If I take myself back in time to when I had first seen a magnificent shopping mall, I’d see the first Pantaloons mall in Guwahati, Assam. I was only an enthusiastic teenager then, spiky hair, oversized clothes on a lean body, hanging by the doors of local buses, letting the air flow through my shiny silky hair.
The mall was a majestic circular glass structure. It was extremely attractive, just next to the main road at a prime location. I never stopped myself from taking a walk inside it just for fun. With friends, with cousins, with parents; I had visited Pantaloons more than a 100 times. Also there was a game zone on the top floor which attracted babies, youngsters, teenagers, adults and more.
What I liked very much about my city’s Pantaloons apart from its convenient location is the design of the structure inside and out. It looked very welcoming from the outside, colours and all; it was neatly laid out on the inside with good many options to pick and bring back home.
I have paid a lot of money to spend some quality time at Pantaloons. I have bought shoes, jeans, shirts, t shirts, under wears, socks, caps, belts, watches, sunglasses, toys, and what not. I had even bought a never-ever-worn wrist band from Pantaloons. It was fun and exciting to be inside the Pantaloons building every time. My friends and I would go up and down the escalators just for time pass. We would go sit at the Coffee shop and delightfully sip on its chilled water. We were hooked on to Pantaloons.
Before Pantaloons arrived in my city, all we had was an unimpressive shopping centre called XXX, an equally ignored multi-brand multi-floor shop called XXXX and an ever crowded everything’s-available-here building called XXXXXX XXXX Mart. Parking was an issue across all three, management was a bigger issue. The former two were dead-lands while the latter was extremely chaotic. Pantaloons was far more convenient than anything else at that time.
Shopping at Pantaloons was a different and very likable experience than any other mall. I was so fascinated by it that even today I visit a Pantaloons if I see it nearby. Now that I have moved across bigger cities, I only see Pantaloons neatly (but sometimes inadequately) tucked inside mega malls. But there are still a few standalone Pantaloons and the one I had last visited was in New Delhi, South Extension.
Pantaloons was a big part of my growing up years. I had made a lot of memories there, regardless of season, month or time. The first Pantaloons in Guwahati almost felt like part of my family and even today, when I visit Guwahati, I head over there just to live the old memories once again.
Pantaloons is not simply a hangout place for me, it is simply happiness. And I am sure a lot of my friends in Guwahati and definitely my cousins feel the same.
Respect your challenges, then run them over
Ever since I passed my 10th and moved to a big city for further education, I fell into the wind of city life. I dropped the weight of my school bag and flew away like a bird that had grown its wings. I dropped my plans for the future and started living for the present.
I enjoyed myself so much that I soon realized I had exams to pass to move further up the ladder. Preparations were nil, but confidence was at an all time high. There was no fear, almost in the manner of Bhagat Singh, I walked up to the gallows.
The first time, I passed through unharmed. I scored quite well for a guy who didn’t study that well. I flew higher! Even in the finals of 12th, I did surprisingly well; surprising for others, not for me. I knew that I had scored what I had prepared for.
But I could not carry forward that same shrewdness into my Graduation life. I was always in the wind, rarely came back to the ground. My parents let go of all hopes that they had from me and I cared not one bit. Eventually I failed in my final year. For the first time in my life I had achieved something that I had never imagined I was capable of. My parent’s hearts were broken and I fell back hard on the ground.
It took me a couple of weeks to find back my feet. I did that soon after. I paid my shrewdness a visit after a long time and appeared for the repeat exams exactly a year later. Preparations were high this time, confidence not so much. I was hit hard the last time; fear had found its way inside me again. My heart was heavy, but I did not blink an eye.
I had made it through the toughest year of my life. I passed my repeat exams. I was not going to look back, but the lessons shall remain with me forever.
I have worked hard since then, earned myself a job, my confidence. I kept aiming higher. Now I am a student at TISS Mumbai and having challenges for breakfast. My journey has been one of failure and rediscovering thy own self after that. And the hallmark of my life’s story, if I ever get to tell it to anyone, would be that I DID NEVER GIVE UP ON ME.
#ABGLP #ABGLP WOO ME COMPETITION #ABGLP WOO ME - SEASON 2
#ABGLP #ABGLP WOO ME COMPETITION #ABGLP WOO ME - SEASON 2