Memoirs of a Different Life.
It was sometime in month of December 1996, that I first saw my hostel I was going to spend my first year. The first feeling was dread! I just couldn’t think of living in a hostel, far away from home. Seeing my disgruntled face and behavior, the kind warden (who seemed kindly then!) told me not to worry, and said that the guy I was going to live with was a good guy, and he faked that he knew him personally. Still not so convinced, I landed in my hostel in the first week of January next year. Why? Well some friends who had already joined the hostel in December itself had warned me that our seniors were planning a mega-ragging party on December 31st, and I was better of at a local guardian’s place!
Keeping in mind the warden’s words, I spent my first few reluctant days at the hostel. In-fact the very first night I joined the hostel, a huge water truck came up to the hostel, and a guard declared â€ÂThere will be no water in the hostel tomorrow as the pump broke! So you did better fill up your buckets for your morning activities!!â€Â. Welcome to HOSTEL LIFE: I thought! The position of my room didn’t help me get over my dread either. The windows opened to a beautiful view of a grave-yard, while the door opened to a view of temple on a hill. I made sure that the windows were closed at night, and the first thing I did in morning was to open the doors! A few days later, my room-mate did join me. I can still remember exactly how and when and where we met for the first time. Little did I know then- The most important person in your hostel life is your roomie. He shapes you. You shape him.>
My room-mate had previous experience in hostel life, and this was not new to him. However he did once remark to me that the first time he met me, my size (well back then folks!) actually scared him, and he had a scary thought I did easily pull him out of the window! The first few days were hilarious to say the least. I remember still being utterly shy even to change a shirt in front of my room-mates! However as time went by, I knew I had no other go. I did make up mind once to not be shy any longer. That change of shirt was the first step in what I would call in me becoming bolder towards others. It was an important lesson I learnt in those few days. Being Bold.
The days passed by, and within a wink even before the first years were getting used to each other, exams got over. Suddenly, it was time to leave the hostel, and enter the big hostel, where 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students lived in complete harmony! I can still remember my room-mate telling me on the last night in the first hostel we spent – Everything passes away in a wink of an eye. Lets make sure we enjoy the rest of these 3 years more than we did this time.. So true, everything does pass within a wink; and even today I feel I could have enjoyed those days more!
In the second year, we were introduced to our seniors, the final year’s (as they were called) and super seniors who either were stuck in their final years, or could never make it till there! Ragging was more in second year for us as the first year hostel was securely guarded against anti-first year social elements! Second year, we were like gladiators in the arena! After the initial bouts of ragging here and there, things cooled off pretty much well between us and the seniors. And then when it came to know the tricks of the trade as how make an impression on professors and all. Of course, I had a great difficulty in addressing my seniors as ‘Sir’. My roomie once remarked: just think of Sir as Stupid Idiotic Rascal! I didn’t have problems addressing anybody as ‘Sir’ any further! Of course, in due course I did realize: Not all seniors are bad! In fact, some of them are absolute gem of people and did do anything for you..
I didn’t exactly get along with third roomie very well. In fact many a times I fought with him as well. However, we managed to stick along. By the end of 3rd semester, I and the third roomie were great friends, and in fact worked like a team when it came to putting our first roomie in a thick soup! My fights and quarrels with third roomie did help me realize that The best of friends may not start well. Adjust, Compromise and Listen. They can work wonders.. Towards the end of the semesters were times when the whole hostel was on fire. Notes being exchanged here and there, the continuous Xeroxes, the line in a room to meet the geeks of the hostel, and of course the tension we had when the results were released, and then the paranoia over results afterwards. 4th semester, I needed to clear one subject, which otherwise would have set me a year back. I still remember the days when my roomies went out of their ways to help me out. Be it emotional, inspirational or just even a break; they were always there. Its that time that you realize that Friends you probably made here, are probably the best friends you can ever make in your entire life..
Third year came; we became seniors! Some of our seniors graduated, and while some others still stood with us; and yet some other Super Seniors, now became our Juniors!!! Third year was kind of cemented the relations between everybody. I knew my partners well, my hostel mates well, the mess food manager, the cleaner, the bulb changer, the canteenwallah, and the likes! Its so strange that you end being attached to so many people around you. Suddenly, I felt that my life couldn’t be without the usual complaining of food or fights over a mere rupee with the canteenwallah! Of course, we did our share of ragging too; and yeah, we too wanted them call us ‘Sir’!
However, The third year and the fourth year didn’t prove anything more exciting than it always was for us. I partly missed out on the fun because I moved out of hostel for several reasons. However, I couldn’t really get out of it. I remained more in hostel than in at my place!!! The third year and fourth year at the hostel taught more than anything else that camaraderie was the only thing one could really ask for in the hostel. The endless nights, those birthday celebrations of each and every living member of the hostel, the usual hooliganism which marred the hostel were a part and parcel of our lives. Of course, the hostel also taught me one thing: Try everything thrice. If you get what I mean!.
In the last part of third year, we lost our most beloved friend: my roomie. The later year in hostel also taught me how lonely and painful it could also being living in a hostel without someone behind you. Its those times when you start missing home and start missing your friends very much. Its also the time when you probably start hating a hostel in some ways as well. It also brought to me the realization that the world didn’t stop by for my grief, but yeah it did stop when I was happy.
It’s a strange feeling I get now writing this, 4 mere years of hostel can turn out to be the ones that shaped me to what I am today. If a genie ever granted me just one wish, I would ask for my second year of my hostel life to repeat till the end of eternity. They were simply the best, and so they will always be.