Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.
Dear Soulmate,
Humans find their soul mates in other humans. I have found my soulmate in you – my Centenarian Self. Hope you are doing well. Though you are always present within me still it is sometimes important to ask your own self how you have been.
Age is just a number. So I will not ask you whether you are bothered by your years spent on mother Earth with me. Of course, I know, the destructive streak in homo sapiens have not left any nook and crany of this still beautiful yet ravaged planet from devastation. But I am sure you must have as much adaptability and resilience as me (ahem) and survived as the super fittest.
Though the self is immune to decay the body is not. I hope when my ails from thousand aches, pains and spasms bother, you remain untouched, strong and fit.
You know we Bengalis have a very bad habit of keeping pet names. So keeping the tradition alive, I have bestowed on you a very cute 🥰 name – Centu! I am sure you don’t mind at all the nickname.
So Centu, being senior to me, you must have soaked in a lot many more experiences than I have. I know you keep me alive with your ancient wisdom gathered from these experiences. You give me solace when I am grieving, you give me courage when I am shaky, you give me a boost when I am lagging behind. Aren’t you my bestest friend ?
Sometimes I wonder whether we, enjoying a common soul, have really evolved to a higher plane ? As Swami Yoganandaji, the founder of YSRF, says in one of his illuminating poems that the soul marches on even if the body lags behind. Spiritual evolution of the being continues whether we are aware of it or not.
You know my bad habit of going off to sleep during meditations for which you have cautioned and nudged me awake quite often. Since you are more alert and aware than me do tell me, inspite of all that snoring and snoozing, has our soul really marched on and scaled greater heights?
Pity I will always remain a doubting Jane but you have deeply rooted faith and conviction. Why don’t you rub a bit of that on me? Is it so hard to change an incorrigible nut like me? Now, don’t be too humble and kind. I know you don’t wish to hurt me. But sometimes one must be told a few home truths even if they are not share worthy.
As I am in the last leg of my journey I am trying to be more flexible in my approach towards my lesser self. I am trying so much to forgive myself – my mistakes, my apathy, my defeats. You are more smart and also magnanimous. You must have already accomplished what I am still trying to achieve. You must have already forgiven me but not forgotten your best buddy. Haven’t you?
Here again my lack of faith plays tricks with me and makes me ask this foolish question out of sheer fear. Are you proposing to leave me? No, na ? I knew it. How can you. You are mine and I am yours for many, many centuries more. And I can see you have already forgiven me for my child like insecurities. Hope you don’t feel like Atlas? Carrying me on your back ? Pretending to be happy ? Or like Sindbad The Sailor?
Oh! Am I irritating you? Of course I am. With all these stupid presumptions. Centu, I know you can’t live without me. And me without you.
But these flashes of doubts occur when the body gradually moves on the path of de-construction. What will happen if I leave this old body like humans discarding over-used, tattered clothes? Will you leave too with my ectoplasm ?
What ? Yes and no ? What’s that? Oh! Oh! I get it. I get it. Now don’t be hangry. Well that’s my favourite coinage – angry + hungry. You know I get angrier when I am hungry. Hee 😆! Hee 😆!
What did you say ? Come again ? Before I part with my ectoplasmic remains you shall get yourself embedded in my DNA so that you find me in my next body? Oh come on ! You did tell me that you have learnt the secret art of how to do that. I need not worry? Ok, that’s surely very cool, pal. You are really hundred years ahead of me. I must agree.
That is why I have so much trust in you. You do find a solution to my worries and already take action what I overthink about. Great ! Great! Didn’t I always know you are much ahead of time. Actually, you are timeless, ageless and a great resolver. You have already found a path by which we will always remain together. One big thumbs up for you!
Now, there’s only one grudge left buddy. I have not had Aloo Tikki and Chhole Bhature for a very long time. Let’s have a feast together. Oh no! 🙄 Don’t tell me. You have adopted the path of austerity! Stopped having junk food! Oh my!
Whatttt?
You advise me the same. Centu, though I love you from the bottom of my heart and we are inseparable and all that, please don’t become too over possesive, intimidating and assertive. I know you think the bestest for me. But your rigid renunciations are your own. Let me live grandly! And gorge on some delicious, chatpata streetside food before I have to say goodbye to all that is attractive and adventurous in life.
We shall do all that dieting when I take the astral form, right? Till then…Shush! Shush ! Don’t creep on me from behind and box my ears when I am licking the chaat pattal. Soulmate does not mean you will devour my soul and throw me into throes of depression. You don’t want a melancholic, weepy friend, do you?
You’ve always been a twerp….aah no… I mean tough. But un-tough people like me also need some square feet on mother Earth to live. Let’s co-exist peacefully.
Keep on issuing those advisories but please don’t expect me to follow them so strictly.
Ok..truce, baby.
Let’s go to sleep arm in arm heads on one pillow. Yuck! I forgot you don’t need a pillow. You are somewhere inside me.
So, just tell me if it’s too foul smelling inside. Is there any new developments there? O! That’s your own little secret you won’t let me know. Ok, no issue. I will also not share the choco chip icecream cone you like more than yourself.
Bye and get lost!
Your ever- complaining, squabling Soulu
Pic from Pexel
Quite long but sailed all the way down. Incredible that at a hundred I would hung on that long without dozing off. Old people, though, have a love for long talk.
Thank you for sharing.
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Wishful thinking. It can also be taken as a soliloquy. Old people indulge in.
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Hey, I did not doze.!
My will power is strong.
Love the name ” centu”.
Doubting Jane? Why that habit?
Ah, Aloo Tikki and Chhole Bhature, why did you mention this? You made me feel hungry right at this moment😋
I enjoyed reading, GC, from the beginning to the end, luckily there was no distraction 😀 and it took 25 whole minutes to complete, because I am a slow reader.
Thanks for making me read completely thus keeping my senses alert in the form of immersion and forgetfulness simultaneously,while reading 😀
How many times have you argued with yourself? This quiz is for you.
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Twenty five minutes ? It’s not such a long post!!!
Mouthwatering and sinful. Ain’t they???
I mean CB and AT.
You know, I wanted to open a Detective Agency and work for CBI?
I will post that sometime later.
Doubt goes hand in hand with investigative inclinations. That’s how I knew about your “pseudonyms”. 🙂
Now! Now! Don’t get scared 😳.
Patting my back for not letting you sleep!!! Doing Bhangra now!!
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Yeah, twenty-five whole minutes? I’ll try not to nod off mid-scroll. I packed a lunch bag while I was reading. It took more than seven scrolls before I could finish my lunch.
Mouth-watering and sinful, you say? Like a forbidden fruit dipped in chocolate? CB and AT are the dynamic duo of deliciousness. It sounds like a recipe for trouble.
Ah, dreaming of a detective agency, do you? Donning the deerstalker hat and chasing clues with the CBI? Don’t forget your magnifying glass and a healthy dose of scepticism.
Going to start this hangama sometime later, huh? Suspenseful. While I wait, I may be doing nothing more than munching on popcorn with my stomach churning.
Doubt and investigative inclinations are a match made in sleuthing heaven. Your Sherlock Holmes game is strong, my friend. All the best.
But pseudonyms? Well, you are wrong here. It’s okay. Overconfidence can be disappointing sometimes, but you learn a valuable lesson: not to take things for granted. I explained the meaning of my name in the earlier post.
Scared? Me? Just a reminder that I am already part of their team, busy with some high-profile investigations.
Patting your back for keeping me awake? Well, let’s just share the coffee equally. And Bhangra? It sounds like a party! I am sure to join!😀😀🤣
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Oh! My antennae are up. What did you say? High profile espionage in Papua? I cannot hold my snoopy sniffy nose from crinkling up.
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Well, well, well! It seems even the most remote corners of the globe aren’t safe from the drama of cloak-and-dagger antics!
I can almost hear the sound of spy gadgets clashing with tribal drums in a battle for supremacy.
It’s like James Bond meets the Jungle Book, with a side of intrigue that even Sherlock Holmes would find perplexing!
You just relax and chill!
Don’t strain in these matters since you are busy learning the ropes.😂😂
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Believe me, I have been learning the ropes for the past fifteen years!!! 😀😀
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Fifteen years of rope-learning? Impressive dedication! 😄That’s quite the apprenticeship! 😄
But hey, in the world of ropes, it’s not just about knowing the knots; it’s about mastering the unexpected twists and turns!
Time to graduate from Rope 101 to the advanced course in Ropeology! 🎓
Let’s see if those ropes can handle your next-level expertise! 🤣
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You are underestimating me.
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Mr Philo, jokes aside. One packs a lunch box and not a bag 🛍️!
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Well, well, looks like we’ve stumbled upon the lunchtime etiquette police! 🚓
Who knew the lunchbox had such staunch defenders? 🥪
But hey, as long as there’s food involved, I say we can pack it in whatever vessel tickles our fancy! 🛍️
Let’s keep the lunchtime rebellion alive and pack our snacks however we please! 😄
You are invited to join my lunch bag revolution! 🤣😂
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Your revolutionary spirit is commendable.
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I don’t argue I assert!!!!
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Well, assertively hilarious it is then! 😄💥
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What’s so hilarious. I am a century old buzurg you know.
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Oh, forgive my chuckles, esteemed buzurg! Your wit must be as timeless as your wisdom, like a fine vintage of humour, aged to perfection!😃😂
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I like the nickname
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Thank you Derrick. My nephew stays in US and wants to do a course in photography. I wanted to share your blog link with him. Is that ok?
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Thank you very much
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I love your mix of poignant writing with humor.
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Thank you Janet. I like your posts too. You will find me there more often now.
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