Intelligent Conversation?

"Another day at college, another day rushing past, another eight hours spent trying to grasp concepts. I'm glad its over", I thought as I sprung* up the steps into my college bus. The first thing I did was hurl my bag, and lab coat** onto an empty seat. Then I looked around quickly hoping to see someone who'd make intelligent conversation for the journey home. I spotted one of our lecturers*** in the bus. As far as intelligent conversation was concerned, I had no luck .(Lecturers are off limits)
Just as I was about to settle down on the grimy, brown seat (At least it had the virtue of being cushioned... grimace) and brace myself for a boring journey, lady luck smiled upon me. Thin**** and Uncle**** (Read Unkall) walked in. "Good! Now I wont be bored", I thought as I greeted them. We settled down on a seat just behind the lecturers'.
Then began a free flowing, easy conversation.We discussed the cse-b project that was entered in the design contest, how to market a new computer game and even our dreams in life.I was really having a good time until Thin started discussing GRE.
Thin urged me, "Do GRE man, take it seriously, do it before August. They’re including American History after that. The immigrants must know the lay of the land, so they're adding it.” I exclaimed, " I didn't know that. Really?” He fired a question,” Who signed the declaration of independence?" Jefferson I retorted. And who wrote it? I didn't know and I told him so... I was worried by this development.It could mean that I'd have to study loads more(Groan!).Much to my constrenation, he stressed the importance of giving GRE before the pattern change again and agin and again.
I was worried , the dates for GRE were already taken. I'd have to skip food and sleep and take it in two months!I went home in a whirl, rung up my dad and requested him to verify the American history lead and whether I would need to write it by august. I also called up a bunch of friends and asked about it and started researching on line. Tired and dizzy, I automatically picked up the phone and punched a number and started going on about this new bombshell without preamble. The surprised friend on the other line had to make me clarify it twice before I realized who it was....
Finally, I found the new pattern and saw that there was no American History! I ground my teeth. I’d had wool pulled over my eyes well and truly. Humph!


*
Yes sprung, not clambered, not run, no that's for lesser mortals, not me... Grin stupidly!!

**
A grey woebegone clothe, with two armholes and the Easwari college logo stamped on it... Even an elephant would've been ashamed of the colour.

***
1.Type1: A quintessential creature you'll meet in college, whose sole purpose is to bore you, test you, deny you your rightful attendance and in short make your life hell.
2.Type2: Strict disciplinarian, Draconian classes, well respected for knowledge or hated for the lack thereof.
3.Type3: Easygoing funny, nice.... you know
4.Type4: The true teacher, genius and guide

****
Thin is not very descriptive is it? But I've decided not to use names or specify details, which could identify people. Oh! Ok, for your sake, I think of him as the neighbourhood bad boy, the good friend, and knowledgeable hacker. He is also my senior at college.

Uncle: 20 going on 80!!! Master cynic! Joker!

# Bus: I'll write a post on it, way too much to describe.........

Blame Opal!!!

Jade, crystal, quartz, emeralds, rubies, sapphire, diamonds and opal, all gemstones, none of them worth bothering about, I thought, until now. Wikipedia says and I quote," Opal ranges from colourless through white, milky blue, grey, red, yellow, green, brown and black. The word opal comes from the Sanskrit upala, the Greek opallios, and the Latin opalus, meaning precious stone. " You'd think that a polite disinterest would keep it out of my life. Then again you might say Opal is harmless, maybe you'd even want to wear one if you happen to like gemstones. But do not be fooled! Opal is nightmare!!!

Wait! Before you decide I have a spot of sunstroke or that my brains are addled, let me tell you what or rather who Opal is. She is the protagonist of Kavya Vishwanathan's infamous book, "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life." Yeah that’s the one facing charges of plagiarism! All might have been well; alas it was not to be. My friends read the book and I haven't had any rest since. Woe is me.

Why? You might ask and rightly so! I dear sir or madam reading the blog have been subject to unending, unjust and untiring comparisons with this girl. Have I ever hinted that I like studying and that I posses an attitude? Well it seems that this girl was a major nerd. Solving the Fermeculi formula no sweat, reading up on abstract philosophy easy, have fun.... wait, "Define fun", she might've said. And then it seems she got a life, as the "Oh! So obvious." title suggests.

My friends are divided in opinion. One set think there is an obvious and hilarious similarity between Opal and me. That said, I'm no longer going to soil this post with that monstrous name (Whisper -for those why haven't got it yet- Opal) .The other faction, consisting solely of one member, defends me saying, " No! No! He isn't like that. He wouldn't be mean to his friends.... He’s more like Hermione." Ayah the pain! By this point I’m mentally praying, "O God, my divine father, and maker, O mighty Shiva, Vishnu and any other divine power listening, deliver me from this torture.... When will it end?"

Hey! It isn't the first time, I've been compared to many other unpleasant things. Time I got over it don’t you think?

Me an inmate at kaala paani???

... Wake up. Do you want to get whipped? Save your rebellion and energy for the breakout...Wake up now.I woke up groggily...As my consciousness returned, I noticed that I wasn't on my comfortable bed but on a coarse hard surface of some sort. I opened my eyes slowly and the world slipped into focus (Clichéd eh? Its true though).... I saw a weather worn, rugged face staring at me. Aaah!! I yelled and I would've bolted too, but the man held me in a vice like grip. "Do you want to get both of us flogged? Behave yourself! This is kaala paani prison not a circus" he scolded. What balderdash, I thought; I should be safely in Chennai city preparing to go to college!

The man gave a long sigh and said, "Get ready, its time to start work.We will attempt to escape soon.Anthony is diggimg a tunnel....." . He continued speaking, but I wasn't listening anymore. I thought I heard TRUMPETS in the background. (No I am not kidding. I heard trumpets! I can’t be mistaken. My dad is in the Army so I've heard them before. No mistakes there) I looked around the room (Or should I say cell?), it was dimly lit and bare, save thin rugs on the floor, one of which I found myself sitting on :). As I peered through the gloom I noticed a narrow grill window far above my head. A little light filtered through it in beams but did not reach the ground.

I heard a harsh call,"Come out or get beatings and have no food for a week!". Turning around, I peered through a narrow grill door set in the wall. The owner of the voice presently came into view through the bars.He was a evidently guard of some sort, clad in a khaki uniform and a queer, tall green cap. Had the situation been any different I would've burst out laughing at this comic apparition, but the stern look on his face silenced me. He then proceeded to place chains and fetters on the both of us. I was too surprised to protest. And I moved out double quick with my ...friend? (I assumed he was....) . I blanched, seeing the long whip the guard flaunted.

We joined a thousand other fettered prisoners wearing thin cotton kurtas and trousers in various shades of brown (For lack of a better description! The prison clothes were torn and grimy. I thought that they might have been white originally. An unbearable stench hung in the air.). Quite anxiously now, I joined the long line. After attending to natures call, we were sent to a nearby shed, I assumed that it was where we would do hard labour :( . I moved, but not quickly enough! I yelped as I heard a whip crack and a harsh "move fast", luckily the whip (A long thick brown rope one made from vines, if you must know.... Shudder!! ) missed me by a hairs breadth. I hurried up and attempted to talk to a fellow prisoner (He was a tall wiry chap with a black goatee.... He kept silent.I realised, too late, that it was a wise move). At this point the guard lost his patience, yanked me out of the line and began to march me away from the others. I caught occasional sympathetic glances, as I was hurried away. The guard was muttering dire threats as he pushed (Brrr.. Absolutely blood curdling ones) As we moved, I began to hear cries of Aaarh Govindaaa Govindaaaaa (In an unbearably pained voice) I gulped and as we moved the voices got louder louder and louderand louder still...

My eyes jerked open, I noticed my grandmother yelling at me to hurry up and move before I missed the bus. I had dozed off on the sofa!!Ad I noticed with a jump that a Bhajan was blaring from the T.V. "Govinda Govinda". Aah I escaped from Kaala Pani the dreaded prison!!! Yeah right!!!!!.... What a nightmare... I bolted out of the door, grabbing my bag and books, when I noticed the time was 7:40. Shit! I'm late. Stupid bhajan scared the living daylights out of me...Damn!! Why can't they hire someone who sings well for a change? Those monstrous cries of govinda were heart rending, painful....

I better come clean now and tell you that this whole post is loosely based on a real dream of mine (I dreamt it a couple of days ago). I’ve been to Andaman and Nicobar and visited the Cellular jail or Kaala Paani or Black Water prison (3 names....). I haven't stuck entirely to the dream except for the govinda part (grin ;) )
I want all of us to think about what it took to gain India its freedom. Remember those selfless fighters. On a lighter note DD channel needs to change that awful bhajan singer before someone decides to kill him and end his piteous moaning.

Your usual,average mad rush

Hai! First up, welcome readers, so glad you heard about, found or more likely stumbled upon my blog.If you are brave enough, read on and find out about me. I have a crazzy life, a sharp mind, clumsy gait, awful awful spex and a thirst to prove myself.I care for my friends and family (as do everyone) and for those who know it I am an affectionate person .
Venture down to the main block of Easwari Engineering College Chennai and more likely than not, you'll find someone in a mad rush.For a moment, you'll see curly black hair , big executive bifocals(brown shell frame yukk), a too formal shirt and trousers, a card whipping past attached to the neck by a rope, hurtling pell mell towads you and then, whooosh, the apparition is gone before you can say "whoa".You'll more likely than not hear a shouted sorry, if, you're jostled out of the way(Didn't jump away fast enough? Never mind you'll learn). Now I can guarantee with 100% certainty that what you saw was me(and I am not proud of it!).
Want to know more?Sure keep reading this blog and you'll see loads more!!!