Every single day we become a bit more older than we already were and every single day offers myriad colorful experiences, some of which may be memories that last for a lifetime and some others might be inconsequential things that would never occupy our cranial space anymore. One such event happened today. For long I have been a proponent of the motto “Be Youthful, Be Exuberant” (*I created this motto, to obviously honour my selfish prerogatives*). Today at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, at around 12:12 P.M. and 30 seconds, near the microwave, I suddenly realized something! “I had packed lunch!” *Ding*,Not just that! I was heating it as well near the microwave! *Ding Ding Ding*. A quick glance around me confirmed my fears. There were men, whose faces were a clear indicator of the years that they dedicated for science. Obviously a selfish guy like me doesn’t see that. I look at the superficial, the grey in the hair, the wrinkles on the forehead and the kind. A very sad prospect indeed, I thought. All these years, without a care in the world I used to stroll in and out of office spaces sans a lunchbox. That meant lightness of being, freedom to choose your own platter. Freedom to socialize with young people of your age and freedom to eat what you wanted! Today I felt the same predicament my ‘Guruji’ Shreyas Sekar finds himself every single day. A veteran of bringing lunch to the lab, I understand how heavy his heart feels,when we call him to join us in youthful activity. The dedication that he puts into cooking his lunch the previous night, fending off hungry wolves like 'Josyula', is quite an achievement in itself. Today I realize how difficult a situation he has been put in. ‘Uncle’ is not just a feeling, it is now an emotion! Once inside you, it is etched into the very firmament of existence!
As I take the long walk to my lunch table to join fellow ‘Uncle’ Vinay Venkatraman, a tinge of sadness comes over me. I have been called a ‘kid’ for long, ‘Anna’ (*Big Brother*) for a bit more. I did enjoy them, but this new title I fear is going to never sound pleasant. I spot a little kid in the distance. Instinctively I hide, lest in the case he addresses me as *Uncle*. Keats once said, “When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe, than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say’st, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty,--that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”.
The very thought of me bringing Keats into this discussion gives me the shudders! Why can’t I just bring in a ‘Bieber’ or a ‘Taylor Swift’. Gah! Anyways I have to go now, My mobile has been constantly buzzing. Turns out that ‘Guruji’ Shreyas Sekar and ‘Uncle-in-waiting’ Sujoy Sikdar figured out that this is a good time to get vegetables from the market as they come in fresh at this time of the day *What did I say? Being an ‘Uncle’ is an emotion’!*. Until the next status change see ya folks! Oops! I see that kid around **hides instinctively!**.
PS : As a newly converted serial basher of Kamal Haasan, I try to maintain my dignity, so the title of this blog is a shameless flick from Guy Ritchie’s yet to be released movie. However, just like ‘Ulaganayagan’, I have altered it to suit my conveniences
