Of tears, Christmas, reunions and Everest

I bid a very tearful good-bye to Lisa. It is so difficult to part. I guess I should be happy to have someone who cries for me, indeed, there are only a fortunate few who have so good friends. While in Ithaca, I knew that I had come far, far away from home only to realize that what I had really come looking for I had left behind me. But I could not have imagined that I would have the very same feeling when I would leave Ithaca. Lisa wrote a new chapter in my life. I wish those beautiful memories never fade away.

I spent the Christmas in New York City with Mayank, Venkat (who had come to NYC), Biz and Aakash. Vijay and I came from Ithaca. It was nice to be with all my friends once again. Of course Chandra was missed. Didn’t do much apart from walking all over Manhattan over foot and seeing the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Mayank’s car rocks.

The journey back was filled with more and more recurrent memories. Ithaca loomed large over my mind. Cornell, the people, and Lisa came again and again to my mind. I saw ‘Million Dollar Baby’ on my laptop in the flight which made me sadder still. Fortunately, I had good seats on the flight and had good neighbors too.

Finished ‘Into Thin Air’ which I had started reading in the flight. This book was given by – no prizes for guessing – Lisa. It’s an amazing first-hand account of the worst disaster atop Everest in 1996. Spine-chilling and very exciting. Unputdownable. Read a book after a long time. Thanks, Lisa.

Homecoming was heart-warming. It was a complete surprise for everyone. Felt nice meeting mom and Rita. Fortunately, there were no tears – only smiles. Can’t help missing Papa though.

There are some things in life which will never come back.