The beginning of the end

I walked down the paved pathway between identical looking houses, right down to the end of the colony, swinging my laptop, where the last three houses stood slightly apart from the rest of the colony. I opened the doors of IV/138, and with one practiced flick, switched on the cooler, light and fan, in the same order, as if I had been doing it for ages. In truth, I had been, until as recently as a year ago. But there was a difference. In all probability, this would be the last time ever I would do so.

A trip to the temple was next. It was long overdue, and high time I did it. It was evening by the time I beckoned one of those auto-wallahs oscillating between BCM and BPL. I could swear that not even the advertisements by the roadside had changed, apart from the movie posters. Jupiter was shining brightly in the western sky. Godavari below the bridge was meandering, and very thin. I guess it will be the same next summer as well.

While at the temple, I asked to be forgiven, for all my mistakes in the last two years. Most, I committed knowingly. Some, unknowingly. But in the grand cosmic scheme of things, nothing much matters, I guess. I could almost have broken down there itself as I sat down for one last time for a look at the glimmering factory lights across the river, but it held.

Two years of one’s existence in one company cannot exactly lay claims to have lived a lifetime, but in all due fairness, the summer days @ Bhadra did seem interminably long. Now that it is all over, I guess I can look back with maybe a bit more than just the cynical taste I am left with.

There was no imposing Bullet taking up half the space of the little rendition of a garage next to our house. The jeep in the next garage wasn’t there either. Left behind were few, but not all of those people, who made Bhadra livable once upon a time. But I noticed that the sticker at IV/138 still said “Jayajit Dash” & “Anshuman Sinha”, and it didn’t show any signs of moving on.

I didn’t cry the day I left DPS. Didn’t shed a tear the day I left IIT, even though I was more than just a bit emotional. Difficult as it is to acknowledge it publicly, more than just a drop fell down the day I left Bhadra. And well, it might not be to do with Bhadra alone. I guess Bhadra did soften me up more than either of the two did. For that, and for the lessons, both sweet and harsh, I guess, I will be thankful. And time really is the greatest healer.

It was raining the day I first came to Bhadra. It poured the day I left Bhadra for Bollaram. Yesterday, as I left Bhadra for one last time, it had already started to thunder threateningly, and by the time I reached the railway station, big rain drops were pelting down.

After a few hours from now, Anshuman Sinha/BOL/PSPD/ITC shall cease to occupy its allotted 78 MBs on the Lotus Notes server. Of ‘The Book of Life (corporate edition), as authored by me, chapter 1 ends today.