There are certain instances which you cherish forever. One such incident happened to me too. I started getting adjusted to the hostel life and my surroundings. Slowly I got friends from other rooms. One of the guy taught me smoking after my repeated request. I could see myself getting elated to a different league in the hostel. The league had some 10 guys who use to smoke, drink & play cards.
We all used to go back home every weekend and come back cash rich on Monday. It was our ritual to go out on the same day evening and get drunk. The hostel gates used to close by 9pm sharp so we had to rush back to hostel before time to escape from the warden. Since the hostel didn’t had any other route we were forced to come before time. But this was not giving us any kick and was looking for a route to reach the hostel whenever we wanted. Thanks to one of the member in the gang he found a route which will lead to the hostel mess from where we can go to our room directly. But it was an adventurous route, we had to crawl 15 mts in a 2 by 2 canal and then open a door to the hostel mess. All this we had to do without any noise and before any of the mess guys wake up. Once this route was found we had a fabulous time. Since the hostel was in a remote village, the bus service will stop by 8.30pm, but we didn’t mind walking 5 kms. If at all we get tired we used to sleep on a cemetery which is on the way.
One day we got the shocking news that actress cum vamp cum dream girl of tamil cinema “Silk” Smitha committed suicide. I and one more guy went for a drink to console ourselves. We went to a hotel and had our drink. We were so disappointed with the news and were drinking non stop till they closed the hotel. Only when the bill came we realized that we were short of 100rs. We were in a fix and for both of us, this was the first time we were facing such a situation. Soon I removed my wrist watch and handed over to the hotel owner, stating that I will get back from him the next day after paying the due. This entire incident was truly “Time – less and Price – less”
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Class Apart (1996 – 1997)
The fun of college started only when I started going to my class regularly. Our batch was the 3rd batch of the college so there was less than 500 students in the campus. My class had some 25 guys and 3 gals(Not to mention how beautiful they are). I was curious to know what the subjects that will be taught. Not because I learnt from my mistake of 12th standard but to gauge when I might complete my degree. I was happy to know there were no math and no practical. This itself meant that I don’t have to break my brain on figuring out what is dy/dx (I haven’t figured that even now) and also that I don’t have to fear any of my lecturers for internal marks.
All I had to learn was accounts. Having passed out 12th I thought this wouldn’t be a major issue. My first semester had some basic accountancy as core paper and economics. After 1 month of class I couldn’t understand the basics of accountancy. So I went for tuition to understand the subject. I went dutifully for 3 days. Then I thought what am I doing to myself? Am I in college or school? Its high time I move out of this school syndrome and become a hard core college student who doesn’t care about results. Above all I didn’t pass my 12th to be geek.
Just a day before my first semester accounts exam I asked my friend to teach me accounts and how to solve the problem? He gave me the biggest insight which I still think is the easiest and most convenient way to solve complex accounts problems. He said draw a straight line and divide your answer sheet into two. Whatever the money goes out prefix with “TO: and whatever comes in prefix with “BY” . “TO” to be written on the left side and “BY” on the right side. Tally both the side, whichever is lesser add the difference amount and mention that as balance carry forward.
My exams got over without much pain. I attempted or rather solved the entire problem as my friend had taught me. Though I didn’t care much about my results but back of the mind I always had this urge to know about my accounts results. The day result was announced I fainted. Even I couldn’t take the shock of me getting through the financial accounting exam. Out of the 5 papers I wrote I flunked only in economics. I was super duper elated. Even my fellow classmates and hostel mates applauded me for the brilliance I had and how quickly a science student could learn accounts that too without going for tuitions.
Post my results I never really cared about any subjects. The second semester had a bit higher version of financial accounting. But by now I knew to solve any accounts problem with ease. My second semester results made me to realize that it’s not all that easy to clear the exams every time. Though the college was 3 year old and didn’t had much history, I created one. This was revealed to my mom by my lecturer when she was asked personally to collect the mark sheet. I was the first person in the history of college to score less than 15 marks in financial accounting. I had another feather added to my cap; I also flunked again in the economics paper.
Hey by the way landmarks have to be broken that’s the challenge thrown in front of any champion. But for now I’m a CLASS APART.
All I had to learn was accounts. Having passed out 12th I thought this wouldn’t be a major issue. My first semester had some basic accountancy as core paper and economics. After 1 month of class I couldn’t understand the basics of accountancy. So I went for tuition to understand the subject. I went dutifully for 3 days. Then I thought what am I doing to myself? Am I in college or school? Its high time I move out of this school syndrome and become a hard core college student who doesn’t care about results. Above all I didn’t pass my 12th to be geek.
Just a day before my first semester accounts exam I asked my friend to teach me accounts and how to solve the problem? He gave me the biggest insight which I still think is the easiest and most convenient way to solve complex accounts problems. He said draw a straight line and divide your answer sheet into two. Whatever the money goes out prefix with “TO: and whatever comes in prefix with “BY” . “TO” to be written on the left side and “BY” on the right side. Tally both the side, whichever is lesser add the difference amount and mention that as balance carry forward.
My exams got over without much pain. I attempted or rather solved the entire problem as my friend had taught me. Though I didn’t care much about my results but back of the mind I always had this urge to know about my accounts results. The day result was announced I fainted. Even I couldn’t take the shock of me getting through the financial accounting exam. Out of the 5 papers I wrote I flunked only in economics. I was super duper elated. Even my fellow classmates and hostel mates applauded me for the brilliance I had and how quickly a science student could learn accounts that too without going for tuitions.
Post my results I never really cared about any subjects. The second semester had a bit higher version of financial accounting. But by now I knew to solve any accounts problem with ease. My second semester results made me to realize that it’s not all that easy to clear the exams every time. Though the college was 3 year old and didn’t had much history, I created one. This was revealed to my mom by my lecturer when she was asked personally to collect the mark sheet. I was the first person in the history of college to score less than 15 marks in financial accounting. I had another feather added to my cap; I also flunked again in the economics paper.
Hey by the way landmarks have to be broken that’s the challenge thrown in front of any champion. But for now I’m a CLASS APART.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Back 2 Square 1(1996)
I landed up at home that evening after my jailbreak. My parents were stunned to see me so soon. They laughed at me and offered me 2 options. 1. Join a college in salem and be a days scholar or 2. Go back to Kongu. Both of which is like taking a bitter pill. For about a week I was contemplating and then decided on option 2. I consoled myself saying though it’s a jail, its far away from home and my destination on the next jailbreak would not be my home.
I landed up at the hostel after 10days time. By then my roommates (Dinesh & Yuvaraj) had come and they were giving me a weird look. I explained what had happened and settled in my bed. I introduced myself and checked about their circumstance landing up here. I was hoping they also carried the same sentiments about this college and hostel. Dinesh was super duper delighted to be here because he comes from even more remote village and this was what he was looking forward to. Yuvaraj had this insane look and informed that all through his schools he had been in hostel and it doesn’t make any difference to him. I kicked myself to be in such a place with a geek after all this ordeal.
My life was mechanized, getting up at 6am and wait in the toilet queue then get bathed in cold water, dress up by 6.30, reach the mess by 7am to have steaming cold bricks (idly) and coloured water (sambhar), go back to room, queue up for the college bus, come back at 1 for lunch, then back to college and then back to room by 4.30pm, take rest till the senior knocks the door for ragging. The college being strict, even some of the day scholar seniors will land up in the hostel to rag us. 5 to 7.30 and 9 to 12 was entertainment time. That’s when we will be ragged individually and then in groups.
Every time we see a senior we have to catch our cock and jump up to salute them. They also composed an anthem that we have to sing and then salute the way as mentioned when we are called up for group ragging. The funniest was when my department senior landed up in the hostel to rag us, me and dinesh were asked to bend and turn opposite side, then to lock each others hands through the legs and run around the hostel barking like a dog. Though it was painful, it was hilarious to run in the corridor as a dog. I was informed that we have to go through all this for 2 months and we will be given a welcome party.
In this 2 months I did everything from mono acting, barking like a dog, running almost nude, swimming in the verandah, playing imaginary cricket, dancing, singing, dog fight and the list goes on. It was funny to see some of my hostel mates crying while doing such things. Since I didn’t have any other choice than to go through all this I started liking it.
The fun didn’t stop here…I had something more in store in my classes.
I landed up at the hostel after 10days time. By then my roommates (Dinesh & Yuvaraj) had come and they were giving me a weird look. I explained what had happened and settled in my bed. I introduced myself and checked about their circumstance landing up here. I was hoping they also carried the same sentiments about this college and hostel. Dinesh was super duper delighted to be here because he comes from even more remote village and this was what he was looking forward to. Yuvaraj had this insane look and informed that all through his schools he had been in hostel and it doesn’t make any difference to him. I kicked myself to be in such a place with a geek after all this ordeal.
My life was mechanized, getting up at 6am and wait in the toilet queue then get bathed in cold water, dress up by 6.30, reach the mess by 7am to have steaming cold bricks (idly) and coloured water (sambhar), go back to room, queue up for the college bus, come back at 1 for lunch, then back to college and then back to room by 4.30pm, take rest till the senior knocks the door for ragging. The college being strict, even some of the day scholar seniors will land up in the hostel to rag us. 5 to 7.30 and 9 to 12 was entertainment time. That’s when we will be ragged individually and then in groups.
Every time we see a senior we have to catch our cock and jump up to salute them. They also composed an anthem that we have to sing and then salute the way as mentioned when we are called up for group ragging. The funniest was when my department senior landed up in the hostel to rag us, me and dinesh were asked to bend and turn opposite side, then to lock each others hands through the legs and run around the hostel barking like a dog. Though it was painful, it was hilarious to run in the corridor as a dog. I was informed that we have to go through all this for 2 months and we will be given a welcome party.
In this 2 months I did everything from mono acting, barking like a dog, running almost nude, swimming in the verandah, playing imaginary cricket, dancing, singing, dog fight and the list goes on. It was funny to see some of my hostel mates crying while doing such things. Since I didn’t have any other choice than to go through all this I started liking it.
The fun didn’t stop here…I had something more in store in my classes.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Jail Break(1996)
A letter from college mentioned about the class start date and details on joining the hostel. This is the first time I will be staying out of my house. Though thrilled it is also sad to leave my parents and stay in a different place. I motivated myself thinking that hostel will be an amazing place and I can have all the fun as shown in the movies.
My parents did all the shopping required for the hostel stay. We reached one day in advance before the college started. My parents & my sister came to drop me and they left after I settled my luggage and bed. The hostel was in the engineering college campus. Barren lands, Pine trees, bushes and one hut selling tea and cigarettes; this is what I could see from the hostel. The nearest main road was 3 kms away and we have to walk that distance to catch a local bus, which crosses that place every 2 hours. Bathroom and toilet were common for all but maintained well. My room will have 3 people including me. So I was waiting to see my roommates. All I wished was to have like-minded guys coz bare minimum I had to stay there for 1 year.
Ragging is quite usual and I was prepared for that. Infact my neighbor’s cousin (Arvind) was also studying here. A message was passed to him about my arrival and to take care of me from ragging. I was eagerly waiting for my senior’s arrival. A bus reached and around 50 guys got down and walked in a line like school kids going to zoo. All were dressed in either stripes or plain shirt and wearing sandals. I could sense my dream of a college hostel life slowly shattering but on the other side I was happy that these guys will not be ragging me.
Mine was the first room in that floor and near to the steps. I stood at my room’s entrance wearing a blue jean and a funky t-shirt. I stopped one guy and asked for Arvind. He didn’t stop nor he answered but all the guys gave me a weird look. I was wondering what had happened and thought these seniors are amused to see person in a funky t-shirt in their campus. After sometime a guy knocked my room, I opened the doors and without even bothering to ask my permission he entered my room and sat in a cot. He was looking like a Ugandan wearing a lungi and baniyan. He checked with me why I was enquiring him only then I realized he is Arvind my savior. I coolly sat in front of him cross-legged and introduced myself. I explained the reason to meet him and reminded him about the phone call he got from my neighbor. He jus nodded and when I finished my introduction he gave me one dirty look and screamed, “how dare you can stand in front of me”.
My supposed to be savior was the first person to rag me. Then I got to know from him that I would be the most targeted because staying in the first room. His words turned out to be true and guys who were double the size of mine to the size of my little finger that night ragged me. After all that I entered the mess to have my dinner. That’s when I decided next day come what may I will bunk the class post lunch and will run back to my home. I was served with tomato rice (deep dried) that looked as if people staying were convicts and deserved this kind of food. I came back to my room and ate bananas to fill my stomach. The ragging continued till late night and we also had a half naked parade that night in front of all the seniors. We were given strict instructions to have bath before any of the seniors wake up.
Next day morning we all stood in the line like prisoners taken for mine work. The bus took us to the college; I had little hope that the campus will be more colourful with some good chicks around. This time too I was disappointed to see gals in pavadai thavani in bright colours, oiled hair and flowers on their head. My class was even worse, out of the 30 in total only 3 gals were there and of which one was the size of a barrel and other of a bamboo stick clad in a green and white chudidhar. I cursed myself and determined that come what may, I should escape from this rural India by lunchtime. As soon as we reached hostel I packed my bag and started walking the 3 kms stretch to catch a bus to my city.
This 3 kms stretch is now teaching me a lesson for not studying well and scoring marks. But more than that what hurts me is my school classmate who scored less marks are now admitted in hep colleges in “CITY”. I was so damn dejected that I literally ran 3 kms to catch the local bus to liberate myself from the jail.
Bye Bye Kongu.
My parents did all the shopping required for the hostel stay. We reached one day in advance before the college started. My parents & my sister came to drop me and they left after I settled my luggage and bed. The hostel was in the engineering college campus. Barren lands, Pine trees, bushes and one hut selling tea and cigarettes; this is what I could see from the hostel. The nearest main road was 3 kms away and we have to walk that distance to catch a local bus, which crosses that place every 2 hours. Bathroom and toilet were common for all but maintained well. My room will have 3 people including me. So I was waiting to see my roommates. All I wished was to have like-minded guys coz bare minimum I had to stay there for 1 year.
Ragging is quite usual and I was prepared for that. Infact my neighbor’s cousin (Arvind) was also studying here. A message was passed to him about my arrival and to take care of me from ragging. I was eagerly waiting for my senior’s arrival. A bus reached and around 50 guys got down and walked in a line like school kids going to zoo. All were dressed in either stripes or plain shirt and wearing sandals. I could sense my dream of a college hostel life slowly shattering but on the other side I was happy that these guys will not be ragging me.
Mine was the first room in that floor and near to the steps. I stood at my room’s entrance wearing a blue jean and a funky t-shirt. I stopped one guy and asked for Arvind. He didn’t stop nor he answered but all the guys gave me a weird look. I was wondering what had happened and thought these seniors are amused to see person in a funky t-shirt in their campus. After sometime a guy knocked my room, I opened the doors and without even bothering to ask my permission he entered my room and sat in a cot. He was looking like a Ugandan wearing a lungi and baniyan. He checked with me why I was enquiring him only then I realized he is Arvind my savior. I coolly sat in front of him cross-legged and introduced myself. I explained the reason to meet him and reminded him about the phone call he got from my neighbor. He jus nodded and when I finished my introduction he gave me one dirty look and screamed, “how dare you can stand in front of me”.
My supposed to be savior was the first person to rag me. Then I got to know from him that I would be the most targeted because staying in the first room. His words turned out to be true and guys who were double the size of mine to the size of my little finger that night ragged me. After all that I entered the mess to have my dinner. That’s when I decided next day come what may I will bunk the class post lunch and will run back to my home. I was served with tomato rice (deep dried) that looked as if people staying were convicts and deserved this kind of food. I came back to my room and ate bananas to fill my stomach. The ragging continued till late night and we also had a half naked parade that night in front of all the seniors. We were given strict instructions to have bath before any of the seniors wake up.
Next day morning we all stood in the line like prisoners taken for mine work. The bus took us to the college; I had little hope that the campus will be more colourful with some good chicks around. This time too I was disappointed to see gals in pavadai thavani in bright colours, oiled hair and flowers on their head. My class was even worse, out of the 30 in total only 3 gals were there and of which one was the size of a barrel and other of a bamboo stick clad in a green and white chudidhar. I cursed myself and determined that come what may, I should escape from this rural India by lunchtime. As soon as we reached hostel I packed my bag and started walking the 3 kms stretch to catch a bus to my city.
This 3 kms stretch is now teaching me a lesson for not studying well and scoring marks. But more than that what hurts me is my school classmate who scored less marks are now admitted in hep colleges in “CITY”. I was so damn dejected that I literally ran 3 kms to catch the local bus to liberate myself from the jail.
Bye Bye Kongu.
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