The good ol' days are back!

Finally, after a long, long time I'm writing here. Last weekend, I attended and volunteered at a four 

day brilliant pop up exhibition of second-hand books at Twice Told at Cowrks in Worli. I met friends, fellow readers, and avid readers. My excitement and energy were all over the place as I interacted and had long conversations with people who devoured books like I do. We exchanged ideas and philosophies that ranged from Rumi, Sufi saints, Architecture to cities and urban planning. It was a sheer pleasure to spend my waking hours in the company of people who read and ruminate. This was about last weekend. 

This weekend, because of the terrifying rain scare, I spent it indoors at home. There wasn't any electricity for a good part of the day, but I ended up reading. Went through newspapers and the book recommendations, reviews, also rearranged my shelves, took a look at Goodreads after a very long time. Realized that I hadn't updated it with any of my reads from this year. As I looked back at the last three months, it gave me such a high to think of the self-care and love I put into myself. I went on an amazing 15-day vacation to Kerala, all on my own. It acted as a much-needed break from routine. I hadn't taken a vacation in seven years so this was solely my time. I went every day to the seashore, enjoyed the booming of the waves and the solace it provided me. I made new friends, met old ones, explored places with a renewed interest from a traveler's eyes, and also maintained a journal. Wrote about my days, reflected on them, savored everything with a new palate and enjoyed my freedom. 

I went on another vacation exactly 15 days after my southern tour to Madhya Pradesh. It was a study tour but nonetheless a rich experience of the central lands with their hospitality and vibrant culture. I stayed and visited the handloom weaving industry in Maheshwar. Never was I more enamored before than the beautiful work of the weavers on handloom sarees. The river and fort provided an everyday companionship to my routine. It was a source of unbridled joy to wake up to the charms of a river and walk through the many endless alleys into the stone charming interiors of the magnanimity of the fort that stands there for more than 300 years. I experienced a novel zest for architecture once again and the passion to look at it in manifold new ways, more than ever. I was really sorry to end my brief stay there. As I boarded the train back home, I realized the vast potential our life offers us through such journeys.

Soon after returning home my Madhya Pradesh Trip, I got an opportunity to study for a summer course in Germany. I promptly completed the admission details but wasn't sure if the entire thing made sense to my existing work sphere and further academic ventures. Thankfully, I got in and the other trivialities too worked out. Here's to another new adventure that beckons me! I am absolutely hopeful for a challenging and new world order ahead of me. It means so much to me to get outside this comfort zone that I've set myself in since a long time. I'm breaking the mold here and going for a change that shall chart out new horizons for me.

Coming back to today, as the electricity was restored, my Dad & I watched a movie on TV after long, many years. About two weeks ago, we both stayed up till late and watched the cricket world cup semi-final & the finale. The last time we had enthusiastically done so was probably during the 2011 WC or even earlier. In the middle years, due to our busy schedules, we stopped doing things that brought such joy to us. I'm glad certain things are making a comeback in our lives again. Just feels like we are back to being happy! Here's to many more such united days of happiness ahead. Amen.