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.
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