Its been stories galore….that of extending friendships in all domains. That of pursuing and that of seeking. Let’s include quixotic romance for instance…
“Leos are born romantics….”, says any standard book on the astrology shelf. And though I don’t like saying this…. it also says Leos are in love with love. And honesty compels me to accept myself as an incurable romantic.
But don’t forget “Leos are extremely protective and make adoring partners…” I haven’t said this again. The book does…
II Std: My earliest memory, my first and believe me it still serves me well. It was of course school time…Though it was a co-ed, there existed an inexplicable void between the boys and the girls. Hardly any talk, if there was then it’d had to be ‘Mind your Own Business’ kinda dialogues…. To be made to sit next to a girl was a punishment for talking in class. And when the punishment did come it was oh boy! a helluva time, that of cursing your teacher, your luck and of course the girl sitting next to you. But there was this one girl with whom I didn’t think sitting with would be a punishment! But to my great dismay I never talked enough to be able to sit next to her. Believe me it was heart pounding to hear from my teacher: “ Sumeet you’ve been talking too much, take your bags and go and sit next to…. next to…… …next to ….” @#%#* some forsaken name…!!!!!
My teacher was just not good with names!!! My time had still not come !!! And the hope continued.

One fine day the School Gathering had come. Our teacher chose a few boys and a few girls for a dance program. And would you believe it if I tell you who my partner was !!!!!! My dreams were realized. Mighty Aphrodite had answered my call. The wait was over. I started walking in class heavy with a sense of achievement (???) over my head. Everything that existed before was, no longer relevant-only the present mattered. The people were so good, the strangers kind, the climate excellent. Life was so beautiful!
It was a li’l more before another lady had entered my life. Lady Luck. As it’d be my pal had to leave the city to some far far-away place leaving behind a bag full of memories to recall and dream on…
School was never the same again…. It was time when lots of people started telling things like: “You should behave well now….”, “You are not a kid…”, “You should be mature…” I must say it did feel a bit befuddled in the beginning to be big. To stop doing all things you had gained mastery over.Years flew past with competition entering each and every scene. To stand First in class or to score goals in football matches. Our playground must have borne some of the most unbridled foot movements anywhere as we played football, football and more football.
It was also the time when a guy’s importance in school had come to be measured by the number of crimes he did. It was fun when our Principal called a few of us early in our X Std, which we all went expecting good luck wishes for our final year exams, only to be served with a flurry of threats and warnings to change our behavior at least now!!! Didn’t he know that it wasn’t possible?
Times had changed and so did people…. You could sense the last days of freedom when it was no longer possible to trust anyone. You could trust only one person and that was You.
I waited for college to begin…