2006: Year of Exhilaration and Frustration

2006 AD is a year of utmost importance in my life. No other year has been as eventful as this one. It has had an everlasting effect on me.
I didn’t sleep on the very first day of the year as I watched movies whole night. I never realized that the year is going to be sleepless throughout. Then I met with an accident. I was trying to view some video on my friend’s mobile when I fell into the drain and injured my left hand. I couldn’t wear my watch for about a month and haven’t worn a belt since then. We had our exams in March-April. I had given good exams but was still undecided about my next step. I had a software job with MBT (now Tech Mahindra) along with a BPO one in Infosys. My teachers and my parents wanted me to go for MSc. I was also more inclined towards science than the job. I especially was interested in Astrophysics and hence wanted to join Pune University. I gave the entrance exam but couldn’t succeed in getting through.
And then came the shock of my life! I had secured 90% in the BSc III exams with a 40/40 in microprocessors. Now I was more determined to pursue science. Having not cleared Pune university entrance I opted for admission to Fergusson College. I came to Pune on 17th July only to know that the last day of application was 15th. I tried in Garware as well but couldn’t secure an admission. I went back to Nagpur to find that last date for application to the University Campus as well as Institute of Science was also 15th. I hadn’t considered Nagpur for my Masters before and hence hadn’t applied. I ran helter-skelter to be told that my chance of securing an admission was next to impossible. My physics sir, Shende Sir, tried his best to get me an admission but it didn’t come my way.
At last I decided that I would go to Pune for my MBT job. But having rejected it in the first place, I was told to try later. Then I contacted Infosys. They were ready and I was supposed to join on 7th. I started on 5th night from Nagpur in a Volvo bus. This journey was to be the journey of my life. In the morning we found the bus in a standstill. We soon found out that the whole western Vidarbha was under floods and we were in middle of it. Our bus was in front of an over-flooded bridge with vehicles all around. We were almost trapped and were cursing our stars when our driver tried to take us out of there to some nearby village. We reached a village named Dahigaon. People over there prepared a meal of khichdi for us. We were in middle of nowhere with no mobile coverage. I found a PCO booth (Reliance was there) and called home. On the villagers’ advice and directions we reached Mehkar Phata near Chikhli in Buldana district. This place had food and shelter. All the buses that had left Nagpur the day before were there. Here atleast there was electricity and mobile network. We slept in the bus in the night. My parents were dead worried and when the next day the buses decided to move by some different route with one returning back to Nagpur, I was the one among five others to return back. My parents also wanted me back home. I had already informed Infosys and was told that the next induction day was 16th August. We reached back at about 3 o’clock in the night to a dry enough Nagpur. My parents and my brother were happy to see me back safely.
I went back again to Pune on 14th but this time in a train. I went to stay with my friend Samiran. But by evening, I met my college friend Aniket and slept at his uncle’s house in the night. He had secured admission in Indira College and had even arranged for a flat in Wakad. First day in Infosys was uneventful. By night I had moved to Aniket’s flat. It was a mad journey with his vehicle going dry in the middle of the highway with rain pouring overhead. The second day i.e. 17th a feeling had started sinking that I didn’t belong to IT. By evening I decided to leave the job (The ICICI bank people did trouble for a year or so because of the salary account I had opened!!!). Aniket was not amused with the decision but I was determined. My parents supported my decision. I was back to Nagpur on 18th.
I had taught a boy in 2004-05 for his Xth. He wanted me back for XIIth. So, within few days I shifted back to Nagpur and started teaching Nauty(my student) Physics, Mathematics and English. His mother paid me handsomely (Rs 2500 / month) and my objective of not being a burden on my parents was fulfilled. I and my brother stayed in the room where I had stayed for 2 years. But this didn’t cooled me. Now I was frustrated to the core and wanted to delve completely into studies but the anger within myself was not allowing me to do so. I hated myself more than ever and considered myself to be a thorough worthless. I was not certain about anything and had even thought about the value of living such a life. My anger burst out more than often and the fellow troubled and affected most was my brother. He was trying to adjust with the new surroundings and my behaviour made it more difficult. He also sometimes lost patience and we fought over trivial matters. I had become inconsiderate, selfish and did not understand others. Instead I was blaming others for my grievances. It strongly affected my studies as well as well my brothers. This behaviour had taken a toll on my parents’ health as well. My mother had become weak due to my problems. I had developed an irritating behaviour and had become a complete nuisance.
In the meantime I got two more tuitions. My monetary health was fine but my mental health was not. Well this troubled year came to an end and eventually I cleared the Pune university entrance and am now pursuing MSc with Astrophysics as my special subject.
It’s said that, ‘All’s well that ends well’. It’s true in my case as well but the year has surely changed my life and has had heavy implications on my life. The year brought pleasure as well as sorrow not only to me and my family but also to my well wishers. I use this platform to thank all (especially my brother Shnehasish, friend Rohit Moharil and my physics teacher Shende Sir) who stood beside me in this troubled year and also apologize to all who were affected due to my irresponsible behaviour.