shivaratri.......... used to linger around pashupati every Saturday morning 3:30 am. it was not even dawn, but we loved it. "rambo danda", that's what we named that small hill overlooking the temple in front of aryaghat. our primary purpose was not to smoke grass, just that inner peace (well does sound corky but....). well first of all it would give us an incentive to wake up early in the morning, because every other day I would wake up at like 10 and go to school. unable to bait our enthusiasm, we used to talk to this "baba" when we went there. although around his 70s he had a taut face, a dry smile, although his face told us that he can have a much different laughter around times. it just overwhelmed us when he told us that he had a degree in MBA from India and chose that path because he felt it would help him normalize his existence with the deity. quire absurd way of perceiving life but it was his life anyway. (I?m not being cynical) shivaratri--- used to count fingers waiting for that day. not only because it was an interesting day but "fortunately" (I love it when I can use this word) my b-day. so it?s always been a bright day for me. we used to have bonfire in the nearby open ground and stay up all night doing nothing just roasting potatoes I guess. I don?t eat meat that/this day. Well I?m done writing, kehi pani khako chahina, I?m hungry??..