This was long overdue.
But I still console myself with the fact that it is allowed to wish people Happy New Year till it's technically January. Though I know, that this time around, I'm cutting it really really fine.
That's what happens when you have a terrible horrible holiday hangover. And yes. It is real. All very real.
(shudhu maal khelei hangover hoye na)
And by the last day of 2015, I had most things on my list checked off!
2015, overall was a decent year. Not very great on the personal front. Work front, it was a constant frequency curve. Things eventually did work out. It all ended on a happy note at least on the face of it.
The major part of the year (practically the entire year) was busy in that set routine-get up, coffee, run, dress, leave, traffic, work, traffic, come home, eat, sleep and repeat. In between breaks, some tripping around, and otherwise not much of a social life, per se.
January started with a promise of love. And the crazy mad work scene was the customary villain Guess, villains, do take the first round and promises are meant to be broken. It all depends on being the smart one at the end. And that's what April was all about! 'Being Smart' by putting on my trip-y shoes.. Lace up and off to my cities of "love". And me and villain, were squared up. It was game on!
April, May, June was another round of insane crazy, with the villain upping its stake and taking the round. Getting older was a somber affair. But, we made it extravagant. Italian, this time.
July was the lull before the storm. And July was the Big Fat Bong Wedding. With the trip-y traveller eastward bound, it was all glittery shiny fun! for, when the clone gets hitched, you make it a big deal!
August was when the plan finally happened. The date with other side was on. September was bad. Real personal low. With Roshni, no more.
October was subdued, even with the birthdays and the pujos. The loss was still haunting.
November was a deliberate attempt of getting enough with the haunting-ness. Diwali with folks after 20 years, in a place which will never be "home" and with people who are always "home". Another round of trip-y traveller being eastward bound!
November being when things finally reach the finish line. Without much of a hassle. So far so good. And December, was when I see the other side. Eighteenth day being the longest day in my life ever.
New people, new land. First stamp on papers. Flying over the north pole. When the day had two breakfasts, two lunches, one evening snack and a dinner. Colder climates. And first sleep on a bed on the other side of the planet.
Clone meet ups, touristing in subzero, snow storm, winter wonderlands, posing with the nut cracker, christmas lights, buried under a foot of snow, christmas parties, dessert bakes, gift wraps, road trips, dressy affairs, jam sessions with guitars and mics, new people, nice people, Starbucks, and loads and loads of liquidity!
Did i forget love? No way! That was love, more than I ever imagined or asked for.
The last day of 2015, with my favourite people, in my dreamlike setting, with pretty lights in a fancy down town place, counting down the final seconds, and beginning the year from the same side of the planet! Yes, i believe in the beginnings.
So 2016 began with a toast to a new beginning. A toast for love. A toast for a silent wish. It began under the dreamy lights.
2016 started with me getting the perfect dress. Started with a song. Started with a new year wish without calculating the time zone effect.
It started with a trip to a place. It started with great food with the best people.
So yes, goodbyes, especially this one, was the hardest. Because, I was leaving behind the happy me. The love me. The smile me. The cheer me.
But there was a solace. For, there was the meeting, on the other side of the planet. For I believe, beginnings do matter.
2016. You better be good, this time.
