The way that took me 'high'...

PICT (my undergrad college) was an awesome experience.. Whatever chance I had to come to college, I used to pack my bag and be on my way.. And that way was part of the Mumbai Bangalore highway for most of the 10km journey from my place to PICT.. It was a ride which I always used to look forward to.. The best thing (which I proudly used to tell) was that no signals and free flow traffic, it hardly used to take any time to cover the 10km..

Right through all these 4 years, I have experienced all its moods and seasons.. And the highway too has seen me in all moods, in all times and has been a witness to my emotions during these happening years of my life. And these words are not just to make the highway memories seem rosy, I really mean them..

I remember the initial first year days.. Rain, used to create a havoc literally.. There was hardly any use of raincoat for keeping me dry, as with the speeding vehicles and big trucks, it was more of a protection from muddy water.. And then there was this specific place where a mini lake used to get created and I daily had to take my feet up from the foot rest. People who came by the highway must be visualizing this spot as they are reading now. And this situation in the rainy season (obviously) never changed in these 4 years.. The Sinhagad road bridge was another headache with potholes galore.. Thankfully, they repaired it during the 3rd year..

Another peculiar characteristic was a point on the highway beyond which there used to be a sudden weather change.. This was evident many a times, especially during rainy season and at nights. The road used to completely wet on one side and dry on the other. At nights, the temperature used to drop considerably as I used to cross that area..

Nights and very early mornings has been a time that I have been on the highway many a times. I llllloooooved driving during these times.. And I got ample opportunities, be it the Purushottam play practice, the robotics preparation late nights, the 'marlelya nights' during PL's, the Amdocs project nights.. Used to be all still and silent, chilly cool.. Shivering yet enjoying. Remember myself singing at the top of my voice at 5am or 12.30-1am sometimes as I went back home..

This also has been the way who has witnessed the long chats and drives with my close friends.. Be it the daily college gossip while going to college daily.. talking loudly so that the person behind gets to hear you in the speedy wind.. sharing problems and happiness.. some lovely moments in the awesome weather that used to be there.. the last minute prep talk before going to exams.. this list can go on.. numerous memories flood my mind as I write now..

It has also witnessed the minor accidents that we had.. some might be lucky to have a clean sheet in this respect.. The sights of cars who have had accidents used to be really bad sometimes.. Saw a very bad accident myself too.. Used to keep our speeds in check..

Now here at Irvine, the freeway behind our apartment complex always reminds me of the highway.. Not that the size or traffic is any comparable. The highway back home with all the memories, is and always will be very special......

The SUPPORT SYSTEM...

Putting down one of the thoughts that crossed my mind in recent times..
Two weeks back when it was UCI Orientations time, we were being welcomed into the university and introduced to different sections and services on the campus. One of it was the counseling service. The lady was saying that graduate life is stressful, you need a support system, you can come to us anytime and blah blah. She said that you all will feel that I am not a person who will need a counselor or something, but come to us anytime in need.

I indeed had the same feeling before that - "Why would I need a counselor??". And indeed we dont need one, but then this has a reason. A reason I feel we have taken so for granted that we dont realize that we are dependent on "that very thing" many a times in our life. You turn back to it in happiness, in grief, in tension, in anxiety, in almost every feeling that you have.
This thing can be your friend, maybe say your entire group of friends... your parents ... that one special person in your life ... maybe music ... maybe GOD ... maybe some activity like meditation, dancing ... maybe whatever...

But there indeed is this one thing that keeps you going, whatever and wherever you are.. This as people say and I like the words used to describe it, is the "The Support System".. Your support system. You try going the untrodden ways, undertake challenges, have a sense of confidence and self belief, coz all this time, right down there, somewhere in a minute corner of your mind and heart, you subconsciously know that your support system is there with you.

This might indeed seem obvious to many of you reading. What I want to say through this post is that find out what your support system is. Value its presence and the role it plays and nurture it, handle it with utmost care. To add, the feeling when your support system seems non-existent is something really bad.. It is like a void in your life.. Something which makes you feel bad and insecure all the time. So this makes it all the more important.. And in some indirect sense it wont be wrong to say that 'you exist coz it exists'......