Time Out!

Something 'just' happened yesterday and it has still not sunk in.

Over a random decision to whatsapp message a super funny joke to some old (deliberately) forgotten acquaintance contacts, I started a chat with a Siddharth from Mumbai whom I befriended through my Facebook page. The chat ensued with the clichéd where, how and what. Then in between when he spoke about him returning from a recent US trip with Parents and Cousins, I nicked him about why his brother and sister-in-law could not go. It was then that Siddharth joked why I was taking away his single status by bringing in a brother and even getting him hitched. I thought to self about my sheer disinterest in keeping up with friendships for being in the state but in the next few replies over the done-to-death conversation about dating-life, I messaged about my now-usual-answer of about single status as I was done with flings and now want to settle down, waiting to meet “him” in my life.

Siddharth immediately questioned me, albeit in fun, about mixing “him” and “her” in my auto-correct and this was when it stuck how obliviously I was chatting with him. I realized it was Siddharth and he did not know about “ME” and that I was mixing him up with another Facebook acquaintance, Sahhil, who had a married brother and it was Canada for him, a usual vacation owing to relatives, and not USA. Or am I still getting Sahhil’s bio right or now that I see, I hope I am not mixing him too with someone else.

The Sahhil issue aside, it was almost imperative for me to reply to Siddharth. My instant reaction, as has been in one such, almost similar incident that I remember, was to call it a “unnoticed blunder mistake” but somehow I almost stopped my fingers from typing and did not do same this time.

I finally shared, bit scarily, about the real me.

He did not question me anything later and we carried with the chat, suddenly yet seamlessly moving on to other topics.

The feeling has not sunk in yet.

This was my second Time Out, I never thought there can be more than one but here I just experienced it. And now I am sure I will have to have many more; each of varied intensity, at varied time of my life. Probably all throughout my life. The only thing I can do is be true to myself, whenever these situation arises.

Now that I think, the recent Hindi film release "Time Out" about 'Coming Out' makes sense. It was the first film I watched about coming out, after my own "coming out" to my family on 3rd April 2015 and though it felt unreal and bit weird to me during the screening, I now feel that none of such situation can be or must be judged. The way I came out, and the family reactions and interactions which ensued, I could have never imagined that anything can ever be like that. Truth can be only one but Reality is different for everybody.

My one coming out was so different from my second, how can I question the handling of same by others. Asking questions is important to grow, but what is more important for growth is to know what question must be framed and asked.

I have to just keep swimming till I can breathe in air in my lungs and I will do it happily.

My swimming lessons have got me to find my mojo in love for movies and it could not have been a more better time for same than when I get to witness the inspirational stories in spectacular cinema like Mark Wahlberg's The Martian" and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "The Walk".

Both film, starkly different in their theme and subjects, gave me inspirational goosebumps to never lose belief in myself and my goals, no matter how shitty crazy people call you. My conscious should be clear.

Ingenuity, Wit and Spirit; plus a good bit of Madness is the best recipe for Success.

Among the many great things about the two varied films, the best was similar - "Life Goes On, even after Success." The leads achieve their goals but their life continues. Better stay in peace and take every moment as it comes.

My every moment will be like my Time-Out, no idea when it may strike but I can not just sit waiting for the next one. I must keeping swimming and I know I don't want to lie anymore. Truth will always be one and therefore easy to remember. Lies are always plural, one build on another and the biggest waste of one's energy as it is the toughest to remember.

There cab be no artist without an audience..  Respect it.

You can not lie on stage. The audience will always know what is inside your heart.

Hi, I'm Mark Watney and I'm still alive... obviously.

My name is Philippe Petit and I am a Wire Walker.

Sat-sri-akal,

My name is Bhavdeep Singh Chadha and this is my Stage.