New Year’s Eve

I have heard that Jan 1^st is not a public Holiday in India. Is that true I wonder?
Ever since I heard about this, I have been wondering how people can dance into the wee hours of the First Day of a Brand New Year and make it to work too!
I have lived here in the UAE since the age of 5.  Since then, Jan 1^st has always been a holiday for me. When I was in school, and also later when I was working, New Years have always been celebrated with a bang.
My early childhood memories of New Year Celebrations are the ones I cherish the most. We had, even at that point in time, a huge gang of relatives and friends.  There was a time when we used to have parties for every occasion. And everyone would be invited. But New Year’s was always more special.
Men would be enjoying their glasses of alcohol, while the women would cook, arrange and keep the flow of snacks and food running. At times we have even ordered food from restaurants so that even the mummies can enjoy their huge gossip sessions. Games would be organized for the kids and adults separately. We were at least 8 kids in almost the same age group. You can imagine the fun.
The celebrations were always in someone’s cramped house, with hardly any place to move around. Once the cake was cut, dot at 12:00 am Jan 1^st, there would be dancing sessions. I have never enjoyed myself more in my life. It was as good as a dream. Never have we left before 5 am from a New Year’s Party. Once the dance fever subsides, it would be time for the singing sessions. Maybe that was followed by an antakhari session. It was never the same pattern. But it always the same joy.
Sadly with children growing up and the times changing, these events were reduced to a bare minimum. It came to a point were the parties were fewer and the invitees too. Life had a total makeover. I was too young at that point to figure out why! Nonetheless, even if it was just with our closest neighbours, New Year’s eve was always a singing, dancing and gaming affair.  From the gang of 8 kids, I was stuck between children who were much younger than me on one side and those that were much older than me on the other side. They were the most awkward years of my life. However, I was also the star of every show. Even in the meekness of the growing up years, I had managed to enjoy every New Year’s Eve.
Then college happened, I don’t remember a single New Year Party in those 4 years. Simply because, by then I wasn’t the partying kind anymore.
After marriage, parties were basically family get togethers. Our family is thankfully big. And even that was enough to brighten my New Year’s Eve.
It was during the New Year Day of 2009 that I first experienced the joy of working on Jan 1st. We partied the previous night till around 3 am. I reached work by 7 am. I think I slept through most of my work that day. It was recession and everyone was on added duties. I was working in a Bank. And I have felt and witnessed the misery of the many who lost their jobs and were trying to pay up loans or clear up debts. It was just a work overload for some of us. But we didn’t complain, we were better off than so many others.
Since then too, New Years Eve has been celebrated with enthusiasm.  One year, we were in a resort in Ras Al Khaimah. Another year on an over night stay at a hotel in Fujairah. The idea was not to have an expensive outing. The idea was to make memories for our kids. My nephews and niece have since then left home to join colleges in India.
This year my niece won’t be able to make it. She is doing her final year medicine. My nephews , who are in their second year medicine, are coming next week. My parents who were here up until my dad retired this January would be missing too. They are renovating their home in Kerala at present and can’t leave that and come here on visit.
My husband is in India on a forced break. Today he asked me whether it’s ok to spend New Year’s Eve in India this year, with just us. That’s when it struck me. I have no plans for New Year’s this year!
Generally by this time, the venue and everything else would be already decided and even the menu set up. But this year, in between all these uncertainties, the charm of the New Year has disappeared.
We could be in Dubai, We could be in Oman. We could be in Bangalore or we could be in Kerala. Not really sure where destiny is going to lead us.
The countdown to New Year’s Eve has finally begun in my mind today. And for the first time in my life, I am not looking forward to it!