Comfort place

Some wise person had quoted, "Birth and death are momentary. The entire life, in between, is all about maintenance. Maintaining what is happening, maintaining life."

Sudden philosophical urge today? No, at the root, it is not at all philo... it is row life, regular day-to-day stuff.

Maintaining home is difficult. We put lot of energy in buying or renting a place, we call it home after attaching certain emotional value to it. That emotional value, does not come by only staying in it, i guess, it comes when you start living in it, when it starts living with you. The more you adjust with it, suit it, more it adjusts with you, gets comfortable with you.

I have always been crazy about comfort places at home. A place where you can peacefully sit, where you need not feel like watching television or reading a book or doing anything for that matter. A place, need not be 'comfortable' per say... but has something that soothes you. 

At my parent's place, where I spent my entire childhood and part of adulthood, I had one such place. The house was smaller then, it did not have the 1st floor. It had a metal staircase and a tall metal pillar supporting the structure. I used to sit in the small gap between the pillar and wall (i used to 'fit', I wanted to say, it would have been meaningful looking at me now, but meaningless otherwise...). It had nothing, nowhere to rest your back, no cushions to sit, no coziness whatsoever. But I used to like that spot. Facing banana trees and some other green entities, feet directly landing in soil or mud, even if people are calling me from within the house- can not hear them and vice-e-versa, even if at home, so much disconnect, so much solace. 

Later we built the 1st floor, the lovely lively metal staircase was replaced by robust but ruthless concrete one. The pole gone and spot was covered by some wall supporting that climb. What I hated the most in the development is loosing the spot. Nobody noticed that earlier, so later there was no question.  

We shifted to a new house few years back. I am yet to hit the 'spot', I can say!

Every morning, when I get up, i find Kabir, not at his place where he slept at night, but at the bottom. Half on the Gadi, half on the ground. Me and Rashmi asked him several times whats the deal, he says he liked it. I think, he has started to find 'it' before me!!

First day at school

First day at school

Yes, first day at school. I do not remember my first day at school... frankly I do, but may be I don't want to! I used to go to this school named 'NPPS' in Pune. I remember, for the first day, both mom and dad had come to drop me. It was a gloomy morning (either I remember it gloomy or it was actually one!). I remember walking in the school, the madam (tai, her name was Ms. Kale i guess) stretching her hand forward to receive me... entire school campus, kids wearing brown uniforms, crying. I joined the gang too. I think that was the only day I did what the other kids were doing, rest of the days of the school, I did what others were not doing- coming late, sleeping off in the school, wetting my chaddi, not making friends etc etc. I always played the role of a cranky crying kid every school has. Anyways, I have paid enough for the being in that role as well... 

Today's first day at school was for Kabir. Yes, he is grown up. So much so that he is now going to school, to a play school, but still. We were excited for this promotion from a long time. He was about to enter a phase which is never ending. All his life, at least all his prime years, he will be spending in some or the other school or such educational shop. The things now he is excited about, uniform, bag, water bottle, he will hate them to core eventually. We had had the day planned. Rashmi will take him from home, reach the school campus, I will reach office little early, spend at least an hour in the office so people won't say anything, then leave in time and reach the school, we will send off the kid together. Such a perfect, loving, family family event. 

I wanted to see how he marches towards the school when we drop him there. Will he cry? Will he be sentimental, at least? (this question can arise in case of Kabir, he is just like his name, Saint!!) Will he be apprehensive about leaving his parents behind? Will he.. wil...

I had more apprehensions than him. I was more excited than him. I wanted to see all these, feel this anxiety... be worried and happy at the same time. Be a good father and be around when the kid would need me the most...

I left office thinking about all this. I remembered how I used to go to school. My dad used to drop me. This is 1990's when the wall clocks were set on the radio announcements. My school was about 5-6 Kms away from home. It started at 7 in the morning, and we left the house at about 6.50-6.55. Dad used to drop me to school, come back, park the vehicle and then walk down for another 20 mins to catch a bus at 7.40. Believe me, even if the things don't add up now, it used to work, every day, except Thursdays. He used to ride me to school, full speed, shouting on the people on the streets. He had Hero Honda CD 100, bike as old as me (and he still has it, still rides it, not full speed, but still shouting on the people walking by!!), which he drove to the fullest. Scary but wonderful days!!

I was so lost in the thoughts, I did not worry about the traffic, signals I had to wait for 2/3 times, stupid and subjectively irresponsible people crossing the roads and driving cars, nothing. I somehow reached the school in no time. I was relieved and excited. To meet him, see him going in the school, crossing the road, finally!!

And best part of the story, I missed all this! I was, apparently, very late and school was particularly particular about starting on time. I reached at about 11.35, when the school starts at 11.30. They waited for 2 mins for me to come (SO nice of them!!) Hmm... all the anxiety, good fatherhood, excitement, apprehensions, sentiments were washed away by 3 minutes... 

I received him when he came out of it, same as I would if he comes out of an airplane. We clapped, chirped and did all those stupid things one does when around his/her kids. 

Nothing goes waste, as the happiness on his face when he came out was equally enchanting. I missed the beginning, but the complete movie, especially the climax was worth a watch!!