I have been longing to visit FLAME since a very long time. But then, I have also been planning to START writing. I have learnt that no matter what quality of conviction an individual holds, things won't happen unless the time is ripe. One of my yearning did come to an end after a lot of procrastination and undetermined planning. Though the ripening did take a long time,but the fruit was indeed sweet. It was worth it in the end.
Yes, after crusading for several months, I finally succeeded in satisfying my yearning. It did take a lot of heated arguments, about 500 WhatsApp messages and a couple of conference calls to make this plan come together. The plan also peregrinated across several destinations like Silvassa, Vapi and even GOA!!! But to my relief we did end up going to FLAME.
Driving along the ghats with scintillating rays of the setting sun, vehement yet joyful evening breeze and over-embellished horizon, sunk our hearts and intruded our sentience. We went to all those places on campus where we had created wonderful memories, and it started with the 'Great Walk on the Ring Road'. Then the reminiscing exercise peregrinated to the plaza, the apartment, Joe's & Bottom's Up, the academic spine, kund, and all the other places which were once, our 'Adda'
It was disheartening to see all these places deserted. The trees though green and yielding, seemed lifeless, the stone pathways and beige structures seemed sulking for their loneliness. It did not feel the same. The 'Adda's' were deprived of music, carefree laughter or any other kind of madness.
All this while, walking along the heart of the campus, I could only reminisce those wonderful moments lived. Remembering the past brought more joy than just being there at the field or in the balcony of our apartment. It was not just the place, but the experience of 'something' and with 'some people' which mattered the most. The campus came back to life when there was music played at Bottom's Up and Vallari dancing away with glory; I could feel the resurrection when there began an unending madness while playing 'Chhipkali'.
It is the people that matter the most. The campus just played the role of a catalyst; FLAME- a mighty good one though. Experiences of past happen but once, no matter how hard we try, we cannot re-live them. All we can do is to create a new one every time.
