‘Hahaha…It was girls hostel…!’ She laughed. I wondered if I’d cracked a joke. We were sitting on the floor now with our backs rested to one of the book-shelves. It was mid-October, not cold but still a bit shivering. The place was dark and we were surrounded by books everywhere. A bit awkward, nevertheless too romantic with a hot girl.

‘Yeah…’ I sighed.

‘So, what did you do then? Did you reach your classroom?’

‘Yes…finally.’

‘And what about your dream girl, did you get her?’ She asked and started laughing again. And her question reminded me of something which made me smile too.

‘Not exactly.’ I replied.

***

F-304, my classroom was in the front portion of the main building, too close from the point I met those bloody seniors.

When I reached my class, it was already lunch. As I entered, I perceived that no one noticed me. So, I chose an empty bench in a row parallel to girls to sit. Unfortunately, for a class of about 80 students, there were only 8-9 girls.

This is the supreme irony of this generation. A boy becomes successful when he studies hard, gets a good college, good career and therefore, a good girl. While a girl is successful if she finds one such boy. And that is not very difficult. There are lots and lots of them with lots of varieties. And this is the main reason why the sex ratio in above-average engineering colleges is worse than miserable.

I looked around and saw people sitting on desks in groups, asking each other’s names, trying to know each other. Walls were covered with sculptures drafted by our seniors. There were sketches or cartoons of what we say decorously as ‘erotic art’. Besides there were comments, slangs, gaalis, names of girls.

Then I started observing girls. Not to mention, each one of them was exceptional, one appeared six-feet tall, one was fatso, there were ‘behenjis’ and ‘auntijis’. Only two or three were like what we call as ‘normal’. I cursed my luck.

‘I hate this college.’

One girl was sitting alone diagonally to me on a bench. She looked ignorant of the surroundings and was studying something. I wondered who the hell studies on the first day of college. I stood up to get a clear view and found out that it was an IIT-JEE book. My eyes glittered.

“So, I’ve got someone just like me, someone who hates this college, someone who doesn’t wanna study here, someone who’s preparing for IIT. Yipeee…”

I reached on the bench behind her and said:

‘Excuse Me.’ She turned towards me. The best thing, she appeared a ‘normal’ one.

‘Are you preparing for JEE?’ I asked decently. She frowned.

‘Didn’t you get any better way to to initiate a talk?’ She uttered. Wow, what an answer…enough to stupefy me. I balanced myself and opened my mouth again.

‘No…just wondered by looking at that book. You know…I am doing the same.’

She glared at me for a while and turned back. This wasn’t a new thing to me. I’d too become shameless after having plenty of such experiences. My past experiences had taught me one lesson – ‘Girls are not humans, they are ‘girls”. Hmm….so lets try again.

This time I approached through front.

‘Hey…so have you joined any coaching for it?’

‘Yeah..Resonance Classes.’ She tried to look annoyed and was quite successful in it. I couldn’t apprehend a possible reason why she was behaving so rudely. Who cares…I was enjoying it.

‘So howzz it?’ I asked again. I was a perfect ‘besharam’ for sure.

‘Huh…One second..’ She banged table and stood up. ‘Whats your problem?’ She yelled in anger. I got a hint that she’s gonna kill me.

‘No…naa..nothing. Sorry to bother you.’ I backed off and quietly returned to my place. I thought I should’ve asked her name but anyways, who wanted to get more humiliated, this much insult was enough for today.

***
Lunch at MACT was of full 1 hour and 45 minutes, ample time to die of getting bored. Meanwhile, I too interacted with a handful of students. I met an old coaching-mate, Prabhu, and got a bit relieved to found a familiar face amongst strangers. He too was in Electrical and we decided to sit together.

‘Bhaiyo…..Attention Please.’ Two persons, appearing like seniors, entered the room.

{…continued in Chapter 3}

***

PS — I owe my life to A R Rahman and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy…really.

PS — Miss you IIT, miss you tensions.

PS — I think of only two things whole day and whole night.

PS — One: Am I really in love?

PS — Two: What next?

PS — Its been over two weeks I am here, still we haven’t met.

PS — God bless Star Movies, HBO and Discovery Channel.

PS — I don’t like Roadies. I can’t ignore it too.

PS — Waiting for two things now: My Dell Laptop & to meet Pallavi.

PS — Adieu.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

“Chap…” I heard another sound originating a few feets away. My eyes were closed and I couldn’t dare open them to look around and see who’s being slapped. We were standing in line somewhere deep inside the jungle of Kerwa Dam. As the matter of fact, it was our group-ragging session.

“Oye, he has got blood.” One of my seniors yelled.

“A little blood is good.” Other one replied.

Chap..Chap..Chap..Chap…

I heard a cry.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Chronicles of first love were finished. I was quite broken, both physically and mentally. After spending 15 days in hospital and a complete month of bed rest at home, I had built a habit of reading. I read fictions, autobiographies, spiritual books (I avoided books on love). Every book gave me the same message – ‘Move On.’

I guess that’s life, to move on. Forget the past and fabricate future. But what about our present, a present which is the outcome of our actions in the past? How can one manage to become happy and satisfied in such ‘present’?

As soon as I recovered, the first thing I did was to stop thinking a lot. My parents and relatives made me join a local engineering college against my wish. I would have been comfortable with this decision if two things weren’t bothering me:

1. I didn’t want to live here, in Bhopal. I wanted to go outside, feel independent, enjoy my privacy and forget all the bad memories. After a big unhealthy discussion with my parents, I convinced them to at least send me to an IIT-JEE coaching again.
2. Palak’s home was in the midway to my college. Everytime I passby it, I would start to feel a bit uncomfortable. Some memories open the wounds.

But joining this college wasn’t a total ‘nervous package’ for me. There was fun, lots of fun. There were things that made this college special. There was a legacy, more than 50 years old, which had changed the course of lives of many.

Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal, popularly known as MACT, ranked 22nd in India and 1st in Central Zone, was considered one of the largest student-hub of anti-social activities including severe ragging practices, insurgence and disturbing activities in the whole city. Taken into account this, one should not wonder if there were more than 300 FIRs against students of this college in the last 3 years!

MACT had its influence over political associations, businessmen, black marketers. It had produced some of the big political icons of India including many MPs, MLAs, and even a Chief Minister. Corruption was in the core of its administration. Being a student of MACT demanded huge courage and bravery plus a bit of physical fitness too.

But I was a fattoo. Since childhood, I don’t recall if I’ve ever associated myself with some fight or physical quarrel. In case if see someone fighting, I would move on at least 50 metres away to make sure I didn’t get involve.

However, I was required to change myself now.

***

FIRST DAY AT COLLEGE

I couldn’t restrain my excitement of going college on the first day. But since I’d my IIT coaching in the morning, I reached college late. After watching so many bollywood movies, it was my belief that the ‘first day at college’ was gonna be somehow filmy – ‘A boy sees a girl on his very first day and falls in love on the very first sight.’

Carrying this hope, I reached college with one important question swirling inside my mind:

“Where the hell is my classroom?”

Considering the reputation of the college, I didn’t have the nerve to ask it to some senior. I wandered through the different blocks of main-building to find the admin area or at least some suitable person to help me. After half-an-hour, I gave up. I saw two seniors coming my way. One of them looked simple, charming but the other one had long hairs and a look of a devil in his eyes.

“Excuse Me… Can you please tell me where are the classes of first year students?” I couldn’t believe I asked that. They looked at each other as if two hungry tigers finally got the prey.

“Hmm… first year… which branch?”

“Electrical.”

“Speak in hindi!” The devil one shouted. Now who the hell on earth would know what’s the hindi alternate for Electrical Engineering. I kept quiet.

“Vidyutiya Abhiyantriki.” Charming one bellowed proudly.

‘What a Hindi?’ I said in my mind.

“See him… jeans, t-shirt, watch, sports shoes. Oye… didn’t anyone give you fundae of this college?” He again shouted. While the charming one kept nodding. I looked at him in a way to ask him to save me. Finally, he got the message.

“Leave him yaar… its first day only. So where did you want to go? First yearites wing… Hmm…?” He said.

“Umm…yeaaah.”

“Ohkk… go backward from here till you come out of the block, then take left and walk straight about 1 kilometer until you reach the end of the road. There stands Energy Center where your classes are being conducted.”

“And yes…don’t ask any other person in the midway, otherwise it’s your own risk.” He added.

“Thank you sir.” This was all I could manage to say and hurried up. I heard them laughing at me. It was my first encounter with seniors and I was sure that my coming days would be real adventurous (and dangerous).

I kept on walking and walking. It was a big campus, spread over 700 acres. I saw a large building of Computer Center, some staff quarters in the midway. The only thing I didn’t see was the damn Energy Center. But I dared ask anyone.

Finally, after traveling at least one-and-half kilometers by feet, I saw the end of the road and fortunately, a building too. My eyes glittered. I started running as fast as I can in excitement. My mind was visualizing the virtual image of a pretty girl waiting just for me. Here begins a new life. Suddenly, I saw something and stopped. It wasn’t Energy Centre.

It was Girls Hostel.

“What the F!”

{… continued in Chapter 2}

***

PS — I am happy, I am at home.

PS — My daily timetable these days – sleeping, eating, sleeping, eating, blogging, sleeping, eating.

PS — Missing Aravali and of course IIT. I guess I am used to tensions.

PS — Life’s never been so beautiful. Thanks to her.

PS — I got failed in CSL101 and MAL110.

PS — Chalo, see ya then.

PS — Tchao!

PS: I love you

What happens when you fall in love for the first time in your life?

1. You begin to feel life is beautiful. Every happiness in this world is meant for you.
2. All love songs seem to relate with your situation.
3. You start brushing your teeth a little harder. Still they look the same pale.
4. Nights seem longer.
5. You google “What’s the difference between love and infatuation?” to make sure if your symptoms are right.
6. You start praying to God.

etc.

Hmm…but I tell you what happened to me when I fell in love with a girl….‘again’!

1. I got confused.
2. Infact, damn confused!

So, myself Himanshu, after a long break of one-and-half years, got fallen in love with Palak again.

Why? I don’t know.

How? I don’t know.

Nor I did have time to ponder over these questions. My Minor Exams 2 were on row and I couldn’t risk wasting my time like I did during Minor 1. So on one dark night, I put on my bag and departed for the Central Library, of course, to study something.

“11:05″ I checked my watch as I reached the library. The Central Library closes at 12. So I had almost an hour to study before I have to find some other suitable place for myself. I reached the second floor of the building and started finding an appropriate place. I saw a pretty girl sitting on one of the two tables behind the shelves.

I sat on a chair just facing her, removed my specs & spread my books and tutorial sheets all around to create an effect that I was seriously there to study and I had no interest in staring her. And then I saw her. Her face appeared familiar, she was my senior, infact, one of the rarer good-looking seniors of mine. She looked upward and noticed my eyeballs fixed on her. She winced and took out her cellphone, made a call and rotated her chair a bit as if showing that she’s genuinly not interested in me. Certainly, I’d expected a better reaction.

Now in a company like this, persons like me cannot study. I backed off on my chair and focussed my eyes on her again. She reminded me of Palak. Not because she looked like Palak, but because she looked very different from her. Let it be her hairs, facecut, figure or eyes, nothing resembled. The issue was – She was pretty, but she wasn’t my type.

“Damn….this battery.” She bellowed as her call ended. May be she was talking to her boyfriend before her battery died. She looked at me again and got more frustrated. Finally, she put her head on the table and slept. Girls look really cute while sleeping. I too planked down myself on the table and closed my eyes.

***

ONE HOUR LATER

“Wake up! Wake up!” I heard a voice and simultaneously felt a hand clasping my shirt and shaking me hard. I roused and realised she was her.

“What happened?” I asked horrified.

“What…!! Can’t you see?”

“No, I can’t. It’s a bit dark in here.”

“Idiot. Check the time.” she shouted. I don’t like to be called an idiot, especially by a girl.

“It’s 12:55.” I said and then I froze. “Oh Fuck! No…!”

The library got closed with two of us remaining inside. An impulse of fear travelled across my body. I was frightened. So was she.

“So what we gonna do?” I asked.

“Call someone.” she said.

“Umm…I don’t have balance.”

“What? Don’t tell me. You don’t have balance even to make a miss call?”

“No, I don’t.  Why don’t you call by yourself?”

“My battery is died…idiot.” She again called me an idiot. Now this was enough. Although there was a simple solution to this problem. I could take out her SIM card and put it into my phone to make a call. But I thought if she’s that much intelligent, let her figure out this. And if she fails, I would never mind enjoying the company of a hot girl for the whole night.

“Oh God! There has to be some way. I don’t want to stay here all night.” She said in a crying voice. I felt guilty inside for making a girl feel bad. She finally sat on a chair next to me and held her forehead with her hands. I indulged in finding some ethical excuse for my unethical act. After all, God watches us all the time.

***

15 MINUTES LATER

I cleared my throat to break the silence.

“So do you have a boyfriend?” I asked finally to start conversation.

“Why all you guys have to ask the same question?” She howled in resentment.

“No…umm…just wondered. Heard you talking with a guy on phone a while ago.” I replied defensively.

“Ohk…yes I do.”

“That’s nice.” This was all I could manage to say. And again the silence induced. She wasn’t interested.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” I heard her voice a few minutes later.

“Nope.”

“Any crushes?”

“Nope.”

“Then?”

“I am in love.”

“Wow!” She exclaimed. I didn’t understand the reason of her over-reaction. Every third boy in this world is in love with some girl. Its a common phenomenon. Ok, it can be great for that particular individual, but why this girl had to intervene!

“Tell me something more.”

“Like what?”

“Everything…”

{…Continued in Next Chapter.}

******************************************

PS — The story starts with Chapter 1.

PS — Read its prequel: Chronicles of First Love.

PS — Watched “Oye Lucky Oye” tonight. Nice….

PS — It was my 13th movie since last three days.

PS — Terrorist attacks on India makes me feel nervous.

PS — Leaving for Bhopal tomorrow.

PS — Did Rahman dissappoint in Ghajini? I’d expected a lot better.

PS — Anyways, time to watch 14th movie – Max Payne.

PS — Adieu.