Never say 'Never'...

I have lost the count of number of things I have said I would 'Never' do, and then have eventually ended up doing them.  Sometimes by 'choice' and sometimes by virtue of this thing called 'destiny'...

#1 - While in 12th standard, I was hoping to get into an engineering college in Rajasthan. My masi had asked me to consider the colleges in Mumbai. I had very brashly announced - "I would never study in Mumbai. I will loose focus in that city and will never be able to complete my engineering. That city is only about glitz and glamor."

In May 2005, I graduated as a Computer Engineer from Thadomal Shahani Engineering College (Mumbai).

#2 - When I was in engineering, my friends used to ask, what would I prefer - A love marriage or an arranged marriage? And my response to them was loud and clear - "I would never get into the complexities of a relationship. Relationships are synonymous to pain. I will never fall for anyone. Love is for idle minds. I will let my parents find someone for me."

In Nov 2006, I committed to spend the rest of my life with N.

#3 - When a distant relative asked me why did I not pursue masters soon after my engineering? I derided her suggestion by saying - "I would never leave my country and go abroad to either study or live. I love India and I will serve this country till I breathe my last."

On 7th August 2007, I was waiting at the Washington Dulles Airport for my connecting flight to Indianapolis.

#4 - After completing my masters from Bloomington, I moved to New York for work. A friend of mine tried to advise me about advantages of living in a small city. I jeered at him by saying - "As long as I am in US, I would never move out of NY. There is so much life in this city."

Since April 7th 2009, owing to my work, I have been living in an 'unheard-of' city in Virginia - Herndon.

#5 - Before leaving for India in September 2009, N asked me, what would 'we' do, if his MBA plans do not work out this year. Should we explore options to live in India for a foreseeable future? I quickly snapped at him - "Why do you have to be so pessimistic? A US university will never deny you an admit. We will never talk about going back to India, until we have traveled around the world and enjoyed first few years of our marriage."

March 2010, I am voluntarily exploring options to go back to India.