Events Relating to 30th August, 2007
I was expecting to reach Trichy at 1400hrs. It was 1130hrs. I was deeply engrossed in my book. At one time I almost fell asleep. At sometime before 1230hrs one of the passengers with me exclaimed that we had reached Trichy. I was not prepared what I was in the middle of. I had already packed my bags so preparing to get out of the train was not the problem. But somehow I was not convinced that this was Trichy at least two hours before time. And this wasn’t even a Superfast express that I was traveling in. The great Indian railways never impressed me more. At least not since Lalu happened to it I guess…
Whatever. I was three hours early to the time I had told to Anaiappan and Aji. I was at the station wondering what line of attack I should follow. Should I go to Lena and wait for Anaiappan to get home. Should I stay in Trichy and may be browse for a while and then move off to Lena when their classes conclude. I decided in favor of the former scheme. Reached Lena at 1430hrs. Then I thought of going over to the college and getting the keys from Anaiappan. That won’t hurt so much!!
Keeping my bags in a shop facing the bus stop, I set off towards Muzon. I can hardly forget that walk. Every step evoked some strange memory of my hard fought life in the college that I once despised. Key word being “despised.” As in Past Tense. There is nothing that I can complain of. My life there was what I chose it to be. I hope that the students of that college realize(the sooner the better) that complaining won’t get them to a better place. Utilizing limited resources will( that includes something called TIME).
Aju was the first guy I met there. Then Aji and then Anaiappan. It was a short encounter. They were in the lab. I took the key and decided to go to Anaiappan’s house. After roaming for a while with Aju around the campus I decided It was time for me to “make a move.” On my way out I met Mr Moses( lot of history associated with that name) he advised me to take my certificates from the Exam Centre. A good advice is always welcome. I got my certificates but not the TC. Met Mr Jayson and his wife. The couple was recently married. Had a short talk with them. I was then on my way out.
It was my third year. We (me, chris, Wil, kamal, jac, sumit) had just been chucked into the “dorm”(a large room later to be used as TV room). We were angry at being treated like this(later we were happy that this happened). Jac acted as the catalyst, me and wil decided to move out of the hostel along with him. We decided to get permission from our parents to escape from the hostel. I was the first one to call home. Both of our parents were going for the GC session to be held the following week. I told my parents about the conditions prevailing in the hostel. They asked me who all were going to move out with me. “Wilfred bhi bahar aa rha hai.” The instant reply. “Uske parents ne allow kar diya?” The question. “Haan allow har diya.” They hadn’t. In any case they were going to allow him, I thought. A similar conversation took place between Wil and his parents, he mentioning that I was allowed to move out. I had no idea where this was all going to end up to. We had told our parents to send the letter of permission to be sent asap. His parents were told this just hours before getting into the flight.
The letters never came.
A few weeks later I made inquiries about how much time it would take the letter to come as we had looked for a house outside in Lena. It seems that both our parents had talked with each other with neither confirming that they had allowed their wards to leave the hostel and thought it best for us to remain in the hostel. Our cover was blown. Thus, I remained inside the hostel another year.
The next year it was me, christo and kamal who decided to move out. aGAIN. This was my third attempt to get out of the hostel, the first one not worth being mentioned as it was not a very strong attempt( in all a mutiny at best). This was the strongest I had tried to get out. I had personally moved out for an interaction with the land lord along with my mouthpiece. It was he who communicated my views to the landlord and in time adulterate it with his for which I was much pleased. The house being confirmed me, Anaiappan, and christo were sure to move in. He got the signature from his father. I wrote the letter. A similar case for kamal. But I did not write it. I and Anaiappan got our letters from home. Both signed and written. Now was the time to get out of the “miserable place” for the hostel was then being “ruled” by Mr Moses.
I think that Wil knew the consequences of our tactics and chose to be the audience. I would consider that a wise move. Even I had second thoughts about it taking into consideration what happened on the previous occasion of a similar attempt.
My parents had allowed me to move out of the hostel. At last. The management did not concur for reasons that it knows alone. I, however, have my own hypothesis.
Thus, I was left to remain inside in the hostel another year. This being my final year. But this was the year that enjoyed the most with my juniors in the hostel, thanks to a change of guard in the hostel. But more on that in some later chapter.
I can hardly imagine the happiness I felt when I was at Anaiappan’s house for this was the one I had decided to be in. I had tried to get out of the hostel every year since I had got inside but never could. My first two years were the time that I enjoyed with my seniors and the next two with my juniors. I had my share of cherished moments that would seem strange to some yet filled with euphoria. One more journey that we were planning out from the first year of my attendance in Muzon was Jac’s Munar trip. Tell this to wil and check his expressions. Still under construction I guess, “hey jac?” Not forgetting to mention Wes’s fabled trip to North India,”hey Wes!!”
But what I liked the best about Muzon is the interaction that seniors have with juniors. A place where all juniors know what the seniors are upto and vice-versa. Free flow of info from the top to bottom of the food chain. At least that was so till I was there. Not like some other institutions where forming exclusive clubs is the main mantra. Where ragging is done in groups. The trend seems to be catching up in Muzon too. Signs of a big institution in the making?? Guess so!!
Aji and Carry!! Take care of the News papers!!
I’m Out!!
