Thursday, August 26, 2010

Night & Day

Dont worry, i have no intentions of writing about that hideous cruise / diaz movie with a similar name.  I intend to generally ramble on instead.

I have always been a night person.  From the time i can remember.  Right from school days, through college and till very recently, even while working, i've always found it incredibly difficult to wake up early in the morning.  I remember kneeling down so often in the main school hallway for the first two periods, for coming late.  All my mallu-catholic teachers would shake their heads upon seeing me thus, muttering "lukk at your brudder and lukk at you!" (my bro was the quintessential good-boy in school, with neatly oiled+combed hair and studious looking large spectacles to boot).

Commerce college was a breeze.  Podar was at that time probably the most laid-back college in the city; attendance was almost never an issue.  Lectures used to start at 7:30am and generally end by 11am.  I used to reach college by around noon, to chillax in the canteen or on the katta, and head home by evening.  I remember i attended exactly 7 lectures in the whole of my final year...

During my MBA I suddenly got quite serious about life and felt resposible about my career.  I realised the importance of starting the day early, being on time, professional work ethic, etc.  But somehow, despite sincere best intentions, i still couldn't help being late quite often.  Thats when i finally realised...i'll never be able to change myself into a morning person ever.

And its not as if i sleep too much.  I sleep the same or probably lesser hours than the average guy.  As day turns into night, i become fresh and active.  Most of my exam preps have been through nights (used to be great to proudly proclaim to friends "kal maine night maara re").  All my creativity starts kicking in, in the wee hours.  I find that i can work better, think more clearly and generally enjoy myself more late at night.  Even now when i'm typing this, it is exactly 2:19am. 

And its not even as if i enjoy the typical night-life that most youngsters refer to!  I dont go to discs and i am really not a party animal.  I'd rather have a few drinks with close friends in a dingy bar.  But without a shred of doubt, things like conversations, jamming sessions, etc, really come alive post midnight, generously helped along by a few drinks. 

Even all by myself, somehow when everyone goes off to sleep i feel a different kind of peace.  I look across the room to see my wife and baby snoring away without a care in the world; its a beautiful sight...all is well with the world.  Then I feel a sudden thirst for the bitter and go rummaging for a can of my fav beer.  Some chakna needed....ok....there is some sev lying around.  The first few gulps dissolve any remaining anxieties and worries.  Now everything is clear.  I can focus, think, plan.  Even a movie would be more enjoyable now, 'cause this is MY time.  Maybe my parents constant exhortations to correct my cycle make these seem like stolen moments, turning them sweeter; i dont know.  And i dont care. 

I'll crash in a couple of hours or so.  Till then its all good.

13 comments:

Archana Rao said...

Same story with me also!!! Could never wake up in the morning for anything!!! Once I woke up to study and slept with my face on the book!!!

I love the night peace especially to read!!! I've read books non stop thru the night till the book finishes!!!

I always wonder why we hav to work in the mornings....

Vivek Rao said...

“Why should I have to WORK for everything?! It’s like saying I don’t deserve it!”

- Calvin

The Legend Returns said...

hmmm...'have a good night' :)

Minal said...

Complete night person! Cannot get up early - walk into office with not a gr8 mood everyday cause i hate getting up early! I wish I find myself in a job where I start late! And night-time is my only time I get to read books, and pen my thoughts! Me time all that you say - w/o the drinks bit!:-) In jb it amazed me I managed to make to moradian's lectures on time! In engg college I lived the closest and walked into the lecture the last:-))

Vivek Rao said...

Minal, if you dont want to wake up early, quit your job and start your own business (obviously one where u determine the hours)... :-)

Moru created that fear in everyone yaar, which is why all of us made sure we reached on time. Right from day one he put in efforts in creating that terror wala image of his. Seems like such a sham in hindsight...

Ashish said...

There is something magical about late nights. Most people are asleep, and the chaotic city is finally at peace.

As you've rightly stated, late nights were for studies a few days before the exams, and that has moved to sitting with friends after several drinks. Looking for a place to get some greasy fast food or a cigarette or even another drink. Trying your best to prolong the 'evening'.

Wonder how it'll seem if we move to one of them arctic countries where you have 6 months of darkness ;-)

And hey, it's only 1:00am as I type this!

Vivek Rao said...

Boozy, you remember how we had 'prolonged the evening' by sitting on your terrace completely sloshed waiting to see the sunrise? Finally at 5am we said fuck it and tottered down to ur place. We bumped into ur mom (who was fully awake and fresh)...she enthusiastically said "good morning boys" and you grouchily muttered out a "good night" as we somehow reached ur room and crashed...
:-)))))

Rashmi said...

yeah.. nights are wonderful/... imagine me sayin this who used to catch an early morning 6:14 train to my 1st psychology lecture..
Even then it used to be enjoyable to read late at night, with absolutely no disturbance, and complete a juicy book..(then i was not into dragons and magician's - it was robin cook fever) . But still manage to wake up at 5:15 and get ready for college.. studied for most if my college exams at night (with my friends), most often chattin then actually studying and then eat maggi to stay awake. . . ;-)

Nona said...

Some people love the night! :)

Anonymous said...

hehe this sounds like you are describing me ....total owlet i have been ... not that i make up with sleep in the mornings if i sleep less or anything but there is some different serene in the night .... i have done all my studies with my study lamp and FM radio way early into hours of the morning ..... girl gossip with all my bumchums have been going on till the siren at lower parel mills went for morning shift guys at my best buds house .... its the same now .... nice read ... good to know i aint the only nishachareee

Minal said...

lots of things turn out to be huge shams in college - you realise only after u get out:-)LOL
yaar I hope that happens soon:-) Me running at my own time!

Ashish said...

That night was awesome. If i remember correctly, we downed a whole damn bottle of vodka. And had the whole weekend to recover from that. The only time I can do such shite now is at your place overlooking the lake and talking about everything under the sun.

And hey, it's only 2:30am as I type this ;-)

Vivek Rao said...

@ rashmi: yeah i remember those days very well. And maggi in the middle of the night is always fun!

@ trups: "owlet" hehehe sounds funny

@ boozy: my balcony is the perfect booze adda with that amazing view! and funny that you say "everything under the sun"; i dont remember ever talking to you much in the morning... :)