In our life we meet meet many people, some of them becomes your close friends, some you forget over the course of time and there are some other who just meet you for moments and leave a lasting impression on you. This post is about all those "Precious" people with I crossed path at some point in my life. I don't know name of most of them but I they had some lasting impression on me...
Take 1: "Anoop"
Year 1984
That was the year I was born, I was about three months old and my name was not finalized. That was my first ever train journey and I was going to my maternal grandparents home. One of the traveler asked my mom, "What is his name". Mom: "Not finalized yet". Traveler: "What letter you what to start his name with?" Mom: "Punditji has suggested 'S', but 'A' will be fine too..." Traveler:"What about 'Anoop', that's a nice name"... and since that moment journey of "Anoop" started.
Take 1: "Anoop"
Year 1984
That was the year I was born, I was about three months old and my name was not finalized. That was my first ever train journey and I was going to my maternal grandparents home. One of the traveler asked my mom, "What is his name". Mom: "Not finalized yet". Traveler: "What letter you what to start his name with?" Mom: "Punditji has suggested 'S', but 'A' will be fine too..." Traveler:"What about 'Anoop', that's a nice name"... and since that moment journey of "Anoop" started.
Take 2: "Helping Hand"
Year 1992
I was in my 5th standard, just opposite to my present outlook (if you are among those who think I am sincere, regular type of guy), always on the edge, always inviting troubles for myself. On the annual day of my school, I felt on one of the nail that was used to fix the tent on ground. It was not a pleasant site to have a big nail couple of inches inside knee. Teachers were busy in the preparation on the other side of school and students were totally scared. That time, a guy came out of crowd took off his handkerchief to tie on my knee and took me inside school... I don't know what could have been result of delay... but lot of thanks to you Praveen!
Take 3: "A friend in need..."
Year 1995
Another incident when I invited trouble, this time in swimming pool. I was learning to swim, and it was the beginning period, and I was not good at it. I took my chances and went into deep water and lost my breath. It was hard for lifeguards to find me in the crowded pool. All of the sudden two hands came and took me out, it was my classmate from school. He took me to low water area to shouted at me, "If you don't know swimming, why you go on that side?". I must confess, I didn't liked shouting that day... but today, when I look back I have nothing by a big "Thank you!".
Track 4: "Unknowns"
Year 1996:
It was winter of 1996, month of January. Manali, a famous hill station was in its full glow. We were going to Rohtank Pass (one of the highest points for casual tourists). I decided to hike, and our guide joined me. Rest of people including my mom and sister took a passing tractor to go up there when this incident happened. As snow was converted to ice due to cold, roads were very slippery. Suddenly, tractor slipped and started moving towards canyon in reverse direction. From what I have been told, the driver and his helper jumped off and stopped tractor by putting some stones with lightning speed beneath tires and avoided a big accident. I have not even seen these two people, but they are a part of my memory.
Track 5: "The first crush"
Year 1997-98
It was late summer season, beginning of monsoon season in India. I went for a small track near Indore at a place called Sitlamata Fall with a group from Youth Hostels Association of India. A nice little group in young boys and girls, day passes casually with all track and fun activities. On our return journey to catch a bus, it was heavy rain and we all were wet. We set in the but, that was the time when 'she' set next to me. A girl with wide smile and beautiful brown eyes. I don't know if it was weather, atmosphere, or anything else. Something really clicked between us and after a long conversation she shred her landline number (that was 1997... no mobiles!!!), that I noted on my hand (Old School). We had a nice conversation, she got down when close to her friend's place. I reached home and looked at my hand, number was not there, rains has washed it up. With passing time, I don't even remember her name, but that I do know that that was my first crush. I thing still when I pass through that area, sometimes I do look around. :)
Track 6: "Respect"
Year 2008
Moving 10 years and half the world ahead, it was Spring Break in 2008, I was leading a group of volunteers to help out National Park Services to scavenge a lost site at Cumberland Island in US. There was this elderly park ranger, unlike others very clam and had a lot of stories to share with us. In a short period of one week, we developed a great understanding and respect. I am not able to recall his name, but I still have some of the gifts that he gave us when we were leaving.
Track 7: "Roll at Rollins" and "The Beautiful Stranger"
Year 2009
One year later, I was working at Rollins Pizza in my University. An Indian guy working in morning shift among all unknown faces. There I met these two amazing ladies Maria and Miss Jeniece. Maria was middle aged Mexican women, and first friendly face that met there... we had most of the common shifts and had lots of conversations about culture, cooking, beliefs etc. great human being! Miss Jeniece, a 55 year old lady, known for her great Pizzas, very candid and content and my first cooking teacher of international foods.
Track 8: "Miracle"
Year 1999-2011
This is a long story, year 1999... Internet craze among teens, most of the time spent in chatting. A boy met a girl accidentally, and they became good friends. For next 10 years they were chatting on and off, but they did became very good friends... and after 10 years, one nice weekend they met in Delhi...
Track 9: "You can find help even at North Pole!"
Year 2010
I was in Vellore, exploring nearby villages and areas around. The most difficult part was communicating with people due to language barrier. On one such drives I lost in nearby area and was trying to find my way out. I met couple of people, but due to language problem I was not able to find my way out. After spending couple of hours, I heard a voice, "Kya Hua?? (Hindi)", it was a shock, but at the same time, there was a relief. He came to me, helped me getting out of that area, back to road. I don't know his name or anything for that matter... except his smiling face.
Track 10: "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"
Year 2008-09
MISC... Missouri International Student Council, a group of diverse and amazing individuals. I am glad that I got an opportunity to meet this wonderful group of people. Some of them were lost with time, but those memories are still there with me. And on the other hand, many of them are my very good friends till date. We are in different part of world at this time... but there is a bond of friendship and respect that always keeps us together.
Year 1992
I was in my 5th standard, just opposite to my present outlook (if you are among those who think I am sincere, regular type of guy), always on the edge, always inviting troubles for myself. On the annual day of my school, I felt on one of the nail that was used to fix the tent on ground. It was not a pleasant site to have a big nail couple of inches inside knee. Teachers were busy in the preparation on the other side of school and students were totally scared. That time, a guy came out of crowd took off his handkerchief to tie on my knee and took me inside school... I don't know what could have been result of delay... but lot of thanks to you Praveen!
Take 3: "A friend in need..."
Year 1995
Another incident when I invited trouble, this time in swimming pool. I was learning to swim, and it was the beginning period, and I was not good at it. I took my chances and went into deep water and lost my breath. It was hard for lifeguards to find me in the crowded pool. All of the sudden two hands came and took me out, it was my classmate from school. He took me to low water area to shouted at me, "If you don't know swimming, why you go on that side?". I must confess, I didn't liked shouting that day... but today, when I look back I have nothing by a big "Thank you!".
Track 4: "Unknowns"
Year 1996:
It was winter of 1996, month of January. Manali, a famous hill station was in its full glow. We were going to Rohtank Pass (one of the highest points for casual tourists). I decided to hike, and our guide joined me. Rest of people including my mom and sister took a passing tractor to go up there when this incident happened. As snow was converted to ice due to cold, roads were very slippery. Suddenly, tractor slipped and started moving towards canyon in reverse direction. From what I have been told, the driver and his helper jumped off and stopped tractor by putting some stones with lightning speed beneath tires and avoided a big accident. I have not even seen these two people, but they are a part of my memory.
Track 5: "The first crush"
Year 1997-98
It was late summer season, beginning of monsoon season in India. I went for a small track near Indore at a place called Sitlamata Fall with a group from Youth Hostels Association of India. A nice little group in young boys and girls, day passes casually with all track and fun activities. On our return journey to catch a bus, it was heavy rain and we all were wet. We set in the but, that was the time when 'she' set next to me. A girl with wide smile and beautiful brown eyes. I don't know if it was weather, atmosphere, or anything else. Something really clicked between us and after a long conversation she shred her landline number (that was 1997... no mobiles!!!), that I noted on my hand (Old School). We had a nice conversation, she got down when close to her friend's place. I reached home and looked at my hand, number was not there, rains has washed it up. With passing time, I don't even remember her name, but that I do know that that was my first crush. I thing still when I pass through that area, sometimes I do look around. :)
Track 6: "Respect"
Year 2008
Moving 10 years and half the world ahead, it was Spring Break in 2008, I was leading a group of volunteers to help out National Park Services to scavenge a lost site at Cumberland Island in US. There was this elderly park ranger, unlike others very clam and had a lot of stories to share with us. In a short period of one week, we developed a great understanding and respect. I am not able to recall his name, but I still have some of the gifts that he gave us when we were leaving.
Track 7: "Roll at Rollins" and "The Beautiful Stranger"
Year 2009
One year later, I was working at Rollins Pizza in my University. An Indian guy working in morning shift among all unknown faces. There I met these two amazing ladies Maria and Miss Jeniece. Maria was middle aged Mexican women, and first friendly face that met there... we had most of the common shifts and had lots of conversations about culture, cooking, beliefs etc. great human being! Miss Jeniece, a 55 year old lady, known for her great Pizzas, very candid and content and my first cooking teacher of international foods.
Track 8: "Miracle"
Year 1999-2011
This is a long story, year 1999... Internet craze among teens, most of the time spent in chatting. A boy met a girl accidentally, and they became good friends. For next 10 years they were chatting on and off, but they did became very good friends... and after 10 years, one nice weekend they met in Delhi...
Track 9: "You can find help even at North Pole!"
Year 2010
I was in Vellore, exploring nearby villages and areas around. The most difficult part was communicating with people due to language barrier. On one such drives I lost in nearby area and was trying to find my way out. I met couple of people, but due to language problem I was not able to find my way out. After spending couple of hours, I heard a voice, "Kya Hua?? (Hindi)", it was a shock, but at the same time, there was a relief. He came to me, helped me getting out of that area, back to road. I don't know his name or anything for that matter... except his smiling face.
Track 10: "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"
Year 2008-09
MISC... Missouri International Student Council, a group of diverse and amazing individuals. I am glad that I got an opportunity to meet this wonderful group of people. Some of them were lost with time, but those memories are still there with me. And on the other hand, many of them are my very good friends till date. We are in different part of world at this time... but there is a bond of friendship and respect that always keeps us together.
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