback. But when I am asked for an extension and when students tell me that they enjoy my sessions and that what I say helps them improve themselves, I feel probably THIS is what was meant to be.
And at times like these, there is a reaffirmation of my beliefs and I am able to rinse out my doubts.
I pray sincerely for all my teachers who helped me become what I am today. Hadn’t they made a difference in my life, I wouldn’t have been able to do it to my students.
Happy Teachers’ Day :)