The Year that was - MEMORIES#2016

00:00:01, 1/1/16, and the year started off cozily in a couch, sipping tea from my favorite cup. Well, as a resolution, I won’t let any problems overcome me. Life: ‘**Grins** Hahaha. You think I won’t let you into any problems?’ I was so resolute, I went into the year with quite an unfair start. On my brother’s 5th birthday, it was he who got all the gifts redeemed, while I got to enjoy only 2. The pizza and the cake. That too, without the cherry. Life: ‘**Grins** Hahaha. You think I won’t let things be unfair with you?’ I guess that can be understood by everyone who has a younger sibling. One thing I do remember from his birthday was his epic dialogue. Mom: ‘Beta, aaj kya khaane hai? ’. Bro: ‘Khushiyan’. Mom: ‘Kaise?’. Bro: ‘Domino’s pizza. Khushiyon ki home delivery’.

Then, as the year went by, my bro was stupendofantabulously (is that even a word?) excited, only because he was, in essence, living through his 1st leap day (although he had been through one in 2012, he was only 1 at that time). And, the day just passed in a jiffy. When he woke up on 1st, he was so sad, he roamed around with a face as sullen as a flat football. But, here I got the shock of my life. I was shifting to Pune. It meant that I had to say a bad-bye to all my friends. I had converted from a 90% extrovert to an 80% introvert. I couldn’t gather the courage to tell my friends that I had to go.

Over the next month, I just imagined and dreaded that awful day when I had to sit in the car, and make the decisive move. Go.

The day finally came, and I passed it out with a kind of numbness, unaware of my surroundings, as well of my actions. And, on my mom’s birthday, when we actually entered our house, it all changed. My mindset changed from one of a sadistic person who was awaiting an awful moment to one of a happy-go-lucky person who awaited the next moment in life with a light in his eyes as bright as the sun. I turned to life and said: ‘Listen, my dear life; I know that you’ll try to impose a burden as huge as the Everest on me, but you know what? I won’t let that happen. ‘. And then, life said: ‘**Grins** Hahaha. You think I won’t burden you this year? ‘

I had tried to settle in the new school, and life seemed good to me, but problems were only waiting for me. Though I got a group of some friends, and some well-maintained friendships, but the ‘other’ group’s leader, was the class topper for the last 3 years. Soon I could make my presence felt in class by answering almost every question that teachers had to pose to the class. It came naturally to me, not that I was doing it purposely. And what did I get? The ‘other’ group started calling me a ‘show off’, and that is the name I lived with for the next month. Life: ‘**Grins** Hahaha. You think I’ll let you enjoy the recognition alone? Never’.

The problem went out of our hands, and reached the teachers, who passed it on to our parents, who, in turn, returned to the counsellors. And, finally, after a struggle from my side, which seemed as long as the freedom struggle, I got independence (freedom from the word with which I had formed a covalent bond of hatred).

Right when I thought the year was coming to a good, peaceful and problem-less end, here was another. Me and my (then) friend, were selected for a competition, but unfortunately, only one of us could go through. Fortunately or otherwise, it was me. I guess life was taking a shot at him too. Flame of jealousy burnt the relationship. Back biting started as he started passing demeaning comments and teasing me. But now, after bizarre experiences, I knew how to tackle all this. Whenever he do something like that, I would smile and laugh and giggle.

I realized that the nascent friendship I had, was not for real. A complete façade. Not an ounce of truth and loyalty in there. Life: ‘**Grins** Hahaha. You think I’ll not expose you to (kind of) heartbreaks? LOL’

And, then it was month of MY birthday to end the year. After getting 13 gifts on my thirteenth birthday from my parents, I look forward to 14 next year. And then, the 25th. Santa’s here!! Me: ‘**Grins** Hohoho. You think I will let you overcome me?’ Life: ‘**Growls**’.