26th July 2002; My first day at the college, a revered institution, a fervent passion of every callow in the country who aspires to be more than an engineer. I was in the IIT of my choice, destined to become an Electrical Engineer. They say that this place was the first engineering institute in the whole of imperialistic British Empire.
We were asked to assemble in the Senate Hall. This hall spoke of the tumultuous times this institute witnessed before being accorded the status which started the race of other institutions clamoring for the same. The hall looked as if this place left the argument to be in consonance with time long ago. I started to wonder whether I made the right choice by coming here, my friends in other IITs had already hinted against it, the sultry weather further aggravated my thoughts.
But my perspiration did not long last, as she entered the hall; I was led to fantasize, I was no longer a part of the babble going on in the first JEE batch. In a Blue green salwar sout, she adorned the moment. Her hair tucked in a pony tail, were all beaming to life, as if they were eager to explore the adventure that lied ahead. The lucky few had the opportunity to stroke her forehead. She was beautiful, her spectacles added to it. She should be having the smile of Preity Zinta, the same dimpled cheeks. That was my first guess. Wow, we had a star in our campus.
My day dreaming was broken with the Director arriving at the scene. Calling it a scene would be most appropriate, the chaos that prevailed on the registration with the DUGS shouting at the parents made it clear that administration was still uncertain with their new found identity. It did not take long enough for me to realize that the institute faced an identity crisis, as magazines and news papers repeatedly misquoted on the number. We were now seven and not six, seven, just like the seven colors of the rainbow, well may be.
It was where I discovered the joys of being at the threshold to enter a new phase that had just begun. My transmigration from an adolescent to…. a young man was besotted with; I even did not know her name. I soon realized that the director had invariably put the burden of building a resurgent India to a bunch of naïve freshmen. After all, IITs are known world over as leaders in technical entrepreneurship. I now belonged to bandwagon which included top honchos of the Silicon Valley and the Indian IT Industry. I recalled that few days back Bill Gates was quoted as saying that B2B no longer meant business to business; it was modified as “Back to Bangalore”. I could not agree more.
After the speech, we were to proceed to our departments to get oriented. I hurried to know her name, especially the department. There was a good and a bad news. The bad one was she was from a neighboring department, the good news was she was to be in the same batch with me for the next year. One year, I chuckled, was more than enough, my infatuation overcoming my senses. I was again woken up by my mother. She was waiting outside the hall. Mom and dad had a reason to be happy. They were; cautiously happy.
And then it started. I entered into the mystique duniya of dreams. I could see her, I could see a B.Tech from IIT, and I could see a handsome paying job, everything so exquisite. Who would want to wake up from such a dream, but dreams, they are meant to be shattered, and they did.
I soon realized that I was too much a idealist. Things never work the way you think, they are too be made to work. The rigors of IIT were never easy. At the end of the year, I found myself to be an above average far from good student academically having nothing extra to boast of. I never managed to say a “hi” to her, even when all that time I could see her sitting next to my bench. May be I wasted to much time fantasizing. Taking her down on a piece of paper only made me sulk.
But every thing was not that bad. IMG happened to me. This group gave me a reason to smile, actually to be hysterical. Sadly though, the coordinators decided against her, she was not to be taken. This was the first group that took future into account while deciding.
As the coordinator of the group three years later, I thank them, I would not have been what I am, and I would have gone into oblivion.
We were asked to assemble in the Senate Hall. This hall spoke of the tumultuous times this institute witnessed before being accorded the status which started the race of other institutions clamoring for the same. The hall looked as if this place left the argument to be in consonance with time long ago. I started to wonder whether I made the right choice by coming here, my friends in other IITs had already hinted against it, the sultry weather further aggravated my thoughts.
But my perspiration did not long last, as she entered the hall; I was led to fantasize, I was no longer a part of the babble going on in the first JEE batch. In a Blue green salwar sout, she adorned the moment. Her hair tucked in a pony tail, were all beaming to life, as if they were eager to explore the adventure that lied ahead. The lucky few had the opportunity to stroke her forehead. She was beautiful, her spectacles added to it. She should be having the smile of Preity Zinta, the same dimpled cheeks. That was my first guess. Wow, we had a star in our campus.
My day dreaming was broken with the Director arriving at the scene. Calling it a scene would be most appropriate, the chaos that prevailed on the registration with the DUGS shouting at the parents made it clear that administration was still uncertain with their new found identity. It did not take long enough for me to realize that the institute faced an identity crisis, as magazines and news papers repeatedly misquoted on the number. We were now seven and not six, seven, just like the seven colors of the rainbow, well may be.
It was where I discovered the joys of being at the threshold to enter a new phase that had just begun. My transmigration from an adolescent to…. a young man was besotted with; I even did not know her name. I soon realized that the director had invariably put the burden of building a resurgent India to a bunch of naïve freshmen. After all, IITs are known world over as leaders in technical entrepreneurship. I now belonged to bandwagon which included top honchos of the Silicon Valley and the Indian IT Industry. I recalled that few days back Bill Gates was quoted as saying that B2B no longer meant business to business; it was modified as “Back to Bangalore”. I could not agree more.
After the speech, we were to proceed to our departments to get oriented. I hurried to know her name, especially the department. There was a good and a bad news. The bad one was she was from a neighboring department, the good news was she was to be in the same batch with me for the next year. One year, I chuckled, was more than enough, my infatuation overcoming my senses. I was again woken up by my mother. She was waiting outside the hall. Mom and dad had a reason to be happy. They were; cautiously happy.
And then it started. I entered into the mystique duniya of dreams. I could see her, I could see a B.Tech from IIT, and I could see a handsome paying job, everything so exquisite. Who would want to wake up from such a dream, but dreams, they are meant to be shattered, and they did.
I soon realized that I was too much a idealist. Things never work the way you think, they are too be made to work. The rigors of IIT were never easy. At the end of the year, I found myself to be an above average far from good student academically having nothing extra to boast of. I never managed to say a “hi” to her, even when all that time I could see her sitting next to my bench. May be I wasted to much time fantasizing. Taking her down on a piece of paper only made me sulk.
But every thing was not that bad. IMG happened to me. This group gave me a reason to smile, actually to be hysterical. Sadly though, the coordinators decided against her, she was not to be taken. This was the first group that took future into account while deciding.
As the coordinator of the group three years later, I thank them, I would not have been what I am, and I would have gone into oblivion.
6 comments:
hey man
you know your attitude and your work ethics have been ans inspiration for me so you can never be a loser.as far as the girl goes as i said earlier you will never know till you give it a try and as far as the future goes u catch that billi of urs and dont worry on this front.there is a beautiful weeken ahead.
njoy
now its high time buddy
u got what u wanted; success at work which u rated so high, recognition,above all u didn't merged into the crowd; except one thing.we have been listening this story of urs for the past 4 years, u know what we always told u, no need to repeat it again.just believe ur friends and do it.for god sake u r a achiever man.
well this page was made to write comments bout ur blog, i guess i hv done something else.but i loved it.keep on doing the good things.
bye
now its high time buddy
u got what u wanted; success at work which u rated so high, recognition,above all u didn't merged into the crowd; except one thing.we have been listening this story of urs for the past 4 years, u know what we always told u, no need to repeat it again.just believe ur friends and do it.for god sake u r a achiever man.
well this page was made to write comments bout ur blog, i guess i hv done something else.but i loved it.keep on doing the good things.
bye
hi vivek
oblivion did u say ???
so IMG happened , what if it would not have happened ?
what if you chased your destiny ?
what if you were a bit adventurous ?
what if u were game ??? may be .....
circa -2007
That day while i was sitting beside her on the bench i realized the feeling that i had not even imagined. The closeness of her body ,the smell of her hair flying in the breeze ,and the eyes which held such warmth .I just wanted to stay there in that very instant for the rest of my life , when she took my arm and pulled me out of my dreams i could see what she was to me and i just couldnt let go . She had the freshness which could cause a hundred hearts to skip a beat , she took my hand and we walked towards her hostel which seemed to b very close i stood a long time staring in those deep blue eyes the journey had ended but my destination wasnt clear ,reluctantly i took my leave ,while leaving i felt a stab of pain in my heart, i turned back to look at her , she was looking more and more charming as i mooved away ; as a lone light attaracting a moth ,but keeping mum i mooved on knowing not weather my feelings are right or not besides IMG NEEDED ME . THEN IT CAME TO ME IN A FLASH what is more important my life or a long TO DO LIST and i TURNED BACK in the arms of my beloved ,it was a point when i had to choose and i chose her ; i took the right decision thank god for that; for she was waiting for me loooking sad and uneasy ,as i told her i had my heart in my mouth. Offcourse she accepted ,but now as i think of it, i laugh a lot ,had i taken a wrong turn i would have reached IMG -could have easily become the CO-ORDINATOR but to what ends , with her i found out what true happiness means , with her i am perfect i live really live .thank god for her and every thing she means to me .life starts after birth but mine started after IMG gave way to the light of my life .
hey buddy
at least u had ur chance ..??????
bbye :)
Nice one.. I will post a more non-laconic comment later.. Gotta go.
You are destined for things much greater than such trivial pursuits. The two years that I knew you, I never thought that you were serious about her. The only thing missing in your life now is her. You have everything else you wanted - "a B Tech from an IIT, handsome job and everything so exquisite." Someone better will definitely come your way. My take on this whole thing is that she doesn't deserve someone like you, who was so devoted in your admiration, silent as it may have been.
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