Good bye! Thanks a ton! Good riddens!
But wait! Was it really that bad? Introspection, deep
reflection and countless glasses of rum later, I begin to wonder if 2012 really
was that bad a year? Let me look back at my year, my year of reckoning,
discovery, loss, renewal and flickers of hope here and there.
The year began on a somber note for me when my aunt, who I
have loved and admired all my life decided she needed a better place, then this
world, to live in. She was always a true inspiration in just the way she
conducted herself and her tenacity for many things in life. She doted on me and
it was and still is tough to see her contact on my phone and not be able to
dial her number. Makes me realize that you just can never have enough
conversations with the people you love and I cringe at the thought that I didn’t
call her more. She is surely in a better place now and she is quite probably
tuning into her favorite TV show or cursing the plight of our society while she
keeps a keen eye on me and hopes for the best for my life. You will always be
missed.
For a year that started on such a low note, it did find it
very tough to give me any highs. But seeing my beautiful niece go from being a
couple of months old to a year old, will surely be the crowning glory of this
year. Incredibly intelligent, naughty and cruelly cute, she has brought out a
protective, quasi-fatherly side to me that I did not know existed. Now I
understand when close family are so shocked every year to see me all grown up.
I used to laugh at their incredulity but I’m very sure my niece will be doing
the same when I look at her and tear up every time I see her. She is truly the
apple of my eye and seeing her grow will undoubtedly be my favorite moments of
2013. That’s already guaranteed!
My love and appreciation for one of my most celebrated
interests only strengthened this year. It began with Agneepath and was wrapped
up quite tautly by Talaash. It wasn’t my favorite year of Bollywood but it
surely was the year when I took it most seriously. I betted heavily on good
content and I must say, I was let down a bit. But a few movies did sure warm
the heart. Kahaani stunned me, Barfi wowed me but by far the movie of the year
would, without a single iota of doubt be, Gangs of Wasseypur. A true classic and
I fail to understand how that wasn’t our Oscar entry. The five hour, two part
revenge saga was pretty much how I would like to define my life from this
point. Watch it and you will know what I mean. This was also the year I
discovered ‘The Secret in their eyes’, an Argentine thriller which is just
beyond comparison. A movie that I urge you to watch just to understand how powerful
cinema can truly be. Let Bollywood aspire for such heights this year and with
possibly the most exciting February of movies lined up in my movie watching
history, I cannot wait for 2013.
This also was the year of understanding love. It was
warming, it was comforting, it was tiring, it gave me hope and encouragement,
it made me feel all conquering, helped me realize what’s important and also was
disappointing and outright shocking at times. I have seen my greatest lows and
hit my most intoxicating highs this year and it’s all because of a few
relationships that involved people very close to me. I’m ending the year with
possibly my belief in love shaken, but not stirred. I have won some and
possibly lost the most important one but I vow to continue fighting in 2013.
Top of my list is to regain my love for the city of Chennai which has been an
unsuspecting bystander in all my tribulations this year and has been blamed for
most of it. In rediscovering my love for this city I believe lies the key to my
renewal. As for relationships that seem to have gone out of my hand now, they
need to know they will remain in the heart but my desire to fight back is at it’s
strongest. So this is me hoping to be a better man who will be accepted better
by people around him and this is me submitting myself to the greater
conspiracies of the universe.
Finally, this was also the year of independence. My first
full year standing on my own feet. My first year with my own transport
independence – my first bike and car. This was also the year I took care of
myself. This was the year my writing came into its own as for the first time I
actually seem to have a plan for it and I hope 2013 will give me the right
direction for my writing exploits. This was the year I decided to take control
of my life and never let anyone or anything bring me to my knees. This was the
year my career began to take serious shape and I truly believe I have a lot to
prove and I have everything in place to do just that. 2012 will always be the
year I decided to take control..
A huge thanks to everyone and everything who made this year
brilliant. A special mention to killer roommates, my cozy family, all my
friends –rich, fat, thin and the ones holding on tight. My cubicle mates, my
zippy Activa, my smooth Indica, Old Monk and Bafat Pork, Flat 3A, Swedish House
Mafia and Mumford & Sons, Manchester United, money in the bank, biryanis
across Chennai and of course, the girl with the lovely voice. There were many
others but I promise to add you in my Welcome to 2013 post J
Take care 2012 and yes, before I start drinking, Cheers!!
