Mistakes

"To err is human"

Everyone is allowed to make mistakes in life. After all the major difference between us and gods: we get to make mistakes every once in a while; they don't.

So far, right uptil this very moment, there hasn't been a lot to complain about as far as my academic and professional career is concerned. I have got what I have strived or been striving for. Unlike a few of my cousins and friends, I haven't made the so called 'mistake' so far. But as I stand at this juncture today I feel a bit different. After spending quality time at a University abroad, no Indian Super University can really make you happy. A senior and a friend who have studied abroad nod their heads in agreement to this line.

In March-April, I hurriedly rushed to fill up the entrance examination form. I didn't want to miss the bus. Whatever the consequences later can be dealt with as and when it occurs.

That was then.

Throughout their lives, I have known people to shed two kinds of tears- tears of happiness and that of sadness. It might be a record for someone to have shed a third kind of tear. The one I shed when I heard I had cleared the entrance and interview to bag a seat in the educational institution I had applied to- Tears of confusion. How can someone shed such a tear you ask? Especially after getting through something I wanted in the first place? Well, trust me some people are just born weird. I happen to be one of them.

It was actually a back up plan for myself just in case I don't enjoy my new job. The irony, as I realize today, my job was the actual back-up, not the study plan. So when I got telephonic confirmation of my acceptance, I had a big fat tear trickle down my left cheek. I couldn't take a step back to re-think my decision. I had flown all the way to the city for an interview and letting this opportunity slip by would have resulted in a never ending ruthless onslaught from my righteous dad; which would end with a side order of guilt as well. So I left. I convinced myself that this is what I should be doing. Short term. Long term. This is how I always measure my decisions.

The city is a venue for disaster. There is muck everywhere. Men (and some women) seem to have gone hairier in the last few years. Humidity is at an all time high and, add to this, the new metre rates of the autorickshaw walas. Still I have been trying to be as patient as can be but an incident at the DSW office had me fuming. The lady at the counter very conveniently slammed the window in front of my face to declare it was lunch break. Why can't these administrative people be nice for a change? They deal with students every day so shouldn't they be a bit more cordial? How difficult would it have been to say "Sorry we're closed for lunch, please come after an hour?" The arrogance with which she said "I don't know", I could only wish for one thing- to be her mother-in-law. I am sure the answer to my questions would have come rumbling out then.

There is not a lot of patience I can do in a given period of time. Right now the jar is running on low battery. Lets hope it doesn't run out any time soon.