I am referring to 2016, which to my agony was not so sweet 16 at all. Fancy numbers are simply mind games and nothing that ends with 16 is that sweet after all. But between the conflicts of my heart & brain, heart never loses , so I again fell into false fantasy of the number and I really expected 2016 to create magic. But the year being a witch, kept serving me stale food in silver crockery, neither of which I could take or ditch.
A born foodie that I am, I have tried to analyse 2016 as a menu of "katta meeta" platter.
The main course, lets say "Biriyani" of 2016 was my great fall (literally) towards end of 2015 (this is my 3rd consecutive Dec fall), due to which I had to welcome 2016 performing "aarthi" in one hand. The idiot sleepy cranky driver hit the brake of the bus I was travelling in such a way that I found myself flying from 3rd row to 1st row of the bus, landing on the floor with entire weight on my left shoulder, followed by shower of few suitcases and bottles over me. You will understand this crankiness of bus drivers if you have ever traveled long routes on express buses on national highways. But what fun life would have with this simple painful fall? An additional "tadka" was added in form of delayed MRI approval , simply due to negligence of the hospital staff . So several calls and follow ups and physiotherapy sessions later, I was able to lift my hand with little pain and raise complaint about careless behavior of hospital staff. Least did I know life was waiting for this extra spice, I had to attend 100s of calls later to justify my complaint ,utter same lines to 100 different callers, at the end of which I had to apologies them for giving a complaint in first place (I almost did).
Following months in the menu of life was bitter sweet moments. Parents visited us for the first time in ten years, but in the shadow of sickness, it was not as relaxing as expected. Its like being served with masala dosa, with masala full of curry leaves.. Thankfully, the aroma lasted on my fingers and wonderful memories of the trip in my memory.
Bitter gaurd of my 2016 came in the form of trip plan to Georgia, successfully ruined by the ass holes of Holiday Factory. First they charged more than advertised price on the site, then they demanded to travel on the dates of "their convenience", then they failed to confirm any of the plan, ended with the frustrated customer (me) cancelling the plan at the cost of cancellation charges, which they deserve "for ruining our trip" But isn't bitter guard good for health? Ofcourse, we ended up visiting Nepal, the memories of which will last like last sip of hot filter coffee. Bonus to this was "Beluru" and "Melukote" trips, which I equally enjoyed.
Just like much hated thick edges of pizza, which we endure to relish rest of the best part, 2016 also came with hitches in professional life, the memory of which I simply like to discard. Apart from this, I lost few of my best friends, and had to put up with few jerks, just like how I hate mushrooms in pizza, but eat anyway.
2016 also made me bite few lemon seeds that came uninvited, which I regret for not being careful enough.
The sweet dish of 2016 was completing 10 years of my life with Raghav. This too has been a roller coaster ride, but with him next to me, I will survive any storm. There is nothing a chocolate can not heal, and there is nothing my "R-Man" can not do to see his "Nagavalli" smile :) (That's how he ruined our new year party performance)
The digestive "meeta pan" was as usual my beloved family, friends & blessings that kept me & my sane in one piece.
So that was my 2016, sandwich of sweet and sour memories. With this in mind, I have decided to let 2017 surprise me while making a note not to expect anything from anyone, which would be my only resolution.
Regards,
Ashwini.
