Have you wondered what would it be like if you could talk to your own selves from different points in time? Technically speaking, it's possible only with a backwards and forward time-travel. And if you did have such an opportunity, what questions would you ask yourselves and what doubts would you clarify? Well, here's an attempt to discuss some common topics with my own selves set ages apart. It's a conversation between Karthik@4 Vs 14 Vs 24 Vs 34 Vs 44 years, whoa, that's a lot of Karthiks or should I say Myselves ! It's a long read and hopefully doesn't leave you bored.
1. On Education:
K@4: School is amazing. The teachers love me, I love all my friends and Deepa is my best friend.
K@14: Wait till you get to 10th, school is even more fun (with a sarcastic grin), wish I directly jump to college, could go to college anytime in casuals, will have loads of friends, life 'll be cool then. Can't think about anything now except the Xth board exams. By the way, Sathy miss said in our class today that "School life is the best and enjoy it to the fullest". Don't think there's anything to enjoy around here ! Hey K@24, How much will I score in my Xth and XIIth Board exams and which college will I study? Should I change my school after Xth.
K@24: Dude, even 10 yrs later, you'll appreciate what Sathy ma'am said. Make the most of your school life and you won't regret it. And you think college life is fun, come to college, you wish you go back to school. K@14: You're Xth marks will be ... hehehehe, I'm not gonna reveal it boy and XIIth will be a different ball game for you. You won't regret your college life either, but will take you a while to realize it! By the way K@34, I have questions for you: I'm the sole bread winner of my house now. Will I study higher? Will I be able to make it through my sister's education and marriage ?
K@14: You haven't answered any of my questions ?
K@24: That's it, your turn's up. Over to K@34.
K@34: Where there's a will, there's a way ! You'll figure out what to do.
K@24: Dammit, K@34 is just like me. I won't tell K@14 anything, and K@34 wont tell me anything !
K@34: But here's some insight for you. You'll have a good run, and you won't fail in your responsibilities. Now my turn. I know my education so far, but K@44, what will my education curve be from now?
K@44: hmmmm, can't say buddy ! But the words Sathy ma'am said, still echo in my ears ! Also, you won't lose sight of your reading habits.
K@14,K@24,K@34: No point talking to K@44, he's just like us!
2. On Career:
K@4: Means ??
K@14: Assuming I do good in Xth, XIIth and college, what kind of Job will I join? I don't know anything out there; dad talks about IIT and Indian Navy. Can any of you future K's help me?
K@24: You have no idea what dad's talking about right. It'll be a weird career journey for you. Just like dad was a part of Armed Forces in the 60s, you'll make a career in a different kind of army.
K@14: Intriguing... and may I ask what that army would be?
K@24: And you think I'll play spoilsport for you ??? No way boy. Now K@34, Work's been mighty hectic last few years and I've seen places. I've just taken the bold decision of moving to Bangalore, not sure if it was a wise decision though. Does my career have a future ?
K@34: Dudes, Work will always be hectic. Like always, just go with the flow. Opportunities will come your way, I can't gaurantee you'll take them all but go by your instincts, they won't disappoint you, it's all a learning anyway. Now K@44, Myself along with my best friend (you know who it is), have been flirting with the idea of starting out on our own, when do you see that happening ? Will I grow up this corporate ladder or get stuck?
K@14: What??? Are you crazy?
K@24: Wow, now that's something !
K@44: Just remember daddy's hesitation about starting something with Balraj uncle which never took off. You are going through the same thing. Your decisions will have justifications, some profound, some out of disbelief. Again, just go by your instincts. Don't wanna spoil your journey too.
3. On House:
K@4: We shifted to a new flat in Navy Nagar, Colaba few months back. It's a big flat, my neighbour Teena uncle and aunty are sweet. Balraj aunty takes me to church and parks. She even took a colour photo of me on Sunday. Bombay is my world !
K@14: Relish it while you can, Bombay is not your home though. There are major changes coming up and embrace them and you won't regret. Our MMDA house is nice, mom and dad gave me a separate big floor to study. I read early mornings in the kitchen, then near the well. After school I go up to first floor and read; Come down for dinner and that's it. It's been this routine last 6 months. Daddy just completed the terrace of our Mogappair house and everytime we see the house plan, we get excited. How soon will we shift there? Dad says it will take atleast 2 years to complete construction.
K@24: MMDA won't be the same and I'm slowly beginning to detest the area especially after living in other places. Mogappair house, well what can I say.
K@14: Elaborate more?
K@24: Don't worry about it. K@34, give me an insight, where are you living now?
K@34: Hahahahaha smart ! You almost got me there. Well technically, now I don't live in Mogapair or MMDA or Tambaram or even Chennai ! So K@44, will our dream house project get fulfilled and where do you live now?
K@44: Oh if you're so smart, guess it yourself :-p! We live in a house big enough for our family. You'll like where you live !
4. On Family:
K@4: Deepika is the new entrant in our family. She's a month old, ayah (Maternal Grandma) has come from Chennai to Bombay to take care of her.
K@14: We're in Chennai and Dad keeps travelling from Bombay every 3 months or so. It's hard for us especially when he misses out important dates, like mine or Deep's birthday or when I get good marks. Deep and me try not to trouble mom much. This time dad has spent a long time in Chennai and is busy with Mogappair house foundation. Ayah visits us once in few months.
K@24: K@14, hold on to your family as much as you can, that's all I have to say for now. Ayah will spend more time with you in future.
K@34: I know what you mean. It's amazing there's so much similarity between dad's and our lives. It's like we're re-living dad's life. What about our kids? What kid will Deep have? When it comes to family, how can I not talk about Jee....
K@44: Ssshhhhhhh, you almost broke a rule there, (no revealing critical future events). That's right; just remember the adage: You can re-live your childhood through your kids. So whatever you've missed, ensure your child gets them.
5. On Girlfriend:
K@4: Yuck, I don't want any girl friend and I won't have any!
K@14: I wish I have a girl friend in college. Will I?
K@24: Psssttt... (Laughing out Loudly). By the way, Lavanya of my college (who's a self proclaimed palm reader) read my palm in college and said I will definitely have love marriage. Will I and Have I met my soul-mate already ?
K@34: Things will happen when they're supposed to !
K@24: (Fuming now..), JUST TELL ME WHO'S THAT!!!
K@34 & K@44: (Smiles). It'll be a journey of good times and heartaches; But all's well in the end ! You'll be as close to your soulmate as mom and dad were between themselves.
K@24: (Smiles), OK let's move on.
6. On Fitness:
K@4: Means what ?
K@14: I'm passionate about sprinting and a good runner. I do pull ups and push ups regularly. Will I be a sportsman? I lost very badly to M.Ganesh in badminton today and I love the game. Will I get good at it?
K@24: Yes, I remember that game with Ganesh. First excel at school sporting events, then take it from there. Haven't played badminton in ages, will I get back to it? Will I ever get better at fitness. I've tried my hands at gym too.
K@34: About badminton, if it's your passion, you will go behind it. I'll let you figure it out for yourself. You'll find new passion along the way though. Will I get fitter in future?
K@44: It's in you, you will get better ! Just take care of your injuries.
7. On Sports:
K@4: Means what ?
K@14: Sachin just overtook Kapil Dev as my new hero, he's a grace to watch. Other Indian cricketers are hopeless; will India ever get better at this ! And Pete Sampras, looks like he's got a good future and plays even better than Agassi. Does he indeed have a future?
K@24: Still following cricket and Sachin is officially my cricket God now. And that knock..! There's still hope for Indian cricket. How long before Sachin retires?; wish I don't get to see that day. And Sampras, what a player and what a run he's had. This guy Federer has a good game too, pretty much like the next Sampras. Does he have any future? Thanks to Ranjay, been following Schumacher, he's the Sachin Tendulkar of F1 race !
K@34: We're blessed man. We got to follow the best player of Indian Cricket and the best tennis players ever. Tennis just gets better and probably witnessed the best competitive era ever. As far as sports is concerned, even the best can't stay atop forever.
K@44: Yes K@34 is right. Sports is still interesting, but nothing like the good old times. Those were the times...
8. On Movies & Entertainment:
K@4: Dharmendra is my hero, he never dies and dishum dishum kills the bad guys.
K@14: Grown out of Dharmendra and Amitabh. Kamalhassam - Big Fan; Not sure what these local guys see in Rajnikanth. AR Rahman - Big fan with Gentleman, Thiruda Thiruda and Kadhalan. He's cool and hope he doesn't run out of steam. I hate Illayaraja and his "Tabla" filled songs. Manage to sneak into 1 hour of MTV in the evenings when parents not at home (winks). MJ is cool. Love the new Pepsi and Coca Cola ads.
K@24: Kamal - Still Big Fan. AR Rahman still the best and my favorite. Deep and Me are hooked to FRIENDS, it's hilarious. Call me Karts - NEO after Matrix! Hard Rock music rules.
K@34: Kamal - Big Fan; Rajini - Big Fan, AR Rahman - Still big fan; Illayaraja- Indeed a legend. Pop music is more than just plain rock. Added new programmes and seasons to my TV watch list. Cricket - New dimension in entertainment.
K@44: Kamal, Rajini, AR Rahman - Still big fan. Illayaraja - Still a legend. No time for regular seasons like before.
9. On India and News:
K@4: I love the Ads before news. No TV at home (Sad face). Proud to be Indian. Indira Gandhi passed away a day before Deep was born, police everywhere.
K@14: Proud to be Indian. PV Narasimha Rao is a boring PM. Indians won Miss Universe and Miss World this year. Aishwarya Rai has been in ads before, she's the prettiest blue eyed lady ever. Been hearing new brands on TV, Ford, Hyundai etc. India is going global.
K@24: Proud to be Indian. Phew... India still has a long way to go. MMS as PM is a new face of Educated Politicians to lead India. New IT companies are coming up everywhere and salaries seem impressive. More brands are coming. Just saw few BMWs in Bangalore this week.
K@34: Proud to be Indian. India has come a long way but still a long way to go. The new PM NaMo is promising. Almost all big world brands have an India presence.
K@44: India has come a long way but still a long way to go. Proud to be Indian...
10. And Finally On Friends:
K@4: My best friend in School: Deepa. And my friends outside school, Gopi and Priya, (Selvaraj uncles kids). We met for Diwali at the Navy grounds too.
K@14: I remember Gopi and Priya, infact I even stayed at their place during summer vacation. But Deepa, dont remember her. I think she was the inspiration for Deepika's name? And K@24, What about my best friends, will I have these friends all through my life.
K@4: Yes, Deepa was the inspiration for Deepika's name.
K@24: Name your friends and I'll tell you. And who's your best friend among them?
K@14: Nagendra, Vijayababu, Ashwin, Ranjay, Shankar, Arulanandam (Amarnath). Hmmmm (thinking hard), no best friend among them, but Nagendra has been closest for 2 years. I'm busy studying all the time you see.
K@24: Yeah I know, but remember The best is yet to come! You'll have an interesting set of best friends and definitely friends for life. Hold on to your friends, 'cos they'll hold on to you during critical times. And don't forget what Sathy ma'am said; I think you get the hint. K@34, What about my new-age friends, how strong is our friendship?
K@34: It's a journey dude, the best is yet to come; there are mixed emotions involved too. Technology will change things to an extent. K@44, Will I make new friends for life; apart from the ones I already have?
K@44: Your words dude, Life's still a journey ! Don't expect me to reveal it all.
(The Karthiks here try their best not to reveal future events in order to preserve the uncertainties life brings. After all these events are what make the journey called life interesting.....)
