I hit the elevator button to reach the 3rd floor and I expected the lobby to be overflowing with kids, however it posed a deserted look, which made me quickly glance at the watch. Okay, so it was the time of the day when every little one’s brain is made to work at 300% more than its capacity. As I crossed each door, I could sense that they were being sucked into the boring lesson of History or having a mighty battle with the magical numbers from Mathematics or trying to find a balance to their life equation by reading Chemistry.
The visuals brought in a small smile on my face, as I continued walking along the corridor. But what I missed to notice was that, I was being watched by Mr. Shekhar, right from the time I had stepped out of the elevator. Regaining my senses, I scratched my head not knowing how to react to the unexpected situation and to get past through it, I just wished him, “Good Evening Uncle”.
Very slowly he approached me and gave me a small wink asking, “What Raghav, fell in Love with someone huh?”
You seem to be walking alone, talking to yourself and smiling, all the while since you stepped out of the elevator.
Smiling to his words, I nodded signaling a big “No” and asked him in return, “You are usually found to be on your evening walk by this time and what a surprise now, you are at home today?”
With a broad smile he pointed his fingers towards his house’s entrance. I could find extra pair of footwear around it and made a guess that he has got visitors. Meanwhile uncle cut me through by asking, “Raghav, did you find the wine shop at the end of the lane open?” I got some friends and we would like to share a drink, since we are all meeting after a long time.
Thinking hard I replied, yes uncle, I did find it crowded while returning home and I would suggest you better reach out soon, as you might run out of good stock.
Going by my words, uncle bid me adieu and walked off majestically. As he marched off few distance away from me, I shouted “Having fun huh!!!” with a wicked smile. Acknowledging to my words and to the way that I had asked he just gave a hand gesture signaling yes and disappeared.
A funny man and the most liked person in our community, Mr.Shekhar is an ex-serviceman, retired from the Indian Air Force some 4 years back. A Flight Lieutenant by rank, he is our neighbor staying with his lovely wife in flat 3B. Aunt Usha Shekhar does need a special mention here, especially for the sweets that she makes during every festival. More than the sweets that she prepares, by heart she is sweeter and every kid from the age of 2 to 20, loves her.
They are survived by 2 daughters, both of whom are married and well settled with their family somewhere in the western part of the world. During this tenure of 4 years of settlement at Pune, not even once I have witnessed either of them visiting home.
However, couple of time when Uncle used to have difficulty in connecting to Skype, I had helped him connect thereby introducing myself to his daughters then. Such introductions are more common to me as I end up at most houses fixing up some technical glitch. And this was due to the misconception among my neighbors that I was a tech savvy, capable of fixing any IT related issue, just because of the degree that I hold.
Oops, sorry I have not let out a word about me so far. So, here you go. I am Raghav, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from one of the nation’s prestigious university, the College of Engineering, Pune. Being graduated out of such an institute with a first-class degree in hand and an on-campus job offer with one of the leading software and consulting providers of the world, Cognizant Technology Solutions, as an added topping on the tossed base it leaves anyone with the impression that I was trained to handle such technical stuffs.
Though I hardly agree to their misconception, on the other hand they can’t be put to blame, as well. So, I just take up each of those assignment and make it a chance to speak to the people over there. By chance, if there is a girl of my age, then I try to be of a little more help to her through other means too.
Ok, not to be too optimistic about myself, I do agree that I can fix stuffs but that is not my real me. My fascination is something way bigger, something that not many dream off. I am mad about aviation in and out. And I believe it was not something that got inculcated into me over the days, but it is something that was hidden deep within me, nurturing over the years.
Wait a minute!
Why do not you have a look at how my desire took its wing finally out of me and how I was aspired towards touching the sky? In addition to it, do witness bits and pieces of my childhood days. I do promise you that it will not be a long flashback.
So, people why do not you immerse your head into the giant pensive filled with my memories and experience few scenes of a young chap who was notorious yet adorable traveling through the time to reach here. Grab your seats and fasten your seat belts to travel into the pages of history.
To be continued…
