New Version Is The New Normal

2nd November 2022, the very first time I stepped into Cooper, to get my admission done, I had made up my mind to never step back again until round II and was entirely determined to get an upgrade. Perhaps, the first question I asked Dr.Mane (my biochem professor), who had been there on that very day was regarding the upgradation procedure to which, he replied with a smile,' Seems like you're much eager to leave Cooper'. But have now become a permanent resident of this very college, at least for the next 5.5 years. 

With decisions driven too much by my BRAIN, I've now accepted the reality and started learning to get acclimatized to the NEW normal which included daily local rush, reserving seats in Mumbai locals, and getting that victorious feeling on finally winning the fourth seat, the muscle cramps which are my alarm these days, missing out Kharghar station just to get a bit longer nap and finally driving 5kms from station to home, struggling through navi mumbai traffic. 

Yet being the same 18 year old, learning out not to forget greeting every passerby(with a mam/sir) and exchanging smile with everyone, reaching out for biochem practicals before time that too with mandatory apron,creating scenes at the dissection table (though winning the title of star dissector at the end),absent minded physio lectures, attending every lecture in order to salvage myself from the anat dept, laughing heartily with the tutors who seem more like batchmates, the sleepless nights before every SDL presentations and seminars and to get that comment from every batchmate regarding my ACCENT at the end (including Dr.Mehera Ma'am), the practice debate sessions with Dr.Raunaq sir,staybacks during fest preparations, sitting together in the ocb reading room(which is more of a gossip centre) with a goal which never gets accomplished,getting dabba finished by the hostelites in the overcrowded central canteen, slogging in during 1st internals and those group studies sitting on almost every storey stairs of college building, i've definitely grown over the course of these 5.5months.

The Bollywood-like new college building in which our so-called lucky batch got to attend the dean's address and PSM lectures and not to miss out on the first-ever white coat ceremony. Looking up at my seniors and their brilliance, I'm assured to pack their resilience into the fabric of legacy. I'm here, amongst people with unfailing support and who tolerate me, finally cracking jokes at my vices. 

I do not claim to be anything but a procrastinating, in-progress Vishwa trying to catch up with reality, pushing off the expectations(of people and myself from ME). The time when you're alone, out of your comfort zone, convincing yourself, standing before the mirror, looking straight into your eyes with the commitment of accepting the challenge and facing the corollaries whatever the brand of suffering and internal cataclysm. No matter how much you wish, you cannot go on forever because there are as many people with you as there are after you on this journey. But there are moments that define you and carve you as a whole.