Au Revoir

The STCS '08 batch re-union proved to be a mixed bag in terms of the final impact it had upon my daily routine and the boredom that seems to have gripped my very existence! About 35-40 of us who had been in town at the time chose to attend the get-together at Park Rajdhani, Ulloor for a not-so-quiet buffet lunch at Rs. 149 per head. From familiar faces to those whose faces took a while to register, the crowd was an ensemble of students of different intellects, popularity and interests. The lunch itself was fairly good. At the given price, it was certainly a grade better than the food at Sindhoor Park, the venue of a majority of our previous re-unions. My stomach, unfortunately, today could not seem to bear the same wear-and-tear in one sitting that it had managed to so often in the past. In between the chowing down, friendly chat and banter continued as usual. The occasional joke, the frequent comparisons of the lives of hostelers at colleges in different parts of the country, the "ragging" debates, kept the atmosphere vibrant.

In between and post-lunch, photo sessions raged on, with a camera in almost every hand. Though a fair few of my shots were spoiled to the unruly people I was attempting to photograph, a small minority turned out pretty well. After pigging out on multiple helpings of ice cream and gulab jamun, we retreated to the park behind the buffet area, resting in the shade, chairs lined up around a round table, making a racket at random intervals for no apparent reason, and taking potshots at each other in good humour.


I don't deny that I had my fair share of fun in the process, but perhaps, as an extension of the sombre mood that darkens my current outlook on life, the satisfaction was missing. Yes, I met some friends whose faces I'd never seen over the past 4-5 months. I'd had more than double the recommended 15 mins of laughter a day. Yet, there was an air of monotony about the experience. The concept, perhaps in my mind, has grown stale. Even though I enjoyed meeting them all once again, it in no way felt the same as school. Perhaps the disappointment of the cancellation of the original re-union plan had not washed away. Our farewell was originally planned as a massive function at Sri Mulam Club, Vazhuthacaud. There would be food, music, a stage, and basically every surplus requirement we would need to add an extra zing to the uninspiring re-unions of the past : a party, almost completely uncontrolled, and whose success depended upon only the guests that arrived! The idea stuck in my head and the countdown had been resounding in my head like a ticking time-bomb ever since I'd first heard it! Yet, inspite of the best-laid plans, the dream failed to culminate into even half the event I had imagined! The bus ride back home, thus ended in a complete failure to gather my thoughts. To be honest, I don't know what to make of how I felt about the day. Perhaps, with the growth of stronger relationships in my new world, a re-acquaintance with old friends may be more cherishable. It is only once you feel yoursef start to lose something that you cherish and value every effort that counters it! Maybe I still don't feel like I'm losing them! Or maybe the urge to move on feels too great to keep looking back, and the frequency of these re-unions only seems to drain away their utility and importance.

An Alumni meeting draws near, scheduled for the 10th of Jan. I don't know how enthusiastic I'll be to return as that day draws nearer, but for now, the thought of returning so soon is far from my mind! I may be the first to arrive, or may fail to show up entirely : my world is as confusing to me now as ever. In all probability, given the chance to meet a far wider spectrum of my batchmates, and to interact with some of the teachers who I still yearn to see again, my return is inevitable. Until that day, as the departure of the Chennai Mail lies 14 hours ahead, it's time to say "Au Revoir" to the town I love!