tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-965020058254645752024-03-14T22:14:06.932+05:30When South Met NorthAnkithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-4678441672025888912012-01-09T22:19:00.001+05:302012-01-10T20:32:25.830+05:30Chapter 32: And we lived happily ever after<p> <p>I stopped Deeps and dragged her back from the fence. <p>“What’s the matter with you ?”, I asked in anger <p>“I just can’t stay here like this anymore”, she enlightened me while climbing the wall again <p>“What do you mean anymore ? From how many years have you been living like this ?”, I still held her, she wasn’t able to climb the wall but she was trying hard <p>“Look it’s tough for me to adjust instantaneously, I know only one person in this house and that’s you”, she began to weep <p>“Look don’t cry, its only today and that too only few more hours and after that I will never let you go”, I consoled her <p>“What is the guarantee that this will not happen tomorrow ?” <p>“What guarantee ? Am I selling you a mixer grinder ?” <p>This pissed her off even more and she tried to climb the wall again but I again dragged her back <p>“Have faith in me that I will not let this happen again, do you trust me ?”, I asked <p>“I do” <p>“Great, then go back in there, have a sound sleep and we will see each other again in the morning and don’t worry things will be all alright”, I winked at her <p>She began to walk back inside the house miserably while I watched her just in case if she tries to break out again. I could realize her situation; it would be inflexible for anyone to all of a sudden get into a entirely new realm. But this time she behaved like a grown-up and went straight to my mother’s room with an assurance that she will not try to escape again. <p>Morning I woke up and guess what was the first thing I looked out for ? Yes, she was happily snoozing while it was still breaking dawn. After a while it was time to get ready and say goodbyes to each and every relative in the house one after another. Since it was first day after the wedding; people kept coming to visit us and gift the bride in exchange to see her face. It is undeniably a very good and affluent ritual for brides because people would keep coming to acknowledge both but would gift only the bride!! What wrong have we (bridegrooms) done ? <blockquote> <p><em>Muh Dikhai ritual is only for the bride by the groom's family. Relatives and friends shower gifts and cash to the new bride as blessings.</em></p></blockquote> <p>In middle of all this Deeps parents and all the family members visited us to see if Deeps is doing well. Deeps took advantage of the language barrier and described her mom about the last night episode. Till now I just heard that listening to something grave one’s face turns white, today was the time to witness that. Hitler’s face turned pale and white like a ghost after paying attention to what her daughter would have done on first day. She was shocked and started explaining Deeps what she must do and what she should not even think of doing. After an affirmative response from Deeps; Natrajan kin left to go around the city. Natrajans had planned one extra day for city excursion and leave Jaipur by evening flight. <p>By evening we were totally dog-tired by the amount of guests and the lack of sleep from the previous night. Finally all the people remaining in the house were gone and we were left with parents and few cousins. The next item in the list was to see Deeps kin off to the airport. Me, Deeps and Mr. Kapoor reached at the house where all of them were residing until now. Everyone was packed and all set to leave except Mo2. I did not know much about him but I knew this much that he is the laziest friend Deeps have got. So he was the only person still packing and what it seemed to me that Mr. Natrajan wanted to leave to the airport as early as possible to avoid disarray; understandably because he has seen the rush-hour traffic in Bangalore. There were 2 taxis for 10 people, 5 each but since Mo2 wasn’t on schedule and Mr. Natrajan had already pressed his panic button twice; we let the 2 taxis leave, leaving Mo2 behind. 3 of us anyways were going to the airport to see them off and hence Mo2 can piggyback with us. <p>The flight was at 7 pm and the 2 taxis left at around 5 pm. The journey to the airport was around 15 minutes so it was fine to even start a little late but since Bangalore is absolutely opposite Mr. Natrajan took a call and left precisely 2 hours prior to the flight schedule. But we 3 were still waiting on Mo2 who got ready only by 6 pm. By Jaipur standards it wasn’t still late but bearing in mind the whole procedure inside; we might make it just in time. We started immediately to the airport, we were just 5 minutes away from the airport and Mo2 got a call from Malyali who was already at the airport and was anxious about Mo2’s arrival, <p>“Where are you”, asked Malyali <p>“I am at home, still packing”, Mo2 said <p>“Whaaaatttttt, are you crazy old Potato !!!”, Malyali yelled on him <p>“Relax dude, it will take just 30 more minutes for us to reach there”, Mo2 was having fun with Malyali <p>“Forget it, you will miss the flight”, Malyali was utterly infuriated <p>“Hey please don’t go without me, hold the flight till I reach”, Mo2 giggled <p>Well Malyali did not say anything and hung up on Mo2 in repugnance. All of us had a good 5 minute laugh on the ridicule of the situation. We arrived well inside time to the airport. Deeps met her parents one more time before saying goodbye. <p>We got back to the house and by now we were only house members left. After dinner it was time to doze off but we were asked to wait as my brother and cousins were busy in decorating the room for both of us. After sometime when we were permitted inside we were awestruck. They had put each and every ounce of strength to transform that room into a gorgeous view. <p>They pushed both of us inside before bolting the door. I looked at Deeps and asked, <p>“Is it ok now ? Or do you still want to run away ? You can’t even if you want to because the door is locked”, I grinned <p>“I am perfectly fine” <p>I was thrilled to hear that and hopped onto the bed in delight but the moment I landed on the bed, the room was filled with crushing sounds and chortles from outside the room. <p><i>Something’s fishy !!!</i> <p>Deeps was terrified to hear all the sound but we realized instantly that it’s a mischief done by my cousins because as soon as we raised the bed sheet; we found 10-15 papdas (Poppadum) lying there. I should have predicted that there will be some malice action that’s going to happen. <p>Well the married life began little bumpy but let’s hope that it becomes smoother by time. <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-syY4qmzrUU8/TwsaOJvv05I/AAAAAAAANU8/n_MT8-Aa8Ok/s1600-h/The_End_Book%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="The_End_Book" border="0" alt="The_End_Book" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l8YYycGDXbQ/TwsaZRccNwI/AAAAAAAANVE/TH3gSGWwA_Y/The_End_Book_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="398" height="333"></a></p> <p> <blockquote> <p><font size="3" face="Papyrus">Thanks for reading When South Met North. I thank all for being with me for the whole time while I was writing this. Special Thanks to my wife <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-princess" alt="Princess" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Kbj-johFu7w/TwsafVuuNVI/AAAAAAAANVM/dvCu0kys10I/wlEmoticon-princess%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> who permitted me to compose this. Thanks for all encouragement <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-thumbsup" alt="Thumbs up" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-51QLbwCg59Y/TwsahP6NJTI/AAAAAAAANVU/QPIt1Yvq_PQ/wlEmoticon-thumbsup%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">, appreciation <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-partysmile" alt="Party smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H8E3cRJ4TCc/TwsaiWOJOMI/AAAAAAAANVc/bSRcNenf5N4/wlEmoticon-partysmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> and criticism <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-nyahnyah" alt="Nyah-Nyah" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2HVeuZK58Fw/TwsajD6oY5I/AAAAAAAANVk/O7nULTAyb_4/wlEmoticon-nyahnyah%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> from all the readers of “When South Met North”. I will certainly miss writing it <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Fy1-LSf_8I4/Twsaj6BhwVI/AAAAAAAANVs/icGBsHhAxEQ/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> and will unquestionably miss all the candid remarks <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-vampirebat" alt="Vampire bat" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-X3E_XKaUTC0/Twsak23Y4gI/AAAAAAAANV0/-3phAQfhDM4/wlEmoticon-vampirebat%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> by you all. </font></p></blockquote> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-91023190914477517972011-12-25T10:41:00.001+05:302014-06-29T20:03:47.269+05:30Chapter 31: The wedding Part 2<p align="justify">Kapoors took an early morning flight from Bangalore and reached back to Jaipur at around early afternoon. Since there were no 10 tickets available in the same flight; we came separately in pack of 5s. I was with Akbar, Jodhabai and Hamida Banu Begam. At the airport we were received by Akbar’s brother Hakim. While we were on our way back to our respective houses; Hamida Begum chose to give a transitory overview about the complete wedding at Bangalore to Hakim. Hamida Begum started with an amplified explanation on how Hakim’s brother and sister-in-law were the only charismatic people at Bangalore. They mesmerized all Natrajans with their English and all Natrajan kin desired to talk just to both of them. Well whatever she was telling wasn’t entirely a tall tale but the way it was portrayed wasn’t even 20% truthful. But since Hakim was never there; he had to trust his mother but what about me!!! I was sitting right next to Hamida Begum and it never occurred to her that I might know the veracity of the incident!! Well the exaggeration went on for some more time till they dropped me off to my place where my parents were already waiting for me. <p align="justify">Natrajans were expected to arrive in 2 days and again it was more or less 10 of them who were anticipated to show up at the wedding. It was virtually the same circumstances as Bangalore with only modification that both parties now have changed the courts. Finally Natrajans came down to Jaipur and they were received in a same manner they welcomed Kapoors but the variance this time was that the garlands were not Hawaiian. Natrajans were accommodated in a bungalow Kapoors leased out only for Natrajans. All arrangements from condiments, a cook till a car with a driver were done beforehand. Few of Deeps office friends also accompanied Natrajans; representing the girl’s side. <p align="justify">North Indian weddings are more of fun and entertainment rather a complete indulgence into rituals. The first key event that occurs 1-2 days prior to wedding is “Sangeet”. Traditionally ladies are the only people to take part in this occasion. During this event ladies sing and dance on traditional Indian songs, and joke around with guests. But times are shifting and every men and women who are close to the bride and groom play a part. Kapoors went a step further and appointed a choreographer for the same. All my cousins shaped a theme which described my birth, childhood, teenage and adult life in sequence of songs from Hindi movies. All male cousins were portraying me on stage and female cousins were playing Deeps. The first song introduced Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor describing they falling in love and for clear reasons this piece was commended the most. All my cousins and brother did a freakishly remarkable job to pull off something like this. There were like zillion songs which concluded the whole story and each individual performed in no less than 6-7 songs!!! It was implausible to picture the amount of effort everyone had put in to make this event extraordinary. The merrymaking concluded with the open dance floor where both Natrajans and Kapoors shared the dance steps on selected groovy tunes. <p align="justify">At last the 2<sup>nd</sup> judgment day arrived where me and Deeps would get married for the second time and after this I can talk to her anywhere and anytime without Hitler’s authorization. The bash began from my house. Kapoors formed a crowd and marched towards the wedding venue as a Baraat. <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>Baraat is a bridegroom's wedding procession with Band, dancers and fireworks. It is customary for the bridegroom to travel to the wedding venue on a mare, accompanied by his family members who are actually the dancers. The groom and his horse are covered in finery and do not usually take part in the dancing. The baraat, headed by a display of fireworks and accompanied by the rhythm of the dhol, reaches the meeting point, where the elders of both the families meet.</em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">We reached at the wedding spot where we were received by Natrajans who were told in advance what to do as their fragment in the ceremonial. I was taken to the wedding room where 2 imperial chairs were placed for wife and husband-to-be. I seated down and shortly Deeps arrived in red wedding dress. The rest of the evening people kept coming to pass on good wishes to us. Deeps wasn’t accustomed with the procedure that the pair must fall to the feet of each elder to get the blessings. <p align="justify"><i>At least to offer blessings no one was throwing food around in here <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Rolling on the floor laughing" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wRn79x0RmvE/TvawdE8yWRI/AAAAAAAANSU/U9B0pxxO_wE/wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></i> <p align="justify"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyFNMCfz3Zj4A6C3NKnMjoY_-SKvcpC0tRlszLqmjIvC7d-wCEo3UIT_Xuh3ygopj3OvrP_X6mzVewRFaJu8_9Ib8PxRfO1VwDcyc3OJHCD1StHum9vUcLhtfoYWVfgHrSBKtxlEstU-g/s1600/ABD_5498.jpg" width="241" height="362"></p> <p align="justify">After attending roughly to 45-50 guests Deeps succumbed to the tradition and told me that if she will bend next time then she might not come back. I could understand her agony because my spine was also aching but I had to help her out. I told her that next time when you kneel down to touch someone’s feet; as soon as you come back up pretend as you are about to faint with an eye rolling expression, one hand on forehead and start falling on me. 2 minutes later one family came to acknowledge us and as it was expected<img style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1px; display: inline" src="http://images.bhaskar.com/web2images/religion.bhaskar.com/2011/01/24/images/touching_feet111_f.jpg" width="379" align="right" height="246"> Deeps overdramatized the act and instead of falling on me she fell on to the couch; falling on me would have raised some anxieties but this made them horrified. Quickly people poured in from each direction, someone came up with water, someone with food and every single lady was on the bride. Deeps rapidly understood what she did and opened her eyes while still pretending to be sick. Everybody dispersed and my mother did not let Deeps to get up from the seat anymore. When my mother was gone after sometime; she looked at me and asked “How was the acting ?” to which I said, “It was an Oscar winning performance but if you had hammed it up a little further than we would have seen doctors and ambulance too”. <p align="justify">At around 11 pm practically all the guests were gone and we still had to hang around for another 1.25 hours before any wedding ceremonial could start. This is the solitary major difference in a South Indian and a North Indian wedding that a south Indian wedding would take place in the morning and a north Indian wedding at around midnight. We were having fun while chatting and the time flew away like a cold breeze. We were asked to be seated for wedding ceremony on our respective spaces and Pundit began to recite the mantras. <p align="justify">We were about 15-20 minutes into the ritual when I observed that all my relatives are wide-awake and conscious while almost all Deep’s relative had already surrendered to the midnight and the heavy delicious food they had few hours ago. 75% of Deep’s kin was snoozing while we were getting married and remaining were also not far away including Deeps. After 10 minutes I watched diligently and noticed that Deeps has already been dragged into an incredible world of sleep. <p align="justify"><i>How can she do that!!! She is sitting and sleeping in her own wedding !!</i> <p align="justify">I looked around but nobody had noted it yet, so I adjusted my spot a bit and gave Deeps a slight shudder, it worked, she opened her eyes and looked at me, she gave me a smile and dozed again. I jolted her again and reminded her that it’s our wedding and we are not audience but the participants. She then comprehended the gravity of the situation and managed to keep herself conscious till the end. The ceremony got over shortly and we were married for the 2<sup>nd</sup> time. Deeps now was my complete spouse. Kapoors began their way back to home with an additional family member. Deep’s parents and relatives wished her for a great life, they tried to be resilient but Deeps and Hitler could not hold back and burst into a loud cry. It was impossible for a mother to let her loving daughter go but this had to happen sometime. After few minutes it was the time of realization for both of them to let all go. Both of us sat in the decorated car and Hakim drove us back to my place where some more relatives were waiting for us for yet another ritual at the 1 am in the night. It took another 30 minutes to get over the formality and it was time to sleep, after all running around it was time to go astray in loving arms of sweet and comfortable bed. We were waiting for all guests to leave and instructions from my mom, she came and said, <p align="justify">“You sleep in this drawing room and Deeps will come and sleep with me”, my mom said <p align="justify">“But why?” I asked <p align="justify">“Because there are still some people in the house who will go only by tomorrow” and she walked away <p align="justify">Deeps and I looked at each other in incredulity, “You are going to spend your first night with my mom!!!” <p align="justify">She did not appreciate my wittiness and looked very uncomfortable, terrified and totally freaked out, we were not ready for this, we were caught totally off-guard. I cheered her by telling that this perhaps is the last thing you have to do for me. She understood that there is no other alternative and went to sleep with my mom. I also slept in the drawing room with an amalgamation of various frequencies of snorts coming out of each direction from each guest. <p align="justify"><i>May be 1-2 hours later</i> <p align="justify"><i>Ankit, Ankit, Ankit ……. Am I dreaming!!! Ankit wake up …… its Deeps</i> <p align="justify">I woke up in a sudden shock and saw Deeps standing right on my head. <p align="justify">“What is it and what time is it?” I asked while try to look around and try to understand the situation, it was still dark and people in my house were still singing the snore song. <p align="justify">“Ankit, I can’t sleep with your mom, I am going to my parents place, Bye”, and she started to run away <p align="justify">“What … wh …. Wait….. ”, it took me a zillionth of a second to come back to complete consciousness and jump out of the bed. I ran after the runaway bride. <p align="justify"><i>Is she taking vengeance from me for what I did in Kashi Yatra ?</i> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hy-tmygEttU/Tvaweed9MwI/AAAAAAAANSc/zqYi0ASuc8o/s1600-h/8636595%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="8636595" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="8636595" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1T5nJ-ASLXI/TvawgE14ucI/AAAAAAAANSk/t82XMDX1sRo/8636595_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="524" height="349"></a></p> <p align="justify">Deeps was by now out of the house was trying to climb the wall to get away. When I saw the sight of it I was sure that this is certainly not what I anticipated my first night to be.</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-30661096724450493862011-12-18T14:06:00.001+05:302011-12-18T14:06:37.989+05:30Chapter 30 – The Bangalore Wedding<p align="justify">The stage was set and everyone was excited for the ultimate day of first of the two weddings. My folks; 10 of them landed in Bangalore to show up for the wedding ceremony. They were only 10 because Kapoors just wanted to display their presence at the Bangalore bridal because according to them the actual wedding would take place in Jaipur <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-lefthug" alt="Left hug" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qLefkHgwE2I/Tu2lp6BjGlI/AAAAAAAANRE/C-ESQrnEanA/wlEmoticon-lefthug%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"><img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-righthug" alt="Right hug" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JcvKSVlM00g/Tu2lt-NkVdI/AAAAAAAANRM/DfIqfW4WUXc/wlEmoticon-righthug%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">. So just for sake of courtesy few of my uncle, aunts and cousins made it to the 1<sup>st</sup> marriage ceremony. </p> <p align="justify">Natrajans sent few of their kinsfolks to welcome Kapoors at the airport. Kapoors were received with garland and music band, precisely how they show in the movies. But to me it looked fusion of 2 poles apart ethnicities because, one the composition played by the band resembled more of a traditional south Indian wedding day melody and 2<sup>nd</sup> the garlands were so small that it looked like that Kapoors have arrived to Hawaii. <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4UlBVTJQb8A/Tu2lxqHUaLI/AAAAAAAANRU/cbMI4pXyLz8/s1600-h/clip_image002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_UNneowGmYo/Tu2l2hs3QFI/AAAAAAAANRc/8KlESgBfhwg/clip_image002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="479"></a> <p align="justify">Natrajans had sent 3 cars to pick all them up. Kapoors soon after a theatrical welcome began their voyage to the centre of the Bangalore. Most of the Kapoors were visiting the Bangalore for the first time and did not know the magnitude of the difference in road travel between Jaipur and Bangalore. People who have experienced journey to the old Airport in Bangalore would appreciate the following piece of writing. The three wagons started at around 7 pm in the evening en route for a plain 15 km distance. It took round about 2.5 hrs to cover that distance. Now by the time we were half way through after roughly 1.5 hrs; all Kapoors including Mr. Kapoor were so aggravated that they practically decided to walk down the remaining trip on which Mr. Natrajan clarified that even if they walk; the car and the stroller would reach at the same time <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-nyahnyah" alt="Nyah-Nyah" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N5UlZEVd4FY/Tu2l40WdIzI/AAAAAAAANRk/5TGwOmnzkoc/wlEmoticon-nyahnyah%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> which helped Mr. Kapoor and others to change their mind in a jiffy. After an hour of snail paced journey all of us finally made it to the wedding hall where all of us were given rooms to stay all the way through the wedding period. </p> <p align="justify">The next morning was the wedding day which opened with the breakfast. Since I had an evil experience with the food last time; I took additional measures to alter the menu into an amalgamation of pakodas and Idlis. Not very surprisingly only 1 Idli was consumed in 10 Kapoors. I was having the breakfast with complete indulgence when I saw that all Kapoors were standing close to the hand wash zone and debating on something very grim. When I investigated then I learned that one of my cousins “Akbar” was even bigger menace then my father in food and he was just sickened by the food which was served. <p align="justify"><em>What else he expected ?</em> <p align="justify">The wedding began by getting me prepared in Dhoti and a wraparound for my <img style="display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="http://images2.fanpop.com/images/polls/283000/283040_1250085411352_100.jpg?v=1250085423">upper body but due to my muscular body ---></p> <p align="justify">I shillyshallied a bit and I was permitted to wear the vest. </p> <p align="justify">The entire observance was just about mantras and shlokas. One after the other there was a bombardment of rice from different angles from the countless people who were witnessing the carnage of yet another couple. It’s customary to hurl a small amount of rice on the couple which is getting married after a specific word from the Priest/Scholar/Pundit as a blessing. It was only then I comprehended that a lot of people weren’t very cheerful with this wedding of south and north because no less than 3-4 times someone almost poked my eye out with some extreme shots of rice right into my eyes. It took me just those many times to recognize that the safe word is “Swaha”; so whenever the Pundit says “Swaha”; shut your eyes <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CSr-46VY8sA/Tu2l7C0AEGI/AAAAAAAANRs/E7_Fe7XlPcQ/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">. People tried to hurt me again and I encountered the assault fearlessly.</p> <p align="justify">2 of the 3 Kapoors of one family got along very well with Natrajans because of their talent to communicate in English; apparently not many people can do that; Akbar, Jodha Bai (Akbar’s wife) and Hamida Banu Begam (Akbar’s Mother). Throughout the wedding Akbar and Jodha Bai were the only 2 people who frequently had dialogues with almost all Natrajans otherwise the wedding felt just like a movie theatre where people watch the same show but don’t talk to each other. <p align="justify">The next ritual was the Kashi Yatra, Kashi yatra is the ceremonial where the groom pretends to leave for Kashi, a pilgrimage center to devote himself to God. He carries a walking stick and other meager essentials with him to imply that he is not interested in becoming a householder. The girl's father intervenes and requests him to accept his daughter as his life partner. He exhorts him to fulfill his responsibilities as a householder and thus follow what is written in the scriptures. The groom relents and returns to the pandal where he is received by the bride. <p align="justify">When I came to know about it; a impish plot began to cultivate in my head and I planned to make Natrajans run for their money but I guess Mr. Natrajan understood me too well and held my hand so tight that it turned into a red hand in few seconds but I just knew the instant where the pundit would ask me to go to the pilgrimage. The moment came; as soon as Pundit asked me to leave I shuddered which got me my hand on the loose from Mr. Natrajan’s clutch. As soon as I become conscious that I am free; I sprinted towards the pilgrimage, I just never looked back, I ran and ran till all the roaring and chaos faded away. I stopped and I looked around; the flora and fauna around me went stand still, everyone was looking at me because they had never seen a south Indian groom like this, <p align="justify"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://www.exoticindia.com/kurtapajamas/ivory_dhoti_with_zari_border_kr07.jpg" width="170" height="533"> <p align="justify">running loose like this before. I looked back; 2 of Deeps cousin were galloping towards me and a much acquainted black car of Natrajans pulled over next to me. I sat in the car next to Mr. Natrajan and asked him “Will you again send me to pilgrimage” and I giggled but I guess he almost had a heart attack and did not appreciate the mockery of the event. We came back and I encountered lots and lots of red and yellow faces but later everyone chuckled on what I gave them; I am sure that they have and will never get to witness something like this in their entire lifespan. <p align="justify">The wedding ceremony was completed, we shared the rings, I tied mangalsutra to the bride and we were finished, I mean we were married <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-princess" alt="Princess" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D7riUyBkIvA/Tu2l9s-pFEI/AAAAAAAANR0/5l7OOrtzWRU/wlEmoticon-princess%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"><img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-partysmile" alt="Party smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DeVuBLDgOgo/Tu2l_e-XsGI/AAAAAAAANR8/DKNc4qvS2wc/wlEmoticon-partysmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">. People came and passed on good wishes to us and after some more continuing sacraments we were taken to an inside room for lunch along with all close family members of Kapoors and Natrajans. Since the food was not the same for both the families I predicted no complications but how can wedding survive without a toxic snag. One of the Natrajan was speaking to Deeps in Kannada while we were seated down; eavesdropping to which I was broken-hearted because I knew that my kin will not like it. Apparently the cook has misplaced the chapatis that were particularly brought for Kapoors and now they are left with just 8 chapatis and we were 11 counting me in addition. Seeing the sensitivity of the situation Hitler came up with a dazzling strategy. Hitler requested Kapoors that in their ritual this lunch must comprise only rice because anything made of wheat is just not auspicious for today. All Kapoors gave murky looks but what anyone can say against the rituals in India <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-vampirebat" alt="Vampire bat" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VJbxF3HmDPc/Tu2mCBeocrI/AAAAAAAANSE/dbK0cZX9-yw/wlEmoticon-vampirebat%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> the plot worked and Natrajans just had a narrow escape from what could have been a gruesome incident. Kapoors somehow accomplished the meal and went for a stroll without any delay; understandably; to have actual lunch minus any rituals <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-pizza" alt="Pizza" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-INaLg9CZAp0/Tu2mEN7F2KI/AAAAAAAANSM/ubSD-jgtWvM/wlEmoticon-pizza%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">The day was concluded and all the guests were gone, it was mounting darkness and soon a roller-coaster journey which lasted a day was finished. I and Deeps were sitting and chatting on the stairs of the community hall where we just got married for the first time. Hitler came and objected that we weren’t still married and hence we are not supposed to be meeting and nattering like this. I made a request Hitler just 2 minutes to have a conversation with my half wife which she approved with an obnoxious stare. <p align="justify">“Congratulations”, exhausted Deeps could not believe that the wedding was through <p align="justify">“Yes, same to you too, barrier 1 of 2 is over, get ready for part 2”, I winked at her <p align="justify">Hitler called Deeps and this time she had to go, I too got up and went to my room. All Kapoors were enthusiastically stuffing their belongings to catch an early morning flight back to Jaipur. I took a deep breath and began pulling my stuff together, after 20 minutes when I was done I just wanted to doze off to the bed. I recollected the entire day and there was a grin on my face, a smile of triumph. I shut my eyes and I went astray in the world of profound siesta.</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-33950565536487800332011-12-04T07:43:00.001+05:302011-12-04T07:46:22.473+05:30Chapter 29: The Wedding Card<p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RELyMPtnpTw/TtrX6jeIRDI/AAAAAAAANQg/q07AVXztJWw/s1600-h/Wedding%252520Invitation%252520Final%25255B17%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wedding Invitation Final" border="0" alt="Wedding Invitation Final" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-580HGnw9ajM/TtrX8x58JcI/AAAAAAAANQo/kfRYieqRIQg/Wedding%252520Invitation%252520Final_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="990"></a></p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-54051650084150894622011-11-27T11:10:00.001+05:302011-11-27T11:10:38.534+05:30Chapter 28 – North vs South<p align="justify">It was a distinct juncture for me because in previous 6 years this was merely the 2<sup>nd</sup> time my parents planned a trip to Bangalore. The first time was when they came to unload me. After everything it looked like that finally we will have what me and Deeps craved for. It was agreed that my parents (Kapoors) will go to Deep’s house and will meet the girl. That means they have silently agreed for the wedding but now it all rests on how Kapoors and Natrajans get along in this whole development. <p align="justify">We in a little while grasped that we have the gravest situation among us related to Kapoor’s visit of Natrajans. The frightening question was what to cook for Kapoors when they visit Natrajans ? Mr. Kapoor barely enjoys anything apart from Pakodas and sweets. More than Deeps I was anxious because Natrajans might get snubbed because of this. Moreover, it might never occur to Mr. Kapoor that it is the question of his son’s wedding. <p align="justify">“Should we prepare Chapati and Sabzi ?”, Deeps submitted the safest selection <p align="justify">“The safest route would be something deep-fried”, I said <p align="justify">“But my mom wishes to cook south Indian food because she is good in it, not in north Indian cuisine”, she said <p align="justify">“I understand but what is the use if he won’t even touch it ?”, I responded <p align="justify">“Look, if someone comes to your house, what do you offer ? Will you prepare what they eat specifically of will you cook the best of you ?” <p align="justify">The argument had a weight to it and my mother also agreed to it, both of us assumed that even if he does not like it he will eat it considering the criticality of the situation. So I made a suicidal judgment and permitted “Rava Idli”, which Deep’s mom is skilled in. <p align="justify">The judgment day arrived and Natrajans invited Kapoors for breakfast. We arrived on time. Natrajans welcomed us with open arms and with lots of respect. They were looking forward to have a delightful conversation. We seated down and I started to feel a little jumpy thinking of near future. Now It all depends on what my father thinks because if he decides NO, means it’s a NO. Deeps came and greeted my parents and in a while Natrajans began serving us the breakfast. As soon as Deeps served Idli to Mr. Kapoor I missed a heartbeat after seeing his reaction. <p align="justify"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5627317396_aa5e055617.jpg"> <p align="justify">“Idli ? Is this Idli ?”, he asked Deeps twice <p align="justify">“Yes it is”, Deeps Replied <p align="justify">“I don’t eat Idli”, he replied plainly and gave Deeps back the plate without any additional thought <p align="justify">As anticipated he wasn’t thoughtful enough about the circumstances at all and this move made Deeps terrified. But straightaway her mom came for the rescue. <p align="justify">“Do you eat Masala Dosa ?”, Deep’s mother asked my father <p align="justify">“Yes I can have that thanks”, my father answered <p align="justify">When he said I was once again calmed but not for long because it struck to me that he will not even eat that. In north India Dosa is served with Sambhar and in south Indian Dosa is served just only with Chutney and icing on the cake is that Mr. Kapoor HATES chutney. Hence even if he will be served with Dosa, he will not eat it. And yet again he substantiated me accurately, when Deep’s mother served him the dosa, he looked at my mother and asked, <p align="justify">“How should I eat it, there is no Sambhar with it ?” <p align="justify">“Deeps do you have any Sambhar prepared ?”, I tried to salvage the situation <p align="justify">Deeps almost sobbed which made it clear that they don’t have any Sambhar. Seeing this Mr. Kapoor said its ok he will manage. <p align="justify"><i>He will manage !!!! how ? Oh yes by not eating it </i><i>J</i> <p align="justify">And I was full on money because at the end when he left the plate the entire dosa was dissected but wasn’t eaten. <p align="justify">After breakfast it was time for Kapoors to talk to Deeps and after few rudimentary questions my mother asked Deeps a droll question, <p align="justify">“We live in Jaipur and it will be hot out there, how will you manage ?” <p align="justify">“We will put AC in each room”, she replied outspokenly, thank god she did not say that we will move you all to Bangalore. <p align="justify">They had a pleasant conversation, mostly between Deeps and my mother after which we left Natrajan palace in harmony. Since my dad did not eat anything we went to a north Indian restaurant. While eating he simply condemned the relation because the girl wasn’t gorgeous. <p align="justify">“I don’t know what you saw in her ? She is not that attractive”, he said <p align="justify">“I know but I am also no Shahrukh khan if you see carefully”, <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MF8kymq9ARc/TtHNS40fLSI/AAAAAAAANOU/A8eipdnH9Hk/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yX7NJ4Q6me0/TtHNVGUxFwI/AAAAAAAANOc/AJTA4rvTovA/image_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="516" height="368"></a> <p align="justify">I was just annoyed by the fact that he is still looking for tasteless justifications to pull me out of this. <p align="justify">That night he came to me and wished to talk further on this with Natrajans. I guess after thinking about the whole thing he was ok because I anyways indicated that if not now then later but Deeps is the one whom I will eventually marry. I gave this news to Deeps and we finalized a day for them to meet and talk further. <p align="justify">The day arrived and Natrajans came at around evening time with some customary gifts which must be given the first time girl’s parents visit the Guy’s house. My father asked both of us to disappear so that only they can talk money. Both of us went to the terrace and started speculating about the talks. Deeps unexpectedly started crying. <p align="justify">“What happened ?” I asked <p align="justify">She said “What if they don’t come to any consensus and say no to the wedding” <p align="justify">I reassured her and said whatever it is, if they won’t agree then we will try further but we will walk down the aisle only if they agree to this relation. She was ok after the reassurance and we continued talking about general things. After around 30 minutes my father called me up and asked us to come down. When we entered in the room the atmosphere appeared heated up because Deep’s mother was sitting with a depressed expression and her father looked agitated. <p align="justify">“We have not discussed anything yet because we could not go ahead of the very first topic”, my father said <p align="justify">“What is that ?”, I asked <p align="justify">“Where the wedding will take place ?”, he said without any expression <p align="justify">“We want it to be done in Jaipur because it’s first one in the house and they want to do it from Bangalore because it’s the only one in their house”, he shed light on the tricky situation <p align="justify">“Yes we knew that this point will come and I have a solution to it”, I said <p align="justify">“Whats that ?”, Mr. Natrajan asked curiously <p align="justify">“We will perform the whole wedding ceremony 2 times; both in Jaipur and Bangalore”, I offered the way out gently <p align="justify">“What are you talking about, it does not work like that”, my father was infuriated after listening to this <p align="justify">“Look you have been debating on this from last 1 hr and you do not have any other option then to get us married twice. Everyone will get what they want”, it was an honest bailout plan <p align="justify">“Ok then let us think on this and let’s talk after that”, Mr. Kapoor said <p align="justify">“Ok, then we would like to leave now”, Mr. Natrajan stood up to leave <p align="justify">I am not sure what else was spoken other than wedding location because Natrajans left the house in complete annoyance which wasn’t a noble sign. Later in the day Deeps and I spoke to each other and came to the inference that it will not work like this. We have to coordinate everything from now on. Natrajans must express only to Deeps and Deeps must convey the message to me and I should tell the news to the Kapoors. We decided to do this because both the families don’t understand each other’s language, both families appears to have some self-esteem issues and no one in both families is a decent negotiator. From that day onwards we started working according to the plan. I was talking to my parents and she was with her and we discussed each and every demand from either families and discussed them with the opposition. It looked like that things finally beginning to fall in place. Both the families were glad with the developments because all of them eventually were getting what they hunted for. <p align="justify">We were getting married two times, Natrajans asked my parents to pick the first spot of wedding; Bangalore or Jaipur, to which Mr. Kapoor bewilderingly agreed for Bangalore. Understandably because after wedding both of us must stay in Jaipur for some time and meet all the relatives. <p align="justify">Deeps called me and said that her parents want to discuss the wedding dates with Kapoors. I informed my parents that Natrajans will be calling you to settle the marriage dates. After few minutes Deeps called me, <p align="justify">“Congrats” <p align="justify">“What happened?”, I was scared because there was supposed to be a discussion between Natrajans and Kapoors <p align="justify">“We are getting married on 24<sup>th</sup> Feb and then all over again on 1<sup>st</sup> Match” <p align="justify">“Congrats to you too”, I took a lungful of air, I was never more relieved. <p align="justify"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdFaTSJsMrXMQW7U5Q_p5HILt4-O_egPJkeOrdpXbr1bgImZgpVeUU48g3lsjfq6-wwzmspYaP_RBlxpbfHrkTa281b21u28Qy6oCOBdTvQJKHyKwX3383VEqgQHa_L0mWRzBrZcCFq0/s1600/TinyTotsFlyerCartoon.jpg" width="500" height="335"> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-84935798229207900572011-11-19T22:32:00.001+05:302011-11-19T22:36:02.260+05:30Chapter 27: The Unexpected<p> <p>The feedback established by Deeps was not so good and not so bad. Natrajans had already decided that they will get her married to me but a grave question still lingering around in their mind was, how honest the guy and his background is ? <p>“I guess they will call me a couple of times and will question me to know me better”, I told Deeps <p>“May be, I don’t know”, she said sheepishly <br>I was pretty peaceful after talking to her parents and was convinced that things will go smooth from here on. <p>Shortly it was time for me to go to Jaipur and on this occasion it was <i>Live free or Die hard</i>. Since I had already spoken to her parents; it was time now to give my parents a shocker, my mom by now had an impression about it but dad wasn’t aware of it. <p>“I wanna talk to you”, I told my dad, I was nervous <p>“What ?”, he asked <p>“There is a girl called Deeps, she was with me in college, I want you to meet her” <p>“What is the necessity of all this ?”, he responded infuriated <p>“Why did you have to go that far to make a relation?”, he almost yelled at me <p>I kept quiet and paid attention to what he is saying for next 10 minutes. It was obvious that he had to display his rage because he is father and had to rubbish this conversation initially but none of his questions and reasons indicated that he is not rejecting it either J. Well, I did not try to argue further on this and allowed this thought to sink in him. <p>A week after I was back to Bangalore Deeps called me at 2 pm on a Sunday afternoon, which is a very odd because usually her parents are there in the house the entire day. <p>“Hi”, I said startlingly because I don’t anticipate calls from her on Sundays <p>“How are you able to call today ?”, I asked her <p>“My parents are not in town, they have gone to Chennai”, she said <p>We spoke for some time and just about the same time I was getting another call, it was my mom. <p>“I am gonna have to call you back, my mom is calling”, I told her <p>I hung up and I rang my mom, <p>“Hello”, My mother answered the call <p>“Hi Mom, tell me, you called ??”, I asked <p>“I have news for you”, she said it very melodramatically <p>“Yes, what is it ?”, anticipating no big deal from her. <p>“We had visitors today in our house”, her tone changed from histrionic to cryptic <p>“Ok, Sooooooo ?”, I also adjusted to her tone and asked carelessly <p>“Where are Deepti’s Parents ?”, she asked <p>“They have gone to Chennai …………. ohhhh shitttt” <p>It instantly transpired to me the well-conceived plot by Natrajans. Everything became translucent, the address she took from me, the excuse to go to Chennai. Everything started falling into place. <p>My mom recounted the complete incident, <p><i>My mother was sitting in the living room when she heard the door bell. She opened the door and found a couple of strangers. They introduced themselves as Deep’s parents. They did not want to warn me or my parents because by unexpected visit they just found out the real us or else we could have fabricated our appearance if we had known that they are coming. Deep’s mom did not talk, she just examined the house. She was terrified and concerned. All the talking was done by her father. My mother then called my father to come home and when he arrived, they surprisingly had a pleasant and smooth conversation. Deeps parents gave an account of the witty incident occurred with them at the railway station. From Railway station they called up my house and they asked for Anky. Startlingly Anky came on the line, it astonished them also because Anky was supposed to be in Bangalore. They told Anky that they are in Jaipur and wanted to know if my parents are at home or not. Anky on the other side asked Natrajans who are they and who is Deeps ?? I don’t know any Deeps. Listening to this Natrajans almost had an heart attack, after all this if Anky is saying that he does not know Deeps then what will happen ? After few seconds of argument they were positive that Anky has made fool out of them and their daughter. But they just wanted to confirm this and teach Anky a lesson; hence they carried on with the plan to go to his house. Later they discovered that it was a wrong number and the most bizarre coincidental thing was that even on that wrong number they found an Anky. How many Ankys are there in Jaipur ??</i> <p>I was almost paralyzed after learning all this from my mother and now it was Deep’s turn to get some shockwave therapy. I am sure that she was more than stunned because when I told her this she could not speak and she was scared till death, <p>“What will happen now ?”, she asked while sobbing <p>“Nothing, they will be convinced and comfortable about me”, I relieved her <p>The following day Natrajans came back from Jaipur but did not talk to Deeps. They knew that she knows about their trip but they themselves did not want to conclude anything and did not want to give any thoughts to Deeps, hence they called me one more time. <p>“We went to your house”, Hitler said without any expressions <p>“Yes I spoke to my mother, she told me” <p>She then told all her experience in my house and they narrated the “Wrong number” episode. Hitler told how she liked the place, food and shopping. And finally they came to the earth-shattering question, <p>“So when can you get married to her ?” <p>I was taken aback by the unexpected question, but I dealt with it. <p>“As soon as I will complete 2 years in my current profession because I am not able to take care of myself; How will I look after your daughter ?”, I defended <p>“No no no that’s not possible, you both will have to get married within 3 months”, Hitler just did not want to listen anything <p>“If we will do it late then people will ask questions”, she said <p>“Ok tell people that we have got her engaged, they will stop asking questions”, I offered an honest resolution <p>“No no no, just talk to your dad and wrap it up”, she was ready to get me married in next 1 hour <p><i>I guess she still suspected my character and she was frightened that I will flee !! Why everyone judges me by my face !!! I look like thief but inside I am just a crook !! he he he</i> <p>“What about further studies after marriage ?”, She asked <p>“Then who will feed your daughter ?”, the comeback which shunned any further likely debate <p>It was a reasonable progress but I wasn’t still certain of next step. I spoke to my mom and she persuaded my dad to come to Bangalore to talk and finalize things, to which surprisingly he agreed. They decided to come to Bangalore in next 4 months, both of us were very glad because the dream seen by us 15-16 chapters before was in fact would be turning into reality very soon and without any major obstacles or did we just presumed that little too soon ?</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-69105698604884527112011-06-16T21:50:00.001+05:302011-06-16T21:50:21.458+05:30Chapter 26: The Trap<p align="justify"> </p> <p align="justify">I soon started enjoying the bureaucrat work atmosphere because Joke Factory gave me loads of leisure time, time to relish the paid freedom. I was placed in that very office where Joke Factory had kept a television, perhaps the only great thing ever done to its employees. Initially I was waiting on a word from higher executives about my project allocation but sooner I realized that they have forgotten me !!! 1 month, 2 month and 3 months passed and my daily routine was, <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#0000ff"># Come to office and Swipe in</font></em> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#0000ff"># Go to library and check mails</font></em> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#0000ff"># Go to cafeteria and have breakfast</font></em> <p align="justify"><em><font color="#0000ff"># After breakfast go to the recreation room and watch Television all through the day</font></em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">Official and the social life was going on pretty smooth until Deeps slapped me with a shocker, <p align="justify">“I have told my parents”, she said <p align="justify">“What !!” I almost vomited out the McVeggie burger was clinched on to <p align="justify">“Yes, from last few days they have been talking to people about my wedding, so I had to do something” <p align="justify">“What did you do ?”, I asked curiously <p align="justify">“They told me that a guy is coming tomorrow to see me” <p align="justify">“Ok, then what happened”, I was frightened to ask this question because she might have done Jhansi ki Rani <p align="justify">“I said no, for which my mom was very disappointed and she asked if I was seeing someone” <p align="justify">“Okkkkkk, what happened next ??” <p align="justify">“I said Yes”, she said candidly <p align="justify"><i><font color="#0000ff">And here goes my burger</font></i> <p align="justify">The burger came soaring out of my mouth, out of the blue all the pleasure turned sore, her parents now know everything and if they are not tolerable about it then they might do something about it. She told me a number of times that her father has loads of contacts, which includes EVERY kind of person. <p align="justify"><i><font color="#0000ff">What if he gets livid ? He might send people to kidnap me or even beat me up !!</font></i> <p align="justify">“Hey by the way, what does your father think about it”, I asked unnervingly <p align="justify">“He does not know yet” <p align="justify">“What do you think will happen when he will know about us ?”, I was all set for the abduction <p align="justify">“Nothing, he will scold me”, she said dejectedly <p align="justify">“What will happen to me, I mean will he hurt me ?”, I awkwardly posted the question <p align="justify">“Ha ha ha, hey he isn’t like that, you chicken, ha ha ha”, she could not stop laughing when she learnt what was I thinking <p align="justify">“So what now ?” I asked <p align="justify">“Nothing, you have to come to my house and meet them”, she said calmly <p align="justify">My heart sank, I could not think of anything else but me getting beaten up by some goons <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-ninja" alt="Ninja" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TbDKujQ3kgU/Tfos5H2HQEI/AAAAAAAANAk/XDnG602GTqc/wlEmoticon-ninja%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800">. I know that she affirmed that her father is not like that but I never said that these assailants will be sent by her father, they will be from Hitler <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-embarrassedsmile" alt="Embarrassed smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ObN-NR9kPls/Tfos784wT5I/AAAAAAAANAo/B2A5GmNZrDc/wlEmoticon-embarrassedsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">The day arrived when I was asked to meet her parents, <p align="justify">“Any final minute instructions ?”, I called Deeps and asked <p align="justify">“Just don’t be yourself and rest would be excellent”, she said unperturbedly <p align="justify">I was disgusted because I had to pretend, typically I act dim-witted and I am constantly sarcastic. Plus I was asked to cover my grey hair and put on decent formals. I hated nearly everything about the pre-requisites of the meeting but it had to be done. <p align="justify">I reached her house 10 minutes prior I was supposed to. Since I have been to her house before; it wasn’t intricate for me to locate it. I rang the bell and her father opened the door, <p align="justify">“Hello Sir”, He welcomed me with a immense delight <p align="justify">The reception felt that they already have made a decision that I will their son-in-law and they will just tell me how to handle the wealth they are going to give me, I mean us <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile" alt="Open-mouthed smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bcNplPYdwj8/Tfos-7pN0MI/AAAAAAAANAs/aEcv0U-7MT4/wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">I entered and the scene inside was <a name="_GoBack"></a>breathtaking because the very picture of it took all my breath away. Deeps was sitting on a chair in a corner and at the centre Hitler sat with a notepad, she wore her emblematic atrocious gaze. It appeared as if it is going to be the most evil interview of my life because Hitler is all set to make an inventory of things based on which I will be thrown out of Deeps existence. <p align="justify">I tried an innocent and a terrified look, the plan was to receive fewer injuries from the brutality I was about to face in next hour. <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9lFBESj9jDs/TfotDEBlMwI/AAAAAAAANAw/FWFRTHc88pA/s1600-h/puss%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="puss" border="0" alt="puss" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NC_kRt-FxFo/TfotIrPXneI/AAAAAAAANA0/zTrV8Hu9E3A/puss_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="234"></a> <p align="justify">“Deeps has told us about you and that’s why we wanted to meet you”, future father-in-law was thrilled <p align="justify">“What is your caste”, asked the cold Hitler, suppressing the relieve established by the previous question <p align="justify">“I don’t know ?”, I said, <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><em>In my house we never talked regarding caste. I knew I was Hindu but that wasn’t adequate because there are castes inside castes inside castes and <font color="#ff0000">EVERY SINGLE SOUL IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT</font>.</em></font></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">“What ?”, Hitler went pale, it was as if I had told that I was already married !! With 2 kids !! <p align="justify">“I mean I am Baniya”, I handled the situation without any delay <p align="justify">“Ok” <p align="justify">Mother-in-law and Father-in-law argued something in Kannada which more or less was “His caste is okay, I have several business clients of the same social group and they are excellent people”. <p align="justify">I guess they chose Kannada to converse because I did not know the language, at least that’s what they thought <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kXBysmstx68/TfotNytQu4I/AAAAAAAANA4/oJel7xapauc/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">After a concise debate in the local lingo which I don’t understand; Hitler turned towards me and asked again <p align="justify">“Your parents sent you to study then why did you do this ?”, she again posed a delicate issue <p align="justify">“It wasn’t deliberate, it just happened”, I tried to dodge the question but she wasn’t convinced <p align="justify">“What about your parents, do they know about it ?” <p align="justify">“Not yet” <p align="justify">Hitler again conversed something in kannada with Deep’s father which was roughly meant “He has no balls to tell his parents, ask him when will he tell his father and see how he will chicken out” <p align="justify">“When will you tell your parents ?”, Father-in-law asked promptly <p align="justify">“If you agree to this relation then I will tell them the next time I will go to my home”, I perfectly played according to their plan, in fact I did not have balls to tell my father yet L <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I started learning kannada from the day I landed here; not to make an impression on any girl but to survive well in an unfamiliar land. In 4 years I had managed to understand all but speaking is still a hitch. This effort in learning Kannada was getting paid off today because their plan was,</em></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><em># They will pose complex questions in front of me</em></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><em># My responses will be discussed in Kannada among them and since I am a north Indian; I don’t recognize the language + Deepti wasn’t permitted to speak</em></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><em># Based on the planning they would aim to ambush me</em></font> <p align="justify"><font color="#0000ff"><em>Little did they know that I arrived fully equipped. For each question I had a lip smacking reply standing by for them because I always knew what they are expecting <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-hotsmile" alt="Hot smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bLg17rR1K1Y/TfotQLU5rQI/AAAAAAAANA8/XDsWPrboYxw/wlEmoticon-hotsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></em></font></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">Quickly the conversation was over and they asked me my house address, the Jaipur’s address. I hesitated, <p align="justify">“I just want to do a light background check for my satisfaction, I have many clients in Jaipur and I will request one of them to do a little enquiry”, Hitler said <p align="justify">I was okay with the justification and gave her my address. Few minutes later I was given some snacks after which I asked to disappear. It wasn’t that terrible, it could have been awful if I had not known Kannada <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kXBysmstx68/TfotNytQu4I/AAAAAAAANA4/oJel7xapauc/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-41677595955387384892011-05-16T23:00:00.001+05:302011-05-16T23:00:34.184+05:30Chapter 25: The Moron 5<p> <p>In next to no time it was the conclusion of an era, it was end of the college and we were all free birds, no more studies. I was the happiest person because I need not struggle for the job anymore because in last chapter I got one <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfE_lW-hI/AAAAAAAAM-w/BXz2F6aQSN0/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">. I had 4 months to go to my home town and come back to join the Joke Factory. Time flew away like a snap of a finger and I was all over again all set to be back in Bangalore but since NM, Rambo and Patti all were into different jobs now; I had no place to go to. I asked Deeps to look out for a PG, which is the most unfortunate place you can ever get in to live. She confirmed that she has found a place. I was thrilled to go to the office and with the same exhilaration I landed in Bangalore where Deeps welcomed me with very unpleasant news, the PG she booked is no longer available, I was pissed. It was 6 pm in the evening and I had no place to stay ? <p><i>What am I gonna do ??</i> <p>Either I could have gone to a hotel or to an acquaintance from the college for few days. At the moment there was only one such group which was residing in Bangalore, “The Moron 5”. The story behind Moron 5 was that each member of this group was either a discard from their college group or was a loner. All rejects got together and created a fresh group which I named “Moron 5” and please DO NOT mistake it with “Maroon 5” . I was least interested in going to that house because 3 out of 5 people residing in that house were declared mentally unfit by 85% of the college and for this very reason they are living together because they only could have tolerated each other. <p>I was left with no other option but to go and live with these people, out of these 5; 2 were my good friends and in fact were nice people too, I am still unable to comprehend how they ended up in that group, may be because they were loner. <p># Garfield <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sicksmile" alt="Sick smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfGVT0AyI/AAAAAAAAM-0/NPAZGi0jkDo/wlEmoticon-sicksmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> – A civilized and a great guy, he was classmate of Rambo. <p># Sam <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-Inlove" alt="In love" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfH2UlrBI/AAAAAAAAM-4/x1aitW1CrG8/wlEmoticon-Inlove%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> – My batch mate, one more gujju directly from Gujarat, again a well-mannered guy. <p># Romeo <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-ghost" alt="Ghost" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfJbkCrvI/AAAAAAAAM-8/ZUg5SZWbFSM/wlEmoticon-ghost%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> – My College senior, not a great guy but I never hated him because he never was harmful to me. <p># Tommy <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-alien" alt="Alien" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfK1wglDI/AAAAAAAAM_A/2AcF0sqomyc/wlEmoticon-alien%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> – My batch mate, then my junior, the weirdest guy I have ever met, he had few things which makes him unreservedly hideous human being <blockquote> <p># He <s>thinks</s> knows he is the best. <p># He will not allow you to lay a hand on any of his stuff. <p># He thinks he is the most attractive guy alive. <p># He will not have any gratefulness towards any help he gets, on the other hand he thinks that the person is blessed to help him, no one gets that kind of opportunity in a lifetime. <p># At present it has been almost 4-5 years since he left college and he hasn’t looked for a job just because no one offers a job for 100 thousand bucks a month to a fresher. <p># Last and most essential thing, he claims that he is so fearless that he can shout at anyone anytime; but only behind their back <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfE_lW-hI/AAAAAAAAM-w/BXz2F6aQSN0/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></p></blockquote> <p># Chacha <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-vampirebat" alt="Vampire bat" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfMRRzxtI/AAAAAAAAM_E/mNwdundv7ZQ/wlEmoticon-vampirebat%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> – My college senior, I never got to know why he was named this but let me tell you, if I hated anyone in my life then this guy rules the list by miles. He is the most, <blockquote> <p>· Disgusting <p>· Mean <p>· Arrogant <p>· Dirty, he does not wash his clothes just because if you wash clothes they will be ruined !!! I still remember the horrible smell from his bed sheet which wasn’t washed from 2 years.</p></blockquote> <p>Person I have ever seen. He self declared himself the local guardian to all other who were staying in the house. I stayed with them probably 5 years before but I am still so angry with them that I cant even describe. <p># Ayub <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-hotsmile" alt="Hot smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TdFfNnFjZDI/AAAAAAAAM_I/Bkj-5X62ACo/wlEmoticon-hotsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> – He wasn’t part of the Moron 5 but he used to visit this house just for food. <p>I determined to settle up into their house for a week or so until I find a permanent accommodation but Garfield then persuaded me that I can continue here forever. I was convinced on 3 circumstances, <blockquote> <p># I did not have to chip in for any advance capital towards the house since it was already paid by Moron 5 <p># I get to stay with people I know, I just cannot stay alone. <p># I get to eat home cooked food</p></blockquote> <p>Moron 5 hired a chef to cook for them. Everyone had to pay the equal share but whatever will be cooked will be chacha’s choice because he is not too comfortable with many vegetables !! <p>Let me rephrase that “he was not too comfortable with any vegetables”, therefore daily it used to be potato. <p>As anticipated within few days Chacha started showing his true colours, I got to know that for some bizarre reason everyone is terrified of Chacha and blindly follow whatever he says. Whenever we were in a disagreement every single moron used to support Chacha even if he was wrong, which he used to be on 200% times. Before coming to this house I was a very modest person and never said NO to anyone but for ever and a day I am thankful to these people because they taught me how to say NO. <p><u>Unpleasant incident 1</u> <p>I organise a cricket strategy game which includes money, I used to call it cricket betting. It involved loads of MS excel usage. I used Garfield’s <a name="_GoBack"></a>laptop to do that and when Chacha came to know, <p>“Ye sab satta watta ghar me nahi chalega, ye shareef logo ka ghar hai” <font color="#008000">(Take this cricket betting out of the house, this is a house where only well-brought-up people stay)</font>, he scolded me <p>I looked at his face and replied, “Sirf roommate ki tarah raho baap banne ki koshish mat karo” <font color="#008000">(Be a roommate and don’t try to become my father)</font> <p>Small incidents like this used to happen every single day <p><u>Unpleasant incident 2</u> <p>Chacha’s brother had come to visit us and I am sorry to say that he is a bigger idiot then Chacha. On a Sunday morning I was getting ready to go and meet Deeps, all of a sudden Chacha’s bro came and asked, <p>“Kaha Jaa raha hai” <font color="#008000">(Where are you going)</font> <p>“Ghoomne” <font color="#008000">(To roam around)</font> <p>“Kaha ghoomega ?” <font color="#008000">(Where will you roam around)</font> <p>I was pissed by now, “Road pe” <font color="#008000">(On the Road)</font> <p>“Road pe ghoomega !!! Tere maa bap ki izzat mitti me milayega !!” <font color="#008000">(You will roam around on road !!! aren’t you worried about your parents esteem !!!)</font> <p><i>WTF !!!</i> <p>“Ek kaam kar, haat me chullu bhar paani le aur usme doob ke mar ja” <font color="#008000">(Take handful of water and drown in it)</font> <p>I had a serious doubt that these 2 brothers are from mars because as long as I had known them; they never did anything which was human because when I came back both the brothers were not there and when they came back I simply asked, <p>“Kaha gaye they” <font color="#008000">(Where were you ?)</font> <p>“Ghoomne gaye they” <font color="#008000">(We went to roam around)</font> <p>“Kaha Ghoomne gaye they”, <font color="#008000">(Where were you roaming ?)</font> I smiled <p>He realized what am I going to do now so he replied, “Bus me” <font color="#008000">(In the bus)</font> !!! I expected a reatrded reply like this hence I wasn’t bothered. <p><u>Unpleasant incident 3 (The Decider)</u> <p>Sam was getting married and everyone but me decided to go to his wedding to Gujarat. I went to the office and they were gone before I returned home. When I arrived I came face to face the biggest disgust I have ever faced. They had locked Tommy’s room with every possible thing inside including food raw material. I called Tommy, <p>“Why have you locked the door”, I first asked coolly <p>“It was everybody’s judgment”, he said calmly <p>“What about food stuff, what If I need something which you have locked up ?”, I raised an uncertainty <p>“We have left enough food for you and rest is locked inside”, he elucidated <p>“What if I want to eat something which is locked ?” <p>“No you have to eat whatever we left for you, all expensive food stuff is for all and is locked” <p>“Ok”, there was nothing else to talk about and I hung up <p>Ayub, Garfield’s batch mate and an wonderful guy used to stay alone, when he learnt that the door is locked and food is inside, he was fuming, livid like hell, he wanted to smash the door open and wanted to teach them a lesson but I reassured him and resolute that it’s time to tell them goodbye. <p>“Where will you stay”, Ayub asked <p>“With you”, I beamed <p>“That’s a great thought !! I also was thinking of changing my room” <p>It was decided and we found a stunning place, we were waiting for the bunch of Moron to return. <p>“I am shifting with Ayub”, I told everyone the first thing before even asking how was the wedding. <p>No one was even disturbed apart from Tommy, he came to me and told, <p>“I hope you know whom are you shifting with”, he tried to bend me because if I leave their rent will amplify <p>“I don’t know that but I know this for sure that he will be 100 times better then you all”</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-80585813088361536362011-04-13T22:16:00.001+05:302011-04-13T22:16:17.593+05:30Chapter 24: Joke Factory, Here I come<p align="justify"><i></i> <p align="justify">There was a murmur in the college that it’s time when numerous IT companies will enter the college campus and will hire lots of us. I was thrilled but I was also worried concerning my solitary failed outcome in the lab exam might avert me of getting into any profession because almost all companies have criterion of overall 60% above marks scored without any failure. <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTBybs7EI/AAAAAAAAM38/mV_4SrTNwwA/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTEm2nWxI/AAAAAAAAM4A/Z5Wrbv7zOPs/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="522" height="20"></a></p> <p align="justify">The same was recited by our placement officer too; after listening to which I was slightly discouraged because I needed to bank this opportunity if I wanted to get married. Well I did not give up and made up my mind that if this is what written in my fate then so be it. I braced myself for off-campus which might start for most of us after the conclusion of the college. <p align="justify">But then there was this fresh update all over the college; people must not have any standing failed paper, if you have passed your botched subject then you are good to go <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-thumbsup" alt="Thumbs up" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTGkAuOvI/AAAAAAAAM4E/5vLlFpQUrtc/wlEmoticon-thumbsup%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">,</p> <p align="justify"><i>Niceeeeeee <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-berightback" alt="Be right back" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTH8l6MPI/AAAAAAAAM4I/hW3xIpuT-ZM/wlEmoticon-berightback%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></i></p> <p align="justify">I was back in pursuit again because I failed in 5<sup>th</sup> semester and appeared for the re-exam in 6<sup>th</sup> semester; results were out last week online and I not only scored excellent grades in the current semester but also performed terrifically in the re-exam, <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTJgALh-I/AAAAAAAAM4M/Dd4XdXqe-uI/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTMmx2wfI/AAAAAAAAM4Q/AtA0vxwFBlI/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="524" height="41"></a></p> <p align="justify">I was all geared up because for me this was my only chance where I had to prove myself and lots of other people that I am not kidding <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-greenwithenvy" alt="Green with envy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTNd9JHuI/AAAAAAAAM4U/AGilhimcsok/wlEmoticon-greenwithenvy%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="justify">The first round written test was conducted in a different college. At around 12:30 pm, we were given the 1<sup>st</sup> round question papers which incorporated NO –ve marking. The paper consists of 60 questions and before attempting any of them I just memorized 2 rudiments, <p align="justify">1. Don’t attempt all the questions even if there is no negative marking <p align="justify">2. Try harder/time consuming questions first when there is not negative marking because these questions hold higher value. <p align="justify">I precisely chased these 2 set of laws and attempted mere 35 questions out of 60 which included each protracted question. When I came out people were happy that the test did not have any negative marking and hence each person responded to all 60 questions without fail. I felt that I have screwed all my odds of getting my destiny to relish the painless path. The results were to be declared at around 4:30 but I was standing like a fool who screwed up again because I thought I was over smart. <p align="justify">“Come on lets go, I know I will not get through the written test”, I told Deeps <p align="justify">“No let’s wait for the results”, she insisted on staying back, she still had hope. <p align="justify">I tried 5-6 more time to sway her to go back but she was immovable. I wanted to go back because I did not want anyone’s pity if my name was not declared but I guess I had to bow down in front of Deep’s wish. <p align="justify">Placement officer informed that as many as 64 people have been chosen out of 130 people who appeared in the written test, by now I was definite that I am not in the listings. Placement officer started reading out names from the list of 64 fortunate people and as expected my name was nowhere to be there and the list was almost at its climax but then towards the very end; among last 3-4 names; something sounded very familiar, “Anky”, <p align="justify"><i>yes yes yes <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing" alt="Rolling on the floor laughing" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTOMzzkuI/AAAAAAAAM4Y/ZAHsJ8DxUa4/wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></i> <p align="justify">“See I told you that you will be picked”, Deeps was cheered up <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-flirtfemale" alt="Flirt female" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTOtDo-cI/AAAAAAAAM4c/HCHjSGOZq4M/wlEmoticon-flirtfemale%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">Now it was time for me to outdo the next obstacle which was “The Interview”, we were given 3 days to get ready. The day arrived pretty soon and we yet again had to go to a different college. After waiting for round about 5-6 hrs it was our college’s student’s turn to show in front of the interviewers. I was number 8 to go in for the first round; there were 3 interviewers who were conducting for us, one lady and 2 males. The guys were cool but the lady had already interviewed 3 guys from our college and discarded them at once and I was her next victim, <p align="justify">“Tell me about you”, she asked a very regular 1<sup>st</sup> interview question <p align="justify">I spoke for 5-10 minutes until she said stop and asked, <p align="justify">“Do you know C++”, she asked <p align="justify">“Yes” <p align="justify">“How much would you rate yourself in C++ on scale of 1-10 ?” <p align="justify">“10”, I replied within a nano-second and without even blinking my eyes, I was excellent at C++ but again my over smartness crushed my sanity and after the reply I was pretty sure that she will screw me up till I weep. <p align="justify">“So you know all in C++ ?”, she was stunned <p align="justify">“Yes”, I supported my response because the damage was already done <p align="justify">“Ok, why your 10<sup>th</sup> marks are less then your 12<sup>th</sup> marks which usually is reverse for everyone else ?” <p align="justify"><i>What !!!! She has let me get away for that C++ blunder !!!!</i> <p align="justify">“I never used to study till 10<sup>th</sup> standard and after the unpleasant outcome of 10<sup>th</sup> standard my parents started thrashing me up and because of that I faired pretty well in 12<sup>th</sup> standard”, I replied comically and grinned <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout" alt="Smile with tongue out" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTPmLEXDI/AAAAAAAAM4g/_yZtCtYR_XQ/wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">The lady evaluator who looked very serious till now also smiled after listening to my account which relived all pressure on me. <p align="justify">“I m done with your interview, please show me all your marks sheets” <p align="justify">I could not believe, I was through with my technical round without even being asked a solitary technical question !!! I gave all my marks cards to her. She inspected all and found a problem, <p align="justify">“You failed one exam and I don’t see any report card which says that you passed it” <p align="justify">“It’s because the results are just out on internet and report cards will take another 3-4 weeks” <p align="justify">“Oh, in that case I cannot give you HR Form”, she smirked <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-angrysmile" alt="Angry smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTQYpzkgI/AAAAAAAAM4k/wqXFUfu1ruM/wlEmoticon-angrysmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">“But I have cleared that assessment”, I responded weakly <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-embarrassedsmile" alt="Embarrassed smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTRNvByZI/AAAAAAAAM4o/e5QusUCDHV0/wlEmoticon-embarrassedsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">She took one HR form and wrote my name on it and kept next to her and said <p align="justify">“This is your HR form, substantiate that you cleared this exam and take the HR form and go” <p align="justify">Now if you can visualize, my circumstances were altogether screwed up. I without wasting anytime went to my placement officer who had carried the photocopies of all the results with him. <p align="justify">“Sir I need 5<sup>th</sup> Sem results”, I asked panting <p align="justify">He straightaway started looking into a roll of 10-15 Xeroxed sheets but quickly I and he apprehended that the placement officer was piece of shit of the uppermost kind because since we were in 6<sup>th</sup> sem he got only 6<sup>th</sup> sem marks !!! It never occurred to that son of a bitch <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-justkidding" alt="Just kidding" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTR2gy08I/AAAAAAAAM4s/MElVR6To2kA/wlEmoticon-justkidding%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> that people might get botched in semesters prior to 6<sup>th</sup> sem too !!! Well I never imagined that my day would be like this, I ran and came out of the college and was hunting for a cyber café desperately, so that I can at least get a printout of my purity. I logged into the VTU website and wolla !!! Results were not there any longer !!! Results are available only for 2 weeks and we were already into the third week. At that instant I could visualize myself competing in off-campus with hundreds of people again <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTSrZHXoI/AAAAAAAAM4w/MKfB74cZ53Y/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">. But I still hadn’t lost any hope, I conceived a strategy, I went straight to the interviewer who took my interview and I told her that there is no way I can ascertain until tomorrow unless its ok if our placement officer gives your company a written application declaring that this person has cleared all his exams and can be handed over his HR form !!! <p align="justify">Well my luck finally clunked and she said “OK”. <p align="justify">I was again galloping across the hallway and in 5 minutes I was filling out the HR form. <p align="justify">It was already 9 pm when people started getting calls for HR discussions and beginning to come out inside 2 minutes !! <p align="justify"><i>That’s weird, because till today what I have heard is that HR rounds are lengthiest !!</i> <p align="justify">“Anky !!”, a lady yelled <p align="justify">I upstretched my hand, <p align="justify"><i>This is it <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-nerdsmile" alt="Nerd smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTTDJbJDI/AAAAAAAAM40/qK8IfDqCwtc/wlEmoticon-nerdsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></i> <p align="justify">I was directed to a HR who just looked to be a young teenager <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-princess" alt="Princess" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTT3RZyDI/AAAAAAAAM44/UYszCys0bC8/wlEmoticon-princess%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> who has just come of her college. She asked me to be seated and asked me to speak something about me. I over again babbled the pre-set speech for the 2<sup>nd</sup> time which she asked me to rest after 3-4 minutes, <p align="justify">“What is you strength ?” she asked with a grave look <p align="justify">“Confidence”, I replied confidently <p align="justify">“What is your weakest point ?”, she threw another delicate question on my face <p align="justify">“Over-confidence”, I retorted without blinking my eyes <p align="justify">After eavesdropping to my reply her face went foulest <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-alien" alt="Alien" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTUSC2KcI/AAAAAAAAM48/nPRKff0lLyA/wlEmoticon-alien%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> and she asked me to enlighten and I described that I know C++ splendidly and I am swollen with pride of it and in technical round <a name="_GoBack"></a>I rated myself 10 when asked, that was the overconfidence but I was fortunate to get away with that. <p align="justify">May be it was my “Confidence” which she liked because HR absolutely bought it. <p align="justify">“Ok, Let’s have a discussion about IT industry”, she asked me <p align="justify"><i>WTF !!! <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-surprisedsmile" alt="Surprised smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTVSp0DGI/AAAAAAAAM5A/Y6N84k8JZqs/wlEmoticon-surprisedsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></i> <p align="justify">What is IT industry ?? How the hell a 6<sup>th</sup> semester college undergraduate will have any idea about IT business !! College students don’t even know their syllabus correctly, how are they supposed to know that. But according to my exploration on interviews; interviewer is not at all times looking for a truthful response, they are looking for the composure and buoyancy and you should certainly not think a lot to act in response to their question. <p align="justify">So I went forward right away, “We know that IT industry is creating a revolution around the globe today and Joke Factory is one of that companies which known to be the finest” <p align="justify">HR’s face went from disgust to hatred <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-devil" alt="Devil" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TaXTWMbnyvI/AAAAAAAAM5E/qXU9vkF80QE/wlEmoticon-devil%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> which I duly noted and determined not to discontinue and carry on because if I stop at this moment and allowed her to speak then I am a dead man. So I was nonstop talking about Joke Factory, I boasted each award Joke Factory has ever won and each recognition they have ever got, I knew all this because that was an vital part of the preparation, to be acquainted with your company !!! I did not stop until she asked me to and asked me if I am prepared to move to Chennai or Hyderabad ? <p align="justify">“No”, I said <p align="justify">“What !!! Are you not ready to work in Bangalore ?”, she snubbed <p align="justify">“Yes I am !!!”, I replied in astonishment because that’s not what I heard <p align="justify">“Are you positive that you are in your senses ??”, she nearly affronted me <p align="justify">“Sorry ma’am, I would like to join in Bangalore only”, I tried to refurbish the damage <p align="justify">“Ok Go”, she asked me to leave <p align="justify">I was disconsolate because final few seconds appeared to be a yet another blunder and in some way I may have upset her. I met Ghosh who also had a similar coincidence and was in grief. We both were extremely confident that we will not get through but on the other hand Guabha, Chaubey and Bhatti were making merry that they will get picked for sure. <p align="justify">It was result moment, they started announcing the name of the selected aspirants, and they began with, <p align="justify">“Anky” <p align="justify">“Ghosh” <p align="justify">We could not believe our ears and some others also could not, we were the people who were least positive on our performances and we were the foremost people to get picked !!! It was just beyond explanation, it was magical. Only 24 out of 64 were singled out and I was among those 24 and none of Guabha, Chaubey and Bhatti was chosen. <p align="justify">I without more ado called my parents and informed them about the excellent news and they highly praised my accomplishment. Then I called Deeps, <p align="justify">I said, “Hello” <p align="justify">She said, “Congrats” <p align="justify"><em>How the hell she gets all news beforehand !!!</em></p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-90040079060963192382011-03-20T22:39:00.001+05:302011-03-20T22:39:16.228+05:30Chapter 23: The Ugly Guest<p> </p> <p>It was quite a while since we moved into KS layout and now it was like home to us, a perfect place where we could do anything we ever wanted. One more reason for shifting was, if any family member comes down to Bangalore then we can offer roof to them; which started with Rambo, a morning we heard that Rambo’s best friend is shifting to Bangalore concerning work, <p>“What’s his name”, asked Patti <p>“Sardar”, Rambo replied <p>That wasn’t his actual name but it did not matter because entire planet called him Sardar and he had no objection with that. Soon he began to reside with us; he was a comical guy and used to just look out for an opportunity to have a party or any kind of fun. Sooner Sardar’s friends started coming over to our place. After a few months of hang about Sardar left the house but lots of Sardar’s friends by now had become Rambo’s acquaintances, so we not at all felt that Sardar truly is gone because his friends kept coming to our house. On a usual dry evening Rambo made an announcement that one of his and Sardar’s buddy will come today and stay with us for a week, <p>“Who is he ?”, I asked <p>“His name is Imran”, Rambo said while looking at watch with an Son-Of-Bitch-is-late look on his face <p>“Who is he ?”, I was curious <p>“Imraan”, Rambo answered <p>“Who Imraan ?” <p>And here is the most exceptional relation what Rambo told us which I don’t think you will ever encounter, <p align="center">Rambo’s friend is Sardar <p align="center">Sardar’s friend is Akhtar <p align="center">Akhtar’s wife is Zoha <p align="center">Zoha’s cousin is Priyanka <p align="center">Priyanka’s friend is Anamika <p align="center">Anamika’s brother is Bunty <p align="center">Bunty’s friend is Imraan <p>“Do you even know him”, I asked Rambo in bewilderment after listening to something which I have encountered only in Hindi movies. <p>He gave me a shitty face and went inside his room. After not many hours Imraan came with his belongings. We were as usual thrilled for an accumulation of a new person in the house, we greeted him with loads of respect and considered him like one of us, we thought, anyways he will be with us barely for a week so why not make him feel comfy. The week passed with amusement and delight with Imraan, he was a witty guy. 2<sup>nd</sup> Week began and Imraan was still here, we did not ask Rambo anything; as we thought he might have extended his stay due to some reasons but 2<sup>nd</sup> week also ended instantly. The entire month passed out and Imraan was still in the house as if he came here to settle down with us. And quickly Imraan was 2 months old in our house, he wasn’t paying any rent or any involvement towards any condiments because we decided not to pose as he was staying only for a week. He wasn’t cooking or helping with any other thing in the house because he measured himself as a guest, he wasn’t working either, yes that means he was an un-employed dead meat sitting on our chest. From morning till evening he was accustomed to play games on Rambo’s PC and had a habit of breaking our records and later laugh on us regarding that in the evenings. At the time of a meal, he used to buy a packet of Maggie noodles. He used to cook them in the kitchen and consumed it from top to bottom within the kitchen because if he comes out of then he might have to split it !!! <p>It was end of 3<sup>rd</sup> month and there was still no indication that Imraan will ever say goodbye to us, so we stood up against him and spoke to Rambo. Fascinating thing was that Rambo hasn’t yet become conscious that he was here only for a week and its already 3 months !!! Rambo without delay asked Imraan to disappear. Within 2 days Imraan affirmed that he is leaving. That day morning while leaving for the office Rambo shook hands with Imraan and left because he anticipated that by the time he will be back Imraan wouldn’t be here. That entire last day Imraan tried all his effort on the computer game in breaking my record (Which I produced by hacking the game). He was so caught up and distressed to shatter it that he forgot that it was already twilight. Rambo returned from office and saw Imraan on his computer, his grin; which was there on his face due to some thought in his mind; changed in 10<sup>th</sup> of millisecond. <p>“Saale kutte, tu abhi tak yahi, chal bhaag yaha se” (WTF !! U asshole!! Why are u still here ? Get out of the house !!!!), Rambo shouted instantaneously as soon as he saw Imraan <p>“Ok Ok, abhi jaata hu” (I am leaving), Imraan jolted with fright <p>Imraan without delay stopped the game, went to the room and took his luggage out. He went down to look for an auto rickshaw. He came back and took his belongings and said, <p>“Ok guys, I am leaving”, he smiled <p>Patti and NM burst into laughter; both of them started dancing as if god has granted them a new life. <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TYY0s2T1h9I/AAAAAAAAM1M/fiQzSUNJdKY/s1600-h/clip_image001%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image001" border="0" alt="clip_image001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TYY0umbP-pI/AAAAAAAAM1Q/gFFZagj6ehs/clip_image001_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="510" height="430"></a> <p>“Hurrrayyyyyyy, Imraan jaa raha hai” (Hurray, Imraan is leaving), NM kept on screaming the statement again and again on Imraan’s face. <p>“Ab hum log fir se chain ki saans le sakte” (We are free, we can live again), Patti also joined <p>Well Imraan was more or less thrown out of the house insulted, I felt terrible for him but that’s what that SOB earned !! <p align="center">*********** <p>It was already 1 year since I proposed Deeps and it was our first anniversary. We celebrated 2 anniversaries, one where I proposed and 2<sup>nd</sup> when she said yes. We chose not to go to the college that day. She had to come home and from there we decided to go out for the whole day. She told me that she will come at 10, so I calculated the relative time which is (The time Deeps told + 1 hr) = 11 am. I was completely geared up to astonish her. She came accurately at 10:55 am. She came to the house and we began to chit chat, <p>“Congratulations”, she said <p>“Yes, same to you too, we made it, one year”, I chuckled <p>“Chalo, let’s go”, she said <p>“Wait, I have a surprise” <p>“What is it ?” <p>“You will know in precisely 30 seconds” <p>1….2….15…..25….30 <p><i>Hume tumse pyaar kitna, ye hum nahi jaante, magar jee nahi sakte tumhare bina ……</i> <p>A song began from nowhere, she was very pleased with the whole situation and it stunned her that the song started on its own. Secret behind that was, auto play in Winamp media player and the moment it starts then call winamp by windows scheduler at Deep’s relative time and bingo !!! The Girl was impressed. </p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-33862192984348565242011-03-02T21:13:00.001+05:302011-03-02T21:13:41.852+05:30Chapter 22: I flunked<p align="justify"> <p align="justify">I was down in the dumps; I was lost and was wrecked within. I wasn’t alive nor was I dead but there was something which did not allow me to fix the situation, the faith. She wasn’t ready to listen to me but she chose to trust someone over me who was a complete stranger. I just wanted to get sloshed but being a student you don’t get luxury to get wasted on break-ups. So in pain I went to have tea at Vidhyarthi Bakery. The bakery where the enchantments of Tea and butter bun will overpower your will and freedom. The place where I discovered the most innovative burger, “Deem Butter Bun”, a bun heavily dosed with butter with 2 half pieces of boiled egg squeezed in the middle; I just have three words to portray it, <p align="center"><em><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lntLAk8I/AAAAAAAAMx8/YOrsOwTp2D8/s1600-h/delicious3.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="delicious" border="0" alt="delicious" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5loXYtfpI/AAAAAAAAMyA/atqicJRBQ9w/delicious_thumb1.gif?imgmax=800" width="322" height="184"></a></em></p> <p align="center"><em>Amazing Amazing and Amazing</em> <p align="justify">I was miserable and when you are disheartened you must do the thing you like the most, I eat. So you can distinguish how sad I was lately <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lpE8KD5I/AAAAAAAAMyE/WFP_SrIne14/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile2.png?imgmax=800">. But let me tell you a thing very undoubtedly that if you know Deeps then you would know that it’s impracticable to rupture relations with her; in fact it’s impossible unless she does not want to stay in relation with you; in that case you will never even realize that you are no longer Deep’s friend <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-angrysmile" alt="Angry smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lpxVPFLI/AAAAAAAAMyI/uRDZEvSpv-g/wlEmoticon-angrysmile2.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="justify">It was about 30 minutes into our first break-up and out of the blue my phone rang. The phone was flashing “Deeps”, I was infuriated and anxious so I just answered the call, <p align="justify">“Hello” <p align="justify">“Hi”, she spoke <p align="justify">“What is it ?”, I acted as if I am in rush and not interested for a conversation <p align="justify">“What are you doing”, she asked in a pale tone <p align="justify">“Please come to the point”, I was already annoyed <p align="justify">“Nothing I just wanted to have a chat in general”, she said <p align="justify">“What !!! We just broke up half an hour before and you are behaving as if nothing has ever happened !! I nearly screamed <p align="justify">“No no that’s different and this is different”, she tried explaining <p align="justify">As soon as I heard that my brain stopped working and there was blood in my eyes, I was unable to speak, the only thing I could do was to hang up. <p align="justify">She tried calling me a zillion times but I did not answer. I wanted her to know that this relation can workout only if it has 2 way communication, there is no and there can never be 1 way. She then called out to NM who later came and discussed it with me. I still did not talk to her and wanted this condition to get matured in her head. Evening I called her up and asked what is that she wants and things were back on track like usual. <p align="center">************* <p align="justify">It was a lab exam, the final lab exam. Situation was nervous, I was unruffled and Deeps was routinely panicked and petrified. In every examination we both used to be exact opposites but I guess my cool and her panic always worked out for each other. We went in and waited for the further directions. The procedure was straightforward, you go in and choose your destiny, pick up a chit from a stack of chits and that will determine your try out of the day. And I don’t know why Deeps always argued that I and Apsara always got easiest experiments all through our engineering !!! But I guess this was Deeps luckiest day. She picked up and the instant she opened it she was all cheered up as if some one has gifted her diamond necklace. She looked at me, we exchanged looks of contentment, a look which told us both that we will come out with flying colours. I started with my test, it was quite uncomplicated and easy. I had to connect the wires and had to keep changing parameter ‘A’ and make a note of the resultant parameter ‘B’ and then I had to draw a graph. On the other hand Deeps got the easiest one in which she had to connect wires and show the basic sine wave output in CRO, <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lqiNjVJI/AAAAAAAAMyM/zvwbxdKsEWo/s1600-h/cro2.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="cro" border="0" alt="cro" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lrCanvaI/AAAAAAAAMyQ/Rk72b1QCgHE/cro_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="191"></a> <p align="justify">The wire connection was a piece of cake, so I was confident that she will get through it before me. But people say that if devil possesses your wits then how much ever simple thing you are aiming at, you will always do the opposite. I was very much confident that I had to vary ‘A’ and assess ‘B’ but I do not know what happened, I told myself, Lets do the reverse, lets Measure ‘B’ and note down ‘A’ and I continued. <p align="justify">After a while the in-house evaluator came in and when she saw what I was doing she was struck with horror, she said you are doing exactly opposite of what you should be doing. As I was possessed by the evil spirit; instead of listening to her, I enlightened her why “what I am doing” is correct !!! She heard me and heard me one more time and left with a Go-To-Hell look. This wasn’t it, now the external assessor came by and he saw my set of connections and said the identical thing which I must tell you that external evaluators NEVER do. But how could I had paid attention because to me both of them were out of their mind, <p align="justify"><i>And they call them teachers …. Huh</i> <p align="justify">I completed my experimentation and I was about to go for the viva (the last step of the entire procedure) and I saw Deeps, under attack by her experiment, <p align="justify"><i>That’s weird!!!</i> <p align="justify">It was time to assist her, it was already 2 hrs up in the assessment and she wasn’t even on track. I adjusted myself next to my setup so that Deeps can see me but examiners can’t. I gestured at her asking what the trouble is. She signaled back saying that she does not know how to attach the CRO chord to the CRO !!!! <p align="justify"><i>What … !!! What … !!! Come again !!!! WTF ….. You are trapped at THAT !!! </i> <p align="justify">Each experiment incorporated CRO so it should have been a sure thing. It was like every time you go to cook food, what do you do foremost, you turn on the burner. She did not know how to turn on the burner. And icing on the cake was her fright. She was about to shed tears when I calmed her down from far by indicating her that I will help her out. It was my Dumb Charades skills that worked out that day and I signaled her entire experiment. According to the examiner she got the most excellent output in that batch. I was reassured and now stepped forward to my viva. Both the evaluators were already pissed with me, they asked me hardly any questions which I replied confidently, both of them asked the last time, if I want to go back and modify what I have written and done, I without any faltering replied a BIG NO. So they asked me to disappear. I came out and the moment I came out I become conscious, as if I was no longer possessed by the demon. I grasped what I did but it was very late. I saw Apsara coming, <p align="justify">“How was your test”, she asked with a smile <p align="justify">“Not bad, I will flunk though”, I replied and walked away with a sarcastic smile on my face for the idiocy I just managed to pull off. </p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-79635114252200617482011-03-02T21:11:00.001+05:302011-03-02T21:11:47.785+05:30Chapter 22: I flunked<p align="justify"> <p align="justify">I was down in the dumps; I was lost and was wrecked within. I wasn’t alive nor was I dead but there was something which did not allow me to fix the situation, the faith. She wasn’t ready to listen to me but she chose to trust someone over me who was a complete stranger. I just wanted to get sloshed but being a student you don’t get luxury to get wasted on break-ups. So in pain I went to have tea at Vidhyarthi Bakery. The bakery where the enchantments of Tea and butter bun will overpower your will and freedom. The place where I discovered the most innovative burger, “Deem Butter Bun”, a bun heavily dosed with butter with 2 half pieces of boiled egg squeezed in the middle; I just have three words to portray it, <p align="justify"><em><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lLAXv-9I/AAAAAAAAMxg/J2SxTCg2ciI/s1600-h/delicious%5B3%5D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="delicious" border="0" alt="delicious" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lL2wHPGI/AAAAAAAAMxk/z4ZUW1cCEJg/delicious_thumb%5B1%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="322" height="184"></a></em></p> <p align="justify"><em>Amazing Amazing and Amazing</em> <p align="justify">I was miserable and when you are disheartened you must do the thing you like the most, I eat. So you can distinguish how sad I was lately <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lMsH9wYI/AAAAAAAAMxo/z8LPnUHCkd4/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">. But let me tell you a thing very undoubtedly that if you know Deeps then you would know that it’s impracticable to rupture relations with her; in fact it’s impossible unless she does not want to stay in relation with you; in that case you will never even realize that you are no longer Deep’s friend <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-angrysmile" alt="Angry smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lNOLO6xI/AAAAAAAAMxs/Rc4_wspJL5c/wlEmoticon-angrysmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="justify">It was about 30 minutes into our first break-up and out of the blue my phone rang. The phone was flashing “Deeps”, I was infuriated and anxious so I just answered the call, <p align="justify">“Hello” <p align="justify">“Hi”, she spoke <p align="justify">“What is it ?”, I acted as if I am in rush and not interested for a conversation <p align="justify">“What are you doing”, she asked in a pale tone <p align="justify">“Please come to the point”, I was already annoyed <p align="justify">“Nothing I just wanted to have a chat in general”, she said <p align="justify">“What !!! We just broke up half an hour before and you are behaving as if nothing has ever happened !! I nearly screamed <p align="justify">“No no that’s different and this is different”, she tried explaining <p align="justify">As soon as I heard that my brain stopped working and there was blood in my eyes, I was unable to speak, the only thing I could do was to hang up. <p align="justify">She tried calling me a zillion times but I did not answer. I wanted her to know that this relation can workout only if it has 2 way communication, there is no and there can never be 1 way. She then called out to NM who later came and discussed it with me. I still did not talk to her and wanted this condition to get matured in her head. Evening I called her up and asked what is that she wants and things were back on track like usual. <p align="center">************* <p align="justify">It was a lab exam, the final lab exam. Situation was nervous, I was unruffled and Deeps was routinely panicked and petrified. In every examination we both used to be exact opposites but I guess my cool and her panic always worked out for each other. We went in and waited for the further directions. The procedure was straightforward, you go in and choose your destiny, pick up a chit from a stack of chits and that will determine your try out of the day. And I don’t know why Deeps always argued that I and Apsara always got easiest experiments all through our engineering !!! But I guess this was Deeps luckiest day. She picked up and the instant she opened it she was all cheered up as if some one has gifted her diamond necklace. She looked at me, we exchanged looks of contentment, a look which told us both that we will come out with flying colours. I started with my test, it was quite uncomplicated and easy. I had to connect the wires and had to keep changing parameter ‘A’ and make a note of the resultant parameter ‘B’ and then I had to draw a graph. On the other hand Deeps got the easiest one in which she had to connect wires and show the basic sine wave output in CRO, <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lN9lJZkI/AAAAAAAAMxw/sciXDefuE5g/s1600-h/cro%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="cro" border="0" alt="cro" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TW5lOn4xL9I/AAAAAAAAMx0/q7MgxkN2o94/cro_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="191"></a> <p align="justify">The wire connection was a piece of cake, so I was confident that she will get through it before me. But people say that if devil possesses your wits then how much ever simple thing you are aiming at, you will always do the opposite. I was very much confident that I had to vary ‘A’ and assess ‘B’ but I do not know what happened, I told myself, Lets do the reverse, lets Measure ‘B’ and note down ‘A’ and I continued. <p align="justify">After a while the in-house evaluator came in and when she saw what I was doing she was struck with horror, she said you are doing exactly opposite of what you should be doing. As I was possessed by the evil spirit; instead of listening to her, I enlightened her why “what I am doing” is correct !!! She heard me and heard me one more time and left with a Go-To-Hell look. This wasn’t it, now the external assessor came by and he saw my set of connections and said the identical thing which I must tell you that external evaluators NEVER do. But how could I had paid attention because to me both of them were out of their mind, <p align="justify"><i>And they call them teachers …. Huh</i> <p align="justify">I completed my experimentation and I was about to go for the viva (the last step of the entire procedure) and I saw Deeps, under attack by her experiment, <p align="justify"><i>That’s weird!!!</i> <p align="justify">It was time to assist her, it was already 2 hrs up in the assessment and she wasn’t even on track. I adjusted myself next to my setup so that Deeps can see me but examiners can’t. I gestured at her asking what the trouble is. She signaled back saying that she does not know how to attach the CRO chord to the CRO !!!! <p align="justify"><i>What … !!! What … !!! Come again !!!! WTF ….. You are trapped at THAT !!! </i> <p align="justify">Each experiment incorporated CRO so it should have been a sure thing. It was like every time you go to cook food, what do you do foremost, you turn on the burner. She did not know how to turn on the burner. And icing on the cake was her fright. She was about to shed tears when I calmed her down from far by indicating her that I will help her out. It was my Dumb Charades skills that worked out that day and I signaled her entire experiment. According to the examiner she got the most excellent output in that batch. I was reassured and now stepped forward to my viva. Both the evaluators were already pissed with me, they asked me hardly any questions which I replied confidently, both of them asked the last time, if I want to go back and modify what I have written and done, I without any faltering replied a BIG NO. So they asked me to disappear. I came out and the moment I came out I become conscious, as if I was no longer possessed by the demon. I grasped what I did but it was very late. I saw Apsara coming, <p align="justify">“How was your test”, she asked with a smile <p align="justify">“Not bad, I will flunk though”, I replied and walked away with a sarcastic smile on my face for the idiocy I just managed to pull off. Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-6641295254540670732011-02-06T09:41:00.001+05:302011-02-06T09:41:30.014+05:30Chapter 21: The End<p align="justify"> <p align="justify">In current semester all classmates were separated into groups of 3 and they were asked to perform experiments in sets to save time. Anky was grouped with Shamita and Avanti. Avanti; who was a not a girl, she was a volcano. Whenever she spoke one could experience nails coming out of her jaws and hitting the person on face. She was very blunt and very valiant but she had a soft corner for Anky and never did show any ferocity on him. Anky was powerless to recognize why she was like that with him because from morning to evening he made fun of her, snubbed and humiliated her in front of the entire class and apparently this attracted her towards him !!! Avanti began to fall for Anky more and more which Anky never comprehended. Deeps on the other hand could not grasp this and in next to no time Anky and Deeps started having differences over this, <p align="justify">“Why is she always around you ?”, Asked Deeps <p align="justify">“She is not, where is she now ?”, Anky reacted recklessly <p align="justify">“I always see her with you, what’s going on between you two ?” <p align="justify">“Have you gone crazy” <p align="justify">They fought and she cried, they fought again and they cried. This went on for few days and nothing seemed to be working out. On the other hand Avanti commenced next segment of her plan by spending more time with Anky. Clearly she did not get any time in college because Anky was always with Deeps, therefore she decided to go Anky’s home. Avanti started coming home regularly for the explanation that she needs to gain knowledge of mathematical expressions; which sanctioned her to spend hours with him. Anky also entertained her because this way he could be well trained in his curriculum but little did he know that he is getting into an immense and grave complication. Anky never told this to Deeps because she would not have ever understood and never would have approved this. He anyways thought that it is not that greater deal and there was no way Deeps could have known about this. <p align="justify">On a usual day Avanti was in Anky’s place and they both were going through the current lecture notes. Devoid of any notice or hint Deeps came home with Apsara; they both decided to come home to meet me and NM. As soon as Deeps came in, she saw Avanti sitting next to Anky, she got livid and left from there in abhorrence. Anky was pissed with such manners because she did not even give him any opportunity of even explaining as what was going on. He never left his place and said bye to Deeps as she left. After she left Anky was little distress and asked for 2 min break from Avanti. Out of the blue Deeps yelled from ground floor, <p align="justify">“Anky I am going”, she was still not gone <p align="justify">“Wait”, he ran for her <p align="justify">Anky arrived there and she was there all set to disappear on her two-wheeler. He jumped and settled behind her on pillion seat and said, <p align="justify">“Let’s go for a ride” <p align="justify">They went for a ride. After a while he asked her to stop, she stopped the vehicle, <p align="justify">“What is wrong with you ?”, Anky asked her patiently <p align="justify">“I don’t like her and I don’t want her to come any near to you”, she said this while tears in her eye <p align="justify">“She comes only to get her doubts cleared, that’s all”, Anky shielded Avanti <p align="justify">“Whatever it is I don’t want her in your house” <p align="justify">For next 30 min this dispute continued and in the end he managed to influence her that Avanti can mean and cause no destruction, she can be rest assured that no bad can happen. She was persuaded indistinctly and dropped him back to the house, took Apsara and left. When Anky got back to the house Avanti was still there and was waiting for him to return. <p align="justify">“What happened”, Avanti asked <p align="justify">“Nothing, Deeps was not in very good mood” <p align="justify">“Why what happened”, she asked another time <p align="justify">“Nothing, she is not able to focus on her studies and for that reason she is cantankerous” <p align="justify">“Are you guys a couple ?”, she asked a question out of nowhere <p align="justify">Anky was taken aback with that enquiry but he got himself together and graciously declined, <p align="justify">“No nothing like that, we are just excellent friends”, he defended <p align="justify">“Ok, in that case I need to ask you one thing”, she examined the clear room <p align="justify">“Yes, sure, please ask” <p align="justify">“Anky I love you, will you marry me”, she blushed <p align="justify">Anky was struck with a very severe attack of a paralysis with a bolt of lightning at the same time. Anky’s most hideous nightmare had just turned into reality. The girl who he was just protecting with Deeps had just made things much worse for him. <p align="justify"><i>If Deeps come to know about all this then she will eat me alive and will never listen to me because she somehow sensed it before it happened. </i> <p align="justify">“Are you kidding, please don’t make fun of me”, Anky tried to dodge the bullet <p align="justify">“I am not joking”, she was serious <p align="justify">“Look Avanti whatever you feel for me, I am grateful for that but I don’t think the same for you” <p align="justify">“So are you saying NO”, she questioned <p align="justify">“Yes, Avanti, you deserve a much better guy then me” <p align="justify">“I don’t think so”, she started weeping <p align="justify">It took another 30 min for Anky to calm her down and eventually he managed to send her back home. He also talked her into that she should not come home again and stay as far as possible from him because then it will be very tough to get over all this. She seemed to be a matured lady and took things rather positively. Anky was thankful that this did not turn out to be yet another snag in his life. When this sorted out straightforwardly, he decided to tell the event to Deeps and also to let her know that Avanti will not be near me anymore, <p align="justify">“She proposed me”, He told Deeps <p align="justify">“I knew it”, she started howling before Anky could say anything <p align="justify">“But listen to me”, Anky continued <p align="justify">“Forget it Anky its over”, she hung up <p align="justify"><i>What !!!! She did not even listen what happened !!!</i> <p align="justify">Anky tried calling her up the entire evening, the entire week but she just wasn’t ready to pay attention. She wasn’t ready to appreciate that it was Avanti who proposed and not him !!! She was also pissed on him more because some girl in some other class had seen me and Avanti holding hands someday which was so fallacious. <p align="justify">“You are so with her Anky”, she was weeping <p align="justify">“Please hear me out, It’s not true” <p align="justify">“No way” <p align="justify">“Okay then that’s what you want”, Anky also finally gave up <p align="justify">“I don’t want you anymore”<br>Anky also could not take it anymore and was utterly annoyed because he was being accused for something which he did not even think of !!!</p> <p align="justify">“Ok Deeps lets break-up, I guess this what it was meant to be” <p align="justify">“Yes” <p align="justify">And we hung up for ever <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TU4fbJQE5DI/AAAAAAAAMwE/gSm2tOfFC8I/s1600-h/the_end3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="the_end" border="0" alt="the_end" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TU4fcBWtbAI/AAAAAAAAMwI/4LGbink3pr0/the_end_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="197"></a> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-6291603942204146052011-01-26T09:27:00.001+05:302011-01-26T09:27:45.636+05:30Chapter 20: Look Who's talking<p align="justify"> <p align="justify">It was end of yet another semester and like always, I had to catch the immediate train soon after the exams are over. I was packed and ready to roll. This time NM was travelling with me till Nagpur (Half way). It was always nice if someone you know is going with you from Bangalore to Jaipur even till half way. It was always dreadful to spend 2 entire days on your own in the train but anyways I had done it a million times. Out of those million times I was fortunate only once when I met few people who appeared of the same age as mine, 2 guys and 1 girl. The girl was from UP and she looked very extrovert the way she was interacting with us, so I started showing off. I told them that I study in Bangalore in a college called APS, “my college has this” and “my college has that”, blah blah blah, I went on and on. When I was done I was pretty certain that I have established who is the smartest and moreover the girl looked awfully impressed. I then asked each of them for their introduction, I asked the 1<sup>st</sup> guy, <p align="justify">“Where do you study ?”, I asked <p align="justify">“I am doing MBBS from Manipal”, he said <p align="justify"><i>Hmmmm this guy is clearly from a better institute then I am but that's fine</i> <p align="justify">“You”, I asked the 2<sup>nd</sup> guy <p align="justify">“I am from IIT-Kanpur”, he said <p align="justify"><i>Great, what else are we missing!!!</i> <p align="justify">“What about you Bharti ?”, I asked the girl <p align="justify">“I am from IIT-Chennai”, she said with a grin <p align="justify">So for next 2 days I was looking for a corner or someplace where I can bury my face. I was a like an ordinary man who was trying to be a hero in middle of a bunch of superheroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder women. <p align="center">************************ <p align="justify">Deeps asked me many times about how a wedding takes place in north and I gave her the fresh illustration of my cousin brother whose story line was approximately similar to ours. <p align="justify">Nitin was an engineering student in Bangalore and Anjula was a medical student. They fell in love, got married and lived happily ever after. <p align="justify">Deeps was pleased that my family is not new to this business and she liked the story because she could foresee our fairy-tale also to end the same way. <p align="justify">It was the first time when I was going home while my love story was in top gear and both of us could not resist staying away. So we made a deal that we will talk every day. It was those days when Mobile phones still had incoming call charges and sustaining a mobile phone itself was a character of sumptuousness and hence both of us still did not have any mobile. We were dependent either on our house phones or STD booths. A girl calling up to my house also could have raised questions for me so I told her even if she wants to call to my house apart from pre-decided time then fake yourself as a Jaipur Girl with the name “Amrita”, Amrita was my school friend and used to call to my house. I gave Deeps very basic instructions and told her that her Hindi should be excellent enough to trick them. She was as usual over-confident and gave me a <i>don’t-you-worry</i> affirmation. <p align="justify">And the day arrived where she could not hang around till the determined time, she called to my house and my mom picked up, <p align="justify">“Hello”, said my mom <p align="justify">“Kya mai Ankit se baat kar sakti hu ?” <font color="#0000ff">(Can I talk to Ankit)</font>, she said in an excellent Hindi intonation <p align="justify">“Wo to abhi hai nahi, kaun bol raha hai ?” <font color="#0000ff">(He is not here but may I know who is on the line ?)</font>, My mom asked <p align="justify">The sentence she told after that created a history, <p align="justify">“Mai Anjula bol raha hu” (Its Anjula speaking (<i>In Masculine grammatical gender</i>)) <p align="justify">My mother never stopped laughing that day, in fact she was almost rolling on the floor when she heard that. First Deeps said the wrong name, I guess she was too much overwhelmed with Nitin-Anjula love story that she chose “Anjula” over “Amrita” and next she said it in masculine Hindi grammar which made things even better. I returned home and I found my mom choking with extreme laughter and when she told me this I too laughed my lungs out. Later I clarified it to my mother that she was frightened to call and that’s why she attempted Hindi. <p align="center">************* <p align="justify">Well feast were over soon and I was back in college. It was a spanking new semester and a very vital one because many new and innovative topics were to be taken up this time. In which one of the subject was “Satellite communications”. “Hari - the lecturer”, who was taking this subject was once student of the APS college and soon after he joined as a lecturer in APS. I don’t know what was about him, either he was extremely attractive or every girl was sightless. According to most of the girls he was bloody handsome !!! And he was sizzling favorite among girls, maybe it was his jokes which kept all the girls amused, one of which goes like this, <p align="justify">Hari was addressing us on satellites, <p align="justify">“Satellites move with the help of Pulsars”, elucidated Hari <p align="justify"><i>He then took a pause and said</i> <p align="justify">“Pulsar, definitely male”, with a wide beam <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TT-bg5A0bmI/AAAAAAAAMvg/RzxF9-sAOCY/s1600-h/pulsar_big%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="pulsar_big" border="0" alt="pulsar_big" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TT-bh9y43MI/AAAAAAAAMvk/U6wF7ANSAbI/pulsar_big_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" height="369"></a> <p align="justify">Entire classroom exploded into hilarity apart from me and NM who were looking each other’s face in repugnance, I could not resist and said, <p align="justify">“Sir please raise your hand next time you think a joke is very funny <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-angrysmile" alt="Angry smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TT-bigHkPYI/AAAAAAAAMvo/YuoXFQFsYWs/wlEmoticon-angrysmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> so that we know that we have to giggle” <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-steamingmad" alt="Steaming mad" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TT-bjCW7BII/AAAAAAAAMvs/evJd4z2wwLs/wlEmoticon-steamingmad%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">The subsequent lecture was by Anil (Name forgotten). He was sincere and strict. He began with his lecture and every time he turned his back to write something onto the board; patti took out a peanut; pealed it and munched it. He did that for a while until everybody observed and asked him for peanuts. He supplied peanuts to everyone in the class in next 20 minutes until Apsara also realized and asked patti for peanuts, who was sitting just in front of her. Patti passed her a peanut, she pealed it and instead of tossing the peel away she handed it back to patti. Now patti was like a small kid, wanted tit for tat, he took that same peel and stuffed it with the chewing gum he was working on, he then handed it back to Apsara. Apsara thought that this is a new lot and she opened it cheerfully until the gum inside abruptly made a cruel and indescribable contact with her hand and as a girl her immediate feedback was, <p align="justify">“Cheeeeee …… thuuuuuu”, with a deafening and unmannerly scream <p align="justify">Anil spun back in surprise and saw Patti celebrating his victory; Patti was laughing out loudly with no sound. He threw a chalk piece on Patti and left the classroom in disgust. As soon as he left NM and Patti broke into a brawl because patti made fun of his “girlfriend” which was intolerable to him. For next 12 minutes both of them made numerous relationships with each other’s families which whole class witnessed and <u>listened</u>, in fact few of our south Indian friends learnt some new expressions too <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout" alt="Smile with tongue out" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TT-bt7EVTvI/AAAAAAAAMvw/chBbI4GKsKU/wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">, augmentation in their vocabulary. Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-47721524651788206442011-01-02T21:07:00.001+05:302011-01-02T21:10:23.158+05:30Chapter 19: Archi the Bisleri Chick<p align="justify"> <p align="justify">"Let’s go”, I got ready and got out with Deeps on her street-hawk <p align="justify">I was being continually coached by her on the way about what to talk and what not to with Archi. <p align="justify">“She might ask you about our relation”, she said in a faint tone <p align="justify">“Oh I thought we were going for a party !!”, I beamed <p align="justify">“Shut the F%$# up and listen to me I am serious”, she sounded mad <p align="justify">The entire ride took about 15 minutes but it felt like a year because number of instructions given to me were more then the number of instructions present in a commercial airplane flying instruction manual. In short I had to present myself as the most well-brought-up, respectful, well-mannered, thoughtful, loving, charismatic, anything I missed ?? Oh yes, most prominently, good English !!! <p align="justify">“What ??” <p align="justify">“Yes, she speaks only English” <p align="justify">“??”, I gave her a shitty expression. <p align="justify">“But my English is horrible, according to you I am from a village”, I raised an alarm <p align="justify">“Stop making a mockery of the situation and pay attention; be good because she does not like people speaking terrible English” <p align="justify">I was dumbstruck for a minute, I could not figure out if I was going for a casual meeting with one of her family member or for the GRE interview !!! <p align="justify"><i>Let’s wait and watch,</i><i></i> <p align="justify">We arrived at Bazaar Hangout (Does not exists any longer) near Jaynagar 7th block. Archi was already there, we exchanged Hi and made ourselves comfortable. No one spoke for quiet some time, I broke the 20 second long silence, <p align="justify">“So what would you like to order ?”, I posed the question to both the females <p align="justify">“What’s good here”, Archi scrolled down to the menu card <p align="justify">There was something about her aura, the way she sat, the way she spoke and the domination she had in her tone of voice was as if she owns the place. <p align="justify"><i>Superb, I just need to be a little watchful</i> <p align="justify">A guy emerged with a menu card and 3 glasses of water, <p align="justify">“We don’t want this water, Do you have Bisleri ?”, she asked the service boy <p align="justify">This event is no less than 7 year old and till that age we understood just one thing that the only water that’s available in any restaurant is the water served by the server, the regular water. But this was something new, bottled water aka mineral water, which was considered to be a symbol of luxury in those days. There was something unusual about this gal, she was way too much urbane. The Gobhi Manchurian which I never hesitated to eat anywhere in the Bangalore; she made me believe how harmful can it be because it’s not made of fresh ingredients and blah blah blah. She also stated that she does not even eat panipuri because she is not confident about the water they use but she wont mind if the water is made of bisleri !! We somehow managed to eat amid all this. <p align="justify">After snacks she wanted some time alone with me and she asked Deeps to go away for a moment, <p align="justify"> “So whats up Anky, How are you”, she started the discussion <p align="justify">“I am good, thanks for asking”, I was being the best guy that has ever been born. <p align="justify">“So how well do you know Deeps ?” <p align="justify">“We are best friends” <p align="justify">“I heard that, so you are thinking of getting married ?”, she said while she opened her eyes wide <p align="justify">I was shaken a little by her lethal gaze but I spoke “Yes why not, I like her and she likes me what is the dilemma ?” <p align="justify">“There is an slight unimportant hitch and just because of that we are talking in English !!” <p align="justify">“Look I don’t see language as a massive trouble, we love each other and we can adjust with anything” <p align="justify">“True but what about your parents and her parents” <p align="justify">“We will talk to them when we both are 100% sure and the time is appropriate. But I promise you that I am not from that breed who will sway her to abscond”, I showed some confidence <p align="justify">I could not decipher the reaction but she looked impressed. She clarified few more things in English and I replied her in English with acceptable grammar and articulation. I know this because I got the feedback afterwards. The conversation went pretty well and Deeps was overwhelmed. That was a relief. But it did not matter who agrees and who does not; in her family or mine because people who we care most about should be in agreement and they were our parents, <p align="justify">“If they differ ?”, she asked dejectedly on the phone <p align="justify">“Then we won’t marry, simple”, I chuckled <p align="justify">“What simple ? As if we will never get married”, she was annoyed <p align="justify">“Look, I and you do not want to get married without the consent of our parents, so if they say no, that’s all right. We will try again and we will keep trying until they agree, it does not matter how long it will take” <p align="justify">That reassured her and our love story kicked off officially. We started meeting at least once in each weekend because the time spent in college wasn’t adequate and we hadn’t revealed our relationship to anyone. She did not want any gossip to spread in the college. We went for loads of movies and restaurant, <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TSCbjP7h3pI/AAAAAAAAMcQ/D_UM-_nrg6E/s1600-h/Photo0798%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo0798" border="0" alt="Photo0798" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TSCbk_ZP9aI/AAAAAAAAMcU/y9Ruh-obA2Y/Photo0798_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="528" height="704"></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TSCbm3sKe-I/AAAAAAAAMcY/2jGU7i8hgo4/s1600-h/Photo0800%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo0800" border="0" alt="Photo0800" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TSCbnpJoCyI/AAAAAAAAMcc/KOVUETTgEgM/Photo0800_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="521" height="392"></a></p> <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TSCbo3UrlGI/AAAAAAAAMcg/buW74hvDzpo/s1600-h/Photo0801%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo0801" border="0" alt="Photo0801" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TSCbqjX_dPI/AAAAAAAAMck/49Y6mBwf5Z8/Photo0801_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="692"></a></p> <p align="justify">On a cool Sunday evening I was doing nothing and suddenly I wished to meet her but it wasn’t possible because she could not have come out of her house however, I had to see her, I called her up, <p align="justify">“Hi” <p align="justify">“Hi”, she giggled <p align="justify">“So what are you doing”, I asked <p align="justify">“Nothing watching television” <p align="justify">“Why is your mother not around ?”, I asked <p align="justify">“She is gone out. Hey !! How did you know that she is not in the house”, she asked curiously <p align="justify">“Because I can’t see her bike”, I said <p align="justify">“Where are you ??”, she almost screamed <p align="justify">“Just look outside the window” <p align="justify">Whenever I felt that I have to see her then there was always one thing I did, catch a bus to her place and called her from the telephone booth opposite to her house. I liked giving her shockers and she used to get shocked too, every single time. <p align="justify">I also devised “I Love you” miss calls, it was hopeless and mark of no-better-work. It begins with single miss call for letter “I” and then pause for about 10-15 sec and then back to back 4 miss calls to symbolize the word “LOVE”, silence for some more time and again back to back 3 miss calls for word “YOU”. I am not kidding but she always welcomed it and giggled while her parents cursed in every potential manner to the pervert who is causing these miss calls. The voyage of these miss/blank calls was very long because Hitler’s ultimate nightmare was becoming a reality and hence I could not have called to Deeps house and asked for her openly. I must call and identify the voice, if it’s not her then leave a blank call. One such day I called her up, <p align="justify"><em>Tring Tring Tring</em> <p align="justify">Someone picked up the phone ……… and no one spoke !! <p align="justify">I was even smarter, I also kept the game going, <p align="justify">I stood there and just did breathing <p align="justify">No one even spoke from other side, just breathing <p align="justify"><em>[inhalation] </em>from the other side <p align="justify"><em>[Exhalation]</em> from my side <p align="justify">It was as if we are talking wordlessly, both of us were trying too hard to distinguish the background noise and something which can give away the individual on the line but it was not easy because people on both sides were just too clever for each other. <p align="justify"><em>[Exhalation]</em> from the other side <p align="justify"><em>[inhalation]</em> from my side <p align="justify">This went on for a while and eventually she spoke, “Hello” <p align="justify">I smiled as if I won the breathing scuffle and I hung up; <p align="justify"><em>it was Hitler</em> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-16483418864985748612010-12-22T21:59:00.001+05:302010-12-22T21:59:59.424+05:30Chapter 18: Goodbye Hostel<p align="justify"> <p align="justify">Say Yes or no, say yes or no, this was the only fixation that was going on in Apsara and Deeps head. It was hard to decipher what to do with their love life but Apsara understood it almost immediately and declared clearly to NM that nothing can ever happen between them. NM could not digest this, they had a big fight, NM tried hard to sway her but Apsara was immovable on her judgment. Sooner NM succumbed to Apsara’s NO. It was now Rambo’s chance to get things alright for his mate. Rambo was from MCA, NM and Rambo were die hard friends, they could have been a couple if any of them was of an opposite gender. <p align="justify">Rambo spoke to Apsara and even upon consistent negative response from her; Rambo just kept pleading Apsara to give NM one final opportunity. Apsara was still obstinate on her choice; she went to NM for final break-up but little did she know that she was going right into the ambush by Rambo and NM. NM said few dialogues which Rambo taught him, a little bit of crying and BAAAMMMMMM, poor Apsara fell into the trap and ended up saying YES to NM instead of pre-decided NO. NM became a hero overnight in his own eyes, he almost got his victory published in the newspaper, more or less everyone knew about it as well as Anky. Anky was not all right, Anky was livid, Anky was infuriated because it was same Apsara who was trying to demolish his relationship but when got a chance for herself; she did not let the opportunity go. Anky got the intelligence from Deeps that Apsara is going to say no to NM which reassured him but when he heard that she has said Yes; he hated her from the bottom of his heart. <p align="center">******************* <p align="justify">After the happiest day it took me 43 cry sessions, a constant fight with Apsara syndrome and 6 more months to influence Deeps for wedding. So people who are mad with her about her marriage decision; it wasn’t her choice; I drove her crazy to say YES <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-devil" alt="Devil" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TRIngp4QODI/AAAAAAAAMbw/buneYskRlvc/wlEmoticon-devil%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">After all this I had to take a key decision because after her conformity it was no good to stay so far from her. So I started working on a plan. The mission was to get out of the hostel and rent a room outside near the city so that it will be easy for us to meet up. <p align="justify">I alone could not have afforded the rented house, I was in love not crazy !! I was looking for a partner and I had one, NM. He was all set to shift out with me for obvious reasons. We began the house hunting. We found countless places but they all were suffering with the same crisis, all were out of our budget, even if we split it wasn’t possible to pay for the house just by 2 of us. We needed more people; we needed at least 2 more guys to move in with us so that we can divide the rent with no trouble. NM of course recommended his best buddy Rambo which I approved but we were still short of 1 more name and THEN NM suggested a controversial name, Patti. I promptly said no, I was prepared to stay back in hostel but living with him again was out of question. <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>Patti and I were roommates from 2<sup>nd</sup> semester, everything was going pretty well but sooner there were lots of differences that aroused between us. We hated each other. We stayed together in one room for close to 2 years but we spoke only for say, 6 months !! And after superman incident, it was a big No No.</em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">“Over my dead body” I said <p align="justify">They tried everything on me but nothing worked out and then when I saw that if we don’t take him then there is no way we can shift, I had to concur. To me more important was love then abhorrence. We settled on a house in KS Layout, the rent was sharable and the locality was amazing. A commodity store was positioned just under the house with a Rent-o-DVD store directly opposite, moreover, it was just 5 km from her house. <p align="justify">We decided to shift as soon as possible but there was one trouble, we did not have any furniture. The house where we were moving to also offered nothing. It looked like we must shell out no less than 2-3 k additionally for buying essential furniture, unless …… <p align="justify">“Unless what”, NM asked <p align="justify">“Unless we use the same table chairs what we are using already”, I sounded crooked <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-berightback" alt="Be right back" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TRInheUkdrI/AAAAAAAAMb0/Kdc_CQI-E2g/wlEmoticon-berightback%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="justify">“What !!” <p align="justify">“I mean we will shift and we will take the chairs and table with us what is given to us in hostel” <p align="justify">A bright plan but to accomplish it, we required precision, <blockquote> <p align="justify">1. We will call 2 tempos to move our bits and pieces <p align="justify"><em>“Why 2”, NM interrupted</em> <p align="justify"><em>“Yaar tu sawal bahut poochta hai !!! For diversion” <font color="#0000ff">(you ask way too many questions)</font></em> <p align="justify"><em>“??”</em> <p align="justify">2. 1<sup>st</sup> tempo will come and stand in front of the hostel main gate in which we will load our personal belongings <p align="justify">3. The additional tempo will secretly position itself on the backside of the hostel where all illegal stuff like table, chair and stools will be loaded. Everyone will be paying attention to the front gate and we will come out clean on the 2<sup>nd</sup> one. <p align="justify">4. We have to implement this at the time of warden shift change because at shift change the hostel is unguarded for at least an hour.</p></blockquote> <p align="justify">The day arrived and we were in absolute control. Everything was going as per the plan. Both the vehicles were loaded with the relevant possessions. I was a little gloomy, I wanted to take something more. I wanted my 7 feet godrej cabinet too. I think I became a little too greedy. <p align="justify">“Abay charas kha ke baitha hai kya, pagal ho gaya hai” <font color="#0000ff">(Have you done marijuana ? Are you crazy ?)</font>, Rambo rebuked <p align="justify">“No I have to have it, it’s precious” <p align="justify">“No way you can have it”, said exasperated NM <p align="justify">“No I want it, let’s get it”, I said and went inside to get the cabinet <p align="justify">“Help me”, I asked Rambo, NM, Patti and Arnold <p align="justify">I sought for their support and they lifted, not the cupboard but me. I cried and bellowed but they did not pay any attention. They dropped me into one of the vehicle and asked driver to go on a full speed. I was sad, till today I am sad, I should have got that cabinet. I kept looking at the hostel until it disappeared. Well it was time to move on, Deeps and Apsara were in high spirits that we guys made it out of the hostel because that way we can have more gatherings. <p align="justify">The same day Deeps arrived in the evening and she had an assignment for me, <p align="justify">“Get ready and let’s go”, she said <p align="justify">“Go where ??”, I enquired <p align="justify">“You have to meet my cousin, your first meeting with any of my family” <p align="justify">My jaw dropped, “How ?? Why ?? What ??” <p align="justify">“Yes, if we have to get married then we have to accomplish things this way” <p align="justify">“Ok ok let me get ready, but who is she ?” <p align="justify">“Her name is Archi”, she said in a spooky tone <p align="justify">And I went “Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, I am already scared”</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-923531192135069002010-12-11T13:46:00.001+05:302010-12-11T13:46:07.706+05:30Chapter 17: The Hindrance<p align="justify"><i></i> <p align="justify"><i>I am into it !!! What the hell that suppose to mean !!</i> <p align="justify">It took me awhile to get back into my room. I took extra time to get ready than usual because I did not know if I should be happy for what just happened <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-disappointedsmile" alt="Disappointed smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TQMzNmHk9SI/AAAAAAAAMZA/mFBnM1_Yki8/wlEmoticon-disappointedsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> !! Anyways I kept my cool and restricted my sentiments before jumping onto any conclusion. I geared up and arrived at college in happiest-confused mood ever. <p align="justify"><i>This is it; this could be the end of all my miseries <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile" alt="Open-mouthed smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TQMzOg0UG4I/AAAAAAAAMZE/JB8HtIsV-Ac/wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"></i> <p align="justify">I stood near the classroom and waited for her. There she was coming with a broad smile as if a hanger is stuck in her mouth. She was blushing <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-flirtfemale" alt="Flirt female" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TQMzPfzEHSI/AAAAAAAAMZI/X45v5--ZxPU/wlEmoticon-flirtfemale%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> which cleared the air but I still had to be certain, <p align="justify">“So what do you mean by I am into it”, I asked straight off <p align="justify">“That means I also like you”, she said <p align="justify">I was about to say further but she spoke again <p align="justify">“But please don’t consider it anything more than that, I am just into it but I don’t love you so don’t get any thoughts of getting married into your head”, she giggled <p align="justify"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TQMzQgLPJRI/AAAAAAAAMZM/YPH_IPgEmTE/s1600-h/24517%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="24517" border="0" alt="24517" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TQMzRmufAaI/AAAAAAAAMZQ/M6X4KkdxaOw/24517_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244"></a> <p align="justify">I was flabbergasted yet again, my heart was jumping with joy but brain was fuming red hot. What sense does it make ? But I soon grasped that it’s better to keep the silence and play according to the circumstances. So I celebrated that day by spending some extra quality time with her. This in fact was the happiest day of my life, 6 months of hard work paid off and god has given me the gift which I was praying for desperately. <p align="justify">After this Anky and Deeps became that brand of pair who just could not leave each other. They just wanted to have every moment with each other. As they began to spend more time with each other; people started raising concerns. Few did not appreciate it and one of them was Apsara. She in past few months had become a really nice friend to Deeps. PK, Apsara and Deeps used to interact a lot and had very good understanding with each other but not anymore because now Deeps was more involved with Anky and Apsara wasn’t able to digest it. She made lots of attempts to find out what in fact is the affair but no one knew except Anky, Deeps and Arnold. <p align="justify"><i>I told Arnold because I had to rejoice my triumph.</i> <p align="justify">“Why Anky and Deeps are so into each other these days ?” Apsara asked PK in a bare classroom <p align="justify">“I don’t know they are good friends and they like to spend time together”, PK replied <p align="justify">“No I don’t trust that it’s only that much”, Apsara differed <p align="justify">“Why don’t you believe that they can be good friends and nothing more”, Apsara asked PK <p align="justify">“Because I know, I was close to Anky and I am close to Deeps, I know what they feel for each other” <p align="justify">“Bullshit, you don’t know anything”, upset Apsara left the classroom. <p align="justify">Apsara forced PK numerous more times but she did not get any pleasing answers. She did not have anyone else whom she could ask this from. NM, Patti, Arnold were mere Hi-bye friends with Apsara and anyways NM and Patti did not know anything so Apsara got nothing when she asked them. Apsara asked Deeps straightforwardly a number of times but no respond and it was possibly 67th time when they were having this unchanged conversation, <p align="justify">“Do you like him ?” Apsara asked Deeps <p align="justify">“Yes I do” <p align="justify">“So what next from here” <p align="justify">“What do you mean”, asked Deeps <p align="justify">“I mean from here what ? Love …. Proposal …. Marriage … what ?” Apsara stressed on last 3 words <p align="justify">“Oh please why are we having this chat again ?” Deeps was pissed <p align="justify">“Look I know there is something going on between you two and I just wanna know the truth” <p align="justify">“Haven’t I told you the truth already so many times that we are just good friends”, Deeps explained <p align="justify">“Look Deeps, I am exhausted of running behind you, you don’t have time for me these days, I am all alone”, Apsara broke down. She started weeping. She could not take it any longer. <p align="justify">We completely disregarded our friends; we never realized that such conditions also can crop up. Deeps had to take a call, either deny again and loose a friend OR tell her the whole lot and gain her faith back. She chose prudently, <p align="justify">“He proposed me 6 months before”, Deeps sighed <p align="justify">“And ?” <p align="justify">“And I said yes”, she announced cheerfully <p align="justify">“What ?”, Apsara wasn’t delighted <p align="justify">“What ? What ?”, Deep’s grin washed out <p align="justify">“You cannot do that, how do you know if he is the correct guy for you ?” <p align="justify">“Why are you so obsessed ?”, asked Deeps <p align="justify">Apsara’s apprehension was not anticipated, not by me and not at all by Deeps. As the days progressed Apsara became my no. 1 rival because there wasn’t even a single day where she did not attempt to sway Deeps to say no to me and rupture the relationship. It was un-reasonable for both of us. Deeps ultimately started having different beliefs because of Apsara and it was Apsara’s ill fortune that Deeps discussed all this with me and I was excellent at annulling the Apsara effect from Deep’s head. But she was beginning to turn into a ruthless sting day by day. Apsara consequence was causing stress so much that if yesterday Deeps was “into me” then the next day she was “Out of me” !! <p align="justify">Expectedly or un-expectedly NM came to liberate me. I think he also was going through the similar thing which Apsara was going through but as me and NM were not very emotionally involved so he could not have had a discussion with me about anything. But I think between all this NM fancied his opportunities and began to implement a bright plan. On Rakhi day NM declared Deeps as her sister. Deeps was overwhelmed by this because she had few cousins but only sisters, she was blessed to have a brother which she welcomed. Poor deeps did not know that this was a setup to come close to Apsara. The plan did work, when Apsara heard that NM is now brother to Deeps; she was impressed with his move and in no time NM proposed. This gave an ignition to a spanking new race, Apsara still was forcing Deeps to get away from Anky and now Deeps started forcing Apsara to not to say yes !!! Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-43578794107517039932010-12-05T09:57:00.001+05:302010-12-05T10:01:02.792+05:30Chapter 16: Did she say Yes ??<p align="justify"> <p align="justify">Unexpectedly my life had a different implication to it. That tiny ray of hope on college day gave me a gigantic boost to look forward for excellent things. Things which looked not so bright for quite a while unveiled quiet dramatically. It was commencement of 4th semester and I was just back from Jaipur. I think it was the fifth day since my return, a fatiguing opening day of 4th semester took a toll on my body, I succumbed to sleep at around 10 in the night which was way too early. <p align="justify">Someone is screaming my name “Anky, Get up and come out”, <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>Am I dreaming ? There seem to be too many people, but where ?</em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">I got up in fright. I looked around but it was just me in the dark room. <p align="justify">I think it was a delusion, but wait, someone banging the door of my room “Anky, get up” <p align="justify">I got up and unbolted the door, it was VK and behind him there were 20-30 juniors, my juniors who were in conflict. They were holding on to something and were completely pissed. Before I could be aware of anything Patti came face to face to me and yelled, <p align="justify">“Why the hell did you give photographs to Deeps ?” <p align="justify">I was still half asleep but I managed to retort, “What photos are you talking about ?” <p align="justify">“The photos where all our juniors are posed as Superman”, he spat his rage on me. <p align="justify">It quickly struck to me and my stomach lurched, <p align="justify">In 3rd semester few of us (Excluding me) carried out a very comical ragging session, in that meeting we asked every junior to pretence as superman. In short, they had to be dressed in their underwear over their jeans and tuck a <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TPsUpwQsYCI/AAAAAAAAMY4/znYvspApKfc/s1600-h/superman-standing%5B3%5D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="superman-standing" border="0" alt="superman-standing" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TPsUqk2iFEI/AAAAAAAAMY8/RDdLWqkDL_M/superman-standing_thumb%5B1%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="262" height="321"></a>towel on their shoulder for the cape. In no time there were roughly 30 Superman in different colors and sizes, lined up in front of their dementors. As if it was not good enough for dementors; they decided to make it a remembrance and clicked few pictures of them. I don’t know who sought those pictures and whose proposal it was but it was done on Patti’s camera. Now somehow those pictures ended up with Deeps who was uninformed that with all other pictures “Superman” pictures are also up for the show. She used to take the college bus and she happened to share the seat with a junior girl Harshika (Name changed) who again “happened” to be the classmate of most of the supermans in the shoot. So when Deeps and Harshika were going through those pictures, out of the blue they met with a queue of supermans and the Harshika burst into laughter. Deeps did not find it hilarious because she did not identify anyone but Harshika recognized almost all. Listening to her vociferous laugh, more girls and guys in the bus came to witness those pictures and rest was history. The following whole day, week and month; every superman faced the finest awkward time of their life. The same day when they were a subject of laughter all over the college; in the evening it was Patti’s turn to get the bashings because it was his camera which took those breath-taking pictures.</p> <p align="justify">“I did not give any picture to anyone”, I clarified while rubbing my eyes, still trying to come to life <p align="justify">But soon the flock of juniors came close to my room. And as soon as they grasped that it was me who gave all the pictures to Deeps, which resulted in their attractiveness in no good sense; they started shrieking on me and demanded an explanation. Before I could explicate the correct picture; some of my divine batch mates came for the rescue and joined the juniors. They began to recite the same song what juniors were singing. VK came to salvage me and shooed everyone away. I went back to my room and tried to sleep but sleep was miles away, <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>How the hell can I cause such a gaffe, I need to find the truth.</em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">Later next day, upon uncovering the truth everyone realized that the film roll was handed to Deeps by Patti much before I came back from Jaipur. He gave it to her because she lived in city and to get film roll developed will be a painless chore for her. She did her job but the only 2 slip-up she did was that, <blockquote> <p align="justify"># She looked at the pics, and <p align="justify"># She was my “girlfriend”</p></blockquote> <p align="justify">I met her that day and discussed this matter briefly, my main aim for that day was to get involved in her thoughts and try to get as much information as possible so that I can make her value why it will be good if we get together. I tried a lot but she was obstinate on the answer no, I explained her a lot, I explained how much I care for her and how happy we will be but the answer remain un-changed. I did not understand, I concluded that the college day message was just to cool me down and nothing more. I guess I lost it again, I was drained of explaining her and I also was tired of crying. Yes I cried A LOT in front of her so that she will melt and say yes but no she was a ROBOT. <p align="justify">I decided to give up because it was already 6 months since I proposed her and it did not seem to be working out from any direction. I spoke to Arnold, I used to tell him everything, we were best buddies, <p align="justify">“She will not say yes, I am quitting”, I said with a disheartened expression <p align="justify">“Don’t you quit or you will never get her”, he showed some anger <p align="justify">“No, I cannot do this anymore”, and I succumbed to sleep, I was mentally tired. <p align="justify">Next day it was a regular day, I was getting organized for the college and surprisingly I heard “Anky Phone” <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>That’s weird !! Who can it be now ??</em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">I reached down to the phone, I held the handset against my ear and said “Hello” <p align="justify">“Hey it’s me”, it was Deeps <p align="justify">“Hey what’s the matter, are you not coming to the college ?”, I speculated <p align="justify">“No I am coming but this isn’t about that” <p align="justify">“Okkkkk, so what is it about ?”, me sounded absolutely confused <p align="justify">“Anky I am also into it” <p align="justify">“What do you mean by that”, I scratched my head <p align="justify">“Anky I am also into it what you are into me” <p align="justify">I missed a heartbeat, is this it ?? Am I dead ? Am I in heaven where my last desire is about to become a reality ? I gathered all my nerves one more time and asked, <p align="justify">“Are you saying that you are in love with me ??”, I asked calmly <p align="justify">“No I am just into it”, she recited <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>What ??</em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">“I also like you a lot, I gave it a lot of thought and resoluted to tell you this”, she clarified <p align="justify">“So you are also into “it” but you don’t love me”, I was completely clueless by now <p align="justify">“Yes” <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>What the F%$& !!!!</em></p></blockquote> <p align="justify">“Let’s speak in the college today about it”, she said and hung-up <p align="justify">I stood there for 1 complete minute with the phone receiver still attached to my ear. I was trying to figure what the hell just happened ?? <blockquote> <p align="justify"><em>Did she say yes ??</em></p></blockquote> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-34278690494664811312010-11-29T08:01:00.001+05:302010-11-29T19:47:17.464+05:30Chapter 15: A Ray of Hope<p><font color="#0000ff"></font> </p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="4">### Sometime after the proposal ###</font></p> <p><br>"Why can’t we be together ?" I wrote in a sheet of paper and passed it along to her. She took it and opened it, she looked intently at it for a minute and began to pen down her response. It was very hard for us to get time to chat about it hence we started trading chits in the classroom, which was practically chatting on paper instead over gtalk. One of the exchange went like this,</p> <blockquote> <p><br>me - "Why can’t we end up as one ?"<br>She - "Because that is the dumbest suggestion ever"<br>Me - "Why ? We are excellent friends and now I have almost proposed you. Why can’t we take it ahead one more step ?"<br>She - "We are good friends, rather best friends and I value that but I don’t think in the same why you think beyond that"<br>Me - "I am not asking you to pronounce anything right now, I am just asking you to make an effort"<br>She - "Effort for what ? Even if it works out; there is no way we can get married"<br>Me - "And why is that ?"<br>She - "I cannot explain you the same thing again and again and please end this subject"</p></blockquote> <p><br><font color="#0000ff" size="4">### Some more time after the proposal ###</font></p> <p><br>We went to watch "Chalte Chalte", while watching the movie I could not control my sentiments because,</p> <p><br>1. It was emotional, and<br>2. It was badly made</p> <p><br>I could not control my tears at a scene where Rani Mukharji says "Nothing can ever happen between us so please leave me alone" and in reply SRK says, "Ok I leave you alone, I get it that I don’t stand a chance but at least let me try ?". The scene was extremely intense and in fact coincided with the circumstances happened earlier with us which could not control my feelings. I kept on weeping like a girl <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-cryingface" alt="Crying face" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TPMQaJZa-mI/AAAAAAAAMYk/YaBkzZXmfns/wlEmoticon-cryingface%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> right through the movie because it was made of a familiar state of affair where guy cannot get the girl. </p> <p>After the movie she asked me, “Why the hell did you cry like a baby ??” </p> <p>I said, “Because the movie was about us !! The movie and our circumstances are no different. You are saying no because according to you nothing will work out, I agree that I don’t have any chance but at least let me make an effort !!”</p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="4">### About 5 months after proposal ####<br></font></p> <p>I tried all kinds of means but nothing seems to be working out. I started to lose all my optimism. It was college annual day and for the first time I was up for a show. Me and a dementor PJ, we grouped up to give out an exceptional pleasing concert. Both of us were guitarists and we settled on the song “Hotel California”, a handsome song <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-note" alt="Note" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TPMQayT7jdI/AAAAAAAAMYo/8rZYyRnuzVg/wlEmoticon-note%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">. Mostly PJ had to do all and I just had to support him. I felt that I was getting my first break <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-fingerscrossed" alt="Fingers crossed" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TPMQbxJgG-I/AAAAAAAAMYs/Vy2rP04RFG0/wlEmoticon-fingerscrossed%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> in music industry but I think I said that very soon. We practised a lot, day and night, hours and hours of guitar. First I was jumpy but then when we trained; I gained little self-belief. It was the judgement day, PJ updated me that he will let me know when we have to execute. I was thrilled and was waiting near the temple (The temple which was within the college campus, the adda for all the love birds at the lecture time). </p> <p>I was very much looking forward for the performance. College day started off little behind schedule because as we have experienced in our life persistently that chief guest is always last to arrive. It started off nicely with some fine acts, our show was somewhere near halfway. As the day progressed and the time drew nearer my heartbeats began getting heavier minute by minute. And at last time arrived, this is it, after the in progress performance it’s our turn. The recital ended but there was no indication from PJ and no intimation that we are up next instead it was Chief guest’s turn to have a word. That Son-of-a-Bitch took more than 2 hours to conclude his impossible fairy-tale about his upbringing !!! That resulted in cut down of a number of performances and showcasing of only those programs which were important. Our routine was also chopped down due to that. I was pissed and was very annoyed. I went to the temple and wanted sometime unaccompanied. Finding me nowhere; Anjali came to temple looking for me and asked me,</p> <blockquote> <p>“What happened, why did you come out of there ?”</p> <p>“What the hell, I was so much looking forward to present and now I can’t”</p> <p>“It happens Anky, calm yourself down”</p> <p>“What it happens ? Nothing is working out in my life”</p> <p>“Just because you could not perform; how can you hold your life responsible for that ?” Deeps asked</p> <p>“Yes nothing is working out in my life”</p> <p>“How ?”</p> <p>“I did so much of hard work on this and this could not take place and on a similar note I have worked so hard on my love life and that is also does not seem to work out”</p> <p>“Why what happened with your love life ?” She acted innocent</p> <p>“My girlfriend, she does not wanna say yes to my proposal that’s why” I also acted naive</p></blockquote> <p>I said that and looked down in misery, I was not in mood for any discussion. I thought I have lost it all. There is nothing more to do in life and I should pack my bag return home !! (Yes that happens when you look forward too much to something which you know will work out but it doesn’t). </p> <blockquote> <p>“Its ok everything will be alright” she tried to cool me down</p> <p>“How the hell can everything get alright ?”</p> <p>“Look I can’t do anything for what happened today with your routine but why are you feeling bad for your love life, your girlfriend hasn’t approved on something but she hasn’t said no, right ?” she said graciously to me</p></blockquote> <p><em>What ??? Did she just said yes ??</em></p> <p>As soon as I heard that I was in complete paralysis and this time it was for good. I did not wanna jump on any conclusion and I also did not want to show my exhilaration in the very next second but I could see a ray of hope, it was more than ray of hope, it was tube light of hope for me. I still showed that I am irritated and did not hear accurately what she said. Gradually I showed good progress on my temper and both of us went to that final program of the day, a rocking concert by a rock band. I danced like nuts <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout" alt="Smile with tongue out" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TPMQcvOw8aI/AAAAAAAAMYw/M9Y5j1qMj_U/wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">; I no longer remembered what I was livid for because the most significant thing that mattered to me took a sharp turn towards triumph. This was the happiest day of my life because for me it was already a “YES”.</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-71970567794126716932010-11-11T18:35:00.001+05:302010-11-13T10:59:11.406+05:30Chapter 14: The Proposal<p> <blockquote> <p>"Can we get married?”</p></blockquote> <p>She turned towards me, saw my face in a slight repugnance. She did not know how to respond but she understood and may be she saw it coming. She grasped the situation, took 2 moments to react as if she could not identify what is happening, as if I was pulling her leg. Her face gave me a What-The-Fuck expression!! She stared me for few moments and then she smirked sardonically and said, <blockquote> <p>"Very funny !! Obviously Not"</p></blockquote> <p>I expected this and for that same reason I did not reiterate myself. I was glad that I came over the first, most significant and the toughest obstacle. Now I required to nourish the seed which I just sowed in her mind. I wanted that seed to nurture and become an established notion. <p>My bus was approaching. I saw her off, we exchanged smiles as the bus vanished around the corner. I was relieved a bit but at the same time I was feeling awful too because I never thought what she might feel. I was all of a sudden blameworthy of something which I did not mean, something which I committed just now. But again I thought that if she had taken this the other way then she would have blasted me off instead of giving me a smile. I was slight comforted but little shaken. I decided to keep my cool and work my plan out further. I was glad that I let it all out and was anxious because she did not react. Reaction was essential, either affirmative or downbeat, I guess I have to wait. <p>I reached hostel and went straight to my room but something was out of the ordinary. There was no one in my room. At this time of any day my room as a rule turns into a Casino with couple of group of 4 playing 29, with light music and lots and lots of roaring. But it was all not there and that was not at all normal!! Something undeniably was wrong. So I went to the next room and to my surprise same result!! This room was also uninhabited, <blockquote> <p><i>Where is everybody!!</i></p></blockquote> <p>And unexpectedly I heard yelling from the room at the end of the lobby. The room belonged to Gujju Dementors. I had to find out what's wrong. I began pacing towards the room. The screaming and yelling amplified steadily. I could make out that there were lots of people because it sounded not 1 or 2 people. The moment I reached near the room, there were people lined outside the room and they were looking at something. The panorama appeared like a murder/accident scene where people surround the body and look at it. Our hostel already had a history of 3-4 deaths in recent past. That very second I shuddered with fear. I was convinced that today 1 Gujju is long gone in that room but then I heard, <blockquote> <p><i>But if it’s so why they are yelling !!!</i></p></blockquote> <p>"Abay Shah aagey dekh nahi to marega" (Look in front or else you will be slaughtered), Chuchu shouted <blockquote> <p><i>This is not what I am thinking!!!</i></p></blockquote> <p>Right away I shifted few people and tried to get hang of the situation. I was astonished to see nearly 50 people stuffed in that room eye witnessing the most breathtaking occurrence in the history of the hostel. 50 odd people were ogling the computer screen while 2 guys controlling the happening on the screen. Shah was scheming the mouse/keyboard while Chauhan was serving him with additional keys on the keyboard, together they were part of the history, they were playing the most recent sensation, The Tomb Raider. <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TNvqJzlCYiI/AAAAAAAAMXo/0pTCagA4IsE/s1600-h/Lara-Croft-tomb-raider-6374221-1280-1024%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Lara-Croft-tomb-raider-6374221-1280-1024" border="0" alt="Lara-Croft-tomb-raider-6374221-1280-1024" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TNvqLOg8wvI/AAAAAAAAMXs/KHMp8kIqYSs/Lara-Croft-tomb-raider-6374221-1280-1024_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="417"></a> <p>People were there for many reasons, some were “let your imagination run riot” about Lara croft's body whereas some were there for clean entertainment because it was like a perfect action packed movie which they can be in charge of. The game was on but Shah and Chauhan were having a difficult time, not because of the intricacy of the game but due to the coaching they were getting from the throng, <p>"Abay M****C*** (Bad word) seedha kar nahi to gir jayegi wo" (<font color="#4f81bd">Get her straight if not she will plunge down</font>), Dhar screamed when Lara croft began to tip riskily towards left on the pole she was walking. <p>"Bhai log mujhe pata hai, please gali mat do" (<font color="#4f81bd">I know whats happening but please don’t abuse</font>), pleaded Shah while turning back to the masses. <p>"Abay kutte aage dekh wo aa gaya Lara croft ka sasur" (<font color="#4f81bd">You dog!! concentrate on the screen, Lara Croft's father-in-law is here</font>) <p>Shah and Chauhan started combating it out with the baddie but quickly began loosing and Lara croft's health bar turned from Green to Orange to RED, indicating that she is about to depart this life, <p>"B****** Ke (Bad Word) Chauhan, saale maar na use" (<font color="#4f81bd">Hit him Chauhan or else she will die</font>), Mahajan yelled in annoyance. <p>Chauhan turned around and gave him a dreadful stare because just few days before Chauhan used to be the official dementor of Mahajan but things were changed, <p>"Abay meri shakal kya dekh raha hai .... screen pe dekh Lara Croft ka balaatkar ho raha hai" (<font color="#4f81bd">What are you looking at my face focus on the screen Lara Croft is getting raped</font>), Mahajan bellowed for a second time <p>Shah turned back again and shouted, <p>“Saale kisi ne bhi gaali di to bahut bura hoga” (<font color="#4f81bd">If someone abuses now, the result will be terrible</font>) <p>“B****** Ke (Bad Word) agar Lara Croft ko kuch hua to tera kya kya hoga wo to abhi mujhe bhi nahi pata but itna pata hai jo bhi hoga bahut dardnaak hoga” (<font color="#4f81bd">If something happens to Lara croft then I can’t tell you what all can occur with you but whatever will happen it will be agonizing</font>), Ali retorted. <p>The oomph in the room was so forceful that both Shah and Chauhan had to play like they were playing for their existence. They had to save the game from getting over because if it gets over those 50 spectators will start linking themselves with Shah and Chauhan’s family. Both played until it was late evening and one by one each bystander left for the dinner. Shah and Chauhan took a deep breath of relief, it was a worst nightmare for them. They started playing the game for fun but they soon became amusement for others. <p>I took my plate and went to have dinner, thinking of the next day. I was waiting to meet her the next day in the college. I was curious to learn what does she think about today, <blockquote> <p><em>She still think that it was a joke!! But should I ask her so soon or should I hang around for this thought to settle in her mind first. I guess I had to be patient again for my next move.</em></p></blockquote> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-15325744981490370502010-10-28T23:26:00.001+05:302010-10-28T23:27:15.074+05:30Chapter 13: Its my turn<p>Middle of 3rd semester expected joining of a fresh batch; new batch means freshers, meaning its payback time. One evening when I returned from the college I saw a new guy sitting in my room with his father. Hostel warden introduced them to us and gave assurance to his father that these people will take good care of him, which was quiet accurate, Me and Mahajan were just 2 humble guys who were looking for some true blood, that’s all. His father left with the warden to go back to the Bangalore City. It was just me and Mahajan who were left with Raman in the room. He was sitting on my bed and looked relieved after warden’s promise because we presented ourselves harmless puppies with innocence dripping out of our faces. <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TMm5JLT4TBI/AAAAAAAAMWo/j438VCYji3Q/s1600-h/Puss___n_Boots_by_Koyuki_Shirai3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Puss___n_Boots_by_Koyuki_Shirai" border="0" alt="Puss___n_Boots_by_Koyuki_Shirai" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TMm5KMwZ1MI/AAAAAAAAMWs/PK6HQ5X-Ypc/Puss___n_Boots_by_Koyuki_Shirai_thum.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="234"></a></p> <p>“<em>Sir aap kaha se hai</em>” <font color="#0000ff">(Where are you from)</font>, he asked me while he pushed his arms back on the wall and tried to get comfortable with his new buddies after his father left. <p>“<em>Kyo ?? Thane me report likhwayega ?</em>”, <font color="#0000ff">(Why ?? Do you want to complain about me to the Police ?)</font> I barked with intense sadism in my eyes. <p>He was in an instant state of a kick in the teeth, people who were so kind to him a minute before are unexpectedly turned into dementors !!! His smile washed out and he abruptly sat straight up as he looked at me while I bolted the door. <p>“<em>Aray sir kya hua ?? Mera matlab wo nahi tha</em>” <font color="#0000ff">(I am regretful and I did not imply that what you are thinking)</font>, he cried in a convincing tone <p>“<em>Abay saale pehle to khada hoke baat kar</em>” <font color="#0000ff">(You Ass, Stand up at once and then speak)</font> <p>He got up in shock, Raman recognized what was going on and in a little while he started responding to us. He knew if he will respond as we say then only he can get away with slightest damage. <p>He was our opening prey and since we were also new to this, we did not do much to him but after some extreme sessions with Raman we become skilled at it. The necessary thing to remember in ragging is to establish that you are the most livid person alive and secondly, yell for each and everything. Soon when there were loads of juniors in the hostel we trained them to acknowledge us the moment they see us, Good-morning, Good-afternoon and Good-evening. The ragging gatherings were getting severe day by day, some of us just wanted a first-class evening amusement whereas some hunted for hard core reprisal. <p>Each sundown we distributed a small amount of juniors among our groups of dementors. Today we were having a contest amid 3 juniors from Bihar. The competition was to abuse the ceiling fan to the degree possible in one minute. It kicked off well with Bodybuilder who abused fan so roughly that if that fan had any hearing capabilities then that fan would have committed suicide in high voltage vicinity!! <p>A 4<sup>th</sup> junior stood in one corner of the room and was laughing in Sin Wave !! Puzzled ? SinX, CosX !!! Ringing any bells !! So the fourth junior, Dutta, was performing like this, <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TMm5KzRCiAI/AAAAAAAAMWw/mqFHgIKc8EU/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TMm5MIQK6QI/AAAAAAAAMW0/wyqbQvGzeSc/clip_image002_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="210"></a> <p>With each Sin wave cannot be of more than 4-5 seconds long that means he would giggle for 2 seconds and then weep for next 2, <em>Creepy !!</em> <p>Second contestant for the abuse challenge was Mishra, He started with, <p>“<i>Kutte, Kamine, Gadhe</i>” <font color="#0000ff">(Dog, Rascal, Donkey)</font>, what I comprehend was a sweet and tender tone with true love for the fan apparent in his eyes <p>“<i>Abay gaali de raha hai ki Pyaar kar raha hai, Gaali de</i>” <font color="#0000ff">(Are you abusing or making love to the fan ?)</font> I screamed deafeningly <p>“<i>Kutte, Kamine buuuuu hhhuuuuuuu uuuuuuu</i>” he started weeping like a small baby or a 16 year old college girl when she finds out that she is been dumped after very first date !!! <p>While people were busy in cursing the ceiling fan someone swung open the door and a fresh junior pierced in and declared, <p>“<em>Hi Guys, I dropped one year and I am your batch mate</em>”, he waved at us and gave an enormous smile. <p>We dementors looked at each other and barely understood what and why he did that but we gave each other a gigantic smile, following that evening Mondal, who claimed to be our batch mate was serving bread jam and bread butter to every Dementor in their room while he recited “<em>Sorry Sir</em>” every time he handed out a piece to a dementor. Mondal you rocked our world that day, I can never forget that day, you ass <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing" alt="Rolling on the floor laughing" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TMm5MzKNIAI/AAAAAAAAMW4/A7RkGbH4KSk/wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p align="center">----------------------------- <p>One evening I came back to the hostel, I was crimson in colour because I was fuming, I was angry because she liked Sammy. I could not let her go and I was annoyed with myself that I was allowing it to occur but there was nothing I could do. <p>I thumped the door as I entered in my room and there was Mahajan with the latest junior, Sheetle, they were bonding because they were from the same locale, Himachal Pradesh. Everything was going great which was apparent from their bright faces until I entered. I gazed at him and he did not say a word, I went fanatical and bellowed, <p>“<i>Abay aur kitni baar samjhana padega ki har baar wish karna hai</i>” <font color="#0000ff">(How many more times do you want instructions on greeting ?)</font> <p>“<i>Tum log sab sar pe chad gaye ho, Lagta hai sabki dhulai karni padegi</i>” <font color="#0000ff">(I think I will have beat the shit out of you guys)</font> <p>I did not know what I did or how spiteful I looked and sounded but those 2 lines were very efficient as I had managed make my first victim whimper. He cried like a widow on her husband’s memorial service, perhaps because I spat my rage on him and he was just a day old in the hostel, was traumatized a bit by the ragging and was shoddily suffering with homesickness. <p>In middle of all that my endurance was started to give up, I could not hold it inside me anymore. I wanted to split open in front of her but I could not, I could not recognize what was preventing me, Fear ? I don’t think so, I am not afraid of anyone !!! I had to meet her. <p>We had to get some notes Xeroxed in Jayanagar 4th Block. We met at Jayanagar bus station. She came and I saw her, she waved at me and my heart screamed from inside, <p><em>Mannnnnnn what are you waiting for</em>, <em>You will curse yourself for your entire life if you will not tell her,</em> <p>She looked as gorgeous as always, her beauty was in her minimalism and the way she used to carry herself. She was an 18 year old spoiled brat with tom boyish characteristics and yes I fell for those very features. She was no typical girl and for records I neither was/is a very regular guy. <p>We went to the Xerox shop, it took precisely 35 minutes, 368 pages and around 110 bucks. From last few days I was finding it very tricky to focus on what she is saying, I rather liked to gaze at her while she talks. Whenever she spoke it felt like each word is like a pearl.<em> </em> <p>After Xeroxing it was time to say goodbyes because it was getting late. We stood at Yediyur bus stop and my heart started pounding all of a sudden because my heart made a choice against the will of my brain. It took a split second for me to recognize what my sub-conscious mind has just determined and I agreed no more that it’s now or never, I turned towards her and said, <p>“<em>Hey can I ask you a Question ?</em>” <p>She looked at me and she said “<i>Yes go ahead</i>” <p>This is it, I took a deep breath and said ……. <em><font color="#ff0000">to be continued</font></em></p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-15326305439589761052010-10-19T10:15:00.001+05:302010-11-29T19:53:34.885+05:30Chapter 12: The Pain<p> 2<sup>nd</sup> semester results were out and everyone did pretty well <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing" alt="Rolling on the floor laughing" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iP8jtNII/AAAAAAAAMVw/cIQ_AwRoKEU/wlEmoticon-rollingonthefloorlaughing%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">. But Deeps was struggling a bit in mathematics <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-school" alt="School" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iQezXPnI/AAAAAAAAMV0/Ls4dF4-U58w/wlEmoticon-school%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">. In first 2 semester she got middling grades which was tarnishing her overall end result. I sensed that and as a good friend I wanted to lend her a hand in these rigid circumstances. I began training her in mathematics whenever we got time, in college canteen or at the temple in the college. But that seemed not sufficient because we used to get very little time after attending all the regular lectures. So we begin to extend a bit and used to leave college a little late. She also told in her house that there are some extra classes and as a result we were getting generous time on Saturdays and on weekday holidays. I liked it because this way I could spend extra time with her <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-redheart" alt="Red heart" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iQ-daG4I/AAAAAAAAMV4/ra0C-mQASio/wlEmoticon-redheart%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">. All of it did not go well because Hitler sensed that something is not right. She asked Deeps what is going on and what is the exact explanation of you coming late from college and going to the college when there is no college? She had to put in the picture the truth, she could not lie any longer. She told the complete state of affairs that she needed help out for her studies. Next day she came to the college and dropped a bomb on me by saying that, <p>“This cannot go on to any further extent” <p>“Why?” I asked frantically. <p>“I had to tell my mom everything and she does not like it at all” <p>“So who will be coaching you from now on?” I asked curiously. <p>“You” <p>“What!! How??” I was petrified <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-donttellanyonesmile" alt="Don't tell anyone smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iRlnTciI/AAAAAAAAMV8/nRD38SUJsjw/wlEmoticon-donttellanyonesmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> for an instance. <p>“My mom said that you can come home and teach” <p>I could not believe what I heard, Hitler approved a guy inside her house to coach her daughter, Brilliant!!! <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile" alt="Open-mouthed smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iSRnR_MI/AAAAAAAAMWA/zFB0t7x2s94/wlEmoticon-openmouthedsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> <p>Anyways I started going to Deep’s house to give her some lessons on mathematics, we used to study from morning till evening and then I used to go back to the hostel. I was finding it hard to tell her about my feelings for her because if she does not think the same then I will lose her forever. Whatever bond of friendship we have between us will not be the same. <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iSz-wwBI/AAAAAAAAMWE/x7znrM5ujWs/s1600-h/friendship%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="friendship" border="0" alt="friendship" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iTTGB4pI/AAAAAAAAMWI/U4aqfgqc0H4/friendship_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="240"></a> <p>I had to be very certain about this, so I chose to wait patiently for the right time. Teaching her in her house was fun for both of us but I guess Deep’s mother did not like it and was disappointed on her choice of allowing me to teach Deeps. On one fine day Deeps updated me that her mother is not cheerful about this whole set-up. She has just one hesitation, why the hell someone will come from 20 kms to their house to train their daughter at no cost!!! She was convinced that something was going on between us, she got this suspicion A LOT and yes she was spot on but only to some extent. I was accepting all this soreness with delight because I liked her and could have done anything for her but she regarded me as only a friend, <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iUJGFGzI/AAAAAAAAMWM/0aVkvSiiJ6w/s1600-h/Disappointed_tnb%5B3%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="Disappointed_tnb" border="0" alt="Disappointed_tnb" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iU5DzuNI/AAAAAAAAMWQ/_MaYvqJCOK0/Disappointed_tnb_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="229" height="240"></a> <p>“Please do not come from tomorrow”, She requested me. <p>“Why what happened” <p>“My mom does not like you coming to our house” <p>“But she is the one who allowed me in!!” I was little agitated. <p>“I know that but she believes that something is happening between us” <p>“Oh come on, what do I look like? <img alt="Loser" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/30.gif">” <p>“No, she said that she does not want to hear in future that I want to marry you” <p>I nearly cried but I controlled in front of her. I left her house to never come back again and while leaving my heart was sobbing piercingly. I cried <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-cryingface" alt="Crying face" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iVV0jMwI/AAAAAAAAMWU/xnaCHZK4-1Q/wlEmoticon-cryingface%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> in the bus after I took off from her house. From the day I realized what she means to me, from that day every single thing that pointed in the direction of You-can’t-marry-Deeps destroyed me but I had to keep faith and trust in what I believe or else I will lose her. I was still comfortable that she still does not like any one and no one is after her. Was the situation in fact like this or was I careless enough to fail to notice things ?? <p align="center">######## <p>Something was making a horrific sound, what the hell is that!! I jumped out of my bed, I glanced around. It was my cell phone which was making a horrendous noise. Someone was calling me, what time is it!! It was 3 am!! <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iWZfMzjI/AAAAAAAAMWY/gaqObBcb_Qs/s1600-h/cell-phone-01%5B3%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="cell-phone-01" border="0" alt="cell-phone-01" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iW9Kdz2I/AAAAAAAAMWc/nyV3McOgnvQ/cell-phone-01_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="158" height="240"></a> <p>Who the in the god’s name is calling me at 3 AM!! I saw the number and it was Deep’s house number, I was surprised, what the hell !! Anyways I responded to the call, <p>“Hello” <p>“Hi, It’s me”, Deeps murmured <p>“What are you doing up at this time ?” I snapped <p>“I had a dream about Sammy” <p>Who the hell is Sammy ?? I wondered. <p>And all of a sudden I remembered that from past few days she is been chatting about a guy from our senior batch in the college and there is this guy who according to her is the most good-looking in the college. Soon I grasped the situation and I froze, I did not want this discussion to go on because I knew where this conversation could go. But I had to carry on, <p>“What happened”, I asked with a heavy heart. <p>“I think I like Sammy a lot, I think I will propose him but I am terrified that he will say no”, She said in a very gloomy tone. <p>Tears started dripping out of my eyes. <p>“Its ok Deeps, I am with you, don’t lose sleep on this, if you really like him then I swear that I will see that you guys get together” <p>She was calmed after my assurance and hung up the phone but I could experience that my entire life has hung up on me.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iXgUAY4I/AAAAAAAAMWg/uesltha7hwY/s1600-h/cupid5af%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="cupid5af" border="0" alt="cupid5af" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TL0iYCFdTfI/AAAAAAAAMWk/OrVA6bzRw3w/cupid5af_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="167"></a></p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-9119186531409198692010-10-14T14:08:00.001+05:302010-10-14T14:09:36.555+05:30Chapter 11: We lost Cricket World cup finals, Damn it.<p>Third Semester started with a breaking news that Patti who was a day scholar till now have decided to move into the hostel <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-thumbsup" alt="Thumbs up" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBU2nqrrI/AAAAAAAAMVI/qN5fI1287h8/wlEmoticon-thumbsup2.png?imgmax=800">. This was great news because now the back bench group could always be together in the hostel. Patti entered in the hostel with bursting enthusiasm. Patti was greeted in the hostel with ostentatious celebration. <img style="margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://www.singlepunjabi.com/images_new/dulha.jpg"></p> <p>Ummm not this majestic but we had an arrangement for him <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-devil" alt="Devil" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBVa07J5I/AAAAAAAAMVM/dEqtz0NcOHE/wlEmoticon-devil2.png?imgmax=800">. All of us in the hostel had gone through extensive amount of agonizing ragging, thanks to the dementors like Chu Chu, Acharya and Dhar. They made us STRONG. Yes <strong>strong</strong>, we <strong>strongly </strong>hated them and we could not digest that someone tries to skip that and get into the hostel when all is ended. Anyways when he entered inside the hostel all dementors called him and took his introduction and assigned him a job to memorize the names of all the dementors. He was given me, Arnold and Mahajan to assist him with the names. He was unquestionably in excellent hands <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBWTlYIEI/AAAAAAAAMVQ/MhfII6TRnLk/s1600-h/clip_image0023.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBXEsjkDI/AAAAAAAAMVU/ZAxVZbsWTjw/clip_image002_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="19" height="19"></a>. We gave him all the accurate names apart from one. We told him that the name of one important dementor is Chaman (Means stupid). He wasn’t very sure because he sensed something was fishy but because he was new, he had to abide by what we say, so he committed the name to his memory. </p> <blockquote> <p>Have you ever come across the situation when you took a tough method to face the trouble and your co-worker took a shortcut to face the same problem without any pain? And later He/She laughs <img alt="Laughing" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/21.gif"> on your face proving that you were a looser, look at me <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-hotsmile" alt="Hot smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBwlt6QzI/AAAAAAAAMVk/Q-XZ6iIk9m8/wlEmoticon-hotsmile%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> I accomplished the same with no dilemma. I am talking about the pleasure when their shortcut bites them in their ass <img alt="Rolling on the floor" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/24.gif">. It was pleasurable to see Dementors molesting Patti just because of Chaman.</p></blockquote> <p>Cricket fever was going on because cricket world cup was happening and the exhilaration was there because India made it to the finals. The opponent was 2 time world cup victors Australia. But we were self-assured that India will come out clean and will overpower Australia to lift the cup <img alt="Party" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/36.gif">. The match could only be watched at the hostel recreation room where a television set was kept. This television set showed only solitary channel, Doordarshan. It was ok until and unless match is on it. The recreation room was jam packed and those who did not get seats were standing and watching the game. </p> <p> Match began with a balanced Australia Batting. Srinath came to bowl 7th over and got hit for 16 runs, straight away people started relating themselves with his mother and sisters <img alt="At wits end" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/102.gif"> but this was just a start. India went on yielding easy runs and Australia kept on scoring until in 13th over Harbhajan claimed Gilchrist’s wicket. As Doordarshan showed Gilchrist walking back to pavilion, people in the hostel recreation room in fact started spitting on the television and showed Gilchrist their middle finger. Anyways then came the captain Ponting and rest became history, later in that complete Australian innings we heard things like, <p>Rest of the hostel to Bhutani (He is from Delhi), “Saale Nehra ko ghar pe baitha ke pakode banwa usse, bowling uske bas ki baat nahi hai” (Ask Nehra to cook pakodas n the house, he can’t bowl for nuts) <p>Rest of the hostel to Arnold and other kannadigas on each occasion when Srinath was hit for a boundary and he was hit A LOT, “Abay Srinath to spinner hai fir ye fast bowling karane ki koshish kyo kar raha hai, samjha na usko kannada me” (Why Srinath is trying to bowl fast, isn’t he a spinner ?? Go make him understand this in kannada) <p>Rest of the hostel to Shah (He is from Gujrat), “Ye Zaheer khan ko paisa de ke national team me bharti karwaye ho kya ??” (Have you guys bribed Indian cricket selection board to take Zaheer Khan ?) <p><img style="margin: 0px 12px 0px 0px; display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Ricky_Ponting.jpg" width="248" height="310"></p> <p>Complete hostel to Ponting on his each boundary, I truly can’t write what all Ponting had to hear that day but think of this that on his each boundary he was gaining plenty of relatives from our hostel, particularly son-in-laws and fathers because weirdly that day each person was after his daughter and his mother !!! <p>But that was not it, people were still upbeat <img alt="Time out" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/104.gif"> that even after posing a mammoth total Indian batsmen can still retaliate. Indian innings instigated with the plunge of Sachin Tendulkar in very first over. Abruptly there was a rampage in the recreation room, half the crowd instead of cursing Tendulkar and Mcgrath, cursed Tendulkar and Mcgrath’s mothers for no reason and left the scene. After a short time it looked like India is fighting back. People who were still expectant were motionless and people who left after Sachin’s wicket came back when they heard that India is recovering. But sooner it was evident that this is no contest, it’s just a one sided match <img alt="Loser" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/30.gif">. <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBYkPFncI/AAAAAAAAMVY/vmBjI1YwrQQ/s1600-h/Final-Australia-v-India-at-Johannesb.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Final Australia v India at Johannesburg, Mar 23, 2003 Cricket Scorecard Cricinfo.com - Google Chrome" border="0" alt="Final Australia v India at Johannesburg, Mar 23, 2003 Cricket Scorecard Cricinfo.com - Google Chrome" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBZj1YusI/AAAAAAAAMVc/WMMegaS4PLo/Final-Australia-v-India-at-Johannesb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="546" height="576"></a></p> <p>As soon as last Indian wicket was chopped down each hostelite went wild <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-dogface" alt="Dog face" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBaDxBhvI/AAAAAAAAMVg/_eqLJYDK8JY/wlEmoticon-dogface%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800">, they broke all the stools and they tore out all the posters in the activity room. Some even tried assaulting the television but warden came for its rescue and little did he know that if not TV then it will be him, in fury crowd gave him respectable thrashings. All came to know about that when warden was frantically looking for the wrongdoers with a left black-and-blue eye and a puffed-up right cheek <img alt="Feeling beat up" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/66.gif">. <p>Well he did not get anyone because he could not recognize anyone that day but he kept looking for the grounds and circumstances to confront any of the hostelite. Atlast he got that opportunity, me, Arnold, Mahajan and Ghosh regularly fantasise about the wonderful coconuts on the coconut estate next to <img style="margin: 6px 0px 0px 4px; display: inline; float: right" align="right" src="http://www.phytomania.com/herbs_and_medicinal_plants/medicinal_plants_coconut.jpg" width="284" height="234">our college and one bright evening we decided to catch flavour of some. We made 2 teams of 2, me and Ghosh, Arnold and Mahajan. We entered into the estate and went in 2 separate directions and contracted to notify each other if someone comes by. The goal was to gather as many coconuts as possible and get out of there in no time, then relish them <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-nyahnyah" alt="Nyah-Nyah" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TLbBx1T-FwI/AAAAAAAAMVo/OofFxlMFgOY/wlEmoticon-nyahnyah%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800"> back inside the hostel the entire late afternoon. We arrived at our first stop where these 6 incredible green coconuts were inviting us like Smriti Virani used to invite inside her house in Kyonki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi start off credits. 1 and 2 and 3, we picked 3 stunning coconuts. All of a sudden I heard a grave noise “THUD” and next moment I could sense a blinding pain <img alt="Crying" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/20.gif">on my left butt. The caretaker of the estate was standing right behind me and he caught us red handed, he spanked me with a long stick. Ghosh blocked him before he could give me any more blows. I was thinking what the hell, why didn’t they alert us!!! The caretaker was busy in shouting on us but me and Ghosh eye witnessed something extraordinary, I have seen Usain Bolt running and I have also seen Vampires run with a speed of light in English movies but I undoubtedly remember that, that day Arnold and Mahajan did not even come for our rescue but they ran, they ran for their existence <img alt="Applause" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/41.gif">. Even if there was a vampire there that day, that also could not have beaten them. Both of them were like “Jesse Mach” (The rider of Street Hawk), the only difference was that they needed no street hawk. <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://encefalus.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/roadrunner.gif"></p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-45206790193923716922010-09-15T16:18:00.002+05:302010-09-28T11:50:31.703+05:30Chapter 10: Fugitive Aunty<p>I never told her that I am in love with her. Just my heart knew it. There still were way many considerations which I required to consider of if I wanted the love marriage, to be very accurate, Inter-caste love marriage. Sounds intimidating <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-surprisedsmile" alt="Surprised smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWthKuKUI/AAAAAAAAMPU/PwMlzYH8jGM/wlEmoticonsurprisedsmile2.png?imgmax=800" /> ?? Hearing so many things like honor killing these days? YES it was scary <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/zz_21.gif" />. I wanted to ensure if she is the right girl <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-princess" alt="Princess" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWvUFLkKI/AAAAAAAAMPY/2vPxZ4N9dl4/wlEmoticonprincess2.png?imgmax=800" /> who could fit into my world and in my people. Will she be blissful with me and will keep me and my parents happy <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-vampirebat" alt="Vampire bat" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWwUiZqAI/AAAAAAAAMPc/_0wy0k-M7ZI/wlEmoticonvampirebat2.png?imgmax=800" />??? So I decided to give me some additional time before I could launch my verdict onto her. For next few days I was in the process of evaluating her, I was posing various categories of direct and oblique questions which could give me a straight judgment. Questions like, “What do you think of Inter-caste marriages”, “Do you like north-Indian food” blah blah blah. I went on and on and on and on and first round result was out, after processing all the reactions and answers from her I was standing in front of a BIG NO <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-brokenheart" alt="Broken heart" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWxNwKJyI/AAAAAAAAMPg/cCWRJrVO8mc/wlEmoticonbrokenheart2.png?imgmax=800" />. But I was/am not a quitter <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-annoyed" alt="Annoyed" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWxpaIaMI/AAAAAAAAMPk/ze8segRI2a4/wlEmoticonannoyed2.png?imgmax=800" />, if I wish for something I make sure I get it. But I had to lay my further love valuation lower in the priority for few days because,</p> <p><u>Reason No. 1</u> – No one was after her and she did not have any boyfriend, everybody was still attracted to Apsara, which means I was in safe hands <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-fingerscrossed" alt="Fingers crossed" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWyG0gO-I/AAAAAAAAMPo/WzCsVj_wlkk/wlEmoticonfingerscrossed2.png?imgmax=800" />.</p> <p><u>Reason No. 2</u> – 2nd semester assessments were impending and I had to keep up my 1 semester’s performance.</p> <p>It was study time in the entire hostel. People used to come out just at the mealtime or to take a break to go to the Somnhalli Gate to indulge in god’s devotion in Ranjani Bar <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-mug" alt="Mug" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWywAFPrI/AAAAAAAAMPs/FNNpAZsSJnE/wlEmoticonmug2.png?imgmax=800" /> because after 2 pegs everybody makes directly to a single destination described as “heaven”. I think it was 15 days ahead of the exams and lecturers <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-justkidding" alt="Just kidding" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFWzmq5YLI/AAAAAAAAMPw/8i2ZcTNd5uA/wlEmoticonjustkidding2.png?imgmax=800" /> were trying hard to complete the lessons so that students get supplementary time for revision. On one rainy <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-stormcloud" alt="Storm cloud" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW0WWgGbI/AAAAAAAAMP0/WDyKzmoQfxo/wlEmoticonstormcloud2.png?imgmax=800" /> Wednesday evening we returned from college and noticed something extremely awful within the hostel. There was a sense of chaos and we heard people shouting <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-steamingmad" alt="Steaming mad" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW1FoMc7I/AAAAAAAAMP4/-sfc7F-iN8g/wlEmoticonsteamingmad2.png?imgmax=800" />. Hostel was in totally baffling state. We could not comprehend what was the dilemma so we went into our rooms to find some rest. We studied for few hours till it was suppertime. Routinely we took our plates and went en route for the hostel-mess. When we arrived, the panorama of the canteen was not amusing, the canteen was uninhabited and there was nothing except for tables and stool. Everything had vanished, no vessels, no food and no aunty!! </p> <p><strong><img style="margin: 0px 12px 0px 0px; display: inline" align="left" src="http://www.stockphotopro.com/photo-thumbs-2/stockphotopro_446601XMU_.jpg" width="154" height="232" /></strong></p> <p>We instantaneously got in touch with hostel representative and he made us aware that Aunty, the food in charge, from last week was making plans to take a trip to her hometown and for the same reason she was borrowing cash <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-money" alt="Money" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW10b9h4I/AAAAAAAAMP8/A-jhuS0DXc4/wlEmoticonmoney2.png?imgmax=800" /> from nearly every student who could lend her some money. She said that she has to buy gifts <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-giftwithabow" alt="Gift with a bow" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW2rhjajI/AAAAAAAAMQA/bJUZMoZxebM/wlEmoticongiftwithabow2.png?imgmax=800" /> for her family and that’s why she needs plenty of money. Since she was a trusted known face people did lend her a generous amount of currency ranging from 500/- to 10,000 rupees. And Aunty, who worked out a brilliant plan, gathered everything and fled!!! Yes she <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-ninja" alt="Ninja" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW3OQPYkI/AAAAAAAAMQE/oNYDQfum5kA/wlEmoticonninja2.png?imgmax=800" /> collected every valuable and went absconding. The evening chaos was from people who lost their money. They started getting their hands on whatever they could locate left in Aunt’s room. So the message for us was unambiguous that there will be no food for a blurred period of time. It was very well for us because it gave us a certified explanation to request for extra money from the house <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-partysmile" alt="Party smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW33hnKRI/AAAAAAAAMQI/IpW99aqmC2Y/wlEmoticonpartysmile2.png?imgmax=800" /> and the best part; we can go out and eat at the close by dhaba every single day <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-thumbsup" alt="Thumbs up" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW47llSHI/AAAAAAAAMQM/zm3fJ3Y8HNU/wlEmoticonthumbsup2.png?imgmax=800" />.</p> <p><img style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; display: inline" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HdImlO0PkQp2oUZ2PzCgOLuiyYy_Wf_Pb0mnFnG9PgeQb3ywm8vFSSNthcL9mG49dVGdmHjHQP1RvBbfbXSumy-BOkMsXh9tFFgEP4cnU1jFGfzqsziYHZjDRUEu9iXh90hH96XrGTs/s400/pc90_l.jpg" width="169" height="204" />After 2 days it was all settled down but few people started strolling in the hallways like zombies <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/ad_6.png" />. They could not sleep because of their loss. They were hassled because they were not able to give attention to studies for the approaching theory tests. They were still hopeful that Aunty might turn up in front of them, dressed up like goddess Lakshmi (in front of a halogen lamp which will illuminate her appearance) and hand out their money back but that doesn’t happen anymore!! Does it? </p> <p>But the days of calamity had just begun. Within next 2 day since aunty fled, the adjacent or you can say hostel’s power source transformer was busted. A truck crashed into it, the estimate time to bring it to the working state was 7-8 days which in simple English implies, we were COMPLETELY fucked <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/zz_7.gif" /> up for next 7-8 days, No Food, No Power and if their is no power how can water be pumped, so no water either, not even drinking water. So you could visualize the 2 different people in 2 tremendously different situations at the same time,</p> <p><strong><img src="http://www.devcomm.com/1.%20DCI%20home/african_kids_circle.jpg" width="288" height="198" />   <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWp0mFIrQMQFfypw2lM1BQe1cyCGdkaZqVDqV7f_0HxbQLapWN_IMloApArzMXMRPgx05YGWLex6JLCj2ceIpSGaGNrz-mgfqXA59sGZH1fl3vKTs1sEXPRecDVfKNWuNDnk3roddDYa8/s400/woman_smoking.jpg" width="258" height="201" /> </strong>  </p> <p>Those 7 days were the most dreadful days in the hostel. People made provisions for unusual things, some tried taking bath at the nearby polytechnic college and some did not bother (meaning they did not take bath for 7 days) <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-alien" alt="Alien" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW5dkDGOI/AAAAAAAAMQQ/vZiXn02y-5c/wlEmoticonalien2.png?imgmax=800" />. The entire hostel started sleeping on the terrace under open sky. Charlie, one of our inmates, used to light up mosquito coil on the terrace to get rid of mosquitoes, funny guy <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/zz_1.gif" /> isn’t he !! </p> <p>Those days soon got over and everyone was looking ahead for the exams. We had lab external examinations which went pretty well. In those laboratory examinations we discovered the person with incredible cleverness <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-shifty" alt="Shifty" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW6HAwygI/AAAAAAAAMQU/XshS-AKAwIU/wlEmoticon-shifty%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />, it was Thapa. There was an experiment in the physics lab in which you need to uncover <strong><img style="margin: 2px 0px 0px 1px; display: inline" align="right" src="http://www.phys.cwru.edu/ccpi/Tuning_fork/Koenig_tuning_fork_set_of_13.jpg" width="279" height="138" /></strong>the frequency of the tuning fork by changing the water level in the water container till you come across the perfect resonance <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-note" alt="Note" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW64GGmNI/AAAAAAAAMQY/gGPf4i3lIaE/wlEmoticon-note%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" /> when tuning fork is smacked on the table and held over the water level. </p> <p>You will be given any of the shown tuning forks and by adjusting the level of water bit by bit and looking for the correct sound which will present the frequency of the given fork. Thapa was dazzling in dark novelties <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-devil" alt="Devil" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW7hwMouI/AAAAAAAAMQc/ZfqO8hf8rO4/wlEmoticon-devil%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />, criminal mind to be very specific. Rather than taking all the pain of fine-tuning the water and listening to the sound on every occasion, he memorized frequency of each fork against its length !!! And Bingo !!! In the external lab when he was given a fork and guess what he did the first thing ?? He just measured its length and as soon as he had its length he knew its frequency and he knew what water level will give him the accurate sound <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/zz_1.gif" />. Thapa passed that lab with flying colors <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-rainbow" alt="Rainbow" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW8TvDCOI/AAAAAAAAMQg/SiRB7IcUIGY/wlEmoticon-rainbow%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" />. Thapa was that kind of human who had loads of intelligence but it was completely used for wickedness. In one more occurrence he disagreed with his lecturer in external lab of C++. His lecturer said that the program he has written is acceptable but he said not its not because output is not in sync with the input he has given, Its not the same output (what he memorized) for the input (he memorized) and hence program is not right !! </p> <p>Exams went sound and 2nd semester finished with an elevated morale. I had 2 complete days in the train to dwell on my subsequent move in the next semester to carry on with my one sided love story. It was unmistakable that it is virtually impossible but I had to make it happen anyhow <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-thumbsup" alt="Thumbs up" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Xlisi3EjHds/TKFW47llSHI/AAAAAAAAMQM/zm3fJ3Y8HNU/wlEmoticonthumbsup2.png?imgmax=800" />.</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96502005825464575.post-23471435680000643522010-09-07T18:03:00.001+05:302010-11-29T19:55:10.142+05:30Chapter 9: Ranjini Bar<p>There were only few good things which happened to us in engineering and in hostel <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/ad_4.png">. And each of those was at Somnahalli Gate. Somnahalli is a village where our college is located. Actually "Somna" to be very precise because "Halli" means village in kannada (Correct me if I am incorrect). </p> <p>There were few shops, bakeries <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/gmail_64.gif"> and mini-restaurants <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/gmail_65.gif"> situated on the main kanakpura road. The same place where I used to call <img alt="Telephone receiver" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/phone.gif"> PK and Deeps from. This place was around 1.5 km from hostel <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/zz_11.gif"> as I have previously revealed. Due to lack of every essential thing in hostel this place was the major hangout spot for every APSCE hostalite. The place was “lively”, “eventful” and “rocking in the night”. </p> <p># <b><u>Lively</u></b> because at any given time you could find almost whole hostel/College out here. </p> <p># <b><u>Eventful</u></b> because nearly every evening someone from the hostel would have beaten up <img alt="" src="http://www.zu14.cn/coolemotion/emotions/zz_6.gif"> someone from the village and next day that someone from the village would have beaten him back <img alt="Sick" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/52_52.gif"> to settle the score. </p> <p># <b><u>Rocking at night</u></b> because of its bar <img alt="Beer mug" src="http://messenger.msn.com/MMM2006-04-19_17.00/Resource/emoticons/beer_mug.gif">where half of the hostel used to be present after 6 pm. </p> <p>Top rated 5 things at Somnahalli Gate were, </p> <p>5. <b><u>STD/ISD booth</u></b> - I am confident that it was the most helpful thing for the people to discuss study syllabus with their girlfriends. </p> <p>4. <b><u>Bakery</u></b> - This bakery owned the STD booth. It was the only bakery in the vicinity and the only shop where you could get cigarettes. </p> <p>3. <b><u>Pakoda Angadi</u></b> - A tiny shop where an elderly woman used to prepare all varieties of different pakodas and omelette. </p> <p>2. <b><u>Tea stall</u></b> - People used to go to this tea shop A LOT around dusk, why?? Because landlord of the stall not used to be there at the shop in the evenings, as a substitute his daughter used to run the shop. She was the only "Female" inside the radius of 20 km. Raju was there but we are talking about females here. I am still not certain where this tea shop was. I heard lots about it but could never go there. Pal and DD were the 2 guys who for eternity had a dispute about who will prevail over Chai wali first!!! Unbelievable!!! Believe it!!! She was hostel’s own local Aishwarya Rai.</p> <p>1. <b><u>Ranjini bar</u></b> - The finest thing that could ever happen to a hostel. Liquor within reach, what else a bachelor can ask for? Following sundown you could find roughly 50% of the hostel in the bar. I used to visit Ranjini bar regularly, from outside and not for liquor but for Gobhi Manchurian. I must admit that I have never eaten better gobhi Manchurian so far in 9 years!!!! I am not joking by any means. </p> <p>But I have gone inside Ranjini bar, 3 times and every time I cursed the individual who took me in. One of those 3 times was when we were in 2nd sem. Me and Ghosh went to get Gobhi Manchurian. We were waiting for it to get prepared and unexpectedly someone screamed my name. </p> <p>"Oye Anky" </p> <p>I gazed around but it was very shady inside and I could not distinguish who was calling me out, so I ignored. In next 10 seconds a person appeared from the dark and held my hand, he spoke frantically,</p> <p>"Abay sunai nahi deta kya", <font color="#008000">(Don’t you have the sense of hearing?)</font></p> <p>It was At-sa, A Dementor from MCA </p> <p>"Aray nahi Sir mujhe laga mere kaan baj rahe hai" <font color="#008000">(I thought I heard something else)</font> </p> <p>"Theek hai andar chal" <font color="#008000">(Ok Come inside)</font></p> <p>He dragged me inside even if I disapproved of it. He asked Ghosh also to come in. Inside there was one more dementor, Rohit-sa. There were bottles lined up, they must have been drinking from a very long time, they looked pretty wasted too. At-sa asked me, </p> <p>"Kya Khayega" <font color="#008000">(What will you eat)</font></p> <p>"Aray kuch nahi sir bas hamara Gobhi Manchurian aane wala they" <font color="#008000">(Nothing, We are about to get the Gobhi Manchurian we ordered)</font> </p> <p>He said, "Dekh mai tera senior hu, tera bada bhai, bol" <font color="#008000">(I am your elder brother tell what do you want)</font> </p> <p>“Acha ek kaam kar at least ye Chicken lollipop kha le”, At-sa said while offering a Chicken lollipop portion to me <font color="#008000">(Eat this Chicken lollipop at least)</font></p> <p>"Aray sir koi baat nahi bas, aap khaiye" <font color="#008000">(We don't want anything, you please carry on with it)</font></p> <p>“Aray yaar mai nahi khaunga, Navratre chal rahe hai, ye sab to Rohit-sa kha rahe hai” <font color="#008000">(I will not eat because it’s sacred phase of time all through this fortnight, it was Rohit-sa who was eating all this)</font> </p> <p>He said this and put that chicken lollipop portion in his own mouth and started munching it with complete pleasure!!</p> <p>I shouted in fright, “Aray sir kya kar rahe ho abhi aapne bola nahi khaunga aur abhi muh me daal liya !!!” <font color="#008000">(Just now you said that you will not eat it and now you are eating it!!)</font></p> <p>“O teri” <font color="#008000">(Shit)</font>, and he puked it in front of us</p> <p>I had to go and call the cleaner who cleaned up the mess. But after few moments At-sa was back in action again,</p> <p>"Acha bol kya piyega" <font color="#008000">(Ok tell me what will you drink at least)</font> </p> <p>Before I could have a word, Ghosh who was anxious to seize the prospect to booze for free from a dementor said, </p> <p>"Sir Ek Beer bottle" </p> <p>Right away At-sa demanded, "Ek beer bottle lao yaha" <font color="#008000">(Get One beer bottle)</font></p> <p>There was a vindictive smirk on Ghosh's face, I could see his facial expression turning into a fox's. </p> <p>At-sa in completely uncontrollable body language said, "Dekho aaj ke baad jab bhi Sharaab peeni ho to mujhe bolna, aaj ke baad saari daaru tum logo ko mai pilaunga" <font color="#008000">(From now on whenever you crave for liquor just let me know, I will pay for your booze from now on)</font></p> <p>Ghosh was nearly on top of the cloud no. 9. He could witness himself in a house where he is taking bath in bathtub overflowing Whisky, if you release shower it will spray Vodka. <img style="margin: 5px 20px 5px 5px; display: inline" align="left" src="http://jenoloclothing.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/fridge-full-of-corona.jpg" width="380" height="284"> </p> <p>A king size refrigerator packed simply with beer bottles and on other side At-sa is paying for all this and a tanker filled with Rum which is being poured in an enormous reservoir on the house roof, reservoir which is also known as Swimming pool. </p> <p>Grin on Ghosh’s face was as good as on a kid’s face when he/she realizes that their birthday is impending and more then festivity they are looking ahead for all the presents.</p> <p>“Par meri ek shart hai”, said At-sa. <font color="#008000">(But I have a condition)</font></p> <p>Ghosh enthusiastically said, “Aray sir aap kuch bhi bolo sab manjoor hai kuch bhi” <font color="#008000">(Anything for you, just tell me)</font></p> <p>At-sa, “Jab bhi, jaha bhi, jitni bhi mai bolunga tab tum dono ko mujhe daaru pilani padegi” <font color="#008000">(Whenever, Wherever and how much I ever I ask, you 2 will have to buy me the liquor)</font></p> <p>A stunning spray of beer came out of Ghosh’s mouth, he choked and said, “What !!”</p> <p>I griped Ghosh’s hand and our packaged Gobhi Manchurian and we fled from Ranjini bar. That was a narrow escape, who knows if it was At-sa in the bathtub of whisky and it was us who were paying for that reservoir of rum in place of At-sa in Ghosh’s delusion.</p> Ankithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17221497614195555213noreply@blogger.com2