Lifetime Achievement

The alarm rang the usual tone, my subconscious mind was aware of the reason why the alarm was ringing early. My mind was aware that if not now, then its never. I have to get up, do something or else I'm lost. All these thoughts were haunting my mind simultaneously on one side whereas the thought of sleeping was pulling my eyelids more aggressively than the former. With much struggle I opened my eyes, took a look at the time-it was 5:00am. 'Good' - I thought and in my mind made a very quick calculation of how to dsitribute the time to each portion and be prepared. I felt very affirmative, I could make it at last! But then again something like a blackout happened and I found myself asleep again, it was deep sleep, the kind of sleep that I hadn't got for many days I thought.


A sudden shiver woke me up and asked the question to myself - 'Shyam, what are you doing? Weren't you supposed to be studying??'. Startled I woke up, the time was 7:00am. Now that the time has passed by there was nothing much I could do now, cursed myself for sleeping and swiftly got all the peices of 'Photostat notes' together and started to study. The Electronics seemed like rocket science for me that moment, all the circuit diagrams showing no meaning except for some shapes which they took. 'Come on, concentrate'- I told myself and by the time I got my concentration, the time was past 7:30am. Its always good to be on time, especially when you have exams, so I kept the books in my bag and went ahead with my daily routine and left home exactly in time for the line bus.


On reaching Pottammal junction, it was a 5 minute wait for my usual 'Sultan' bus to Mavoor and I got in with a sense of bonding felt between me and the bus. Handed over the same 2 rupees to the conductor for the 'ST' fare. God, those were the times I felt proud of being a student, giving the conductor a Students concession amount and travelling like a king! The thought of studying from the bus never passed my mind as I had already decided not to disturb my fellow passengers, such a noble thought! Got down at the great 'Kuttikaattoor' stop and the usual chat with 'Aravi Ettan' and I'm off to college.


The whole campus was surrounded by guys with books in their hands or discussions within them. Even the canteen was filled with early birds who came to 'revise' the portions. All these scenes made my heart all the more heavy. But I was fully confident about my friends who would rush me through the topics and somehow make me score. As I neared the veranda , there were Praveen and Jyothish with broad smiles on their faces welcomed me with their usual consoling tone. I asked them - 'Da, vallathum ariyo?', 'Ithoke enthu exam, povan para da. Namuk nerathe irangi roomil povam' was their reply. Then I met other guys Amit, Safnad, Najeeb, Sajal who were busy arranging their micro-photostats like fine craftsmen. When I asked them about their preparation, 'I think we got 2 essays and 2 5mark questions, that should do' was the reply. I always make up my mind not to look at the geeks studying as I would lose confidence in myself.


Then the time came, all found their respective classes and were keeping their things out and getting into the halls. Again a thought caught me,'What am I going to do now??'. With the leftover confidence I silently walked into the exam hall and looked around for familiar faces. Praveen, Jyothish, Najeeb, Sajal were all smiling back assuring me that 'We are with you'. Oh, I was so much pleased that time. I turned to look at Raman, and asked 'Vallathum ariyo?' pat came the reply 'Njan pottum urappa, onnum padichittila'. Though its the usual reply from Raman during exam times it did console me to a small extent.


The question paper and answer sheet were handed over and I went through the question paper in detail searching for atleast some words I could recollect. I was blank! I sat there thinking what am I going to do now? My thought was cut by the teacher who handed over the attendance sheet for my signature. I duly signed it, with a sense of satisfaction as to I had done someting useful in the exam hall. I looked hard at the question paper and tried to remember what I had 'studied', with courage I picked up my pen and started drawing the first questions circuit diagram. Then I was lost in thoughts as to how I could answer this one. Almost half an hour passed by and still there was no signal from my mind. Suddenly I saw Raman get up from his place, hand the answer sheet to the teacher and leave. Oh my God! I was taken aback both by surprise and happiness. while leaving the hall he passed that friendly smile to which I decided - if Raman hasn't written anything, why should I?. That's Friendship!! I did not even bother to look at my answer sheet anymore and handed it over to the teacher and left the room.


The exam being over we were all then seen at the bike stand waiting for the others to arrive. Days went by and we were having our own share of happiness in the campus. The D Day arrived, the ECS teacher came in with the answer sheets. I was looking at the bunch of answer sheets and cursing myself and the teacher. As the papers were distributed, I took mine with pride and saw the marks. It was '0'(zero). That shook me, I trembled for a moment and the very next moment was also very sad about what might have happened with my friend Raman. When I took a look at his paper I got another schock, he had scored 23!! Yes, I mean it all 23 marks!! I was furious and could only speak out the words - 'Eda Kalla' and then we burst out laughing. 


Never before in my life had I scored a full '0' marks in any of my exams. Really this one was what I call 'A Lifetime Achievement!!'

Nostalgia

Today noon as I walked out of the office towards the cafeteria for lunch, it was all the usual day to day scenes that surrounded me. People from the IT firms in the campus walking with their ID cards worn and duly dressed. I pass through the water tank which stands majestically in the Technopark campus. Then I get into another building to withdraw money from my account for the lunch, after the withdrawal I look at the balance amount and think for a while calculating the expenses for the days ahead. With the money in hand I head towards the cafeteria ordering Chapati and curry and then going very monotonously towards the counter and collecting my food. I sit on the table surrounded by techies munching down their food, some talking business, some chatting and some silently devouring their food.

As I munch upon my piece of chapati my mind goes back to the days when this time of the day had so many to offer me. We used to wait for the time to tick 12:30pm and then rush out of the class, run through the stairs, call everyone else who hasn't had lunch and head straight for the canteen. Those days money did not matter anything to any of us. The one who had money in his hand would gladly offer it to the rest of the guys and we always had a usual cusine, the cheapest of all - "KHALI BIRIYANI". Even before getting to the canteen counter we would all decide what each one wanted and then cries of "Moideene oru Full Kahli, rendu Half Khali..." and alike would be heard. Eating the lunch was the best part, chatting about the girls in the college, cursing the teachers for lack of attendance/internals and so forth. Soon after the lunch we would again gather around the cash counter to check the balance amount and then buy chocolates/Kadalamuttai for it.

The time after lunch was the most enjoyable time of those days. We would all assemble at the Bike Stand each perched upon a bike on which he felt comfortable and then its - 'Start, Action...!!' to "Bird-Watching". The sight of Girls walking to and coming from the hostel is the most gifted sight that we could get and the following outcome would be comments and gossips and so on. That time anyone passing by could clearly see the Gem sparkling in each one of our eyes and all of us would be so focussed on the activity that we would be unmindful of all other things going past us. And then when we are sure that all the usual figures have passed by its TaTa to the Bike Stand and again curses sweared at the teacher comin in for the next hour and off we go to sleep on our benches.....

Missing you all Guys...