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Bidding Adieu to a Part of Me

     It was easier to bid the rustic streets of Bibvewadi a final farewell, than I’d previously thought. The ecstasy of finally being able to head home for good has pervaded every bout of separation anxiety that I might have felt for leaving the city of the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati. There will be no Mondays to feel glum about, for at 6 am then I’ll be fast asleep under my covers instead of boarding a Shivneri to Swargate. The Mumbai-Pune Express Highway will not be treaded that often, only to make way for a new path, a new journey, and an even greater new destination.

     Life has changed drastically over the last 4 years, and so have I, in terms of appearance, conduct and intellect. As I've transformed from a clueless nerd of 18 to a focussed itinerant of 21, I've realized how much I've learnt from the situations I've faced and the people I've met. Friendships were formed, broken, forgotten, rejoined, nurtured and cherished over the last 4 years, but every relation has been such a hothouse in my process of learning, which I’m sure, would not have taken place had I spent the same time at home.

     As I look beyond my window I see everything fall behind at such a high speed, and I cannot help but think of it as a perfect metaphor for this very juncture of life. Every single incident seems now like a fleeting moment which I cannot grab even if I want to. I’m reminded of the novelty of freshman year, the frustration but eventual epiphany of sophomore year, the apathy and caffeine induced nights of junior year and the mindless chaos of senior year.

     Toying with the idea of how differently things would've turned out had I met different people,made different choices, may be lived a little differently, won’t really help me now. Things form and fall apart only to make way for newer, better things. I have no regrets, no unfulfilled aspirations, and absolutely no sorrow that I will no longer be seeing Chitaleland and its people. It’s only a matter of time until life gives me a shot at another rendezvous and we shall meet again. The lessons I have learnt, staying in the land of the Mula-Mutha will stay with me forever, and even if I don’t miss the time I spent here, I will surely miss the people I spent that very time with.

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