Sequel No. 21

 I rambled on about nostalgia for a while yesterday without making any actual sense. I'll try to make some sense today, but no guarantees, mind you. But nostalgia later. I made the mistake of watching India play again today, and it's another sound drubbing they are getting at the hands of the South Africans. It's not pretty. 

You know what else isn't pretty? Realizing how quickly, how much the world has changed. Not just because of COVID-19, in general. Things that were the norm just a few years back (few is undefined and relative here) are now the stuff of fairytales, which the current generation dismiss as one would a mosquito. It's not fun to have to acknowledge that not only our childhoods, but also the concepts which prevailed at that time, now seem outdated. Then again, that's how the world works.

There's a certain book I have loved to read, although it has been some time since I read it. I'm referring to 'Mysterious Island' by Jules Verne here. It's the lesser-known sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but it's a cracker of a read. For any aficionados reading this, just know that there is a most simple yet surprising connection between the two books, which you'll get only after reading them. The reason why I remember this book is because it was the first unabridged book I ever read, and that made it special to me. 

I remember that there was a price tag on the book right where the printed price was supposed to be. Being more curious than the proverbial dead cat, I painstakingly scraped the sticker away. It was then that I realized that a scam existed in bookshops. The price on the sticker was higher than the actual price, and somehow, this minor detail seemed to incense me to no end. I went to my grandfather and told him this, but his only response was: "Is it? Let it be." 

I never got why he said that. It's only now that I have realized, albeit partially. In the grand scheme of things, the details are terribly important, but it's the small stuff you have to leave be. Again, different people consider different things to be 'small stuff', but the point remains. Some things you just have to leave be. Then again, be careful what you consider 'small stuff'- those things just might be worth a fortune to you later. 

The memories I have of school now seem to be stuck in some kind of limbo, for some reason. They seem fresh, as if they had happened yesterday, but there are millions of details I have forgotten too. The brain can only remember so much. Although the events seem like they had happened yesterday, too many things have happened since then for it to remain so. I have COVID-19 to thank for that. 

It hasn't been easy for anyone since the pandemic hit, but somehow, everyone thinks that they're better off and worse off at the same time. It's a really confusing place to be in. Add to that the fact that people have changed tremendously due to this and you have an entirely new ball game. However, this time, there are no rematches or protective guards. 

The small things don't matter, but the details do. People change, as they are wont to, but they change by hurting people, strangely. Not everyone does this, but many do. It's a strange phenomenon, but simple too. Simple in the sense that it's easy to deal with this, not simple as in the phenomenon itself is simple. The easiest way to deal with it is to come to terms with the fact that it's out of your control.

Now that isn't easy, is it? We hate letting go of control, but at the same time, we don't want to be in complete control. I know some people will disagree here, but it's the truth. You can't plan everything- all you can do is try to. Whether you are able to or not is not in your control. This phenomenon is known by many names- some call it God or God's will, some call it fate, while some call it destiny. The meaning remains the same. It isn't the strength of our plans that always determine its success- it's the circumstances prevailing while the plan remains in motion. 

A million tiny things have to come together for something to coalesce, and even then, we might overlook it, thinking that it's too good to be true. I know I'm sounding really preachy here, but that's the truth. It takes a lot of tiny things to happen for one moderately large thing to come to fruition. Sometimes, it results in a miraculous recovery, while in other cases, it might lead to a sudden departure, a sudden disappearance, or a sudden failure. It's rarely easy, but humans are a resilient bunch. We still try.

I know I've barely talked about nostalgia today, but I said I'd try to make some sense today. I never mentioned if it was about nostalgia or not. Terms and conditions apply, dear reader. I suppose I've preached enough for today, so I'll stop here. Take care, everyone. Adios!