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| Bonds |
I wish last Sunday happens this Sunday too.
But then again, if every Sunday is the same, then perhaps there might be little
charm left. However, last Sunday should happen... someday soon, someday down
the line...
We girls from SMC should meet again.
It is quite a shame that I have been in
Bangalore for eight years and I know that there are girls from my school who
stays in the city; however, such is the hesitation or business of life that I
never once made the effort to meet them. Except for one friend (whose added
advantage was that her family knows mine since before we were born), there were
hardly any interaction with other SMC people. I saw them on social networking
sites, knew what they were doing, knew they were fine, that they were in
Bangalore, but never made up my mind to meet them.
And then... like a lightning bolt on a
sunny day...
Moramee happened.
Now, if you are someone of my 2003 batch of
SMC, Guwahati, there’s no way you will not know about Moramee. She is like a
mixed pickle... at least I perceive her so... she can be with anyone and she
puts flavour when things are bland. So, she came to Bangalore last week and as
soon as she landed, she did the thing that none of the other SMC batchmates in
Bangalore did.
She connected.
She gathered all our numbers and addresses,
plotted our addresses in Google map to see who lives where and sent out
messages to everyone to meet in one common place. I was, to say the least, pleasantly jolted for a sec to see her message...
It was unexpected. She coming to Bangalore was unexpected. She, who doesn’t
have my number, to message me was unexpected. The meet-up was unexpected!
On Sunday, the twentieth, I met Moramee in
the all-familiar Forum mall in Koramangala. I didn’t know who else would be
there. But I was pleasantly surprised to see Alpana, Rijusmita and Chandramita
standing in a circle with the bubbling-with-enthu-Moramee. After a while, Nami
and Minakshi joined us.
That evening I met my classmates and I met
people of other sections whom I never had the chance to know in school (yea, 12
years in school and we still get such excuses to mouth-out!) I didn’t feel the
usual queasy-feeling in the stomach I feel when I have to meet strangers. Of
course, they weren’t strangers. I knew them, though from a distance; we had the
same memories of school and same stories to relate to.
Statistically speaking, it has been 10
years since we attended SMC. We have grown up (“laterally, if not, vertically!”
was the joke), some are married, some studying, some working... all so diverse,
yet so similar. It was, no doubt, the glue that bonds SMCs. Unspoken code of
sisterhood... we all felt like we belonged in this little circle of friends, laughing, happy, sharing a coffee, sharing
quirky moments that happened in school, sharing our present lives.
We spent nearly three hours together, we said a dozen good-byes before we finally parted ways, we promised we will keep in touch. I don’t know how much of that promise will hold good, but we had a soulful time and each one of us mentioned how it didn’t feel like a 10years’ abstain from SMC. The memories of school were fresh, the laughter was care-free; it was a beautiful evening.
In a city where I pass so many faceless
people, lost in a crowd with no familiar face to smile at, it felt nice to be
with them. It was generous of them to come and share their time in the busy
lives that this city makes of us. It was a Sunday that was so
fulfilling after so long a time.
All thanks to the pickle in our midst,
Moramee. Thanks for coming to Bangalore and adding flavour to my bland palette!
Love,
Fellow SMC of 2003
