Bittersweet Symphony

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around at the three colleagues of mine. I was smiling awkwardly as I tried studying the face of the person in front of me. He seemed quiet and serene. Tranquil. The person to my right seemed to have his eyes wide open as he gave a spaced over vibe. The last individual had already succumbed to the exercise. I closed my eyes and lost myself to amusing reveries.

One of the first images that come to my mind, is the mess top of my hostel. It has been different things at different points of time during my short sojourn at the institute. Seen me as a guileless young second year, as a somewhat matured albeit happy-go-lucky third year and finally as the unequivocal profound wise man as the fourth year. Yet through it all, it has been my oasis in the confusion and problems of everyday existence.

Yogasana. We had picked up this hobby hardly a few months back. To counter the stress and tension we faced at office diurnally. Personally I had never realized how taxing such a life could be. Had seen the rose, not the thorns; been pricked. However, had to surmise that the rose had been worth all the pain. Rightly. And he had now a new love.

What had he ever loved until now? Personally he had loved the hot lemon tea they had at Pat. He had always loved Appy. And ice cream. Food stuff apart, he had loved the CLT. Classrooms in HSB. His cellphone. The ledge of the corridor of his wing. The roads. The trees. Walking. The graceful deer and the stupid monkeys. Quake. The various spider families and his pet lizard in his room. Cycling. The ability to sleep after the sun rose but at the same time, crash before the sun set. Acquaintances. Associates. Friends. The beach. Movies and the theatre. Music. Living. Life. He had loved it all.

Coffee. I had yielded to its addictive taste and its almost mystical power to rejuvenate the enervated soul. However I still inherently hated the acrid sensation and the obnoxious smell. I hadn’t changed much, atleast I didn’t think so. But my outlook on life had. Life, death and everything in between.

If there is one thing that I was to take away from this four year stay in the hallowed halls of this prestigious educational institution, it would have to be the fact that your life is highly influenced by the people around you. Like a potter’s hands moulds the clay. Or the glassblower breathes life into his glass pieces. If I am who I am and I was who I was, it was because of all my friends. Especially my closer ones. Especially my wing mates. Especially him, him, him, him, him, him, him and him. But then there are so many other people, so many other. I could never recount them all and will never attempt as much as a guess. And one more thing. It’s a small world after all.

A small piece of melting Cadbury Delight made its way into my mouth and was gently pressed onto the palette by my tongue. As I continued to abrade the surface of this wonderful chocolate, the incumbent uneasy flavour lingered on in my mouth. A sour feeling. And then the divine tang of the heavenly chocolate. Bitter yet sweet. De ja vu.

Bitter Sweet Symphony.

Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life

Trying to make ends meet
Trying to make ends meet

You're a slave to money then you die
You're a slave to money then you die

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down

You know the one that takes you to the places
You know the one that takes you to the places

where all the veins meet yeah
where all the veins meet yeah