It is circa 2007

I work within the four walls of a laboratory, day and night. Time stands still there. Seasons never change. Temperature is always 70 degree. 60 seconds a minute, 24 hours a day. Life is dramatized in the dancing of exponentially growing cells in a petri dish. They grow and die in front of my eyes. I wonder, what is the meaning of that life, or what life is it? I feel sorry for them, what a meaningless existence? 

My gosh! Can you believe that it is already 2007? Seven long years since I was sitting on the banks of river Periyar, sipping spirit, worrying about the impeding chaos when the computer clock display 01/01/00! But the doomsday did not happen. Boy, how much money did I owe people in the new millennia? Never thought I would ever had to pay them back. Stupid 20’s!

I went home only a month ago. I got married last week. I saw my loved ones back home yesterday. It surprises me when people ask me “when are you visiting home again?”. Did you forget that I left there yesterday? Nothing has changed since I left. Not even a leaf has fallen from the temple’s banyan tree. Next, I will go for my brother’s marriage. I should be the master of ceremony. I should gift a heating pad to my grandma (she hates expensive gifts, and will make my vacation miserable by rambling on the money I squander on silly stuffs). I should take A to a dentist; I don’t know why he doesn’t fix his lost front teeth. I should spend some time with him.

I want to go there in June, when monsoon starts. Its wet and messy, but I like looking deep into the pouring rain. The rattling sound of raindrops falling on leaves is nothing but pure music, the improvisation of nature that no one can re-create. I should be there when the first drop of monsoon hits the dusty ground; the smell of soil is just divine!  And, of course, no substitute for munching on warm ‘parippuvada’ and sipping freshly brewed tea! I don’t like busy temples and not a big fan of rituals either. But it is pacifying. Childhood habits, I guess. I have a list of them to visit. Even longer list of books to read and friendships to be rekindled. Well, an important project: I should take J to Taj mahal. Something that I wanted to build for her (shocked to realize that Shah Jahan stole my idea few centuries ago).

The other day I had the saddest nightmare in my life, that my grandma and my dear A have passed away. I cried. Stupid me, it was just a dream. Crazy mind! I should give them a bear hug when I see them next time. Some time dreams will make you realize how important some people are in this short life. Well, there was a pleasant dream too, that my brother S got married and in no time he was blessed with a wonderful kid. Weirdly, I don’t remember seeing myself in that dream. That cannot be possible. I will be there no matter what. Don’t worry, crazy mind in action again!

Nothing has changed ever since I left home. Nothing. It is year 2007. I am going home in two years! Once I finish my next paper…. Once I settle down…. And before I have another nightmare.