The best day(s) of my life ?

I am approaching the end of what has been a fantabulous weekend – it has had a perfect mix of fun, laughter, me-time, peaceful sleep and most importantly, friends and family.

This weekend brought with it waves of nostalgia, striking memories of what has been and thought provoking discussions on what could lie ahead. What struck me most though, across all interactions, was the sheer simplicity of what made each memory so special.

We reminisced about the trek where we climbed mountains and didn’t know how to descend, about the friend who borrowed what is now a measly sum of money and disappeared for years.. We laughed endlessly about the empty movie hall where the watchman was our sole companion, about inviting spirits and freaking out not at the fact that the spirit arrived, but at the fact that spirit was from a nationality scorned in India.

At no point, did we discuss our scores in a competitive exam or how were we graded. Yet we probably spent our growing up years worrying exactly about each of those results that mean nothing today (and probably didn’t mean anything then!).

We brainstormed about the next big idea, the brainwave that could revolutionize consumer dynamics, the thrill of changing the rules of the game. We cheered to a friend starting a family.

Yet another drunken night led to plans for Goa, Dubai and many other destinations that seem much closer than they did less than a decade back. We giggled and sang, spoke yet again of everyone living together in one big house (also the perfect solution to rising property prices!)

At no point, did we discuss levels and grades that we hold, money that we earn, assets we have built.. Yet, we probably spend a large part of our daily existence worrying about the mundane project at work, the next appraisal, a bigger bonus.

I fell in love with the guy who won my heart by taking a train after work each day only to come and meet me for a few precious hours. I gave in after a fight to a lone red rose and married him. It was not the solitaire I don today, or the car he drives.

My best memories from college include trudging by foot to save a measly two rupees for nimbu paani. The most time I spent with my closest friends was in the Bandra local.. It did not take a big degree or huge sums of money.

This weekend was not spent at the top notch night spots of Mumbai. We didn’t sip a cocktail at Zenzi mills, nor did we shimmy away at China House. We didn’t air kiss at Blue frog, nor did we do a wine tasting at some five star.

We instead downed a few beers at a local restaurant, cheered to the most economical Old Monk, spent hours singing tunelessly and grooving to Music on the laptop.

Yet, this was a special weekend, it had the right people, wonderful spirit (s) and moreover the heart was clearly above the mind.