I came across this contest in blogadda today morning and it was about ‘MemoriesForLife’. I remembered this quote – “Memories are timeless treasure of the heart” and I kept thinking about which one to pen about. The reel kept running in my mind flashing each incidents vibrantly. I could hear them shouting loudly to write about them and then fading away when the next one took over. Why to write about just one. Let me create a chain of various memories which have left the mark in my life.
So here goes my sepia coated reel of memories running the show for you:
“A brother shares childhood memories and grown up dreams”
It was during Durga pooja and I was 3 years old. I couldn’t find my mom since the previous night. Everyone at our home told that she is unwell and so have went to hospital. Though I didn’t ask much question about her not returning home that night, I was worried and curious as I was thinking about her belly growing big for past few months. Should be something really serious? I hugged my aunt who was sleeping beside me in fear and dozed off. Next day morning, I was taken to hospital by my aunt to see the new born. YES. I had a younger brother the previous night. I didn’t know how I felt that day but the memories of our childhood, our fights, the tit-for-tat attitude and sudden feel of miss after I went to hostel would remain ever green.
“Things end but memories last forever”
When I was in my class five, I was told that we are getting shifted to a new place. With lot of excitement and enthusiasm I got ready to leave the ‘City of Joy’. It was really tough to move out from the busiest city to settle down in the outskirts of a small town where I didn’t even know the local language. But I never knew that I would fall in love with the same language and patronize the same. The memories of the place where I was born and I grew up is still fresh. The small lanes of Howrah, the south indian colony where you either have relatives or end up becoming relatives, the local eateries, the festivals, the steamer rides, trams, mini buses, howrah bridge, hoogli brigde, Kali ghat etc. – the memories created there would shine bright which can never fade away.
“The best thing about memories is creating them…”
My first stage speech on Independence day of 1997. I still remember the wonderful English speech my grandfather wrote for me a week ago and I was all prepared to deliver the same but I was not prepared to face the crowd. Though I had rigorous practice at home and school, I wasn’t sure how it would be in reality. I started the speech but was stuck after the initial respects. My class teacher who was standing at the other end of the crowd was showing gestures to proceed by seeing the paper and read the speech but I failed to grasp what he said. I silence so far broke by murmurings in the crowd. Tears slowly started rolling my cheeks. Before I broke down, my English teacher ran to the stage to stand beside me. I gained confidence and I delivered the Independence day speech without any error. And there was no look back after this. I was encouraged to participate in oratory competitions and this particular memory which was foundation to the major skill I hone today remains fresh.
“Good times and crazy friends makes the best memories”
Getting through the board exams wasn’t a big deal for me. Choosing Engineering over Physics and Maths was also quiet easy. But leaving the family to go to hostel was biggest fear of life. I guess every individual would have faced this especially when they have to leave the guarded shelter. The evening phone calls I used to make to my mom and granny would end up in fights and tears. I hated my dad for sending me to hostel though my home was just 1.5 hours away from my college made. The ‘home sick’ feeling lasted for just couple of months and till I got the buddies for life. The hostel memories which kicked off by August 2003 is very huge and it wont be fitting a blog. ‘Hostel days in college’ are the best days of anyone’s life and no one can deny that fact. It’s only because of friends you make. The memories doesn’t stop with just friends from college/hostel but it continues with the crazy friends you make at work and in social gatherings. Birthday bashes, outings, lunches, midnight chats, gossips, movie outings, fun time, weddings, dancing, jamming and what not. I am blessed to get such friends who have given me the best of best memories.
“Tears die, smiles fade but memories last forever…”
Even the richest of richest will not be able to forget their first job and first salary. The happiness of getting first salary and telling it to your parents is one of the best memory. I remember the day, my salary was credited. I called my parents to inform about it and I could feel how proud they were. I then called my grandpa to inform and he was the most happiest person in the earth that day. I had planned to meet him couple of weeks after and had even decided to get a gift for him and my grandma. But unfortunately he passed away couple of days after my first salary was credited. I miss you ‘thatha’. He was the man who skipped his 80th birthday celebration just to save the money for my college fee. I still feel sad that I couldn’t gift him anything.
“Making memories with you is my favorite thing to do”
Isn’t meeting your girl and getting married to her is the most amazing memory of your lifetime? Though our’s was a arranged marriage, we fell in love with each other the moment we met and spoke. Since there was 8 months gap between first meet and marriage, we had got to hold a lot of memories within. And seeing your parents happy about the girl you are going to get married is bliss. Our wedding a grand gala function which is still being cherished not only by us but also by our relatives. I also have to mention that I have a got a wonderful extended family. My memories for life would have been nothing without you, my love.
“In my heart is a memory and there you will always be…”
And the best of the all is here. After sleepless nights as the date was nearing and my wife being at her mom’s place, I receive a call in the early morning to hear from my father-in-law that my wife has got the labor pain. I rushed to the hospital which is around 5 kms away from my home to meet her before she is taken to the labor ward. I saw her with intense pain. We could hear only her cry from the labor ward. After 4 and half hours of severe tension , we heard the first cry of our kid. When my family was eager to know the gender of the kid, I was happy that the bundle of joy arrived. Happy tears flooded everyone’s eyes. ‘THE MOMENT’ or ‘THE MEMORY’ was when I got to hold him in my hands for the first time. He could recognize my voice very well. The happiness it brought to me at that moment did beat the rest.
#MemoriesForLife doesn’t end here for me. I believe that there are more beautiful moments to come which would get converted as memories some day.
I hope my blog would have made you to remember some of your best memories. If so, then “Share your #MemoriesForLife like I’ve done at BlogAdda for HDFC Life.”
My scrapbook that contains the memories I had mentioned about in the blog is available here.