Choreo Nite

It had all the ingredients to make it an unforgettable evening, and unforgettable it shall be. For the uninitiated, choreo nite is the annual dance competion of IITM. Its a welcome break between the two quizzes, and Saarang still months away. But thats not what it gets its unforgettableness from.

I believe it owes its glamour quotient not to the occasional elegant performance, but to the "B teams" of each hostel. The audience might ignore them as a nuisance, a visual catastrophe of gauche limbs. However for the dancers themselves, it is the hedonistic indulgence for ten minutes that surpasses everything else.

This year though the one thing that that'll be etched in the memory of the frivolous audience is the "Godav thing". No even I won't call it a dance, it was much more than that. It was a meticulously executed operation designed to surprise, entertain, tickle and shock the audience (in that order). When guys start gliding on roller skates and boards instead of the hooligan baraat party dance expected of B teams, one does get surprised. Add a score of bandana sporting, hockey stick wielding Godavites and a score more chasing a football amidst all these, and you begin to wonder "what next!"
Its when all start swaying to the background score of Chak de India that you realize whats happening.
Blind Aunty, roop tera mastana, parade, GODAV. This is all that comes to mind when I think of the next few minutes.
It all came to a premature end when all Godav decided to pull off a Salman Khan with O' o jane jana. Now in order to pull off a successful Salman Khan you need to be bare chested! And that didn't go down very well with the organizers.

Strange

You attempt three out of four questions in a humanities exam only to learn later you had to answer two.
There are 20 guys in the wing, and somehow all decide to hang you upside down from the first floor parapet (though I think my duty to inform the naive reader that I am the lightest in my wing at 51.374 kg and also I might have spilled water at the entrance of a few of those guys rooms)
A monkey comes and pees right in front of your room.
And if I tell you that these are just some of the happiest quirks of fate this week, you'll know what I have been through. When things start going wrong one wonders if there is not some deep conspiracy against you with the whole world colluding behind your back.
Well the day before a physics exam is not the right moment to muse on such existential questions, but strange I say, very strange.

Pottermania

I couldn't resist any more. Not after those dreams. Soon after breakfast, I darted out of the house towards the bus stop. What if shop runs out of stuck! Who kows how long I'll have to wait then.
I was waiting for a bus on the main road. Before long, I saw a blue and white BMT bus glidig towards the stop. Just as I was getting ready to board the bus, the familiar name munnu rang out loud and clear above the din of the traffic. As I craned my neck above the passing traffic in front of me, I percieved Abhik (our acquaintance dates back back to the start of my B.Tech career when I was belaboured with hazaar gyaan from this senior) waving at me across the road.
I decided at once. No way I could have boarded the bus ignoring his smile. It may all turn out for the best after all. So I went. It was indeed a pleasure to see familiar faces at an unfamiliar land. I mean somehow whenever I think of any IITM guy, be it my friends, seniors, or even Aman I always tend to associate them IITM. That is the place I picture them all to be whenever I think of them. It was akin to seeing your school headmaster at a public restaurant. Mild surprise followed by an acceptance of the situation. Well, I went.
Glad though I was to see him, the pleasure wasn't entirely mine. He too flashed a warm smile. I asked him where did he work, where did he stay, etc, the usual stuff people meeting familiar faces on a street ask each other.
"Where are you up to?" He asked.
"To buy Harry Potter."
"What! Yaar Ganga waalon ke saamne to apni izzat ka dhyaan rakh," stealing a glance at the two guys standing beside him.
The faces of the other two widened into a condecending smile.

********************************
I was on the bus on my way back, all agog to read the book, my ears burning hot and red with the anticipation.
The phone gave a discreet ring. As I prressed the green button, Abhik's voice answered answered at the other end- "Can you buy a Harry Potter for me also?"

Figments of paper

It was a gentle wisp of a cool breeze on a wet morning, and riding along it was a tiny little bit of paper-insignificant; as insignificant as my presence in the class. A white paper turned pale with age, dirt accumulating along its cracks.
It wafted across my face into the corridor. There it was edging forward, undecided. Then the gentle wind lifted it, delicately as a mother would caress her baby. For a few seconds it danced merrily , a slow rhythmic dance. Reluctantly it came back, settling on the window border beside me. I tore a scrap from the corner of my notebook and gently blew it through my palm.
Now the lonely bit of paper had a friend. Elated. Now they were like two sparrows, skipping and jumping with little gusts of wind. And now they were like two children playing the merry-go-round, dancing in tiny circles.
"Twenty four........ (louder) twenty four!" the prof called out. "Present sir." Then I walked out of the class.

Cool Summer Style

Its the latest fashion statement in the insti. Guys with mane even girls would envy, baldies, hippies, geeks....... all have a reason of their own to shed all inhairbitions and flaunt the tough shell that houses those little grey cells.
Now why did I do it? Well for me it was a simple case of ephemeral pleasures superseding the furious stares of my GF I knew I'll have to face in near future. It all started when the drunk barber asked whether I would like to have my sidelocks short.
Apprehensive of his wavering scissors, I consented to the use of an electric razor for the purpose. Now anyone who has ever placed his life at the mercy of the drunk barber who frequents Gurunath will sympathize with me.
Now I was a novice when it came to the use of vibrating electric razors. The soothing feel one derives when the vibrating machine glides over one's head is something I almost have a fetish for. It soon lulled me to sleep and I didn't interrupt the barber in between. When I awoke from the reverie I had fallen into, a horrifying scene it was that awaited me. As I stared at the mirror in front of me, what stared back was someone alien to me. It was sort of a black flower with a stubbly brown receptacle. A few minutes of focussed attention to the image confirmed that the brown receptacle was my visage, and the black petals of the flower were my hair.
Rather than face ignominy with such a haircut, I made an impromptu decision-why not enjoy the whirring machine for a few more minutes, and mow down the entire domain!
The result, as you see my dear friends is this.
P.S. I am indebted to a great friend of mine for the inspiration for this post.

Classics

The sheer thickness of it looked daunting at first, especially with all the assignments that I've got to submit this week. But I started reading, and hoped to complete it during the holidays. It was a good book, and what caught my fancy were the initial pages of the book. I'm talking about Jane Eyre.
What I love about classics compared to popular fiction like a Sydney Sheldon, which one can zoom past, is that one needs to amble through a classic. I couldn't put down the book once I had started and put my 1st night out of this sem reading it!
Another book I highly recommend is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. The way the character of Pip develops through the story is something, I'm sure we all can relate to-and thats where lies its appeal.

Treats

Wing treats have become sort of a ritual-a great opportunity to hang out with all friends together. And in case you didn't notice, this is my new summer hairstyle.

Happiness.

Yesterday I had a weird dream.

I was a grown up man, and had returned home to my parents after several years. I was tired and sick and was lying in the lap of my mother. I was not well and had a headache I guess. I asked my mom to massage my head.

Here I must say that my mom has magical fingers when it comes to any of these two things- giving a soothing massage or making the finest rotis! Cooking anything for that matter as I remember now.

Well, getting back to my narration, as I asked my mom, she seemed to get a bit pensive and replied that her fingers have grown weak with age and they hurt . She cannot move them the way she used to. I suddenly couldn't remember when was the last time I had felt that soothing touch touch on my forehead. I couldn't remember when was the last time I had eaten her rotis, the last time I had helped her in her morning chores so that she doesn't get late to work, the last time I had waited eagerly for my mom and dad to come back from work so that we could eat together, and the last time I had told her that she was the best mom in the world, nor could I recall the last time I had put my head on her lap.

I woke up with horror, and found rears rolling down my eyes.

Suddenly the dream seemed too real and close. Now, completely awake, I still couldn't recall when was the last time I had done any of those above things. And I couldn't foresee my future any different from what I saw in my dreams. The tears never stopped pouring as I continued to be awed by the future.

At the dead of the night as the world slept (except most IITians ) , here was I pondering over the biggest challenge to all philosophers- what exactly construes happiness?

Here I am, in an institution that I had dreamt of since my childhood, learning things that are at times fascinating as well as intriguing. Though some of the things have not been as rosy as I had dreamt of them in my childhood, I couldn’t have had a better present, isn’t it?

Some time back when I joined this place, I had the chance of opting for another institute, though not as good or well known as an IIT in my hometown. I could have then enjoyed all that I miss now- all that I can enjoy only in my dreams and for a few days twice a year. I could have continued to enjoy her rotis and all those simple pleasures of life. But, would I have been happier?

I don’t think so. Then I would have missed living my dream of studying at a place like this. Besides studies, this place has also taught me a lot more things about life and people- some I would cherish forever, some I’d like to forget. One cannot have all that one aspires. Sometimes, you need to let go of some things to hold on to others. Sometimes, you need to forget old dreams so that you can achieve new ones.

I feel, no one can achieve absolute happiness. Pursuit of that elusive mirage is what drives this world. Once you have everything, then there is nothing more to fight for, and nothing more to live for. I am not an atheist, but I do ask you one thing, what would you prefer- achieve nirvana, the final fruit of all pursuits and retire from this rat race or continue to struggle in this seemingly unfair world with all its faults and.

Well there is no correct answer, and as I go back to sleep, I feel I would still like to continue the way it is now. I don’t want to know what my future is going to be, nor where shall I be. I just want it all to be the way it is.

winter at home

Eat
Sleep
Eat
Movie
Eat
Sleep
Cartoons
Sleep
Hang out with friends
Eat
Sleep
Well thats how my day goes here at home during these winter vacations. Everday seems rosy and I wake up without bothering about my next class or the pending CASDD assignment. I eat till I get bored or tired of chewing and have the option of indulging myself in "Tom and Jerry" all day. I seriously think my mom should be called on some special deputation to our IIT mess to teach the cooks there a thing or two about cooking.
Its cold here, but even thats enjoyable compared to Chennai weather.
Last week we(including my two friends) went to a movie "Kabul Express". There were a total of 15 people in the hall, including the three of us. The theatre was in its last stages of ultimate breakdown,plaster peeling off walls, seats almost rotten and cushions eaten away by rats. More than once, I looked towards the ceiling to make sure that it doesn't come too close to our heads, following the diktats of gravity what if it suudenly decided the torture and humiliation of neglect too much to bear. I enjoyed the movie, though the dialogues were barely audible through the decrepit speakers. I was home, and I was with friends. Nothing else was worth bothering about.
On our way back we went to the IG park, sort of a landmark of this small town. We enjoyed the newly installed musical fountain, though I wished we could dance to the foot tapping music.
My culinary adventures are someting I shall miss sorely back at the insti. Consider my adventures since today evening, strictly in chronological order-
Gajar ka Halwa, by mom
Samosa Chat at NAC market, koel nagar,
Gupchup(some call it Golgappa, Panipuri etc...) , at NAC ,
Carrot cake by mom
and I'm still awaiting my dinner :)

Lost it during the Shaastra, and this was in addition to the following things that I had already lost in the past few days-
my bag which was my only means of transporting all that was unwanted in my room to the classrooms everyday
my cellphone- this one was run down by a bus(not joking)- our insti bus.
my watch
another cellphone- don't ask me how.
And I have even lost count of all the things I have lost.
Well, coming back to the case of the lost mess card, its worthwhile mentioning that it also contained a new coupon booklet worth 200 bucks of extras. To top it up, I lost my mess registration password also. But relieved, I was on seeing a link "Forgot passsword? click here" on the mess registration homepage. Relief turned to dismay on getting the the following message on following the link " A most proper and honourable thing you have done. Now contact the HAS( Hostel affairs secrtary)."
This is what I sent to the HAS-
A most proper and honourable thing have I done,
Lost my mess card,and my password too gone.
Have some mercy and let me have some fun,
Extras and Lays and Ice-creams I have none.
Please reset my password and fast get it done,
Forever shall I be grateful for this one.
Needless to say, I got back my password and a new mess card to flaunt.