Bus stops and goodbyes
After college, I got to work at around 11:30 and headed straight to our then Storytelling-now-PR-Room almost ready to be welcomed by Shweta dijju's hi with her sweet smile, Saroj Dai's "Oh, hi!" with a cheeky smile and Shebu's "Hi Mamina!". But the room was empty. All of our 7 white topped tables and ten chairs were vacant. The water bottles were still at our desk, the plants still in our windows. Our blue cupboards still protected all that we'd sorted out together only a few weeks back. Everything was in place but everyone wasn't there.
"I don't even need the lights if I work in this corner by the window," I said out loud to myself and fixed a spot in the corner. I swear I heard Shweta dijju's "Mamina, yei aau na" as soon as I said that. Memories... I could sense Saroj and Shweta's senseless banter and Shebu's quirky comeback. I heard it clear inside my head. But, more than that, I was sure I felt them there...
Sonam was passing by and he chose to walk in a talk to me. He reminded me that the three of them were pursuing their interests and asked me whether I was happy for them or not. I was happy. In fact, I am more than happy. I am proud of them for their growth, their realizations and their strengths. I also take pride in them reaching out to do more, better things in life. I told Sonam I am happy for them and held back my tears.
"Do you know about the bus analogy?" Sonam asked and I told him I didn't. "The core team and leadership team are driving a bus called 'Karkhana', picking up passengers like you and me; like Saroj, Shweta and Shebu, as they take the bus to it's destination. When the time comes, I will get off at my stop, like they did at theirs, like you will at your stop; like so many people have done before. It's not about the destination... It's the journey."
The four of us have shared our journey at Karkhana with many wonderful people who will always hold a special place on our heart and life. Through the ride, our team leads and mentors have swerved several bumps along the way. There have been our fair share of highs and lows. Now, the Karkhana-bus has arrived at Saroj, Shweta and Shebu's bus stop. And I have this sad, pinching feeling at the pit of my heart: like the one you have when your favorite part of a journey is over, or when your favorite song played on the radio in the bus and stopped abruptly... One moment it's there warming your heart, and in the next, it's all gone.
Now I am gonna watch out the window pane and wave goodbye to them, for now, it's time.
We might or might not share another bus ride together. But this sure isn't the end of our journey.
"I don't even need the lights if I work in this corner by the window," I said out loud to myself and fixed a spot in the corner. I swear I heard Shweta dijju's "Mamina, yei aau na" as soon as I said that. Memories... I could sense Saroj and Shweta's senseless banter and Shebu's quirky comeback. I heard it clear inside my head. But, more than that, I was sure I felt them there...
Sonam was passing by and he chose to walk in a talk to me. He reminded me that the three of them were pursuing their interests and asked me whether I was happy for them or not. I was happy. In fact, I am more than happy. I am proud of them for their growth, their realizations and their strengths. I also take pride in them reaching out to do more, better things in life. I told Sonam I am happy for them and held back my tears.
"Do you know about the bus analogy?" Sonam asked and I told him I didn't. "The core team and leadership team are driving a bus called 'Karkhana', picking up passengers like you and me; like Saroj, Shweta and Shebu, as they take the bus to it's destination. When the time comes, I will get off at my stop, like they did at theirs, like you will at your stop; like so many people have done before. It's not about the destination... It's the journey."
The four of us have shared our journey at Karkhana with many wonderful people who will always hold a special place on our heart and life. Through the ride, our team leads and mentors have swerved several bumps along the way. There have been our fair share of highs and lows. Now, the Karkhana-bus has arrived at Saroj, Shweta and Shebu's bus stop. And I have this sad, pinching feeling at the pit of my heart: like the one you have when your favorite part of a journey is over, or when your favorite song played on the radio in the bus and stopped abruptly... One moment it's there warming your heart, and in the next, it's all gone.
Now I am gonna watch out the window pane and wave goodbye to them, for now, it's time.
We might or might not share another bus ride together. But this sure isn't the end of our journey.
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