Khoya Paaya 2024
Following in the footsteps of those who inspire me, I have tried to encapsulate and reflect on the year gone by. 2024 was an interesting year for me in more ways than one. Personal loss reared its ugly head again when I lost my grandfather in January and a close uncle in December. Losing my loved ones at this frequency left me alarmed and bleak at times, reminding me to cherish those still around me even more. My grandfather was 96. He lived a long and mostly disease-free life. I hope he finds a better one in the next world. Guna uncle, on the other hand, passed away far too soon. His death was a real blow, as he had been ever-present in my childhood. His friendship with my dad had served as a model for me. I am only glad that I was able to speak with him one last time before he passed.
On a brighter front, I finally joined the consulting industry after years of reluctance and hesitation. It also forced me to move out of my Noida nest and fly solo. My Bangalore stint in 2021–2022 had been partial at best. This was the first time since college that I could call myself independent. Needless to say, it had huge ramifications in both my personal and professional life. Some relationships came to an abrupt halt, which left me with much more to reflect on. Continuing with last year’s tradition, I decided to celebrate my birthday alone. This time, however, I was in Goa, forming new friendships. I think I will try to make a new friend every birthday.
Living in a new city while donning a new job proved to be an incredibly steep mountain. For the first time since turning 16, I deprioritized my health, sacrificing my sleep and hard-set habits to understand my new situation. My friends in Mumbai – Varun, Parikshit, Utkarsh, Himanshu, and a host of other temporary faces – supported and guided me during the most difficult times of the year. A special mention goes to Varun for accepting and dealing with all my eccentricities as a flatmate. I would be remiss if I did not single out my new friends, Parikshit and Karthikeya, who offered fresh perspectives and a light to follow when times were dark. I never thought I could form genuine connections after college. However, life continues to surprise me, one friend at a time.
It was not all dark, however. My job allowed me to learn and discover anchors within myself. For the first time since school, I feel at home, like I belong somewhere.
I had a rough patch for a few weeks on a personal front. One of my closest friends was negatively affected by my cavalier tongue and glibness, forcing me to reconsider my attitude. My friendship was at risk of devastation. It has definitely made me practice temperance – something my father would stress even in my childhood.
My brother-in-law, RPP , and my sister were ever-present in supporting me as I navigated life during stressful times. The bird rightly remarked, “You’ve lucked out with RPP.“ In all this clamour for independence, I have been remiss in reciprocating the same affection and care toward my parents. I would like to change that next year.
Himanshu and Pranay, my closest lads, decided to tie the knot, leaving me optimistic about a happy ending in romance after all. I couldn’t attend Kavya, Vanya, and Ritvik’s weddings, much to my disappointment. Watching so many of my friends tie the knot left me both exalted and alarmed at the pace of life.
Travel took a resurgence in my life this year, mostly because of becoming a consultant. While my job entails travel, I was finally able to secure a UK visa on my fourth attempt, thanks to having a stable source of income. I spent perhaps the greatest 11 days of my life in London over Christmas. As always, my sister and RPP enabled a great experience for this wannabe Bourdain. Long walks, happy pints, and hot coffee – these make me a happy man.
In the coming year, I hope to rekindle my love for writing and travel. Managing time and schedules continues to be an eternal challenge for me. However, as Beckett suggests, “Next time, fail better.” Much love to Coco and birdie!