The College Days - The Mystique

The College Days

1 Comments

             

                Varun, wake up. It's already 8'o clock, screamed my wife Anu. Please lemme sleep Anu, it's a holiday after many days. Though it was a rainy day, my instinct suggested me to wake up. Unwillingly, I woke up yawning stretching like a cat.

               Finished brushing my teeth, I occupied my favorite wooden chair watching the rain. Something about the rain seemed familiar to me. Then comes Aisha, my little angel running towards me. Dad, we have farewell party today as this will be our last day in school. "That's nice, dear but it's pouring heavily outside. Can't you just skip it?" I asked. She replied "I can't miss this dad, I dunno how many of my friends and teachers I could meet after this year". Kissing on my forehead, she went to her school bus. "Have a blast, Aishu", I said waving my hand. "Okay dad," she replied.

                That reminded me my college days. Nikhil, Datta, Dileep, Abhilash, Pranay, Anaaya and...and...Riya. "Varun, what happened?" asked Anu rounding her hands around my shoulder. "Nothing, Anu. I just remember my college days. A cup of hot coffee will perfectly do the job," I said.

               Then, I opened my graduation day album gently rubbing every photo with my fingers. There comes our batch's group photo. "Things have changed a lot," I thought. Those were the best days in my life.

                It struck me suddenly, the first day of my college was also a rainy day. Since, the day my seat was confirmed in Vasavi college of engineering( a renowned college in Hyderabad, India), I carried a pride that I could achieve such feat. I wore a new yellow shirt, blue jeans depicting my enthusiasm to join the college.

                I was standing near the corner of a function hall where my bus was supposed to stop. Irritated by the heavy rain and also as the bus was not showing up, I cursed the bus driver and started to observe my surroundings. A girl was standing at the other corner, wearing a turquoise color dress. The dress was not grand but as she wore, it looked gorgeous. She seemed as disappointed as me for the bus. I yelled at myself for not knowing her before though we live in the same locality. Thinking that its better to make a little chat before bus comes, I introduced myself and drew near to her. She seemed more beautiful than before. "I am Varun from mechanical engineering. Glad to meet you," I introduced myself. She said " I am Riya from IT. Glad to meet you too." Then, our bus arrived. I cursed the bus driver again for stopping me talking to Riya. "See you at the evening," she said and stepped into the bus. I too sat in the bus.

               I was no longer bothered about people around me excited and making friends with each other. My thoughts were occupied with Riya, only Riya and talking to her in the evening.
          ***
  All of a sudden, it stopped raining outside but still the sun is concealed with the thick clouds.
***
              I went to my class and sat in the first bench. A tall guy was sitting beside me, who didn't have a much friendly look. He introduced himself as Nikhil and the few minutes we spoke, he seemed quite friendly unlike my impression and I liked him. I was surprised to see that all classes have started though it was the first day. But, the classes were interesting. A guy sitting in another front bench was answering all the questions sir was asking. Later, I came to know that he was Datta. We were shocked to know that the college gives a lot of importance for attending classes.

               The day soon passed away. I was preparing entire time in the bus what to speak to her. When I confronted her, surprisingly, I forgot everything what I have prepared. I mumbled my words and afterwards, got her number and left to my house saying that I have some work. I did that not to make her feel awkward by my mumbling.

                  Going to college, enjoying classes, bunking some of them became a routine. Talking to Riya in the morning and evening were the best times though. I made a nice batch of five me, Nikhil, Datta, Dileep, Abhilash. Dileep was rockstar of our college. We used to enjoy a lot. Of all the professors who teach us, Mr. Venugopal Rao, our chemistry professor was very intriguing. He used to wear a pant without belt and had a little tuft coming out of his bald head. The reaction of adjusting his pant and tuft was one of the best moments. And also the hilarious jokes of Fanindhra in his class added more flavour.

                 Travelling for a long time was not at all boring with the activities we used to conduct in the bus. Our bus driver, Habeeb uncle was a crazy guy. He used to stop the bus to a side whenever we messed up things and that was obviously an enjoyable moment. Classes went on and in the meanwhile, my friendship with Riya also strengthened. Days passed by and we ended the first year happily. Finally, honeymoon period in the college was over.

                 From second year, the college seemed pale and boring except for the time I talk to Riya. I no longer travelled by college bus. Endless journeys in the city bus was disgusting. The interest in classes was lost. Especially, our basic electronics was sleep inducing. Even Abhilash, topper of our batch could not stop his eyes closing. The only thing I did was to reach to the level 140 in minion rush.
  
                Anaaya, though we were from same bus in the first year, I dunno her much then. Now, she became a very close friend of mine. The attitude she had towards life and this world moulded me a lot. We used to have late night chats speaking all about life, people and this world. I shared my feelings towards Riya with her and I was later surprised to realise that she was a close friend of Riya as much as she is to me.

              Then comes the most prestigious VPL, a cricket league of our college. I am a very good player of cricket, so that made me select in the team of our branch. I was called "Bullet arm" for the speed which I bowl. Our team was not very strong, but our coordination was excellent. With our team spirit and obviously with the help of bullet arm ( :P), we won the VPL title. And there ends our second year.

             Next years seemed more boring. Everyone of us were involved in tech fests, internships, and shaping our careers. There was a little time for fun. We, a 25 member batch from mechanical engineering has designed an ATV ( All Terrain Vehicle) won us many prizes and we became celebrities of our college though Pranay was the mastermind behind our success. I was lucky enough to be a part of that.
One fine day, I proposed Riya. She rejected me saying that I was a very good friend of her, a friend. My heart was broken into pieces. None could console me, not even Anaaya, Nikhil, Datta or anyone. I stopped going to college and sat at home giving opportunity for tears to speak.

***
It started raining outside. It poured down heavily along with the wind blowing hard.
***
               All of a sudden, Riya messaged me. She could convince me that she was not correct for me and she would be happy to see her friend growing in his life. Hopelessness took me apart but time cured my injury. This year, we finished bad in VPL and the reason for it was me.

              We came to final year. There was a happiness and sadness in the every soul. We were happy that we are going to stand on our legs and at the same time, sadness consumed us for the fear of departing each other. I could achieve a job in Mahindra and Mahindra, which was our dream company. Nikhil, Datta cleared FMC, a well renowned company. Abhilash got the highest package of 10 lacs in Tata Aeronautical services. Dileep left his job in Bosch and started a rock band. Pranay too left his job and started a designing company. Anaaya and Riya were placed in Microsoft.

               All the time during our four years, we never liked to attend classes. But then, we were reluctant to leave the college. Tears broke in every eye for missing our college; the same one which we felt boring.

               I felt the same for me. Now there were no chemistry classes, no Fanindhra's jokes, no sleep inducing classes, no Habeeb uncle, no celebrations of the five stars, no late night discussions, no bunking, no VPL, no days of celebration with Riya and nothing. We convinced ourselves and finally embraced each other to start our journeys in life.

A tear rolled from my eye.

***
                I gave a call to Nikhil. " Hello, how are you?", he asked. His voice was as emotional as mine. It was my call to him after many days. " I am fine". After a long pause, I said, " let's have a get together.


Share your story in the comment section. We will be happy to hear you.


1 comment:

  1. Nice one
    Riya from IT ... point noted :P
    and correct "our team was atrong"

    ReplyDelete