"Bus tumhare baap ki hai??" Encounter specialist was furious, seemed like there werent going to be any prisoners today.
"Why did you people have to ask them for a party? You should have given it first" he was in his usual form, I wonder what he could do for the Indian Cricket Team, if he were to be appointed as a coach. Nobody would be out of form ever, atleast he wont let them be. And next time, The Team was to travel, all the Fathers wwould have been accompanying their player sons.
"Call your father, I want to talk. And until your parents arrive, all of you are suspended" he said, banging his pen on the table, as if he was a High Court Judge who had just given a death sentence.
"Sir, please, sir dont do this to us, please sir.." we were standing outside The Chamber, just as we heard Aakash plead.
"Why shouldnt I? You people spoil the discipline, and set examples. Its our turn now to set an example."
"Sir you have got to believe me, this happens in every bus, every year!!"
We had slowly micro-inched our way back into The Chamber, to watch the 'Trial'.
"Really? Then why is it that only your bus incharge came up to me?" The Specialist had slipped, probably for the first time ever.
"I mean.. I mean why did a junior from your bus complained, and not from the other buses, if, what you are saying is true??" He tried to cover-up.
It was our Bus-Incharge, it had to be him. No junior had complained. It was starting to make sense now.
Vijay, during the party, had asked so many times, that we at least hand the Pig one sandwich. But we didnt. And now the Pig had thrown all of us in shit. It also explained why there had been no such complaints from other buses, as others had wisely fed their Incharges, while we chose not to do so. And now here we were, suspended and fined. I never had thought in my life, that a sandwich would cost me so dearly!!
"Sir.. even we had given similar parties to the Super-Seniors" Aakash wasnt gonna go down without a fight. Bravo!
"Then why didn u compl.. What did you just say? Super what??" Mr. Khurana had been 'prosecuting' violators maybe right from the day he could see. But the expression on his face said he had never come across a word like that during his Encounters.
Super Seniors? What the hell was that supposed to mean, only Aakash knew.
"Super-Seniors Sir!!" Aakash repeated.
"I have heard about this SuperMan, and even Nirma Super, but what is this Super-Senior" Khurana was scratching his head.
It was getting harder to control the laughter, not because of Khurana's wit, but because, probably it was one of those rare occasions when Khurana was clueless!!
"Sir, 4th year students are called that" Aakash tried to end the old man's miseries.
"Aa Ha! I thought so" He almost jumped out of his chair, as if his guess in CAT had gone correct.
"I dont want to hear what you did last year, I know what you have done this year and you will pay" Khurana declared, swinging his finger all across our faces, "Get out now and call your parents"
Over the next few weeks, Aakash, Hemant and Vijay's parents came and met with the Special Agent.He lectured them on his philosophies for precisely 2Hrs each! And at the end, he always asked the question, "By the way, whose parents are you??"
Needless to say, countless Encounters had taken their toll.
But, surprisingly, me and the others got away without having to call our parents. But had to pay the fines. Having been through the Second Encounter , I felt 'Bonded' to the college, and i still do.
I have funded atleast one pillar of the new girls hostel thats under construction!! I wonder if can take back the pillar and have a right to passage!!!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
9. The Gang
Next lecture was of Engineering Mechanics. From the first 3-4 classes, Shis had got an idea that it was very deeply connected to what we had already done in the 11th class. He was in no mood to attend, "Theres no way am going to sleep in the 2nd lecture, This aint happening, No way!!"
"What the hell are you guys doing here, run man, before he spots us, run!!!" shouted Babban, who was trying to catch a train it seemed, his bag in one hand, a couple of books in the other.
"Dont tell me you are going to attend?" he tried to confirm, giving all three of us a disgusted look.
I, Doc and Shis exchanged looks.
"I am telling you, I would die without Ice-coffee in this dessert" exclaimed Babban, "One more please!" He was talking to Viru, the attendant at the Coffee Joint in our college.
"Why are you so reluctant to attend Gupta Sir's class?" I had wanted to attend.
"Are you out of your mind? His name sounds like an automobile company, he doesnt know what to teach, how to teach, from where to teach, whom to teach, I dont understand why did he have to leave France in the first place, and you want me to attend his class? What for? If I have to study on my own, why waste my precious 50 mins??" Babban was furious at me, I guess.
"One more" having finished the 2nd cup, he asked for another.
"Besides, all I can or for that matter anyone can do in his lecture, is SLEEP!!" Shis joined Babban.
Gupta Sir or BMG as were his initials, was a distinguished man. He had spent most of his life in France, learning and then teaching. But now, nearing 60, he had come back to India. He didnt have faith in Indian Authors and would only refer the likes of Shames, Miska etc. Even Indian websites were not upto his standards. Before starting a lecture, he would proudly write down the websites of Universities like Cambridge, MIT, Brussels and so on. There would be 8-9 in all.
"No need to take notes, Just understand the concepts. Whatever I am going to teach today, you can find everything on these resources, please do have a look".
Though everyone respected him a lot, or at least I did, most of the students chose to stay out. It was because, whatever he taught, was great from the point of view of understanding but was too confusing for someone who was looking for just 40 marks.
"Exactly, ok, you attended the last lecture, right? tell me what did you understand?" throwing away the 3rd cup, Babban demanded an answer. With Shis on his side now it became a kind of 2-on-1 handicap match, so I decided to change the topic.
"Want one more?" I tried to be nice.
"No Thanks" seemed like he was full, "Wheres your lunch by the way??" may be not.
"And what about yours Doc??" with my lunch in hand he turned towards Doc.
Babban is like 5'10", very well built, better than some of the body builders you might have seen. But, he is still like a 6 year old kid. Likes to keep his hair really short and since Sanjay Dutt has gone to jail, he is trying to fill it in. He has adopted Sanju Baba's look.
The way he talks, does certain things, you cant help but laugh. Things that might not look funny if I, Shis or even Doc were to do, look hilarious on Babban.
Akshit, is also the movie dealer of college, oh, thats Babban's formal name. Give him your request and it'll be granted within 72 Hours. Fees?? who do you expect pays for those Ice-coffees? You can find a trunk full of DVDs at his place. But he has this one rule, doesnt give his DVDs to anyone, You have to provide him a blank DVD to get the movie of your choice.
"Hey Babban, can you bring Lake Placid by Friday?" requested a friend
"Umm..I..hav..umm..it..re..umm..um.. mind me..I'll...ummm.. get..umm.. it tomo..ummm..rrow " Babban was struggling to speak, as there was too much in his mouth. He was through with my lunch and was about to finish Doc's. He seemed in a hurry.
"Hey hey hey look!! Appu is trying to run!" Doc pointed at some boulder that seemed to be rolling towards us!! After putting on my specs I realized it was Appu. He was running straight towards us. That explained why Babban was in a hurry.
Just like Babban, Sameer, we prefer to call him Appu, is a complete foodie. Anything that can be eaten, cannot escape from them. Interests apart, theres nothing much in common. Appu cant run actually, Firstly because, he doesnt want to, hes too lazy a person. And Secondly because, his tummy sometimes obstructs his legs.
Fighting for lunches is something I have been seeing these two doing since the first sem.
"C'mon guys lets go, Baby Ghosh must be in class by now" Shis checked his watch.
It had been over 55 minutes since we were sitting at the Joint
Couldnt afford to miss Prof Ghosh's class. So, we stood up to leave. Appu was about 20m away, quite far, by his standards.
"What the hell are you guys doing here, run man, before he spots us, run!!!" shouted Babban, who was trying to catch a train it seemed, his bag in one hand, a couple of books in the other.
"Dont tell me you are going to attend?" he tried to confirm, giving all three of us a disgusted look.
I, Doc and Shis exchanged looks.
"I am telling you, I would die without Ice-coffee in this dessert" exclaimed Babban, "One more please!" He was talking to Viru, the attendant at the Coffee Joint in our college.
"Why are you so reluctant to attend Gupta Sir's class?" I had wanted to attend.
"Are you out of your mind? His name sounds like an automobile company, he doesnt know what to teach, how to teach, from where to teach, whom to teach, I dont understand why did he have to leave France in the first place, and you want me to attend his class? What for? If I have to study on my own, why waste my precious 50 mins??" Babban was furious at me, I guess.
"One more" having finished the 2nd cup, he asked for another.
"Besides, all I can or for that matter anyone can do in his lecture, is SLEEP!!" Shis joined Babban.
Gupta Sir or BMG as were his initials, was a distinguished man. He had spent most of his life in France, learning and then teaching. But now, nearing 60, he had come back to India. He didnt have faith in Indian Authors and would only refer the likes of Shames, Miska etc. Even Indian websites were not upto his standards. Before starting a lecture, he would proudly write down the websites of Universities like Cambridge, MIT, Brussels and so on. There would be 8-9 in all.
"No need to take notes, Just understand the concepts. Whatever I am going to teach today, you can find everything on these resources, please do have a look".
Though everyone respected him a lot, or at least I did, most of the students chose to stay out. It was because, whatever he taught, was great from the point of view of understanding but was too confusing for someone who was looking for just 40 marks.
"Exactly, ok, you attended the last lecture, right? tell me what did you understand?" throwing away the 3rd cup, Babban demanded an answer. With Shis on his side now it became a kind of 2-on-1 handicap match, so I decided to change the topic.
"Want one more?" I tried to be nice.
"No Thanks" seemed like he was full, "Wheres your lunch by the way??" may be not.
"And what about yours Doc??" with my lunch in hand he turned towards Doc.
Babban is like 5'10", very well built, better than some of the body builders you might have seen. But, he is still like a 6 year old kid. Likes to keep his hair really short and since Sanjay Dutt has gone to jail, he is trying to fill it in. He has adopted Sanju Baba's look.
The way he talks, does certain things, you cant help but laugh. Things that might not look funny if I, Shis or even Doc were to do, look hilarious on Babban.
Akshit, is also the movie dealer of college, oh, thats Babban's formal name. Give him your request and it'll be granted within 72 Hours. Fees?? who do you expect pays for those Ice-coffees? You can find a trunk full of DVDs at his place. But he has this one rule, doesnt give his DVDs to anyone, You have to provide him a blank DVD to get the movie of your choice.
"Hey Babban, can you bring Lake Placid by Friday?" requested a friend
"Umm..I..hav..umm..it..re..umm..um.. mind me..I'll...ummm.. get..umm.. it tomo..ummm..rrow " Babban was struggling to speak, as there was too much in his mouth. He was through with my lunch and was about to finish Doc's. He seemed in a hurry.
"Hey hey hey look!! Appu is trying to run!" Doc pointed at some boulder that seemed to be rolling towards us!! After putting on my specs I realized it was Appu. He was running straight towards us. That explained why Babban was in a hurry.
Just like Babban, Sameer, we prefer to call him Appu, is a complete foodie. Anything that can be eaten, cannot escape from them. Interests apart, theres nothing much in common. Appu cant run actually, Firstly because, he doesnt want to, hes too lazy a person. And Secondly because, his tummy sometimes obstructs his legs.
Fighting for lunches is something I have been seeing these two doing since the first sem.
"C'mon guys lets go, Baby Ghosh must be in class by now" Shis checked his watch.
It had been over 55 minutes since we were sitting at the Joint
Couldnt afford to miss Prof Ghosh's class. So, we stood up to leave. Appu was about 20m away, quite far, by his standards.
Monday, January 14, 2008
8. The Second Encounter PART 1
I was enjoying my new found freedom! I was a 'senior' now, having completed my 1st year successfully.
And it was time.
It was time for a newer generation to step foot in the college, It was my time to take the 'Intros'. I was elated to say the least. The new crop, however, turned out to be much more sport than i had actually expected. They were willing and sporting enough to do whatever we asked them to, well almost, everything.
Things were looking great and just about then somebody popped the idea,
"Hey guys, when are we going to get a party?" asked a level-3 Junglee to a level-1.
For the uninitiated, level-3 means 3rd year, level-2 2nd year and so on.
The poor chap had just finished his intro and was visibly tired, sensing troubled waters he wisely chose to stay away, he kept mum.
"Didnt you guys give us a party last year? Then why shouldnt these guys do the same this year?" He continued, looking towards us.
He had a very valid point.
We had thrown a similar party for our seniors and it was a kind of ice breaker, you tend to get more comfortable with each other after such casual interactions.
But, more importantly, it was a tradition.
So, everything was planned, who is going to bring what and so on. The day was fixed.
On the D-day, as the freshers started boarding the bus with bottles of Coke, packets of snack and other eatables, the Bus-Incharge looked troubled!
Our Incharge during those days was a guy whose name sounded like a gemstone and who looked like a Gangster straight out of some Rajnikant movie. He had this amazing ability of seeing with one eye closed, as if in some kind of hibernation mode. Nobody had ever seen his two pupils simultaneously.
The party began.
Everybody was having a good time, by everybody i mean the Junglee league and the freshers who had the heart to sit at the back.
We ran out of supplies as the bus neared college. Just in time.
Juniors were obviously on a high, feeling they had befriended the Devils.
During the lunch break, I happened to meet a level-2 brother of mine, who was sweating profusely.
"Whats happened to you??" I asked.
"I guess you havent seen the notice board yet!" he replied pointing towards the Board.
I was blank for a second, whats notice board got to do with him?
Maybe, he had been detained or probably was in some kind of shit.
I moved to it and tried to find something relevant from the million bits of paper that were pasted on it. A freshly pasted paper caught my attention.
Oh My God!!
What the heck?
Must have been a fresher!
"What is it dude??" Shis enquired placing his hand around my neck,
I moved aside. He could see it now, what had hit me, again!!
Date : XX-XX-XXXX
The following students have been found to indulge in ragging in the institute bus and are suspended from the institute with immediate effect till further notice
1. Mr. VIJAY KUMAR
2.Mr. HEMANT MEHTA
3.Mr. AAKASH PANDEY
4.Mr. KAUSHIK TANEJA
5.Mr. AMAR TYAGI
6.Mr. NITIN BAWEJA
7.Mr. PRASHANT DEORA
8.Mr. YOURS TRULY
SIGNED
Prof H.B.Khurana
Head,
Discipline Committee
We were all set to face the encounter specialist, Me, for a second time.
There seemed no escape!
And it was time.
It was time for a newer generation to step foot in the college, It was my time to take the 'Intros'. I was elated to say the least. The new crop, however, turned out to be much more sport than i had actually expected. They were willing and sporting enough to do whatever we asked them to, well almost, everything.
Things were looking great and just about then somebody popped the idea,
"Hey guys, when are we going to get a party?" asked a level-3 Junglee to a level-1.
For the uninitiated, level-3 means 3rd year, level-2 2nd year and so on.
The poor chap had just finished his intro and was visibly tired, sensing troubled waters he wisely chose to stay away, he kept mum.
"Didnt you guys give us a party last year? Then why shouldnt these guys do the same this year?" He continued, looking towards us.
He had a very valid point.
We had thrown a similar party for our seniors and it was a kind of ice breaker, you tend to get more comfortable with each other after such casual interactions.
But, more importantly, it was a tradition.
So, everything was planned, who is going to bring what and so on. The day was fixed.
On the D-day, as the freshers started boarding the bus with bottles of Coke, packets of snack and other eatables, the Bus-Incharge looked troubled!
Our Incharge during those days was a guy whose name sounded like a gemstone and who looked like a Gangster straight out of some Rajnikant movie. He had this amazing ability of seeing with one eye closed, as if in some kind of hibernation mode. Nobody had ever seen his two pupils simultaneously.
The party began.
Everybody was having a good time, by everybody i mean the Junglee league and the freshers who had the heart to sit at the back.
We ran out of supplies as the bus neared college. Just in time.
Juniors were obviously on a high, feeling they had befriended the Devils.
During the lunch break, I happened to meet a level-2 brother of mine, who was sweating profusely.
"Whats happened to you??" I asked.
"I guess you havent seen the notice board yet!" he replied pointing towards the Board.
I was blank for a second, whats notice board got to do with him?
Maybe, he had been detained or probably was in some kind of shit.
I moved to it and tried to find something relevant from the million bits of paper that were pasted on it. A freshly pasted paper caught my attention.
Oh My God!!
What the heck?
Must have been a fresher!
"What is it dude??" Shis enquired placing his hand around my neck,
I moved aside. He could see it now, what had hit me, again!!
Date : XX-XX-XXXX
The following students have been found to indulge in ragging in the institute bus and are suspended from the institute with immediate effect till further notice
1. Mr. VIJAY KUMAR
2.Mr. HEMANT MEHTA
3.Mr. AAKASH PANDEY
4.Mr. KAUSHIK TANEJA
5.Mr. AMAR TYAGI
6.Mr. NITIN BAWEJA
7.Mr. PRASHANT DEORA
8.Mr. YOURS TRULY
SIGNED
Prof H.B.Khurana
Head,
Discipline Committee
We were all set to face the encounter specialist, Me, for a second time.
There seemed no escape!
7. 3rd Sem a Love Story PART 1
As my luck would have it, Prof. Khurana walked in for a class the first day of 3rd semester.
"How much more inauspicious could it get?" I thought, and tried to elude his field of vision for the entire lecture as I didnt want any trouble on the first day.
After that, it was a pleasant ride, as i got better at eluding him. I was so good at it that most of the time he didnt even know i was in the class untill the attendance!! Great success!!
"Write a fourier series fo..." It was Prof K's class.
"Hey, i think i am in love" whispered Doc,
"What the f..k??"
"No no.. not like that, i think its pure love!!" Pure? I was trying to make sense of it, maybe he meant he didnt fantasize about her during The Act, that was just my interpretation.
"Whose the girl, since when?" A thousand questions errupted in my passive brain, it was active again, sensing a subject of interest.
"Which equals..?" I suddenly realised Doc had breached my concentration and i was directly in the line of vision of the Prof, who, in the mean time, had half solved some kind of mathematical jumble and was about to turn to ask his students what the answer might be.
"You Mr.Red T-shirt, what is the answer?" I had managed to duck just in time, and it hit Sheshadri!!, who was sitting behind me.
"Umm.. Sir.. I think.. it.. it should.. its.."
"You shameless creature, call your father" I could hear someone whisper behind our backs.
"You people dont study, your parents are wasting so much money and you.." Prof was seemingly upset on Sheshadri, nodding his head, he continued,"Shameless boy, i would like to see your father sometime, now get out of my class!"
Sheshadri is a very simple guy, i had first met him on the last benches in the first semester. He too was a backbencher, like myself, so we kind of bonded instantly.
As you might have guessed it by now, hes from south, theoretically at least. He had spent most of his childhood in the North-Indian town of Agra. So, presumably, he is a mixed breed.
He looks like an average guy, is about 5'6" and is medium built. He tries to make a fashion statement with the combination of spikes and a moustache!!
Academically speaking, He is too strong in his concepts about whatever he has learnt in classes 11th and 12th. And because of this fact, he was always very eager to answer the questions put up in the class during his initial days. But now, he has got acclimatized. Meaning, he now preffers to maintain a low profile in the class and seldom pays attention to what is being taught.
Linguistically, His English is impeccable and Hindi, much like, if not worst than, the roadside romeos of Agra. However, what i admire about him is the fact that he is constantly adding newer words to his vocab, the Hindi ones. He gets these new words from Security guards, Panwallas, Sweepers and God knows from where else.
He wants to pursue MS, thats right, his masters from outside of india. Thats his only aim in life. Actually he has one more, about which he too is not so sure. And understandably so because its about a girl.
He had met this girl during the counselling process, and as fate would have it, she turned up in the same college.
So, fantasies of Shis took wings!! He thought he couldnt live without her!!
During the first year, he was on talking terms with her but as time passed they started drifting apart. But, Shis never lost hope.
"Ok class, that will be it for today, now for the attendance.." My mind was back in the class, it was attendance time.
"Hey Shis, you better be alert from next time man, he can screw anyone to save his ass!!"pointing at me, Doc tried to speak, controlling his laughter. This was the 3rd time Shis had been sent out in 5 days!
"Ok ok, cut it out, enough, what were you saying back there in the class?" I asked Doc, wanting to know all about it.
Docs known to the Profs as Om. Well, he is 6'2" well built and from Haryana. He is a truly gifted soul!! Give him any piece of literature and he can reproduce it within 2 hours! Word by word, point by point. I guess, partly, that also explains why he is the topper in our group, other part being no one else in the group studies as much.
"I was saying what you heard!! And you know that girl" Doc said with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Whats happening guys??, What did he say?? What girl??" inquired Shis.
"How much more inauspicious could it get?" I thought, and tried to elude his field of vision for the entire lecture as I didnt want any trouble on the first day.
After that, it was a pleasant ride, as i got better at eluding him. I was so good at it that most of the time he didnt even know i was in the class untill the attendance!! Great success!!
"Write a fourier series fo..." It was Prof K's class.
"Hey, i think i am in love" whispered Doc,
"What the f..k??"
"No no.. not like that, i think its pure love!!" Pure? I was trying to make sense of it, maybe he meant he didnt fantasize about her during The Act, that was just my interpretation.
"Whose the girl, since when?" A thousand questions errupted in my passive brain, it was active again, sensing a subject of interest.
"Which equals..?" I suddenly realised Doc had breached my concentration and i was directly in the line of vision of the Prof, who, in the mean time, had half solved some kind of mathematical jumble and was about to turn to ask his students what the answer might be.
"You Mr.Red T-shirt, what is the answer?" I had managed to duck just in time, and it hit Sheshadri!!, who was sitting behind me.
"Umm.. Sir.. I think.. it.. it should.. its.."
"You shameless creature, call your father" I could hear someone whisper behind our backs.
"You people dont study, your parents are wasting so much money and you.." Prof was seemingly upset on Sheshadri, nodding his head, he continued,"Shameless boy, i would like to see your father sometime, now get out of my class!"
Sheshadri is a very simple guy, i had first met him on the last benches in the first semester. He too was a backbencher, like myself, so we kind of bonded instantly.
As you might have guessed it by now, hes from south, theoretically at least. He had spent most of his childhood in the North-Indian town of Agra. So, presumably, he is a mixed breed.
He looks like an average guy, is about 5'6" and is medium built. He tries to make a fashion statement with the combination of spikes and a moustache!!
Academically speaking, He is too strong in his concepts about whatever he has learnt in classes 11th and 12th. And because of this fact, he was always very eager to answer the questions put up in the class during his initial days. But now, he has got acclimatized. Meaning, he now preffers to maintain a low profile in the class and seldom pays attention to what is being taught.
Linguistically, His English is impeccable and Hindi, much like, if not worst than, the roadside romeos of Agra. However, what i admire about him is the fact that he is constantly adding newer words to his vocab, the Hindi ones. He gets these new words from Security guards, Panwallas, Sweepers and God knows from where else.
He wants to pursue MS, thats right, his masters from outside of india. Thats his only aim in life. Actually he has one more, about which he too is not so sure. And understandably so because its about a girl.
He had met this girl during the counselling process, and as fate would have it, she turned up in the same college.
So, fantasies of Shis took wings!! He thought he couldnt live without her!!
During the first year, he was on talking terms with her but as time passed they started drifting apart. But, Shis never lost hope.
"Ok class, that will be it for today, now for the attendance.." My mind was back in the class, it was attendance time.
"Hey Shis, you better be alert from next time man, he can screw anyone to save his ass!!"pointing at me, Doc tried to speak, controlling his laughter. This was the 3rd time Shis had been sent out in 5 days!
"Ok ok, cut it out, enough, what were you saying back there in the class?" I asked Doc, wanting to know all about it.
Docs known to the Profs as Om. Well, he is 6'2" well built and from Haryana. He is a truly gifted soul!! Give him any piece of literature and he can reproduce it within 2 hours! Word by word, point by point. I guess, partly, that also explains why he is the topper in our group, other part being no one else in the group studies as much.
"I was saying what you heard!! And you know that girl" Doc said with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Whats happening guys??, What did he say?? What girl??" inquired Shis.
6. The First Encounter
There i was, walking through the corridors, towards The Chamber. Its one place, nobody wants to be in, not even the Profs!
"Sir, it was not at all intentional" i said to myself, practicing what i was going to say,
"I got the copy made, so that i dont have to carry it always and risk it being lost or stolen!"
"And just for your satisfaction, you can have a look at the original, its with me only, i didnt lose it or anything"
"One more thing, i am still in my 1st semester and i really had no idea that this would become such an issue, i would have never done it if i had the slightest of idea. I am really sorry sir, it wont happen again" punching the air, i thought, a deathblow and smirked.
"Hey, you all right??" Doc tried to make sure I hadnt lost it.
"I know he can get to your head, but dont think about it too much, he wont obviously hang you for this!!" assured Doc, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I seriously doubted his advice. This man could not be trusted in any way, he could do anything.
Before I could realize I was standing right at the doors of The Chamber. I had a good look at the entrance, it was a 7 foot high wooden door, brownish black in color, may be it was because of the "Encounters" that were held in this room, a label just above the door informed me that i was at the third floor of the south wing
Just below that, on the door, my eyes stopped on the name plate
If the students had it their way, it could have been
Special Agent H.B.Khurana
"Com'mon go man," Doc pushed me.
"May i come in Sir", I asked swallowing my own saliva
"Yes" a gentle voice greeted me.
That was the encouragement i was looking for, I gathered all my courage and entered his room, i felt the door close on me. Doc was outside. It was one on one now. Either me or hi..
"What do you want" he cut into my thoughts.
As i raised my head, i could see him 'relaxing'. Both hands behind his head, legs crossed and on the table. He looked towards me and smiled.
"Sir.. Actually, I.. Uh.. First year.. Uh.. I-Card.."
"Oh, you are the one who was trying to get in with that fake I-card?"
All this while, i had been using the word 'copy' and never had even thought of the one he was using, i didnt know why, but it made me feel even more miserable than i already was!
"Umm.. Sir.. The thing is.." I tried to deliver the lines I had been practicing.
"That you were trying to use a fake id to get in the college, and we could very well register a police case against u and you could be behind bars for who knows how long"
I could see myself in those 'stripped' clothes almost instantly, my mother cursing me, actually my whole family..
"NO" I shouted with both my hands in air so as to stop him.
It surprised him too, he lost his balance on the chair and almost fell over on his back.
"What?? Are you trying to hit me??"
He now sat in a more conventional manner.
"No no.. Sir.. I was.. I am Sorry" those were my last words in The Chamber
I was fined and had to pay it but somehow i was feeling good, for two reasons,
One, I was still a citizen of my country and not a criminal
Two, Now i had something to boast about in the Junglee League and i was the youngest to have lived through an encounter(i was still in my 1st year)
The happiness was short-lived though. As is the thing with my life, my past always catches up with my present and almost ruins it. Prof.H.B.Khurana was going to take a subject in Third semester!!
"Sir, it was not at all intentional" i said to myself, practicing what i was going to say,
"I got the copy made, so that i dont have to carry it always and risk it being lost or stolen!"
"And just for your satisfaction, you can have a look at the original, its with me only, i didnt lose it or anything"
"One more thing, i am still in my 1st semester and i really had no idea that this would become such an issue, i would have never done it if i had the slightest of idea. I am really sorry sir, it wont happen again" punching the air, i thought, a deathblow and smirked.
"Hey, you all right??" Doc tried to make sure I hadnt lost it.
"I know he can get to your head, but dont think about it too much, he wont obviously hang you for this!!" assured Doc, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I seriously doubted his advice. This man could not be trusted in any way, he could do anything.
Before I could realize I was standing right at the doors of The Chamber. I had a good look at the entrance, it was a 7 foot high wooden door, brownish black in color, may be it was because of the "Encounters" that were held in this room, a label just above the door informed me that i was at the third floor of the south wing
S-329
Something i hadnt realised as i was too busy drafting a plea in my mind.Just below that, on the door, my eyes stopped on the name plate
Prof. H.B.Khurana
Math Deptt.
If the students had it their way, it could have been
Special Agent H.B.Khurana
Encounter Specialist
"Com'mon go man," Doc pushed me.
"May i come in Sir", I asked swallowing my own saliva
"Yes" a gentle voice greeted me.
That was the encouragement i was looking for, I gathered all my courage and entered his room, i felt the door close on me. Doc was outside. It was one on one now. Either me or hi..
"What do you want" he cut into my thoughts.
As i raised my head, i could see him 'relaxing'. Both hands behind his head, legs crossed and on the table. He looked towards me and smiled.
"Sir.. Actually, I.. Uh.. First year.. Uh.. I-Card.."
"Oh, you are the one who was trying to get in with that fake I-card?"
All this while, i had been using the word 'copy' and never had even thought of the one he was using, i didnt know why, but it made me feel even more miserable than i already was!
"Umm.. Sir.. The thing is.." I tried to deliver the lines I had been practicing.
"That you were trying to use a fake id to get in the college, and we could very well register a police case against u and you could be behind bars for who knows how long"
I could see myself in those 'stripped' clothes almost instantly, my mother cursing me, actually my whole family..
"NO" I shouted with both my hands in air so as to stop him.
It surprised him too, he lost his balance on the chair and almost fell over on his back.
"What?? Are you trying to hit me??"
He now sat in a more conventional manner.
"No no.. Sir.. I was.. I am Sorry" those were my last words in The Chamber
I was fined and had to pay it but somehow i was feeling good, for two reasons,
One, I was still a citizen of my country and not a criminal
Two, Now i had something to boast about in the Junglee League and i was the youngest to have lived through an encounter(i was still in my 1st year)
The happiness was short-lived though. As is the thing with my life, my past always catches up with my present and almost ruins it. Prof.H.B.Khurana was going to take a subject in Third semester!!
5. The Forgery
The Inter College Fest was about to start, everyone was looking forward to it. I was too, it was going to be the first one for me. And i hadn't imagined it would be as eventful as it was.
In this place, there is a thing called I-card, yes, the identity card, but the similarities end there. An i-card, at best serves the purpose of establishing the identity of a person. Here, on the other hand, its a liability to the holder! Anybody and everybody, right from the security guards to the profs ask for your i-card as a first line of attack against you. And most of the time it works. Students do backoff once anything relating to their i-cards falls into their ears!
I was new, and thought it would be wise to get a "copy" made. So, off i went to a place i knew i would find someone who could do that for me, The RTO. Placing the Copy in my wallet, i kept the original in my drawer. A sense of accomplishment set in. No fear of losing it now!! I smiled and headed for my bus stop.
The rock band, Euphoria, was scheduled to perform later in the day, so seniors told me security checks would be in place. And as our bus entered the campus, i could see the extra security. Everyone was being asked for an i-card, that was the least of my worries, i had one, or so i thought.
"I-Card" asked the guard in a firm tone
I handed it to him
"Hmm..." with the card in his hand, he turned right, and gave it to the security incharge.
At this point, i could sense, something was not right.
"Come out of the line and stand here"asked the incharge looking at me and handed over the card to a senior prof.
The senior Prof was about 65, slim, and had a boyish smile. His shirt all tucked inside his trousers as if something was pulling it from down there. The defining traits were that unlike others of his age, he wasnt wearing a belt and a key chain was hanging from his left trouser pocket.
I could sense the focus of people around me shifting towards the 'bait'.
"Could this be the man?" I started thinking
"You think we are fools?" asked the Prof
He cleared the air for me, he was The Man, Prof.H.B.Khurana
I had so wanted to nod in confirmation.
"You people get these copies made and think u can get past us? No way, you never can"
I couldnt agree more. From what i had heard about this man, Khurana, he seemed like a psychopath. Seniors had told me, he was the one responsible for maintaining discipline in the college. I had often heard the Junglees joke about their encounters with him. I was having a strange feeling i was going to have one too!! Very soon!!
In this place, there is a thing called I-card, yes, the identity card, but the similarities end there. An i-card, at best serves the purpose of establishing the identity of a person. Here, on the other hand, its a liability to the holder! Anybody and everybody, right from the security guards to the profs ask for your i-card as a first line of attack against you. And most of the time it works. Students do backoff once anything relating to their i-cards falls into their ears!
I was new, and thought it would be wise to get a "copy" made. So, off i went to a place i knew i would find someone who could do that for me, The RTO. Placing the Copy in my wallet, i kept the original in my drawer. A sense of accomplishment set in. No fear of losing it now!! I smiled and headed for my bus stop.
The rock band, Euphoria, was scheduled to perform later in the day, so seniors told me security checks would be in place. And as our bus entered the campus, i could see the extra security. Everyone was being asked for an i-card, that was the least of my worries, i had one, or so i thought.
"I-Card" asked the guard in a firm tone
I handed it to him
"Hmm..." with the card in his hand, he turned right, and gave it to the security incharge.
At this point, i could sense, something was not right.
"Come out of the line and stand here"asked the incharge looking at me and handed over the card to a senior prof.
The senior Prof was about 65, slim, and had a boyish smile. His shirt all tucked inside his trousers as if something was pulling it from down there. The defining traits were that unlike others of his age, he wasnt wearing a belt and a key chain was hanging from his left trouser pocket.
I could sense the focus of people around me shifting towards the 'bait'.
"Could this be the man?" I started thinking
"You think we are fools?" asked the Prof
He cleared the air for me, he was The Man, Prof.H.B.Khurana
I had so wanted to nod in confirmation.
"You people get these copies made and think u can get past us? No way, you never can"
I couldnt agree more. From what i had heard about this man, Khurana, he seemed like a psychopath. Seniors had told me, he was the one responsible for maintaining discipline in the college. I had often heard the Junglees joke about their encounters with him. I was having a strange feeling i was going to have one too!! Very soon!!
4. Road Trip"S"
The college is quite far from my place, so i decided to take the institute bus. The journey lasts for well over 2 hours! Its almost like a roadtrip daily!! But not so when you are a fresher, these 2 hours are something you dont look forward to at all.
The bus has its own "seating plan" just like there is one for the semster examinations. Not that it is enforced on by someone but its rather like mutually agreed upon by everyone.
The first row, just behind the drivers cabin, is a favorite for the Bus In-charges. Two-seaters are hot-favorites among the love-birds, The freshers would, normally, give anything to sit in the cabin with the driver. It looks like a refugee camp during the days new students arrive, everybody wants to be there. It becomes THE place to be. Just because of one simple reason, it saves them from the Junglees.
The preffered seats for these so called Junglees is the last two-three rows. This elite panel consists of mainly Mechanical, Electrical, Automobile and Electrical & Electronics Engineers-to-be. They seem anything but human when you are a fresher.
My first day was no different, someone from the same college had advised me to sit at the front. I was more than happy to follow it as a week had passed and i still hadnt been asked for an "intro"(These days, its not ragging i guess, its an intro.)
Then, one day, when the bus was still about halfway from its destination, the bus incharge got off. I was numb for a second. I knew that it was only his presence that had saved me from the Junglees. Now, they could do whatever they wanted to. I didnt even want to think about it and just hoped that somehow the Incharge gets back in the bus. i was too preoccupied to even realize someone standing right next to my seat.
Then, one day, when the bus was still about halfway from its destination, the bus incharge got off. I was numb for a second. I knew that it was only his presence that had saved me from the Junglees. Now, they could do whatever they wanted to. I didnt even want to think about it and just hoped that somehow the Incharge gets back in the bus. i was too preoccupied to even realize someone standing right next to my seat.
"First year??"
"Y...Y...Yes" I replied hesitantly without even looking at him
"Then what are you doing here?, come on at the back its much more fun there" replied the voice.
What else i could do, i had to get up, Still staring at the floor of the bus as if i were to write a thesis on the patterns, and still hoping that some Seagull drop the Incharge back in the bus!!
The intro lasted for the rest of the journey. It gave them a fair bit of idea about the skills i had, singing, dancing, stand up act, poetry and so on. About some, even i was not sure that they existed!
But as they say, all is well that ends well. After the 'Intro', I was granted an entry into the Elite Panel, that meant, even i could pass comments, crack jokes on others and what not!! I was officially a Junglee now!
From that point on, the journey has been more enjoyable!!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
3. The College
I wouldnt want to describe the college but what i can say is that its location is its best trait.
Once you reach college, you dont feel like coming back, no doubt there is always a maddening rush for the hostel accomodation.
And its called college because institutions proving undergraduate degrees in india are reffered as that, otherwise, it could well have been called a school. Its like hell on earth!
Rules, by which this place is run include, gates close at 8:30AM and open at 4:00PM.
If you are to leave the campus before that you need to get an application signed by your Class-councilor.
Imagine someone wants to catch a movie, what is he supposed to write in the application?
Thats not all, In every 2-3 months, there are "raids"(as if its some kind of terrorist camp !!!) to catch students bunking their classes. Punishments? Monetary fines. But being the students we also understand that how much important funds actually are for an expanding college and so we do our best!! ;-p (Read bunk classes!)
Once you reach college, you dont feel like coming back, no doubt there is always a maddening rush for the hostel accomodation.
And its called college because institutions proving undergraduate degrees in india are reffered as that, otherwise, it could well have been called a school. Its like hell on earth!
Rules, by which this place is run include, gates close at 8:30AM and open at 4:00PM.
If you are to leave the campus before that you need to get an application signed by your Class-councilor.
Imagine someone wants to catch a movie, what is he supposed to write in the application?
Thats not all, In every 2-3 months, there are "raids"(as if its some kind of terrorist camp !!!) to catch students bunking their classes. Punishments? Monetary fines. But being the students we also understand that how much important funds actually are for an expanding college and so we do our best!! ;-p (Read bunk classes!)
2. The Glimpse
4 days short of semester examination and i have started a blog!!
Great going!!
Such things are trademark of engineering students across the country. Studying is the last thing on our minds as exams approach.
4 weeks before exams, which semester is this?
3 weeks before exams, hey Doc, whens the new "stock" arriving?
2 weeks before exams, this university sucks man!!
1 week before exams, ok which are the books i need?
1 day before exam, Oh God!! please save my sorry ass this time, i promise i'll study from day1 in the next sem.
Well, for me, its 4 days before the exam, so i know that i am in final years of my BE and Doc is quite depressed so new stock wont be arriving any time soon, MDU really sucks and i need RKB for FM.
Unlike the people who inspired me, i am from an institute nobody would have even heard of, unless ofcourse you happen to be from the same! Its a private institute located just outside Delhi, in Haryana.
I still remember the first day of my college.
A day before, all my relatives had started calling, wishing me luck, giving me words of wisdom as i was about to embark on the greatest journey of my life, i was going to be an engineer in 4 years!
The next morning seemed like the no other, i was out of school! I could do whatever i wanted, bunk as many classes as i liked, and nobody would stop me! Poor me, what i didnt realise was that i had taken admission to a school all over again!
Great going!!
Such things are trademark of engineering students across the country. Studying is the last thing on our minds as exams approach.
4 weeks before exams, which semester is this?
3 weeks before exams, hey Doc, whens the new "stock" arriving?
2 weeks before exams, this university sucks man!!
1 week before exams, ok which are the books i need?
1 day before exam, Oh God!! please save my sorry ass this time, i promise i'll study from day1 in the next sem.
Well, for me, its 4 days before the exam, so i know that i am in final years of my BE and Doc is quite depressed so new stock wont be arriving any time soon, MDU really sucks and i need RKB for FM.
Unlike the people who inspired me, i am from an institute nobody would have even heard of, unless ofcourse you happen to be from the same! Its a private institute located just outside Delhi, in Haryana.
I still remember the first day of my college.
A day before, all my relatives had started calling, wishing me luck, giving me words of wisdom as i was about to embark on the greatest journey of my life, i was going to be an engineer in 4 years!
The next morning seemed like the no other, i was out of school! I could do whatever i wanted, bunk as many classes as i liked, and nobody would stop me! Poor me, what i didnt realise was that i had taken admission to a school all over again!
1. Thank You Guys!!
Well, first of all, i would like to thank all the people who have contributed directly or indirectly to this piece of crap ..umm.. or should i say 'creative work' !!!
First of all, thanks Mr. "I forgot the name", an IIM-A grad, present on this blog, sharing his experiences with the world, for inspiring me so much so that i started one of my own!!
And then theres Mr. "You all know who", an IIT grad, who created a whole new genre for novels. He too inspired me more than i had imagined he will.
So, as the whole of india, i am also influenced by the IITs and IIMs, but in a different manner!!
DISCLAIMER:
WHATEVER I WRITE HENCEFORTH IS STRICTLY MY PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT THINGS AND PEOPLE AROUND ME AND IT IN NO WAY REPRESENTS ANYTHING OR ANYONE ELSE. THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
First of all, thanks Mr. "I forgot the name", an IIM-A grad, present on this blog, sharing his experiences with the world, for inspiring me so much so that i started one of my own!!
And then theres Mr. "You all know who", an IIT grad, who created a whole new genre for novels. He too inspired me more than i had imagined he will.
So, as the whole of india, i am also influenced by the IITs and IIMs, but in a different manner!!
DISCLAIMER:
WHATEVER I WRITE HENCEFORTH IS STRICTLY MY PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT THINGS AND PEOPLE AROUND ME AND IT IN NO WAY REPRESENTS ANYTHING OR ANYONE ELSE. THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
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