In The Loving Memory of BATCH-3

This has to be the hardest post I have written for my blog. When I think of BATCH-3, I remember the day when we all met in that conference room at Interface. It was 18th July 2008. And for the next 1 month, we had a lot of fun.

Now after an year and a half, as Arvind leaves the office, I guess that it’s over for us as BATCH-3. We will always be known as BATCH-3 but now there are very few of us left.

When I look back at the time we all have spent together for the last 18 months or so, I can’t help but smile, infact laugh. I still remember our first outing as a group. It was when we had walked all the way to Inorbit from Interface and at that very time the Electronics results came out. Then came going for movies. And what all movies we saw together. I guess the best one had to be “Rock On” and the worst would be “Heroes” or “Drona” or “CC2C”. I still can’t get why did we went for Heroes or CC2C for that matter.

Then there were the B-n-B (Bowling and Beer). Nearly every weekend meeting up at Phoenix for bowling at COs (which has been closed down) and then moving to Sports Bar or The Brew Bar for drinks. Another vivid memory is of going for the Manchester United v/s Liverpool games to Sports Bar which unfortunately Man-U lost. Infact, Liverpool scored a double over Man-U. It was after the 2nd game, I decided I am never ever going to watch a Man-U match again with my friends (specifically Ari). Then, there were the b’days which were always celebrated with much enthusiasm. The planning for the gifts, the ordering of the cake, the treat, everything was so awesome. The Annual day was also worth remembering. The Daman trip was one trip which is really close to my heart. Amazing times.

And then people started leaving.

The 1st one to go was Karan. My bro in office. He left and went back to Lucknow to help his Dad in business. Right now, he is doing a course in XLRI, Jamshedpur. After you left Karey, there never was a B-n-B combo, it was only bowling.

Then, Anupam left and joined SITM where he doing pretty well for himself.

And then there was a spate of Farewells. Nipun, Liana and Abhishek left in a span of days. Nipun and Abhi went to the States to pursue MS while Liana got into Welingkar’s.

And then there was a lull. As it was, very few of us were left. Jidda was in Logi and me, Ari, Manan, Mark, Santy and Nisha in interface.

But today everything changes. Ari leaves us with a big hole in BATCH-3. Ari, Who is going to book the tickets now? Me and Mark are going to our new Powai Office where we start working from tomorrow. So, that leaves only Manan, Santy and Nisha in Interface as the remains of BATCH-3.
If you ask me, it was the perfect script. We had our run. Today when I look back at the best times I had after school I have a very bittersweet feeling. Sweet because it was unadulterated fun for the last 18 months or so and bitter because today it ends. We will still all meet up once in a while and have fun but still the breakfast, lunch, TT, carom will never be the same. Today while leaving Interface, I felt I was leaving a part of me behind in that office. It seemed as if I was 18 all over again, standing in front of my beloved school and looking at it for the very last time knowing I will be return to visit but never ever study again there. Today I had a similar feeling. I knew I would visit again but not work here.

Some wise person once said “Everything comes to an End”. I guess he was right. As I move on to the new office, Ari to an IIM (dude, you will make it, don’t worry), I look back and feel happy for everyone. Each one got what they wanted. Nisha is finally a DBA, Manan will leave in sometime and join a good MBA college and Santy will move on. After everything is done and dusted, there will always be a table in the cafeteria which will remember BATCH-3 sitting together, talking, cracking jokes, eating and just enjoying without a care in the world….