On the background music of ‘Mohe rang do laal’ I was sitting in my room
thinking what I could be doing to make the room a little more pleasant than
what it is at that very moment. What started as a small cleanup turned out
to be life changing.

Changing the basic orientation of the furniture in the room wasn’t enough
this time. I decided to clean up wardrobes, cupboards, loft as well as some
college stuff that I had pushed away below my bed. The queensize bed could
not even accomodate a small princess, for it held far more amazing
treasures for the little girl.

Daydreaming alongside, I steered amidst the sea of old precious, neatly
preserved memories. Even my KG footprint was found in perfect condition and
so were the feelings along with the magnified names of BFFs on glass
pebbles. Made me realise how passionate I have always been. Passionate
about things, hobbies, and worse, people. The very thing that astound me
was the cloth sample of the most unfortunate frock did not seem to move me
even by a single millimeter. I guess I have reached the place that I had
always dreamt of being at in my entire life. Maybe, back then my
imagination could take me only that far. Now that I feel I have reached
that juncture, I realise I am destined to tread a longer path hereon. The
most amazing thing that I did discover while sifting through the stuff, my
grip over the past has substantially loosened. Yet, I wonder whom I would
give away the ‘n’ number of oh-so-treasured Barbie clothes. Maybe, some day
my yet-to-be-born-daughter would inherit them! Someone needs to be as
genuine and passionate as me. This very thought made me pack it all neatly
and be put back into my closet. From the burning house, I know this box is
one of the things to be taken out, and that is why, the little girl who
stitched for hours still resides comfortably within me. Her patience is
well preserved and nurtured well in the time hence. At times like these,
the fourth or firth standard girl could still be felt within when the
envelope full of old tracing papers of my BFF then and me are found.

Maybe my drawing skills have improved and developed over the years and I do
need those getaway papers more for college work. Well, now that my college
is over, the rim of gateway is kept with the star portfolios and some
dreams along with them. The dreams of getting into design schools some day.
Funny part is being called an architect sounds like the music similar to
the design tune. My restless soul let s me be all the more peaceful. But
then, my soul also realises how much much it aches for carrying certain
regrets. I guess some healing is yet to happen. It is quite evident that
the life path that I had been on till date has been absolutely wonderful. I
cannot imagine anything different that might have happened differently than
what took place. The particular school batch remains to still make me a
smitten kitten at the age of 25. 10 years since.

The hero pen, which let me be submerged into the love for fountain pens, is
the reason I am still using a fountain pen to write these words. This sure
is a sign of the age old romance. Discovering the various bunches of
letters received by my grandfather, is the sign of how certain things are
passed on to you through your blood. How you inherit certain
characteristics without asking for them. They certainly are one of my most
prices possessions and another set of items I’d run outside with, from a
burning house. Did I mention of the little jacket my childhood BFF gave me?
I knew it then, that friendship was destined to last forever. It certainly
has till date.

Back into the remotest corner was found a box of neatly folded letters. The
letters that were never posted. and now, too late to be sent to their
respective addresses. Friends and crushes that move on. Or probably I did.
That one particular paper weight, which held together more than the loose
or folded papers on which it was kept on. Besides it was the paper weight
my BFF made back in school. I guess all these small things hold witness to
the age old friendship that has sustained since last 20 odd years. Time
ticks by. Both my BFFs are committed and have taken couple of steps ahead
in life and I hope to tread that path some day. Until then, I shall
continue to stir the untouched corners.