Three years.
That’s how long it took for life to circle back and tap me on the shoulder again.
The last time I left a story unfinished, it was somewhere between airport chaos and a country that felt like a pause. I didn’t know then that it wasn’t an ending.
It was a setup.
Because three years later, out of nowhere, came a message that didn’t just change my plans.
It changed my direction.
Munich.
A job opportunity. A new country. A version of life I hadn’t really planned for, but somehow… it felt like it had been waiting.
Scene 1 – The Notice Period A.K.A Chill Mode: On
Notice period.
Joining date – 27th April.
Not a plan anymore. Not something you can sit with and romanticise. Just… real.
The phase where you’re technically still part of the system, but emotionally… you’ve already left.
For most people, it’s a time to wrap things up neatly. Close loops. Be responsible. Maybe even work harder to “leave a good impression.”
I respect that.
I just didn’t relate to it.
Because for me, it was different. Let’s just say… savage mode was on.
Or maybe… bitch mode.
Depends on who you ask.
Deadlines stopped feeling like deadlines. Earlier, it was “get this done on time.” Now it was more like “why am I rushing for something that won’t even matter to me in a few weeks?”
I wasn’t careless. I just wasn’t… attached.
After all, I was alive again.
Or let’s just say… lively.
Meanwhile, some people double their effort during the notice period. Work harder. Stay longer. Try to prove something even when they’re already on their way out.
I used to wonder why.
Now I just… watch.
And maybe feel a little bad for them.
Because for me, the equation was simple.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Fire me?
I’m leaving anyway.
And legally, you can’t stop me from walking towards something better.
So why pretend like this phase still holds power over me?
Leaves.
Now this was interesting.
Suddenly, I cared about my leaves. Deeply.
Not because I wanted to “rest.”
But because for the first time, they felt like mine.
Not company-owned.
Not approval-dependent.
Mine.
And I was going to use them exactly how I wanted.
Then comes my favourite part – Knowledge transfer.
A junior reached out and asked if I could give KT.
I asked him one question.
“What do you think my reply will be?”
He paused.
Thought about it.
And got it right.
But I’m not completely unreasonable, I sent him the SOP document and said – ask right now or hold your peace forever.
Because that’s the thing.
I wasn’t here to build long-term dependencies anymore.
I was here to close chapters.
At one point, my manager said something along the lines of giving KT on dependencies.
Manager – “You need to give KT on how others will handle your dependencies.”
Me – “I didn’t know I had any.”
Manager – “What do you mean?”
Me – “I mean… isn’t everything already handled by Shani or Mangal or whoever… the star-studded performer of the decade?”
Silence.
The kind you don’t interrupt.
And somewhere between all of this, I realised something.
This wasn’t carelessness.
This was detachment.
The kind that doesn’t come from anger.
But from clarity.
Scene 2 – Fun Doesn’t Stop
Somewhere in the middle of all this… when there was still a month left, someone said it.
“So when are we doing a proper party before you leave?”
That’s how it started.
Riya was the first to jump in.
“We should do a house party.”
Karan, obviously, had priorities sorted.
“Wherever it is… alcohol should be on the house.”
Rahul suggested a pub.
Ankit wanted a proper dance floor.
Someone else suggested a chill dinner.
And then, like every group discussion ever, it slowly started turning into a full-blown debate.
At some point, Riya just went,
“Guys… subtitles, please.”
That was the moment we realised half the room had no idea what the other half was even suggesting anymore.
And yet, everyone had strong opinions.
After all the brainstorming and discussions, it was simple.
My place.
My roof.
One night.
Simple plan.
That night had everything.
Laughter that came too easily.
Conversations that didn’t need context.
Music that no one really listened to, but everyone felt.
And that strange comfort of knowing that nothing needed to be said… and yet everything was understood.
Somewhere between the drinks and random conversations, people started asking questions.
“So when are you leaving?”
“Settled everything?”
“Excited?”
I answered.
Of course I did.
But somewhere in between those answers, I realised something.
This wasn’t just a party.
It was a pause.
A moment where everything still felt the same… even though it wasn’t.
At some point, the conversation shifted.
Germany came up.
Work.
Life.
What would it be like?
Some spoke like it was a big move.
Some treated it like just another job change.
And I just listened.
Because for me, it wasn’t either of those things.
It was something else.
Something I hadn’t fully figured out yet.
And maybe that’s what made it what it was.
Not a farewell.
Not a celebration.
Just… a moment.
If this was the debacle…
I was actually looking forward to what comes next.
It’s felt so real! More than that it felt like you are showing a mirror to a person who should learn to live a life.
It just soo amazing