Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos. ~Charles M. Schulz
Its good bye time again. I am bad at saying good-byes; I have never been good at it. The last few days have been especially tough for me to take. Though I have done my level best to indulge myself in some sort of work to keep myself busy and not think much about this, I have not been very successful. I am yet to come to terms that I just have less than 12 hours before I will leave the very place I started loving more and more with time. People say that given the time I have spent here – 2.5 years – it is but natural that I would fall in love with the place. But that has not always been the case with me. I spent 3.5 years in Pilani but I never loved the place. These 2.5 years at OSU, Stillwater has been a great learning experience – both intellectually and personally. I got back the self confidence that I can still do well academically – more than any one else I had to prove that to myself.
I still remember the day I choose to join OSU over other more famous universities from more famous places – I was not able to convince many about my decision. But deep down me, I knew that I had taken the correct decision. Now, when I look back at it, I know that I was right. I knew what I wanted to do and OSU provided me with the opportunity to do that.
And I made quite a few friends for life here. They made the stay more beautiful. I had many great days, quite a few not so great days and few bad days but through them all I had the support of wonderful friends. Now when I am about to leave this place all the memories come flooding back and I can hardly control myself. One thing I know for sure is that those memories will remain with me forever. I can’t forget those innumerable night outs we put in the name of projects, assignments and exams. I will always remember those days/nights in Copsis Lab, Cordell basement and Library, the frustration while doing the Data Mining projects – putting long hours for them and finding a silly mistake we have done, the elation after completing the project and the wonderful satisfaction of learning and of a job well done, those walks in the night to any place which would serve us food, those pizza deliveries at unearthly hours, those long hours in Colvin just because we didn’t have anything else to do and equally long hours even during the peak semester period and dead week , those CCC matches, the ISA cricket matches and the strategy and practice sessions for them, the ISO Olympics Soccer matches, those unique birthday celebrations and the photo sessions after that, those uncertain times when we didn’t know when to graduate, the pep talks we would give each other, those many meaningless talks just for the sake of it, the innumerable dinner invites just because someone felt bored and cooked for everyone, and then the long walks because we ate a lot and a lot more things. I will remember them all. I will treasure them all. I will recall them all – frequently. These are more than just memories.
I think now is the time to thank all of them for the wonderful times, for the moments and the memories. I can’t find enough words but I will try.
Prashanth: It’s only fair that I start writing about the friends in Stillwater by writing about him as he was my first friend at Stillwater. Like always, first friend end up being the best friend. He has understood me better than most and most of the times we need not speak to each other to find out what is going on in other’s mind. Dude, thanks for everything and remember, the ice cream eating competition is still on!
Sravya: Ten years down the line when I would be reminiscing the Stillwater days she would be the person who would be in almost all of my happy and memorable frames. If there is a single regret that I would take from this place, then it has to be the fact that I dint get to know her earlier. The stay would have been doubly beautiful had I known her earlier. She is the sweetest thing! She is the one who understands me completely and can find out my mood by just listening to my voice. Chiru, thanks for everything and I am lucky to have someone who makes saying ‘good’bye not so good!
Snigdha: Right from the time when she would hesitate (or was frightened) to be in the same place as I was, to today, when one of the first persons I talk to when I am down - Our friendship has grown stronger by each passing day. I have never seen her speak ill about anyone or even think ill about anyone. The numerous dinners and farewells at her place would always be remembered. Sniggy, thanks for everything and may the world have more people like you!
Venu: I am yet to find a topic on which he can’t speak. He has been a source of inspiration in many a ways – and not just to me. In this ‘over the top’ world it’s great to find a genuine guy with a lot of dignity, humor and always ready to help attitude. It was a great pleasure to have him as a team mate for CCC and ISA matches and I have leant a lot from him. Venu anna thanks a lot and long live your tribe!
Megha, Rahul, Seshnag, Lohith and Pramoda: I can’t think of just one without thinking of the other four. I had great times whenever I was in their company. Always ready to help and always ready for a bit (actually more than a bit)of fun. Brumley boys rock!
Anu: One of the strongest women I have ever seen – and I am not talking about the physical strength. I have had great times with her and her sweet little daughter. Anu, I am a big fan of you and the way you lead your life.
Swetha: The ‘no-nonsense’ girl. A really sweet friend and its wonderful to have someone who shares the love for books.
Spurthi – The most happy-go-‘lucky’ girl I have ever seen. Her priorities and friends group changed later on but she would always remain a special friend.
Smitha: She describes herself as fun loving in her Orkut profile. More truer words were never spoken. I have had great time with her always.
Mama, Shadaad, Chirag, Darshan : They say food always tastes better with good company and I found that in summer of 2008. I am missing those weekend dinners!
CCC: 1-2-3…GO COWBOYS!
Chargers: We rock. Though we lost the ISA cricket tournament finals, we were still the best team by a country mile!
Indian Football(Soccer) Team: An apt example for the statement ‘the sum is greater than the parts’. It was great to have quite a few people who shared the same passion for football and a talk about football always makes my day.
Mahesh: The 12-year ‘short’ journey continues……
I am sure I have missed quite a few people who have made my stay at Stillwater a wonderful one. My thanks to all of them.
I am sure I have missed quite a few people who have made my stay at Stillwater a wonderful one. My thanks to all of them.
I hate good-byes. But I think missing someone gets easier by the day because even though its one day further from the last time I saw them, it’s one day closer to the next time I will see them.
I pray that the next stop in my life be as wonderful as this one. I am going to work on things I love and am passionate about. I think I have done many sacrifices for that and I am glad that they paid off. Life is all about not knowing, about having to change, about taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. I hate good-byes but I love life!
