The most dreaded/awaited time of the year

Depending on who you are and what you think, the fast-approaching(?) year end / new year is either the most awaited time of the year or the most dreaded one. The lighting is all around us and so is the "spirit" and the "spirits". Most restaurants and wine shops are "stocking" it up. I mean, you don't want to run out of it half-way into the new year celebration. I am told that even regular "Udipi" bars charge more on that day...I think they have a separate menu for the new year eve.

Many events are lined up everywhere...you could choose to spend the eve and the midnight (and the morning) in some top-class restaurant or in some shady joint or still better in the open. A few years ago, I had heard that several foreigners chose to ring in the new year in the heart of the Rajasthan desert.

Some bigger restaurants / "clubs" organize events where they invite various celebrities to do some acts. And the charges would no doubt be exhorbitant.

Some naive people think that the performing events are "the" place to be at. These (mostly newly wed or to be wed) make bookings and grand plans to go these places. Then, they realize that its not the same as they expected it to be. Most such places are "overbooked" and the people just dance and do whatever else they can in a crowded place. Maybe some of these types expected a "seated" show with the audience behaving like at a classical music performance. What they get is usually standing and the crowd behaving as if at a FIFA game or at a heavy metal rock show concert.

Some others prefer to be out in the "open". This could be any public place with the starry sky over one's head (okay, stars won't be visible in the Chembur area...instead one has nice illusionary effects courtesy of the refineries and other industries out there). The popular open spaces are the beaches (Juhu, Girgaon), the Gateway of India, the roads. I am also told that it is a tradition for people travelling in cars / other vehicles to blow their vehicle horns at the midnight hour. Drunken driving during the new year is a common occurence, but reports in the newspaper always mention that there would be strict vigils by the police.

The "other" people (probably the sensible lot), know that "outside" is a dangerous place to be on the eve of the new year. As a result, most of such people, leave their workplace at the regular time and head to their residence (buying whatever it is that they feel like keeping company with at midnight).

For these "other" people, this time of the year is the most dreaded one...the one to be at home and away from the crowd that goes berserk on the eve. Some of these "home" types tend to switch on the television and watch "an exciting array" of programmes broadcast. Among those programme types, one can be sure to see a programme with a title such as "Events of 2005" or whatever - where various important events that occurred in 2005 would be shown. Other programmes include mimicry shows and/or dance programmes and programmes that telecast live the on-goings in some "club" where the "celeberatory" types have gone.

For the people who celebrate it, they do so as if they might not live to see the next day.

Some of us are unfortunate to be working on the new year day (that is, 1st Jan). These people have to get up in the morning and go back to the grind as if there was nothing special the previous night. That's when one can see all the people who celebrated the eve going home...staggering instead of walking and needing a much desired and required rest/sleep. Happy New Year to them. Good morning to the others who stayed at home.