Re-animate

This will be one of my more poignant ones so read it properly it will do you all some good. It all began on a hot October day, when last minute packing had just completed and with one foot began a trip of a million footsteps (literally). Appearing at the gates greeted by a monument, aged and learned, I knew I was in for a memorable time. I was not too happy leaving for this trip as I realized that my birthday would be spent doing something in some dopey little village. But being the resourceful villain I am I had made some “plans”. Yes it was illegal, evil and would definitely offend at least 10 different religions but that never stopped me before.
I set off and we traveled by bus, a tight gang of us missing some of our party as we were split up. The bus was sensational, as we tasted a bit of the camaraderie that was to follow. The first joint was rolled, and so began the great haze that was to follow for many of us. The music lifted us all instantly and it played well into the darkness. Looking out the window I saw Maharashtra in a different light, the sun flashed magnificently on a land, which was patched brilliantly with hues of green and brown. It shone proud like the people living on the land, hands and faces hard and happy. I looked around at the faces that surrounded me and saw the same doubts I had at first but soon the excitement and power of the journey got to them.
Even getting there seemed like forever but I did not mind at all. I was happy released from the world and its many factors, I was moving in a bus surrounded by great people why would I care? We reached Baramati and I was surprised by the amount it had developed, I mean I really expected a village. We split into rooms in the hostel and I went with my best friends around Darius and Shahvan. The first night was incredible and that was a serious clincher for telling us what would happen next. All us boys barring a few who preferred staying away and sleeping, sat in one room and drank a small bottle of vodka and smoked a few joints. The effect was life altering. It did not mean we all died due to seizures, it did not even mean we would be in any trouble, it just meant that we all saw each other differently thereafter. We had an incredible time extremely high and proud of ourselves. Lives unraveled in laughter and brotherhood filled the air.
The trip itself served as a journey to learn about life in various ways and as our guide, the man himself tried to set us off on a journey trough our own lives. I joined a college and have also got a place where my creative soul is freed. There were days of work and learning and seeing and meeting new people. The benefit of the experience after this trip has no doubt enriched us all. Seeing suffering and happiness in the lives of the nomadic children put more things into perspective although I have seen such kinds of suffering before. But on this trip I learnt more about myself, more importantly so did the people around me.
I am happy to say I carved my little niche in this class, this select group of people and their energies. I did not realize what I meant to these people till I read the sheets posted on my back. I loved it for many reasons, the complements, the memories and yes some of the crazy things people write about you (man! Were some of those inappropriate? I didn’t know some people felt that way about me!!) Apart from these matters on the trip it was the nights that defined us all. My birthday was an event I shall not forget! We were gone, all of us were gone and laughing our asses off ant each other. We saw Roop become the life of the party, the catalyst. We saw Matthew be the lovable instigator that he is. We saw the relaxed side of Darius let loose (totally this time). We saw Shahvan, quiet for more than half and hour and I’m not lying! Man if only I could remember them well thing is I cannot. I remember my birthday in the same haze as all those nights a cohesive unit having fun. I remember a monkey cap covering my eyes and people singing happy birthday to me in complete darkness (cause of the cap I mean). I however do not remember any pain or discomfort, only a white light and a feeling of flying, like it were heaven (I’m serious boys Roop’s words rang in my head and that’s what I saw!!). However my birthday itself seems to be a little bit of a let down, the day itself was marked with mistrust and a feeling of the unity dying, the soul of the trip was dying on us. Around us we could see all the people getting more than hazy, we could see them getting annoying. Things happened that night I wish not to recall, they seem better lost in the haze. The day after however, changed everything dramatically. There was trekking and some schools being visited, but an accident changed all that. The fellowship was born and with it so was the courage that we are given. We, the greats who stood against the mighty behemoth stranded there, saved the day. I mean it was fucking stuck there in an insane angle but I went in!! This time we worked for it. The nights presented many things to us, but greatest of all were the fireflies. Standing in the dark shoulder-to-shoulder getting the job done, watching small bursts of light appear and disappear, again and again. It was a long walk home and it really felt like the fellowship of the ring. The next day was the last and a bus ride I shall keep in memory for the feel of it all. One could remember the feeling as if it were happening right now. Smoking a few joints and letting the breeze of cool blow in through the window. You see around great people surrounding you again. These are the same people that were with you on this very same bus 4 days ago, but yet you will never see them the same way again. This feeling tickles your soul as the cold wind tickles your skin and you will never feel any better again. That’s why when Darius told me he never felt better I knew what he meant. It truly tells me something about people and the profound effects they have on each other, one man can change the lives of so many young souls; world-beaters in their own right and still not get recognized. I do not need to sing praises about my teacher for I know what honour is; the great deserve nothing less than great honour. People can change you remember that, experience can change you even more. Learn my friends what an ancient Chinese proverb stated many years ago, “ A journey of a thousand miles gives you more knowledge than reading a scroll of a thousand miles”. I think that we need to understand what It means to be together for the next 2 and a half years and we’ve only begun to discover legends in our midst. It is from here I leave you with a quote from the “my culture” by 1 giant leap. “ I am the sum total of my ancestors. I carry their D.N.A. This long line of people that come from around everywhere! And when we meet they meet other lines of people and so they say let us bring together the lines of men.” it was on this trip I became a man and it is one this trip that some of my greatest experiences linger boding well for my long future…with my friends(how i wish how i wish you were here!!!! we re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl year after year. Running over the same old ground. What have we found? the same old fears? Wish you were here..)

Siddhant (codename: pinky the birthday boy you maelia!!!)