Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Pickwick Journey - Faces

Recounting the features of some twenty faces is no mean task. It requires patience and time, both of which I lack. People are my preoccupation. At our post festival meeting, I spoke about each person in front of me at length, for I had observed them that much. Also, I was full of emotions, bubbling inside, waiting to be poured out. Today, I am more calm. I apologise to those I might forget to mention, for my memory-scape is limited. However, my brain knows exactly where it has to begin.

Mishail and Anamta
She would gently hold my hand when metro forbade her from standing straight. She would cast sheepish looks at me when she spoke too loud, or stepped on a fellow passenger's foot. She would wake me up when she needed to talk. Secure, and strong, her laughter always rang in my ears when I needed to relax. And in the course of the festival preparations, she was perhaps the only I shouted on. But Mishail Sharma knew better than to retaliate. She would simply giggle, and my hard features would soften. Problems would again be conquerable. World would again be a better place. 

Even before Mishail, the person I began my Jamia journey with, was Anamta Rizvi. There was a spark in her which had caught my attention. That spark, her zeal to work, and her good nature - all these combined to transform her into the greatest asset I had with me to execute our festival plans. Sincere in her own work, and eager to help others - she was a delight to watch when at work. Writing, speaking, creative imagination - she conquered each. And finest of all, she conquered my heart. 

Between friends, you often forge strange relations. That strange and pleasant relation, I formed with Nayema Nasir - the one woman in our nautanki-party, who is rich in maternal warmth, and has a therapeutic calmness in her personality. She took care, comforted, scolded and at the end, made sure we were headed in the right direction. She took our pain on herself, and inspired us even with her soft, barely audible voice. But that is the woman she is - she had our attention without forcing her presence on us. Nayema di, how was I surviving without all your love till now in life?



The person obviously next in line is Saurabh (this name seems to have some past-janam-ka-relation with me, but that, later). Why is it obvious? Well, its JMI students' prerogative to know. This guy was the strong backbone of our event. Aggressive at the right places, and moderating influence in tense situations - he knew exactly what it took to pull off a festival like ours. No personal remarks on this guy, except the fact that he is fab. I still fear him, but laud him for keeping me humble. 


I would have left the festival scene, had it not been for Aisha Shams, who came an spoke to me like an authoritative, firm, yet understanding elder. Along with Lubna Ansari, she made me confident when I was low, she made me smile when I wanted to cry. And Lubna di - wasn't she my own elder sister? Bringing me special lunches, exchanging comforting glances and silently completing all her tasks, not once losing her cool - all this and more were things that characterized her. The ideal Vice President, she allowed me to blossom, and guided and supported me. Any amount of gratitude to her is less.


The loud, vivacious kid of our group, like is necessary in any family, was Sudipta. The kid, she still is. Despite being the youngest, she had the longest tongue, which would simply not stop producing some or the other noise. Having said that, I have to admit, her vivacity is what kept our spirits up. No matter what field of work, she deputed herself everywhere, and delivered results with aplomb. My unofficial assistant, she was also my gossip partner, which, in other words, can be called, a destresser. And Ma Annapurna too. I would have starved had it not been for her well stocked lunch boxes.
Kid, isn't she? That's Sudipta!

Hina and Anusha
Anusha and Hina - I cannot help but always see them together. The former, bubbly. The latter, composed. Both worked for each other, and not just themselves. Bombshells in a saaree, they were two of the most understanding people on my team. They stood for us, stood by us. There is nothing more I could've asked. 

In this string of people, next name is anyone's guess. Kaif Ali Taqvi. Hamaare Manto saahab. He and Abhilash Philip brought alive on stage the two masters our festival sought to celebrate - Manto and Dickens. I wonder how they handled the pressure and responsibility of doing justice to two such great names. Often harried by expectations and multiple opinions, they both took the stage, did their thing and emerged as stars. Shining bright. Shedding (lime)light on our whole team. 

Varnana
She was another one I consistently managed to get angry with, but Varnana Choudhary made the Pickwick journey lighter with her wit and humour. She doesn't know this, but when people called her event a huge success - I felt a personal pride, and the satisfaction of having done something right. Intrinsic to our social group, she is one of those people I look forward to seeing everyday. 

Care and concern was not showered on us only by the female members of our team. Altamsh was one person who touched our hearts by the genuine concern he had for our safety and security. He would do any and every thing which I asked, without any reluctance. Sometimes, that kind of a reliable person is necessary in a group which has set out to set an example. I knew he had our back. Always. 

Bold, beautiful and graceful - Wafia Kissa had it all to make people envious. However, this girl floored me, not just with her poise and elegance, but with her humility, etiquettes and simplicity. I became an even greater fan of hers when her softer side was exposed to me. Eager to perform, always on her toes and a no-nonsense attitude to work - this girl will go a long way - I can proudly say that. 


I had many people to rely on, many to follow impromptu commands (we call them requests), but one guy who outdid himself, even in the face of copious amount of work loaded on him, was Vismaiy Avasthi. A self confessed nerd, this chap always worked away from  the hullabaloo of the festival. Sitting with sombre expression in front of a laptop, or waving from the department roof while hanging banners - Vismaiy was an efficient, cute, pleasant, sincere asset to have in our team. He rightly feels fatherly affection for the Pickwick blog. I might have started it, but he took the blog to its rightful culmination.

Momin Khan. It will never happen in life that I will forget this name. There are reasons to it, reasons which are best not visited again. However, what I will say about this chap is - he is the person who converted the festival journey into a fable for me. Yes, a fable, no less. As I discovered him, I discovered a bit of myself too. Th depths of his potential lie unexplored, and he only knows it too well. I hope I soon witness the day he makes the whole Pickwick family, the whole Jamia family proud. 

I am missing out on descriptions of many names - Shabeeh, Sadia, Asif, Umar, Aryak, Zakir, Aamir - but because of my limited association with them, I find myself incapable of saying anything more than a heartfelt thank you. 

Aaqib, Zakir and Momin
Oh, and how did I miss out on him? I of course did not! Saved him for the end. Aaqib Raza Khan. I do not know for sure why I grew so fond of him, but he was one person I searched for in every meeting. If there was any day I did not see him performing to his potential, I would be filled with a sense of extreme sadness. Conversely, when his designs were splashed across the entire department, I felt so proud of having a person of his calibre on our side. His creativity spoke such volumes that my friends from other colleges called up to applaud our poster designs - compliments which I made sure I conveyed to him. And along with Momin, he made the trust factor percolate my heart rather early. Momin and Aaqib - I am extremely keen on seeing and knowing where life takes them. For them, and for everyone else mentioned above, I have nothing, but the best of prayers in my heart. 

Its been some days since the festival got over. We are all still living in its hangover. I know from experience that this hangover will not last long, however much I wish it does. A complete package of mature and silly, fun and sombre people - this Pickwick team might not reunite to create another spectacle. Its strange. I am not happy any more, though I desperately want to be. I do not want to live the festival time again, but, I do not want to let go off this grand feeling too. What ultimately made this festival special was our togetherness, our tears and smiles, our trust and transparency, our love, care and concern, and our incessant support for each other. Such privileges in life are hard to come by. Its impossible, and do not cajole anyone otherwise, but I do hope our bonds stay intact.

And days went by like paper in the wind
Everything changed, then changed again
Its hard to find a friend
Its hard to find a friend. 

The Core Pickwick Team



36 comments:

  1. "its is hard to give way and it is hard to stand abide, and coming of the curse both ways are hard"

    ~Sophocles, antigone

    I dun knoe why but i just wanted to say it, i am mysterious

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aah. Is it? I look forward to unravelling the mystery then :)

      Delete
    2. i dun knoe, the reason why it was difficult to associate but trust me, im far mature than what i look and its just that i can write but cant say it... My ways are mysterious becoz i dont think lyk normal ppl do, in my laws emotions exists...and i hate technical view of life

      Delete
    3. please help meh with my blog... Idk how to run a blog, its www.huesmystica.blogspot.com

      Delete
  2. she came, she saw and she conquered. That's Saumya for you.! <3 keep your pen flowing, keep shining and spreading the light of love. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww! Nayema di! More and more in love with you. I hope I stand up to your last sentence. These after-effects are just making the whole experience so much more worth it!

      Delete
  3. saumya i am so overwhelmed that i mishail sharma is speechless. after reading this , i became nostagic(the last session).saumya kulshreshtha is one person whom i will never forget. you know what its been just few months that we know each other but it feels like ages(aesa lgta h kuch h apna purana)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mishail! Darn you! For breaking through me. Your smiles give me strength Mishail. I hope to keep you forever.
      Much love. And a hug!

      Delete
  4. you may not be able to spell my name but it will haunt you forever, now smile and neva fowget meh

    ReplyDelete
  5. ‎"..this Pickwick team might not reunite to create another spectacle. Its strange. I am not happy any more, though I desperately want to be. I do not want to live the festival time again, but, I do not want to let go off this grand feeling too.."

    And the award for the Ultimate Tearjerker goes to Saumya Kulshreshtha.

    I do not know how to arrange the alphabets so I could convey my emotions in the best way possible. Its impossible. The way Pickwick Fest came into our lives and how dearly it became an unforgettable journey with a wonderful set of people, is a feeling that exceeded all the expectations and may very well exceed the word limit if I were to write all about it. And I would like to thank you Saumya for all the support and guidance. I have talked to many people in the department, and they all echo the same feeling that this fest would not have been what it went on to be - if not for you.

    Yes, you have kept us strong and motivated. All the beautiful description you have wrote about all of us is because you extracted it from us. You made us realize our potential and coordinated this fest to a beautiful success. I never knew if I ever saw my department with so much unity and such an attractive charm. You made Jamia a much more beautiful place for me. Thank You! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I accept the Award with a big grin on my face :)
      Honestly, and secretly, it was a pleasure to see you all cry. Yes it was! Because it showed how many hearts I had been able to touch.
      And yes Aaqib, you are not stingy with compliments. In fact, your words are beautiful. I hope you hone your writing skills with dedication. I am sure you are capable of writing great things.

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much. And yes I have somewhat improved on my writing ever since The Pickwick Fest ended with long, huge, gigantic posts and comments ;)
      And when I have you as an inspiration, the rest will follow soon. InshaAllah. :)

      Delete
    3. Ha ha! May the trend continue. Facebook, sms, twitter and now blog - how many mediums are we talking at? Slowing down, but after telling you that you are very special to me.

      Delete
  6. OK fine. I suppose am the only one left who hasn't conveyed feelings to you. What can I say about you Somu Di. Throughout this event you have not just been my senior but also like an elder sister, mentor, friend and what not. Words are in scarce to describe the feelings I have for you. Without you this fest would have been an impossible task for all of us. No one in this world could have united all of us and get us to work like you did. You have nurtured not only this fest but all of us as well.


    Kahan se aap apne andar itni saari energy laate ho? You never made us feel as if we were working it was always like we enjoying and partying. You were like our gaurdian there taking care of all our needs and wants.

    Aur kya kahu aapke baare mein. I can seriously go on and on about you. You can see it that even after so many days that the fest got over we all cant stop praising you or your work. You have not just broken an ice in jamia but have started a new trend, a new legacy which cannot be replaced by anyone else.
    Love you Somu di

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When work become party, all else falls into place. Rest assured, the results of the endeavour are always the best that they can be.

      I am happy you see an elder sister in me, because whenever I scold you, I do it with right, with a feeling that you are my younger sister who needs to be corrected. I do insist that you take all my words to heart, because that is the place where they will work out the best.

      Love, and luck. Thank you for such a lovely comment :)

      Delete
  7. i am running short of words to explain how touched iam. thanksssssssssss a lottt.. i mean a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT Saumya. love you :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love you too!
      Take good care of yourself madam, and keep doing awesome work!

      Delete
  8. Saumya,
    I always believe that what people see in others is a reflection of their own selves. All the goodness that you have seen in us is just a reflection of yours. I see you responsible for bringing out the best in us.

    You are the perfect leader and friend. Most of all you are a wonderful person, for having touched our hearts so beautifully and making an eternal mark in our lives.
    When Jamia seniors and juniors will be friendly with each other in the future, a lot of credit will go to you!

    I thank God to have given me the chance to meet you (and the Pickwick family).

    Taking out time to express your feelings this way was a lovely gesture. Thank you so much!

    With love and respect,
    Wafia Kissa


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I read your words, I feel so good, honored, proud, for having evoked all these feelings in you. And the others. I had to read your response thrice over to even begin thinking what to write to you in response. Just that, I was happy to have worked with someone like you Wafia. You will do well in life, certainly, and I would be happy if I can remain a small part of your life forever.

      Thanks for everything.

      Delete
  9. u have the ability to touch souls and change hearts. Above all u know how to use this capability best. Its not your vocabulary that impresses me but the genuinity behind all your words.
    May God bless u with the best!
    Love
    Aisha Shams

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aisha di!

      After reading so many pleasant comments on my blog, yours just takes the pride and happiness I feel to another level. I do not know how worthy am I of your words, but I feel so lucky! Thanks for the first day, when you pushed me ahead. Where would we have been if you had not given me confidence.

      More love.

      Delete
  10. you are one such beautiful person who would keep everyone united with love, with your scoldings. . had you not been there for us all the time this fest would not have been a success. . people like you are rare and a keeper. . i'll never let you go no matter how bad you want to leave. .i know you have a fair idea of how many lives you have touched in few weeks. . this special bond that we share now is the one of many beautiful gifts of yours to us. . saumya I really appreciate you for what you are. . a guide, a friend and what not. . so glad and honored to have you as my friend and my classmate. . . you are a keeper and I m glad I have you. we have you.. . kiss heart

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keeper?! Yay! I think you are the first person to call me that. And boy! It is such a nice feeling. I love this bond we share Anusha, and I pray to God dearly that this bond stays intact. Over the years. I pray for the best for you, always. And you would not have to work hard to keep me baby, I will always be around.

      Delete
  11. i guess i am the last one to see this but saumya u have made a great fan of urs... the words that u penned hold great great importance to me.. i am speechless.. salute to ur beautiful gift from God that is ur sensitivity... a girl who has been bestowed with loads of bessing from Him... iam so sure my admoration for you will never cease and my love for you... glad to meet you saumya.. i re[eat again.. u have taught me alot and alot is left to learn!!! this goes without saying but let me tell you ever you need me ill be there always.. love and the worlds bestest wishes to you... i am so sure and confident that what u are aspiring .. u will surely achieve it.. loads of love <3... anamta

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your words are precious and special too Anamta. I still remember the time spent working with you fondly. I hope in the two years we spend together, our bond grows stronger and fonder. Lets get together to work again, really soon!

      Delete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is amazing, this is Bliss. Our smiles, laughs, trolls, tears and the rest of the blah blah blahs, simply led to a catharsis, a catharsis of finding the existence of such wonderful and beautiful people, the PICKWICK FOLKS, Re-Christened- THE PICKWICKERS.
    -Vismaiy Avasthi (Father of the pickwickfest.blogspot.in)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I thought the seasoned blogger, the 'father' of them all will be the first to comment! Nevertheless, thanks for making your presence felt here. There is more to work on together. I am praying we do a phenomenal job again!

      Delete
  14. I wish I could make it to the fest.

    But glad that it was a successful event. More power to you. Feeling proud being a JMIite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was also looking forward to seeing you there, but I know you had important things to attend to. Its okay Tarique, next year will we do it more in style, and make it a grander affair.

      I too feel proud to be a member of the amazing Jamia family :)

      Delete
  15. i googled myself and reached here! a simple re reading got me senti subha subha :')

    ReplyDelete