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I thought the sparrow’s note from heaven

Singing at dawn on the alder bough;

I bought him home, in his nest, at even;

He sings the song, but it cheers not now,

For I did not bring home the river and the sky.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson, Class of 1821

It surprises me that I haven’t actually penned a review on one of my all time favorite books. The Class written by Erich Segal is one of the rare books which I must have read at least 15 times by now, and I finished it yet again a few days back. Give me this book or Erich Segal’s other book Love Story and I can read them back to back forever. The Class is a classic book, an education on life, an inspiration on life and overall a book which remains with you. I have read this book from whence I was in 11^th standard till now, and every time I have read it, I have found something new about the magic of this book. No it is not a deep philosophical book, but rather a book about everyday characters, however gifted to be Harvard Graduates.

The Class Is…

…a story of 5 individuals, totally different in their perspective towards life and their life at and after Harvard. The Class is a richly composed moving story of 5 people and their trials and tribulations in life. Its the story of individuals who will go for anything in life to achieve their dreams and fulfill them. While George takes the smart road, Jason himself for the just cause of his background.

The Class Is…

…a story of an era of 5 people who after their life at Harvard discover that life is not as easy or real as it is in College. It is the story about Andrew Eliot who discovers his helplessness and his hopelessness at non-achievement in life. It’s the story about Danny Rossi who in his peak realizes that  there are a few things you cannot fight.

The Class Is…

…a moving story of Theodre Lambros and his love. It’s a story of his trials and struggles to be the best amongst the best and serve Harvard. Its also story which spans 25 years from the day the five graduate to their 25^th reunion.

The Class Is…

…a lesson on life, for everyone who reads this book will first be transported back to his college days and life amongst it. While one may recall his daily dosage of bird watching, the other might related to what a psycho room-mate one could end up with. Still others would remember how in the deepest desire to perform well and not being able to, a individual takes a drastic step. Yes, you can all relate to it.

The Class Is…

…a story on truth and the courage to stand behind the truth. It explores the individual who lays up his life full of happiness and goes back to his homeland to fight the cause his generations have fought for. There he finds not only love, but his own individuality too.

The Class Is…

…a sad story of a father who is so hopelessly lost in life that he loses touch with own children, so much so that they leave him. It’s a moving tale to realize why the father decides to give alms to every beggar on the road for just a hope.

The Class Is…

…a story on morality and selfishness. How high can you go? How high can you reach? Would you give up everything in your life to get there? Even yourself? The Class is a reminder that even the best schools don’t teach you to be happy with yourself.

The Class Is…

… a story of Expectations. Its a story of an individual so lost in success that the success brings about the better of him. The Class is a reminder of that individual who at his peak of his career realizes that he probably had too much of it to do anything about it.

The Class Is…

…a story about Friendship. Miles may keep you apart, but friendship won’t. It’s a story about one man’s selfless life in helping others, the others being his friends. It’s a story about one man’s efforts to get all his batch mates together for one last time.

The Class Is…

…an education on the importance of your alma mater in your life. For it teaches you that that place where you come from is the single most important factor for your future life. Its  that in those 4 years that shape you for the life.

The Class Is…

…the genius pen of Erich Segal at work yet once again bringing out supremely constructed sentences and memorable dialogues. “Do you smoke?” “No. Its bad for the wind”

The Class Is…

…the genius of Erich Segal in bringing out a story so real, so emotional, so inspiring, and above all heart warming. It’s a book where you want to laugh when the characters laugh and cry when they cry too. You can’t help being one of them.

The Class Is… a kaleidoscope of life. To miss this book is to miss something important in life.

Can you miss someone you never met?

I have been pondering on this question since days now, and the more I think of it, the more it makes sense to me that it is not just momentarily, but I miss someone I never met constantly. But who is that someone in my life whom I miss so much in spite of not meeting that someone?

May be its a friend I hoped to make but I ended up not making.
May be its the girl of my dreams whom I haven’t met till now.
It might be my grandfather whom I didn’t even get to see…
May be its a friend I long for whenever I feel everyone else is very busy to be around me

Or may be its just God. Perhaps… Maybe… Ummm

Sigh. If wishes were horses, and if this SPAM mail actually happened in reality, I would have been so so so happy. Love such SPAMS from attorneys of Nigeria – I usually feel rich after readin their mails 😛
——————-

Dear Deshpande,

I am Barrister John Emenike Briggs a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Engr,Fredrick Deshpande,a national of your country, who used to work with oil development company in Nigeria.

On the 21st of April 1999, my client, his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost thier lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also Proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about 8.6 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next ten official working days.

Since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country and bears the same surname as his so that the proceeds of this account valued at $8.6 million dollars can be paid to you as his next of kin and then you and me can share the money.65% to me and 30% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please if you have accepted in transacting this deal with me.

Get in touch with me through my alternative email address ;infojohnemex@maktoob.com
which is: indicating your interest and also to discuss further so as tell you the necessary proceedings to follow to get this fund transfered to your bank account. It is 100% risk free.

Thanks and God bless

Brrister John Emenike Briggs.
Note,it is very important you reply me
with:infojohnemex@maktoob.com
for security reason.

COMPLIMENTS TO YOU Deshpande
——————————————
Use o melhor sistema de busca da Internet
Radar UOL – http://www.radaruol.com.br

8.6 Million Dollars!

Sigh. If wishes were horses, and if this SPAM mail actually happened in reality, I would have been so so so happy. Love such SPAMS from attorneys of Nigeria – I usually feel rich after readin their mails 😛

Dear Deshpande,

I am Barrister John Emenike Briggs a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Engr,Fredrick Deshpande,a national of your country, who used to work with oil development company in Nigeria.

On the 21st of April 1999, my client, his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost thier lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also Proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about 8.6 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next ten official working days.

Since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country and bears the same surname as his so that the proceeds of this account valued at $8.6 million dollars can be paid to you as his next of kin and then you and me can share the money.65% to me and 30% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please if you have accepted in transacting this deal with me.

Get in touch with me through my alternative email address ;infojohnemex@maktoob.com
which is: indicating your interest and also to discuss further so as tell you the necessary proceedings to follow to get this fund transfered to your bank account. It is 100% risk free.

Thanks and God bless

Brrister John Emenike Briggs.
Note,it is very important you reply me
with:infojohnemex@maktoob.com
for security reason.

COMPLIMENTS TO YOU Deshpande

Use o melhor sistema de busca da Internet
Radar UOL – http://www.radaruol.com.br

If there is any proof that the chinese people of the past didn’t possess any creativity or imagination, I am willing to accept it as a fact, rather wholesomely. It had always bothered me that why would anyone want to eat rice or anything else with two dangling sticks in their hands, and not use more informally easier methods – say spoon, or get even – hands!

A quick search on google for “history of chopsticks” revealed to me that Chopsticks were originally invented 5000 years ago in China (where else?!). The need for chopsticks seems rather strange. Ancient chinese used to cook huge chunk of food in one go, and used to use use sticks and twigs to retrieve them from the boiler pot. Eventually, they realized that it was better to cook food in smaller chunks, and hence the size of sticks used to be reduced. Next they realized that they could infact use it to eat the food itself!

But chopsticks themselves became popular due to teachings of Confucius – his preachings around chopsticks were more of a symbolic rather than its usefulness – He believed that knives should not be present on any food table, and hence chopsticks served as a greater use to symbolically note the same. And thus since then, chopsticks have immensly grown in popularity. In addition, chopsticks were believed to improve finger dexterity (aha!), and sharpen your brains. Also, indeed, chopsticks were believed to be superstitious objects – for example, if you dropped chopsticks, bad luck came your away (ewwww!)

So much for historical insight, a good 5000 years later, a me and my friend decided to visit this Mongolian grill. Leaving aside the grill, I decided to experiment with chopsticks and eat the rice. The first step was actually trying to catch it right – according to the dummies guide to chopsticks printed at back of the chopstick folder, was the first step: Catch the chopstick between your index finger and ring finger in a way that its end lies in base with the thumb, and is firm and does not move. Step two: Catch the second chop stick between your thumb and your first finger and balance it on you index finger – this should give you the dexterity to move this one chopstick.

Now using the movable chopstick, grab a bite of food between the firm handle and flexible handle and quickly globble it up.

Easier said than done! The fact was, half the time my chopsticks crossed up each other. The effect being, while I was trying hard to keep the firm chopstick “firm”, the other one refused to stay everything but firm. Half the time I couldn’t pick any morsel of food, and the other half of time I did manage to pick some food, I had to do a balancing act for a good few seconds to balance morsel. Next, fearing it might just drop any moment, I quickly bent my face towards the morsel and had it (and I always thought it was the other way round…). If I let the morsel of food stay any longer than 2 seconds between the chopsticks, then (a) either it would slip off between my chopsticks, or (b) my chopsticks would again cross up each other throwing up my food in air!

After about 15 minutes later, and just 5 morsels in my mouth, I decided to change my tactic. I used a fork instead! Sometimes, europeans were smarter.

Some other day, my valiant self will try this tactic again. I just can’t believe that half the earth’s population actually eats wth chopsticks and I cannot!

This perhaps is the most difficult book review I will write. How I wish I were Salman Rushdie, so that I could bring about the essence of The God of Small Things in the most proper way. There aren’t many books written to which there are only two thoughts – one who think this book is crap, and the other who think this book is a masterpiece. I am in the latter thought. I agree this is not one of the easiest novels to follow, but if you have patience and imagination of Roy, I am sure you will appreciate this book more than it deserves.

The God of Small Things

The God of Small Things is a story told in tragedy. It begins through the eyes of Estha and Rahel, the twins who are about to meet each other. The story then transcends into their childhood days and the life then.  Estha and Rahel are the twins of Ammu, the central character of this story living in a small village in Kerala. They live with their relatives, namely their uncle, grandmother and their grand aunt,  who don’t show much love nor respect to Ammu for having divorced her Bengali husband. We see the trials and tribulations of Ammu and her kids through the eyes of Rahel, the sister of the two.

It would be easier to put the whole story in a linear motion and in a concise way. The family owns a pickle factory and works in it, however they come in conflicts with the communists. At around the same time, the family is awaiting the arrival of Sophie Mol, the kid’s English cousin. While they await and make preparations for her arrival, oblivious to all of them is the fact that Ammu is quietly having an affair with the untouchable of the house – Velutha. Their love affairs largely remain a secret, for they meet behind a house largely deserted, on the other side of the river. Sophie Mol finally arrives and one day goes out with Estha and Rahel to play. However tragedy strikes when the waters increase and Sophie Mol slips away into the river. However Estha and Rahel survive and so they witness their Mother with Velutha.

What follows the death of Sophie Mol is a series of tragic events which leave the family completely shattered and helpless. Ammu decides that she cannot take care of both the children and decides to send Estha to his father. Estha does go back to his father, only to become dysfunctional and dumb; i.e. he never speaks again. Rahel too goes away to stay away from her mother. Ammu dies after couple of years after trying to get out of her helpless situation. One fine day, Rahel comes to know that Estha was to come back to her for her father doesn’t want to take care of him. An adult Rahel now comes back to old place, Aymanam, to see the barren household, hopelessly lost house.

That itself is the beginning of the book, a sad Rahel coming back to her decimated household to await her brother. It is this wait which sees the memories flying back.

The Style of Arundhati

Linearity perhaps was one of the most brilliant aspects of the novel and perhaps one of its most weakest points. Though the above story looks and feels pretty linear when read as a review, its execution in the book is entirely non linear. The book moves back and forth between different set of time periods with amazing ease and amazing confusion. Unless read carefully and understanding the time space of the events in the books, it is simply impossible to appreciate that book. I do think that not all of us like to read a book in this manner, but this is exactly what makes the book brilliant. The final love making between Ammu and Velutha  and  the  symbolic reference to The God of Small Things is the last thing in the book you will read, however, occurs much earlier in time space. Once you understand the time space  and its variations in time slice in which story moves forward, its then you will appreciate the beauty of the book. Roy must be the only author who had the whole story in her mind, and then broke down the events so brilliantly and mixed them up.

What would be the use of course if Roy had just wrote the whole book in a linear fashion?

The Language

Arundhati Roy manages to weave magic in her words. While she too resembles a style similar to Salman Rushdie, you will not have to run for a dictionary every few lines like it happens with Rushdie. Roy expresses the joy of monsoon, the pickle factory in sublime manner – it take time to digest her words and enjoy the beauty of them. This book is simply poetry in motion. The description of the village and events is so rich that I actually saw the story happening in front of me. The part of Ammu giving up her son at the railway station moved me to tears; it is one of the best written events I have come across in any books.

Who should read this?

– People who love experimental books full of good language and prose

– If you like Arundhati’s any other essays, you should read this

– If you have a penchant for liking booker winners and serious stories

– Most importantly, you are ready to read the book as the author wants you to and not as you want the book to be.

Who should not read this book?

– Slow and tragedies are not your cup of tea

– You like stories which move in a linear fashion without getting too confusing

– You like books which don’t digress away into explaining events in detail

Finally

This is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. I mention this book too in my review of 5 best books. Roy’s imagination and her style of interweaving the events in a most disjointed way and come off with it something truly remarkable. If you do like Arundhati’s speeches, then I suggest you read her speech on war she came to United States, or her essay on the Narmada Dam. If you love both of them, then its time for you to experience The God of Small Things.

Read this book – patiently – and read it as she wants you to read it.

Did you ever try to hide information from your parents when you were young? Did you have all kinds of secret places that you did store your stuff away from the brooding eyes of your parents? Did you ever write a secret message that only your friend/brother/sister could understand? I did this when I was in engineering! There were a few names and references, which I never put in my diary I used to write then. So what did I do – I took a 6×6 Matrix and labeled the horizontal  square co-ordinates of the matrix as a numerical integer starting from 1 to 6. Similarly I named the vertical squares co-ordinates from 1 to 6.  Next I placed  my alphabets A to Z in each of the squares. So whenever I used a letter, all I had to do was look up the table and put in the number generated through the combination of the number formed by looking at the row and column I had placed in. The empty squares I used represented the spaces. So whenever I wanted to refer to the girl I had the crush on in my diary, for the fear that anyone else would come to know, I always used to enter in my diary — 361141223123.

Little did I know then that essentially, what I did was to ENCRYPT my message so that no one read it. I also made sure that the only people who knew the KEY to the matrix, i.e. what type of matrix (6×6 or 7×7) knew about the word I just wrote above! Essentially, I was the CODEMAKER or better still a CRYPTOGRAPHER. However it didn’t take very long for my friend to DECRYPT or decipher this message. A World Wars enthusiast, he knew that such a CIPHER (the algorithm) had been used before, and promptly in around half hour, he did come with the name, and all my secrecy was lost! What he did was breaking the code, which would make him a CODEBRAKER, or more properly CRYPTANALYST. The battle between the cryptographers and cryptanalyst has long since been in our lives, only that we don’t know when we used it. Same is it with the world of scientists, armies, intelligence, governments – whoever wins the cryptology battle, either coming up with new technique, or an idea to break it, wins the race.

Simon Singh brilliantly illustrates the fact above in the book he writes. Simon Singh writes this beautiful book named The Code Book, a brief history of cryptology from the early inception to the latest developments in the cryptology. This is easily one of the best books I have ever read in my life, and it easily compares to another great book – A brief history of time by Stephen Hawking.  The author retraces thorough the birth of cryptology, and the difference it made to history of the world.

How did cryptology originate? Who used it? The author traces back the life of queen Mary who used to write encrypted letters to her followers, so as to escape from the prison. However little did she know that, her encrypted letter itself led to her doom. The author retraces how and what she used, and how the code was essentially broken. Though one may feel that the form of cryptology used then was pretty good, it was essentially weak. The way the code was broken is pretty amazing to say the least, and prepares you to all the other parts of the book, which cover more and more complicated form of cryptology.

Essentially, the book is divided into 8 parts. The author begins with the story of the cipher of queen Mary, and traces through  the birth and origins of cryptology. In the next chapter, he proceeds to explain a cipher “Le Chiffre Indechiffrable”, an encryption algorithm which was thought to be un breakable for years together. The author explains the power of the technique and level of encryption it provided. Every time a cipher was broken, a new cipher needed to be born. This is essentially what led to mechanization of ciphers – i.e. machines doing the encryption for you. The author beautifully traces the history of cipher machines, and explains the greatest cipher machine of all times – the ENIGMA machine, which still remains as one of the best ciphers ever made. Changing tracks, the author then presents a decipherment of the ancient languages used by the Egyptian culture. A set of symbols, meaning absolutely nothing at first go, were analyzed and their meaning was understood. It’s an amazing chapter as to what an instinct and deep research could do – the language of Linear B was broken with little or no help at all.

The death of second world war also saw the computer  coming into use for the first time. The author then progresses to explain the encryption technologies used with the computer. He explains about the public key cryptography in this chapter, which literally defined a new era of cryptology. Public key cryptography was essentially this – in the code I mention in the beginning, for another person to crack it, he would have to know the key i.e., that is what kind of matrix I used, is it 6×6 or 7×7 or anything else. Once the other person also knows the key, its trivial to get the message back. The problem was – how do I get the other person to know of my key without it being intercepted by others in the first place? The RSA algorithm as the techies know it better, does just that. The makers of RSA algorithm come up with an algorithm where in its possible for me to let others know what key I used, without disclosing it at all! By the way, “RSA” in its true form is pretty unbreakable.

The author the proceeds on to explain the principles of the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption scheme which was loosely based on RSA. The author then proceeds to explain the effect of quantum mechanics and how if quantum computer were to become a reality, then literally a new era of cryptology has to begun. Why? The algorithms of today like RSA or PGP are so strong, that cryptanalysts are way behind trying to find a way to break this algorithm or find methods to find weakness in algorithms. The author also proposes an algorithm based on quantum theory and claims it to be the algorithm which will never be broken – meaning, an algorithm, which will not break because of its own properties! I suggest the reader read it thoroughly to understand what it is.

All throughout the book, the prose and tone of the book remain constant which is very necessary for such a book. The author brilliantly mixes history with cryptology and how it changed history. The author also gives and acknowledges the efforts of all the individuals who went un-named because they worked for the government agencies and much of their work was never made public. He points out the original people behind the computer, RSA algorithm, and richly pays them his tribute.  The style of the  book is amazing. The author uses figures, tables and examples to explain each of the encryption so easily that even a layman can understand everything in the book. That’s where the book scores – it doesn’t cater to geeks or techies; instead, its been written for common people like you and me to know about cryptology better.

Right now, its clearly the cryptographer, or the codemaker who is leading the race in cryptology, by coming up with algorithms which cant be broken. However who knows, behind which secret agency a person might have already broken RSA, but hasn’t come out  yet! That is the beauty of cryptology – Breaking the secret, also remains a secret!

As for the message I encrypted above – find out for yourself about the name of the girl!

And while you break my code  J, READ THIS BOOK! Its just BRILLIANT.

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 31^st, 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  ”There will be no water in the hostel tomorrow as the pump broke! So you did better fill up your buckets for your morning activities!!”. 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 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th 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 3^rd 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. 4^th 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.