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It was the Indian Student gathering at the
University of Houston, mainly undergrads born brought up in the
US. The first few minutes I felt like a fish out of water, I was
easily one of the oldest people amongst the people there. There
were a few questioning glances directed towards me, it was
evident to the students that I was a misfit. I politely ignored
them and sat back, waiting and observing.
Like every student organized program, there
was the usual chaos. Might be not visible to a stranger but for
someone like me who was always in the organizing end it was so
evident. The usual chaos. US or India, students tend to be the
same. Frantic phone calls, screams and cover-ups...they did stir
up memories... surprisingly the once bitter memories seemed
sweet... time does it I thought.
I smiled as the gals rushed around trying to
hang on to the Sarees and Lehangas and pointy heels and still
try to look poised and elegant. I did it once too.... stopping
in the restroom every few minutes to look at the mirror,
matching handbags, matching earrings... those were days... fun
days.
Like every other student program I was a part
of, this one started late amidst hoots and boos. She missed the
rhythmic claps she had perfected over the years - those claps
that accompanied the chorus chants, those were days.
I sat watching gorgeous young men and women
walk in, meet up friends, laugh, talk, demand compliments, pose
of pictures... so familiar... so sweet.. I looked at the smiling
faces, the heavily accented Hindi the drifted to her ears... I
went back to the time when I did all that... the lovely memories
I treasured within her, I saw in front of me... Another country,
younger versions of me and my friends I saw.....
The fashion show brought back memories of
those days. The cat calls, the whistles, the dating couple, the
infatuated guy, the jealous boyfriend, the beauty queen... so
alike.. just different people and faces I thought... I missed
the song dedications, the fishponds, the rose stalls and
everything else from my college days. I hated each one of those
rituals during my days in college but today I miss them. Might
be it was the carefree attitude of college I missed the most...
Getting together with old friends happens
even today. But the world outside college is so different and
grown-up. I plan to meet the same people I teased mercilessly a
few years back at the restaurant near house. I choose my outfits
with care and go through all the details about my old friends
with my significant other for the nth time. I wonder idly about
my friends personal lives- the parts I knew so well seemed kind
of obsolete today. As we talk over chips and salsa, the
conversations linger around common friends’ marriages, kids,
mutual funds, cars and what not. Responsibility has crept inside
our lives slowly. The frivolousity of youth seems so strange
today. But those were days... the best days...my college days
are long since over.. however hard I try I cannot recreate that
magic. In the memories I smiles and clings to them...
I would love to hear from my readers. Please
contact me at
viniscorner@gmail.com
- V
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