The suitcase in the attic

My uncle called the other day frantically, to tell me about the suitcase I had forgotten at his place in all the hurry I had left for Hyderabad last year. There were a lot of clothes, one blanket, a muffler and even a camera. For a minute I was more surprised because I had not the faintest of memory of all of these! Apparently, the attic had flooded because of some pipe leak and everything had all but rotted away with fungus.

I reached Pune over the weekend for my sister’s wedding and decided to check on all the contents of the suitcase as well. They were all kept in the lawn under the sun; my uncle trying his best to salvage whatever he could.

So here on the lawn I was looking at all the things. The first thing I noticed was the scribble shirt from back in engineering college. My ex had apparently decided that it was for her to scribble the whole shirt, and no one else. It did bring back fond memories of the past; and that day too. It was the same day I had left for Pune. I had gifted her a teddy to keep her safe; and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Looking back 3 years, I think I am still the same old romantic fool. Some things should never change. A teddy and flowers are only meant for special women in your life.

There was the sherwani, I had worn for my brother’s engagement. And there it was half green and half purple with all the rot it was going through. I reckon it did cost a lot; but it was gone.

Next to it, lay hanging the black muffler my ex had knitted for me. It kept me warm for the two years I was in Pune. It wasn’t the most beautiful of mufflers, but it was something she had made painstakingly for over 2 months. She always wanted to be the good girlfriend; with traditional values. I still find that very charming.

The day I left Bangalore for Pune, it was mighty cold and like always I had forgotten to carry anything warm. It was 12th June, 2006. She gave me a shawl to keep me warm. I snuggled into the shawl and slept like a baby not only during that trip but for months later. It kept me warm physically and in my heart.

Once when I and she were out on a date; it started pouring. We drove none the less in the rain and were pretty much enjoying it; till the point of course I was shivering to my teeth. I dropped her back to her hostel; and taking pity on me because I still had another 20 kilometers to reach home, she gave me her sweater for the journey back. The girl’s hostel was that far from college. The red sweater with floral markings, orange stripes and a yellow collar was girly to say the least. But whatever kept me warm on the way back was good. That also ended up the same way as the muffler, the shawl and the scribble T-shirt.

Then there were other things like the blanket, a few other clothes and a jacket I had flicked from my brother. As I was staring at this mess lying under the sun for drying, my uncle called me. He was keen I take it all back.

But I think I did the right thing when I told him to give it away to someone or throw it. It’s best to have memories and just memories. And one should always move on. I had moved on a while back; so why still linger around for the same old perfume of hers? I gave it one last look and headed back to Hyderabad.