Up with the Birds

15^th August, 2010, Mumbai, India - I started journey to achieve something, something which gives satisfaction, to fly high, up with the birds, by leaving comfortable nest behind. And after one and half year later, on 16^th December, 2011, Washington DC, US, I was running behind DC to NY bus to catch it. My entire luggage was in that bus and I had got down to get some food for next 5 hour journey. If somehow I miss that bus, I am not sure whether I should make my trip back to India possible or not. (Missing bus during exam is still one of the most haunting nightmares I ever have.) 

15^th December, 2011 – Fairfax, VA (2 days before going back to India) I thought why it’s necessary to go back, I have more responsibility, work, fun-stuff to do in here at Fairfax than back in India. If I give reasons such as to meet my family n friends, then how can it be different than talking on Skype, which I do every weekend? I knew that it’s necessary to go back and meet family. But I didn’t felt that excitement what should be there for any one going back home after this long duration. I felt much more attached to my current life than going back to life which I left behind. I got answer to that question next day in New Jersey. I don’t want to keep it suspense whether I got that bus or not till the end of this article. I got that bus for sure; otherwise this story will remain unfinished. 

I have planned to reach NY a day before the flight for safety. To enjoy that stay at NY, I told my friend to hang out at dance club for that night. If I say truth, I don’t have so many friends, very few, if I count then I doubt I can make it to 10 or not. If I evaluate this friendship then it’s kind of different. I don’t remember we both have ever spent any quality time, in my word one on one talk before. But still we have good understanding. Maybe his friendly nature is responsible for that. He has kind of magic which compel people to trust him, to believe in him. I had met him in India for hardly 3-4 times, then during my visit to NY twice and when he visited DC. 

Other part of his story is quite unusual from my point of view. When he come to DC, he was with some girl and they were behaving like couple. I asked just for curiosity that how much he is serious about that relationship. He told me that it’s just friendship; they are enjoying each other’s company. After few days I come across that that girl has different religion. And that may be the reason for their decision. And anyway who cares about all this old stuff, if they really love each other then all this religion, cast, regions doesn’t matter. But I haven’t discussed that topic further as I thought it’s their decision and let them deal with it as they want. And as far as I know that girl she is quite intelligent and smart, not some dumbo who takes this kind of decisions just for excitement.

16^th December, 2011, Hoboken, NJ – me and my friend went for dinner at some Italian restaurant. And it was the talk which is one of my greatest one-on-one talks. He told me that that girl’s parents has found groom for her and she knew him very well, she is ready for that marriage. My friend was complaining why she lied to him about that. He told me that he was ready to fight for her with his family or anyone but she doesn’t want. I told him that I knew that this will happen someday, he also knew that but he thought that it’s normal routine for him to move on. But he was unable to move on this time. He told me “why we trust people, we care for people even when we know they are cheating us, lying to us.” I was really confused with his this question, I thought whether it’s our stupidity that we have blind faith in some people. But no, it’s not true. I never have blind faith in any one, but still I have cared for people even when they don’t bother about it anymore. Then what’s reason behind this. Then suddenly I remember philosophy behind one of my favorite character - batman. Actually we are not fool to care for people but we have certain moral values and we don’t want to give up those values even other people give up very easily. At the end of the day only thing matter is you should be able to look in your own eyes in front of mirror. You shouldn’t be ashamed of your any of act or letting go too easily. At that moment he told me, “Why there are very less people like you around me, I really miss you. I can’t be open like this in front of anyone.” Those words left me with tears hanging from corner of my eyes. I never thought that he can think about me this way. 

If I evaluate myself, I am very selfish person; I don’t care about people more. Still lots of people are there who care for me, who need me more than what I expect. In my spare time I write letters to friends and family. I have seen people being more open after receiving my letter. I was thinking while traveling that what I earned during this stay at US. I have earned trust, care, faith which I never get from my close ones previously. My roomies gave me farewell day before I leave, like some family member. It’s really cherishble treat for me, (thanks to everyone, if any of you reading.) I believe in getting best out of me, and I succeeded lots of time during my stay. I was just normal curios person who wanted to explore so many things. One of which is photography, through my endless enthusiasm I learned photography, actually I never learned it, it comes naturally from me and I won national cherry blossom competition because of that. I always try to explore bioinformatics - my study field, to my level best, and because of that I got internship at NIH, one of the dream jobs for any bioinfromatician. I have expanded my curiosity in various fields which are far from imagination for me before 3-4 years. I cook many dishes very well; I won pumpkin carving competition, which according to native people over here at my job, one of the most fantastic pumpkins they have ever seen. I have made those friends who are always ready to accompany me in every crazy idea. When I left home on 15^th August, 2010, I had lot of dreams, and when now I am going back on 18^th December, 2011, I am going as achiever. And still I have entire life to expand my enthusiasm with my unlimited energy. And I am sure one day while flying with birds, going back to home like this I will have one more achievement, one more fulfilled dream of making difference to world, better world for everyone.                   

~Jaimin (18th December, on flight from London to Dubai)