You can see the jaws fall in real time when you tell people that you’re going from “fast track grad executive in a tier 1 IT firm” to “jobless for 3 months with a back up plan that strings together some luck, a lot of trust and instinct”. I make it sound quite bad though, I can see why jaws fall. Ahem…

For all that is riding on me, I seem to have become adept at having a good time! From staying awake through the night chilling, driving through town at 5 am, drinking beyond the usual 2 pints, bike racing; the impending departure has brought out the hedonist in me. Yet, it sure has been fun. Coming off a long weekend trekking and climbing tall hills in the Sahayadris, jumped into Friday night visiting the old watering hole and staying up watching a movie and the weekend just went on to more old haunts, good music, friends, driving around. Stand out though was catching a coach and his protégé on a tennis court. Took me back to a cement tennis court in the hills and a podgy youngster some 12 years ago.

Tonight is going to be special too. Life is coming a circle; the man who started the “fast track grad program” at the firm is in town. So I should scram... :)

The protracted departure from Pune is taking a toll on me. Used to swift and sudden travel, knowing the fact that I have to get going, yet realizing it is another 2 weeks away is draining on the emotions. I find myself thinking wistfully about developments and instances in great detail - which is harmful, as I need and want to get a move on from here. Brainless chatter and too many teas and coffees replace the high energy work environment, tough to deal with.

The above is surprising. Just back from a relaxing break - climbed the highest peak in the Sahyadris - Mt. Kalsubai and had a lot of fun around the trip out from Mumbai. Being back in the hills in always rejuvenating, though the wallpaper back at work from the Himalayas brings back a flood of memories that is not 'dam-ed' by the Taare Zameen Pe songs.

Added to the hol, have been lucky and successful in smaller but nevertheless important things. Yet, it's still like a batsman who is promising with a string of 30something scores but is waiting for the floodgates to open and yes lady luck to smile on him.

At the end of the day though, even though a little misty eyed, I am reassured - after all I AM going home! Ha!

It's not funny how one incident or occurence can boost one's belief in chasing an objective and confidence in a goal that is certainly reckless to an extent. Good news has been flowing in from yesterday, everything is measured in a perspective that is rose tinted. pun intended.

the joys of being on the loose end with your job and boss is a much needed lazy morning, mid week. Big breakfast, nice coffee and a will to type. in many senses a calm before the storm. i move out of town in a few weeks, go back home for a while. all the same, along the way I am taking the much hyped GMAT and hoping sooner than later to crack the "perfect" internship. the logistics will get overwhelming and life as we know it, is going to change!

my emotions though seem to be confused. and it might just be the lack of exercise :) but yes, i am happy to leave town (that's something i do very well btw, used to hopping cities oftener than people like to believe its even possible) and get on with goals that are my own, however, there is this sweeping sense of nostalgia. for all my cries about bad food, poor service and being made to feel like an outsider, this is the town where it all began. here is when i moved out of home, made office pals, traveled, explored my moods, slogged like a donkey, cried, missed home, did some amazing work and now its over. somehow its taking more time to digest, though as logn ass a month ago i did my good bye tour of the city. well... i guess i reach out more than i realize :)

snap back to the day, need to "brainstorm" ( a word that is thankfully likely to disappear from my lingo) and study for a bit. you'll hear more about it soon enough, i rave anough about having to take standardized tests to tell the world i am the genuine smart ass article.

One of my favourite English teachers always said, I write very well and I should extend the art. To quote that on my own blog is hardly self effacing, yet, relevant to te point that, sometimes, I am grabbed by an urge to write. It's an outlet for a lot of random thoughts that run through the head during life and its "constructive".

Anyway, time does fly. Sept 06 to now, has seen a lot of water flow under a lot of bridges. Heavy travel, killing work, holidays, 2 new years... serving time at work and now being on the verge of hanging up my boots, London - land dreamt about, dealing with a tough boss - the never land of nightmares ;). ah...

It's in-human to expect a re cap of some 500 eventful days but reasonable to consider that, life, if better documented and captured might serve me well. The only concern is who all start reading this and as a result of which, what soup I land myself into.

However, in a token to the past, a photograph I love a lot and one that's likely to evoke many good memories. London Dec 31 2006, beside the Thames.

Never mind... cannot upload, some random problem... will try later today.