Life: Multi Colors
Himanshu Chauthiya
Chapter 1: The beginning
Blame it to my habit of fiction novel reading or to my two years spent at IIT, whatever, I just screwed up my life…Its not like one day you get up and found an screw in back but, it happened in evening...That’s too on a very normal day..
Sometimes it happens in life that you want to do something else and it ends up in something other else..and a totally messed up end. You want to say “Yes” and other feels like “ Yes, Yes, Yes.” And when you want to say “no” message goes like “ no no no “ whatever…
When I was about to enter in IIT, I was told a joke by my friends that once an IIT fellow was in a bus returning to campus from his home, and a young lady sweeper sit next to him, and within 10 minutes he proposed her…The crux of the story is that how eager people use to be for gals in IITs.
I started reading novels when I was just about to enter in my b tech 3rd year, that’s too on the suggestion of my roomie zeshan, according to whom It necessary to go thru novels if you want to be a professional, moreover a successful one. I was clueless of my taste then, and randomly I started with Khuswant Singh’s The company of Women. The novel although remained uncompleted by me but I realized that I should go for more enlighten type of novels. I read many a management novels, inspiring novels, a lot. Then I switched to some serious ones like “An Equal Music” but soon I stopped after somehow trying to read it till 36 pages….”God this is not my pie of life”, I said.
Chapter: 2 Sarojini Bhawan Day:
It was the month of December and I and Hemant were sitting idle in F 17, one of the most deadly rooms of Cautley Bhawan.
“What’s the plan for evening” I asked.
“Nothing. Why” Said Hemant.
“Its Sarojani Bhawan Day today dude”, I said while adjusting myself in my Bed.
“Naa... No invitation …and U?” Hemant said.
“How can I have, if a dude like you is not having” I pushed a comment for Hemant.
Just then entered Fahad in room and we all talked of our poor state in Roorkee in terms of female friends. We all use to be very friendly guys but with boys only.
Suddenly I got a call from Hansa. Till now we have talked for two times only. One when we met thru one common friend and second time on 17th November, when I enjoy my appearing on this planet Earth.
“Why is she calling today” I thought for a while and picked up the call.
“Hi. Himanshu How are you” Hansa said.
“Fine you tell, how’s your study going?” I said, as if I am her local guardian.
“ Fine. So have you checked your mails?” Hansa asked.
“Yes. I am checking them constantly within hour, why?” I replied.
“Have you received any mail from me or not?” She said in anxious voice.
“No… What’s that a forwarded one or what?” I quizzed.
“Have you checked your rediff account? If not check please” Hansa ordered.
“Ok Wait…Will call you back” I replied and rushed to my bed to check my mails on rediffmail.com, the account which usually I don’t check.
“These girls will never do anything properly, even can’t send a mail in proper ID like Gmail.” I whispered, when Hemant interrupted.
“What’s up?” Hemant said.
“Nothing ...Hansa has send some mail in rediff account ...perhaps some paper or some thing else. Checking that.” I said.
“Dear Himanshu,
It’s a pleasure for me to invite you in our annual hostel function called “Sarojini Bhawan Day”. Please make sure your presence well within time. For details and timings please find enclosed the card. Make sure come before 6 PM, as then I will be busy in entertaining other classmates also.
Thanks
Hansa.”
I read with my volume getting lower towards the end.
“Cool, Dude ...I am going. I have got it.” I announced to Hemant and Fahad, as if I have won an Olympic Gold and just got the confirmation mail.
Well getting an invitation for Sarojani Bhawan Day was no less then winning Olympic Gold, as one girl could invite one boy only for this annual event, which gives a chance to go inside the heavily fortified girl’s hostel once in a year।
“You will go alone?” Cried Hemant. What a guy, as if I am going to meet his fiancée. “Well what to do man! Logically only I have the invitation till now. Its 4 PM now and I see no hope of any invitation for you or Fahad within these two hours. And frankly speaking I don’t want to loose this golden chance of visiting there” I preached Hemant, just like the guy who stands 1st in an examination preaches to the 2nd ranker.
In between within 60 seconds I have think of my dresses, my shoes, gift to be carried if any. I concluded that I need to buy a fresh pair of T Shirt and Jeans for this special occasion. Shoes were ok as Reebok brand matters. My ATM has around 12 K bucks so No Problem at least for that. Gift I decided will not compulsory, as I have never presented any gift to any girl, so I kept out again of this idea, “after all my presence matters most”, I concluded. Shaving, Trimming, quite a lot things to do that’s too in 118 minutes! “Get Up and Get Ready” I told myself.
Till now Hemant had informed Khalid, Fahad and Anant of my achievement. They all started pulling my leg for going to girl’s Bhawan. I didn’t feel bad as if anyone of us five would have won this chance, had faced same criticism. I just smiled for them.
“Brother, do something yaar…ask her to arrange some passes for us. “ Hemant said.
“Is it possible” I replied in a cold tone.
“Try. At least try. Will it look better, if you go alone? You won’t have even company there for time pass. If we will be in group we will be having more fun and let me have a single chance to enter in this Bhawan day, I assure you of line of passes from gals next time” Hemant pleaded.
“Ok ok…brother wait. Let me check” I said, and called back to Hansa. She was happy to know that I have seen the mail. But soon she got puzzled by my demand when I said, “Is it possible for you to arrange invitation for two of my friends? Hemant and Fahad want to join me there.”
“I will call you back in 5 minutes” She said. It’s already 4:25 PM. I looked at Hemant after putting down the phone. He was busy in talking to some girl for arranging some passes, but the face was showing that he is not comfortable. I was constantly looking at my watch and Hemant.
To be contd…
Phase 2: Meeting with Hemant
Hemant, one of the liveliest people I have ever met in my whole life. He had always been very very caring towards me. Our friendship was a real famous in hostel and class also. He was my cycle teacher, from whom I first learnt how to put foot over pedals. Our first Meeting was also very interesting.
On the very first day of enrollment, I was allotted Cautley Bhawan as my hostel for my IIT life. I was just coming out of registration room, when one fellow, more then 6 foot height, hair style like 60’s Amitabh Bachan appeared and said” These are your snaps? I matched you right I think? I got them lying in table inside”. “Oh Thanks dude. Mine only, well Himanshu here” I replied. “This is Hemant. Hemant Sharma from Indore, Madhya Pradesh” He said. I thanked him and came out to catch a rickshaw to go to my allotted hostel.
“Sir Proby Thomas Cautley”, I read while entering the reception of hostel. I initially thought it is named after great economist Kautilya and misspelled as Cautley but after reading a brief introduction I came to know that’s this is after some Thomas Cautley, engineer, builder of Ganga canal. “Sir, Himanshu, M Tech Ist year, Mechanical” I told to a sincere looking fellow, thinking him some warden person, whom later I came to know as Residential warden, Ashish.
“No chance! Why don’t you understand? No single room available now! It’s packed. What do you want, a double room or triple seated room? Don’t worry. The triple one is for 1 month only then it will be converted to double bed only. And even now if you want to try then go back to allotment persons and try there if you have luck for single room. Ya but there’s a chance your double bed room can be converted to single seated in January” Ashish told me, while entertaining a rush of crowd in the tiny room of warden.
“Crap!” I cried. I came all along to Roorkee thinking to have an independent life, and now this bloody warden or whatever, is spoiling my dream of staying single. “Ok Sir, allot some double seated room” I murmured. “S-19, Second Floor” Ashish told me while indicating towards upstairs.
I just opened the corner room “S-19” I said and entered. The room seemed quite large and the best thing I found was that, it was the last room of wing, so we were having additional windows on one more wall, which were being opened towards tree and field. “Cool room in fact” I put my luggage down and entered in balcony. “Wow. Beautiful view.” I got happy for the first time after entering to Cautley, but at the same time started thinking of my future roomie for next some 6 months at least. I became very selfish and thought of taking some advantage in room before receiving my unknown roomie. I shifted one bed towards the balcony side and put my luggage over that to occupy that. How selfish I was. Anyway.
“Hi. Hemant Sharma” that snap fellow entered in the room while knocking also with one briefcase and one bag in hand, and smiled at me. “You are the same person naa who had given me my snaps? You are also allotted Cautley? Which room? Which course? ” I asked all questions in one go. “S-19” he replied. “Joined in M tech Mechanical in Production Branch. And you?” He asked. “Same here but branch is Machine Design Engineering”. I proudly told as Machine design course is considered as the best in M Tech, and only top scorers used to get it in all IITs...
“ Ok welcome, to be roomie.” I said. Trust me, I could not judge immediately whether I should be happy or sad. Getting a roomie with same branch was really a helpful and advantageneuos thing but at the same time, the idea of having such an impressive looking personality as my roomie made me a little upset. I thought wont he dominate me for 6 months?
“Ok welcome, to be roomie.” I said. Trust me, I could not judge immediately whether I should be happy or sad. Getting a roomie with same branch was really a helpful and advantageous thing but at the same time, the idea of having such an impressive looking personality as my roomie made me a little upset. I thought wont he dominate me for 6 months?
But things turned not so bad. We later shared a great bonding with one another. We were quite different in nature. But most important thing was that, Hemant was the most caring guy I have seen till now. He was the most active guy of hostel and quite hit among all students, even not of his course. He uses to have a very social and active life. Swimming, Music, jogging, watching girls and yes combing (which use to occupy his 1/10th of total available time) were his all time hit passions.
Phase -3: Meeting with Priti & Himani at Sarojini Bhawan Day.
“Ok Come.. I have arranged one extra entry pass for you but it doesn’t include food pass. Ok?” Hansa told.
“Ok Ok no issue, we will manage..and what’s the exact time when we are supposed to be there?” I asked to her watching my watch which was showing 4:45PM now.
“Please. I have told you naa to reach anyhow by 6. Ok be here by 6:15 PM. And give me a miss call when you reach at gate” She said.
“Congrats brother. At least entry pass got arranged. What lies in food dear? You can share with us. Important thing is you are coming. Right?” I told Hemant.
“Thanks Brother. You are dude. Man. “Hemant said while going neat to mirror to see his face and hair style.
We rushed to civil lines to get some good new clothing. Since 5 months, after coming to Roorkee, we were using same 3-4 T shirts having prints of IIT or its tech or cult fests. We both purchased a good pair of jeans and Shirt. And while returning took a cutting and shaving at Kalim’s tiny shop inside hostel, where we had to wait for 20-30 minutes, as every body wanted to look the most impressive fellow tonight. The joy and satisfaction in each of the boy in line can be felt easily. After all only around 10% of total boys used to get this chance to join Sarojani Bhawan day. And being in that 10% means you are enough attractive and charming to impress all other friends in group, that’s too thru out the year. Wow..
SO finally at 6:35 we managed to reach at Sarojini bhawan’s gate.
“God! What a rush” I said to Hemant while approaching near to SB and managing my bicycle in the heavy crowd. First I thought that that all crowd making fellows are waiting for their turn to get enter, but later on I came to know that this was the rush of fellows who had not managed to get a pass, and expecting some miracle there. Poor fellows.
“Hi. Sorry dear. We are at gate, me and Hemant” I called up Hansa.
“Park your bicycles outside. And I am coming to make you enter” She said.
