Ok now maybe, just maybe I'm making too much out of it cause how many of us really worry that they have finished their 20's and moved into the 30's or done with their 30's and crawled into 40's? The truth is it kinda feels funny & sad that won't be 20's anymore for me an year down the line. Somehow 20's seem to represent the decade of freedom, youth and zest in one's life. A decade of the best of the things that happen to you.
***
College seemed like just a few years ago until yesterday. Was busy searching friends on orkut and trying to catch up on lost times. Today it seems like a long long time ago! Walked out of college a thin, confused 20yr old who spent a lot of time making sure of good grades. No money but a slight mustache to show! Went with the flow and tried to fool myself into believing that I was MBA material. Nah...wasn't. Got a job in IT an year after struggling with MBA entrances. Worked for the first year as if the job was a huge favour done by the company and gave it all. The money seemed like a lot! Infact any money of my own would have seemed like a lot having spent most of my college life managing in the monthly stipend. Use it wisely, save-as-much-as-you-can were the kinda thoughts running in the mind. Upbringing!! So many ways I could have spent the money. There were people around me doing it and seemed like they were having more fun than i was having saving it.
***
Then went to USofA, a dream come true. The land of promise, riches and lotsa firangs of course! All that was taught in the school & college came undone. Wasn't much of use except doing my job (in fact not even that cause had to learn IT at Patni). All the learning came from the people, friends and all the experiences. Lived like never before. Money was not much of a concern anymore right? I understood why the rich are creative. How else & for what else would they use their minds for? The common middleclass like us will spend the rest of our creative engergies in furthering ourselves in our jobs to meet the ever increasing needs. It really pays to have money. Makes you bring out your best. Worked hard, bought an expensive car (i.e. not meant for programmer levels! A childhood dream.), travelled a lot, bought gadgets and basically lived like there was no worry and could take on anything. Made good friends and lost a few good ones and all the works! By the time I came back, it was the late 20's and I was richer, wiser & fatter. Life taught a lot....
***
Then again, met a girl, jeene-marne ki hazar kasme later, the whole idea settled down. ;-) Learnt new and better ways of using money cause of her. Got married and learnt how to cope with a constant companion who isn't just a roomie. The idea of sharing had pretty much vanished after the first paycheck. Giving justifications for coming late, not liking or liking things, doing or not doing things a certain way. Even the part where you are cared for was a bit too much to take. Who the hell ever gave a 'love-you' card to a roomie or said drive-slow to work every single day. It was tough.....letting go of a time when every single thing you do or have is your own choice!! Some times one doesn't realize one is giving up things for something good...one such case.
***
Then the single most dreadful topic is brought up. We need to buy a house! Its more like I'm-about-to-clip-your-wings thing. Thats the ultimate test of being responsible and miserly. Cutting corners to meet EMI payments, giving up on outings, wanting to do something so bad but giving up cause the account doesn't have enough balance or sometimes just staring at all the money in the account but not spending it cause a post-dated cheque has already gone out but the idiot hasn't encashed it. Its your money, all of it, but not really yours!! But then feeling so good on moving in. Cause its all yours! Buying things one by one, doing it up slowly. Hmmm...feels good. Life settles down once more into the work-home-work-weekend-fun routine. Friends get married, some have babies, some move overseas, some lose touch. Life was busy and never really stopped a bit.
***
Until yesterday - the 29th Birthday, the last one in my 20's! A very happening & the most zestful decade has just gone by. Won't be so boring in 30's for sure but guess time slowly is spent caring for things other than one's own self! Let see....still a full year to go!! Yey!!
***
College seemed like just a few years ago until yesterday. Was busy searching friends on orkut and trying to catch up on lost times. Today it seems like a long long time ago! Walked out of college a thin, confused 20yr old who spent a lot of time making sure of good grades. No money but a slight mustache to show! Went with the flow and tried to fool myself into believing that I was MBA material. Nah...wasn't. Got a job in IT an year after struggling with MBA entrances. Worked for the first year as if the job was a huge favour done by the company and gave it all. The money seemed like a lot! Infact any money of my own would have seemed like a lot having spent most of my college life managing in the monthly stipend. Use it wisely, save-as-much-as-you-can were the kinda thoughts running in the mind. Upbringing!! So many ways I could have spent the money. There were people around me doing it and seemed like they were having more fun than i was having saving it.
***
Then went to USofA, a dream come true. The land of promise, riches and lotsa firangs of course! All that was taught in the school & college came undone. Wasn't much of use except doing my job (in fact not even that cause had to learn IT at Patni). All the learning came from the people, friends and all the experiences. Lived like never before. Money was not much of a concern anymore right? I understood why the rich are creative. How else & for what else would they use their minds for? The common middleclass like us will spend the rest of our creative engergies in furthering ourselves in our jobs to meet the ever increasing needs. It really pays to have money. Makes you bring out your best. Worked hard, bought an expensive car (i.e. not meant for programmer levels! A childhood dream.), travelled a lot, bought gadgets and basically lived like there was no worry and could take on anything. Made good friends and lost a few good ones and all the works! By the time I came back, it was the late 20's and I was richer, wiser & fatter. Life taught a lot....
***
Then again, met a girl, jeene-marne ki hazar kasme later, the whole idea settled down. ;-) Learnt new and better ways of using money cause of her. Got married and learnt how to cope with a constant companion who isn't just a roomie. The idea of sharing had pretty much vanished after the first paycheck. Giving justifications for coming late, not liking or liking things, doing or not doing things a certain way. Even the part where you are cared for was a bit too much to take. Who the hell ever gave a 'love-you' card to a roomie or said drive-slow to work every single day. It was tough.....letting go of a time when every single thing you do or have is your own choice!! Some times one doesn't realize one is giving up things for something good...one such case.
***
Then the single most dreadful topic is brought up. We need to buy a house! Its more like I'm-about-to-clip-your-wings thing. Thats the ultimate test of being responsible and miserly. Cutting corners to meet EMI payments, giving up on outings, wanting to do something so bad but giving up cause the account doesn't have enough balance or sometimes just staring at all the money in the account but not spending it cause a post-dated cheque has already gone out but the idiot hasn't encashed it. Its your money, all of it, but not really yours!! But then feeling so good on moving in. Cause its all yours! Buying things one by one, doing it up slowly. Hmmm...feels good. Life settles down once more into the work-home-work-weekend-fun routine. Friends get married, some have babies, some move overseas, some lose touch. Life was busy and never really stopped a bit.
***
Until yesterday - the 29th Birthday, the last one in my 20's! A very happening & the most zestful decade has just gone by. Won't be so boring in 30's for sure but guess time slowly is spent caring for things other than one's own self! Let see....still a full year to go!! Yey!!
1 comment:
You are acting as if you had a near death experience and your whole life went past you ! Chill out you are only 29 :-) You still a lot of dreams to dare and make them real ...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !
-- Dharam
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