Sequence of wonderful
unexpected events are always a surprise package to our life. Classroom
taught us lots of values to follow in our day to day life. Same way
it also helped me to create my own bucket list. "Bucket list" may sound
filmy but trust me, it never disappoints and the amount of
satisfaction you get is unexplainable.
If 9th
standard social book can make you prepare the bucket list then
imagine how my teacher who took the lesson should have taken it.
Here, I must bow to the writer and my class teacher who took the
subject with lots of pictures and inscribed them as memories in my
mind. I even remember, it was around November, morning 11 am she took
that class. One whole day I was lingering with those thoughts. I
haven’t read those lessons after that but each word came out
automatically during my exams.
Childhood dreams were
neither intentional nor planned but the dreams once dreamt and molded
by the sequence of happy events will never leave our memories.
In fact, it even becomes a drive to pursue the dreams, it helps to
search the dreams, and it helps to travel along with the dreams. It
may take time, even longer: but one day when it happens, the amount
of happiness we feel can never be explained in words but can only be
experienced.
Here I am. At the place
which topped my bucket list. City of fine architectures, city of
holiness, city of much astonishment – ROME. My childhood memory,
Dream, Bucket list -1, history.
It’s finally the time
to invade Romans in their own territory. Step-1 board the flight
where the blast of air blinds your eyes and no signs of happy
beginning as pilot shook the flight for a moment brought roles
in my throat, within next 2 hours my inner soul said something
contradictory as the flight entered the place, the place which I
have been dreaming to see since my childhood days. First step in
Rome is always a giant leap of my life ;-) Entering the place
kindled beautiful memories and I started to feel my presence in Rome.
As a small boy I kept my
chin and cheek in the bus mirror and was seeing the buildings,
streets, and people. To my luck that day, time was running an hour
ahead as day light saving started how sweet Mr. Time is! Morning
came, time started to tick – We have only 6 hours to roam Rome,
started to live my dream with an aim to cover as many places as
possible. Urban trains were always there for our rescue and of course
with time delays. Took a train map, spotted the places, bought one
day pass and left for Vatican.
Experiencing the view of
that place was a pleasure to the eyes. Who doesn’t want to sit and
rejoice such a place? Marking the Easter Sunday there was a special
function organized in the city. This is selfies era – a new way to
capture the memories these days and lot more can happen with selfie
sticks adding to it. Two eyes are definitely just not enough to view
that panoramic view of Vatican. Even camera suffered a lot.
Took some time to view
that place and started to walk towards the place where I was killed
some centuries back ;-)
With no clue about the
whereabouts, took a route driven by soul. Don’t know where it will
lead, but my instinct said come on Niru you are on right path.
Crossed many churches, Roman pantheon and finally there is my
destination. Where I could see my arena half collapsed, I stopped for
a moment, looked at the skies, and unknowingly dropped my selfie
stick in middle of the road – this could be a moment where I
dropped my sword once in that place. When I bent down to take it my
friend gave a pat on my back indicating this could be my end of the
day centuries back. Traveling behind and looking at the place from
distance - where I was kept in. Walking down the very same street
wasn’t easy for me. As the time ticked, memories fell into the
proper place, heard a huge roar from the sides of the streets, people
cheering as we reach Colosseum. Huge crowd and people around me were
looking at me and they cheer at the loudest of their voice as if
telling me to defeat those enemies. Life was never easy those
memories starting to troll you, walking towards my destination.
Standing in front for few minutes brought tears in my eyes. Took a
ticket entered the arena.
As I keep my hands on the
walls, I remembered different thoughts. Flashing faces, cheers, king
all faded out, but my only concern was where my love is? Going
centuries back feeling like she is near me, she is walking with me,
and she is smiling at me. Here I’m my love she whispered. She waved
her hands with loud shout as I marched towards her, when I was
supposed to reach her, I was blocked by a tiger, sword came in front
of my eyes to defeat me. Marching with full force king ordering to
kill all of us, the entire Colosseum collapsed but I know it was my
mind playing tricks. I know where I was pushed where I was killed
where I was kept in. Tigers were roaring, king was smiling, and
people were cheering. These many days I didn’t have the chance to
visit the place, but now I had. Maybe many kings would have rose and
fallen after me and allowing us to enter the arena. Coming around
that place more than once is tiresome but we did twice. Giving me
enough time to dive down my memory lane where I stood by the side,
posing like a King was a pleasure. Leaving that place should have
been hard but I dint feel like that when I left.
Time ran and we were
about to leave Rome. That evening we boarded the
flight and Italy never checked out of my mind. Still sitting like a
small boy thinking about my previous soul I left that place with hard
feelings. Physically I wasn’t present but mentally I was living my
memories. Ending the day with Italian wine and Pasta is what Italy is
meant for now. More than that Rome has lot more memories.
Boarded flight seeing
from distance for one last time on March 29th I left the
place and I said “one day I will be back to invade this place again
with my memory lanes. Till then I will rule you in mind”
Till then this road never
ends
Special
mention:
Editor:
Iniya, Travelled with: Vinoth & Radhika and finally dedicating
this blog to my class teacher who triggered my thoughts on Rome :-)
