STRAIGHT OUTTA MADRAS
this life, there’s so much to understand,
I so n much
to learn. There are so many things
that we measure ourselves by - age,
accomplishments, things that are done, or
things undone. But that’s not the purpose of
this life. Things happen. People move on,
and new people come. I’ve come across a
number of people with both completely
different perspectives of thoughts from
mine, as well as the same, and having to
maintain good terms when you are
encountering in such a situation is a tough
job. On most occasions like this, I learnt
that it is completely okay to be silent and
not pose an opinion, whether right or
wrong, even if it makes you a coward in
front of them. There have been times when
conversations and debates almost ruined a
beautiful friendship, but it is always
necessary to understand that different
things hold different meanings to different
people. It is like the analogy of a home. But
what is a home? Home is where wonderful
things happen. And it is also a place where
horrible things happen. Having lived all of
my life so far outside of this city, I felt like
the “New girl” in town when I moved here
for college.Like everyone else trying to fit
into this new ambience, I had my own
share of challenges and struggles.
Nevertheless, this taught me so much and
has molded me into the person I am today
and I am nothing less than proud of myself
for the same. I came into this city as
an immature child, but today, through all
these lessons, these four years hold
such an important place in my heart. Not
to forget all the amazing set of people
I met as strangers that turned into
family, the number of eat-outs I’ve
explored, places I have been to and all the
Atti (hangout spot) conversations. Certain
good and others bad, but they’re all
memories I want to hold on to forever. I
might have been to the same beach,
roadside food stall and many other places
a million times, but it always feels like
the
my
first
time.
That’s
how
refreshing this city makes me feel. People,
places, fights, regret, mistakes, adventure
and what not. As a child, I moved from one
city to another quite often and there is
nothing that has felt anything as close to
how amazing Madras makes me feel. Home
for many, yet holding the same emotions.
Madras is my home. I might not have lived
here long enough to call it home, but that’s
how you really know you’ve got a home.
When you leave it, there is this feeling you
can’t shake, you just miss it.
SANJANA RAGHU
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