I had forgotten what it felt like. The little warmth of the sun rays falling on your face and body, on a cold frosty morning. These days when I feel cold, I turn the heating in my living room to Level 6, I go into a warm and cosy coffee shop, I max my car temperature to 28 degrees, everything but wear that thick scarf of old times, don that big coat and just let the sunshine pierce you.

So today, on the 1st day of the 1st month of yet another year, I do exactly that. And it feels good. This is the exact reason I got an expensive flat by the river, so that on days warm or cold, I would be 67 seconds away from a walk and a bench which would clear my mind, give me inspiration, replace stale thoughts in my small brain with fresh ones, take me to another place.

Today it has taken me to the winters of 1991, 92 and 93. Shillong, our tiny little house, or 1/3rd of a bungalow to be precise. The old Khasi landlady had partionited her house to rent out. I don't think it was for money but probably for some company in her old age. So she lived there in 2/3rd of the house by herself, while the 4 of us were cosy in the rest 1/3rd. Anyway, I am digressing. The memory which came back rushing today was of me sitting by the steps of the door in the cold January mornings, in the board exam prep breaks. Opening the main door of the house would send sunshine streaming into our home. I would sit there for hours, with my books, the textbooks, MBD(?) guides, last years exam papers and my notebook. My mum would finish her household work and sit with me, reading Sarita or something similar, and talking randomly about thoughts she had - "You must eat more almonds to improve your memory", "Let me put some oil in your hair - This new one doesnt smell". I could go on and on. Miss those days !!!!