Life has indeed taken a full circle and
I realise this when I look back in reminiscence, take a trip down memory lane
and raise a toast to 2012. It was a year which has been very challenging, yet
satisfying. A year wherein my life saw scarcity… scarcity of means with all the
savings drained out to support a family of three. As a postgraduate student in
the University and with family around, I had to cut costs and live within a
budget. Yet there was fulfilment… fulfilment of aspirations and a long
cherished dream to study in the UK… and the contentment of seeing my daughter
grow up whilst she was with me at Southampton. The year gave me an opportunity
to work with the best brains in the world and to be associated with the best
academics at the University. The year saw my dream of travelling to Europe come
alive with two trips – one to the Iberian Peninsula during Easter break and
another to far off Italy after the exams in June.
The New Year was welcomed last year in
the company of my wife and daughter and another Indian friend. We went to Southampton
city centre in the evening to buy a few gifts for my daughter and clothes for
my wife… in an attempt to get a deal on whatever was left over from the Christmas
and Boxing Day sales. The city of Southampton looked much at peace and relaxed after
the revelries of Christmas. The Christmas decorations were still up and we had
a nice lunch at my favourite hang-out in the city, Pitcher and Piano at Ocean
Village and evening coffee at Starbucks before we headed home to ring in the
New Year.
The preparations for dinner had begun a
day in advance with my wife setting up the chicken and lamb for marinating with
pure Indian herbs and spices. Twenty four hours of marinating the meat had
rendered it soft and succulent and it all looked quite promising. Our
celebrations began at 9pm sharp with exotic chicken roast and champagne and
soft music in the background. It was bitingly cold outside and therefore the
idea of venturing out at night to the waterfront or Mayflower Park had to be
dropped. I could not take any chances with a three month old daughter in arms –
her health being the top priority.
A couple of rounds of good chicken roast
and champagne had set our mood. It was our first New Year’s Eve away from our homeland
and we were all quite excited. Thankfully, my daughter too was enjoying taking
turns and looking at us whilst she enjoyed the comforts of her cot.
Our landlord’s mum had dropped in in the
evening and brought us a nice looking New Year cake and a big basket of
chocolates and cookies for my wife. It was indeed very sweet of her and my wife
was really touched by her warmth. She even invited us for lunch the next day –
a welcome lunch for my family upon their arrival in Southampton.
As the countdown to the New Year was
beginning, we could see our neighbours come out in the streets. We went to the
top floor of our house as our house was located on top of a hill in Bitterne
and gave an excellent view of the city. The New Year was greeted with a loud
uproar and cheer and a grand display of fireworks. Our house was well located
and the top floor window allowed us to witness the pomp and show from within
the comforts of our home.
As I hugged my wife and daughter, I was
really grateful to them for having stood by me and agreeing to come all the way
to Southampton from India. My eyes were shining bright as I looked forward to
an eventful New Year ahead and the good things in life – togetherness with
family, success in my course, sound health and happiness galore!
Rohit
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