Rocking in the Free World

Life has a funny way of creeping up on you and making you realize that there are a few things you’ve either not paid attention to, or spent way too much time over analyzing.

I am sitting at home now, on my old faithful PC as I type this away, painfully reminded of the fact that I leave home in a little over ninety minutes to head back to Hyderabad to begin the remaining three-eighths of my PGP program (notice how I am STILL not referring to it as an MBA?).

The time between my previous visit and this one has been the longest I’ve not been home while I have been in the country and for someone who likes being home and lazing around as much as me, this is completely unacceptable.

However, hectic schedules and work, combined with life at college has ensured conveniently that I’ve had to give up on time at home in favour of completing all the necessary tasks at hand.

This visit of mine was a short one as well, like the past three visits since my having begun studying again. However, I did have the good fortune of doing something I enjoy immensely – going to one of my favourite places in Mysore to sit and stare away into the distance, positively revelling in the alone-time that I got.

Mobile phone switched off, soft music playing in my ears and with minimum disturbance from passers-by, I was in a state of blissful equilibrium.

As thuoghts meandered within the confines of my head like restless wind inside a letter box, I was stuck by the sudden realization of how life seems to have come full circle.

Cut to seven years ago, when I was studying engineering in Mysore and this place was still one of my favourite haunts to be by myself. I have distinct memories of having sat down by the same location, looking away into the horizon with multiple thoughts running in my head.

What was startling was about how similar the thoughts were back then compared to how they are right now.

‘Will I get a decent job through placements before I graduate?’

‘What does the unknown future hold in store for me personally and professionally?’

‘Will I find The One?’

I’d thought of this stuff back in the twilight of my teenage years, around the time I hit twenty. Six years later, I still have the same questions.

Was I precocious back then, or am I retarded now?

I can’t say for sure, but what I can definitely say is that being wiser (supposedly) has made me more Zen towards life in general and so these issues, albeit of extreme importance to my life, will not prevent me from focussing on the little things that go a long way in making my day.