To an extent, we were disappointed. The programmes were not nearly as engrossing as we'd imagined! Call me delusional, or even arrogant, but I can't help but state that the standard of inter-school competitions seems to have declined slightly since 2006. Whether it is due to even worse deadlines for preparations, or due to an increasingly strict view of schools to such extra-curriculars, I cannot say, but the outcome certainly seems dissatisfactory! Our trip to La Fest, our batch's first major inter-school competition, was planned virtually at the last minute! Given only 2 days to prepare, I felt we did an incredible job to finish overall runners-up in the event. Consistency seemed our Achilles' Heel, for even though we won several more individual events than the other teams, we failed to register points in a few key events, which took a toll on our challenge for the title! Yet, for such an under-rated squad consisting of several unheard voices(including mine), it was a remarkable achievement!
Our school's performance was abysmal, to be frank. Perhaps I'm being harsh on my juniors, for it seems they were facing equally little, if not even less preparation time than we had 2 years ago! Regardless, I will never believe that any batch of STCS is deficient in talent, or incapable of putting up a far greater challenge! The same could be said for many other schools, who were far below the standards of our times. The then-dominant Loyolites seemed to have given way to a far-inferior batch, and the same could be said of Christ Nagar, BVB and Sarvodaya! The prowess of these teams seems to have faded! I sincerely hope that my planned visit to La Fest, arguably the best inter-school competition in this city, leaves me with fonder memories!
Yet, one lesson that must be learnt, is that regardless of the quality(or lack, thereof) of programmes, the energy and passion which such occasions accompany is infectious! If nothing else, one of my prime aims was to absorb the spectacle of such occasions for one last time! The LORD alone knows where I'm headed next, and whether such experiences lay waiting upon my horizon, but I was determined to savour that atmosphere once again! And in that sense, San Revo did not disappoint. The crowd was boisterous, and our voices began to croak under the strain only a short while into the proceedings. It brought back to mind memories of La Fest '06, the sheer joy with which we celebrated our successes! We truly had a ball, dancing to "Dhoom Machale", sung before the final presentation by the chief guest of the ceremony(whose name fails to reach my lips at the moment!). Arm in arm, we jumped, danced, sweating in the overwhelming heat of a jam-packed hall! There were participants who had won events, and others who had fallen just short, yet particulars were lost in the harmony of the moment. It was ecstacy! I hope my juniors find similar inspiration within themselves, and yearn to live through the sort of moments which we now cherish! It's such memories which make life worth living, and make every personal struggle seem fruitful at the end!
KUNG-FU HUSTLE : Big Vish and Arun Lal rediscover their hidden fighting powers, as they square off in a gripping martial arts showdown!(with Aditya giggling in the background)
