I was sleeping with my head comfortably tucked in my arms on the desk. Ah, the kind of satisfaction that I got out of that nap was amazing. The dreams were slowly making their way into my mind from nowhere and I was enjoying myself. Memories of the wonderful days with my friends were lingering on my mind prompting me all the more to continue sleeping. Suddenly a pat on my back woke me up, enraged I woke up and to my surprise found the lecturer standing there and staring at me. What the hell? I woke up only to realize that my wonderland of dreams were washed out.
The dutiful lecturer asked "Are you not writing anything?". Damn, I came to my full consciousness, it was an exam hall! The day had the most interesting paper to test my 'knowledge'. I scanned through my answer sheet to find with surprise that I had actually scribbled in something for the questions. But still lot more waiting to seek my answers. I looked at my sides, to my right I saw Praveen who was also in the same sleepy state as me looked at me and smiled. Such smiles passed during the exams are the ones that give you a rare courage, the feeling that you are not alone in this duel. My head was feeling unusually heavy and eyes protesting to remain open for long. But, I brought forth all my control and started scribbling. The answers were picked from my memories ranging upto high school level as that was the most generic question paper of all - "Environmental Studies".
But Why was I feeling so drowsy?? My thoughts then raced back to the previous night and I knew exactly what the reason was. A small grin appeared on my face and I passed a smile to a drowsing Praveen.
The fourth semester exams had a unique way of dealing with me. I had thought to crack the exams with the tried and tested method of - Write in heaps and your marks will leap. And to write up a lot, subject knowledge was a barrier so I tried my best not to touch the books and write as per my understanding of the question. Another strange event that happened on the eve of every exam was the meeting at the local Toddy shop. Very incidentally, Praveen and Jijeesh used to come to our room for a 'combined study'. Both adorned with broad smiles used to come on Praveen's splendour bike. Their very sight used to stir an unknown storm of happiness in me and Aalap.
On the eve of EVS(Environmental Studies) exam, I got a call from my cousin who had just got a new job and was treating me for it! How better can things get on the eve of an exam! I was overjoyed and headed straight away to Calicut town. My cousin came in time and picked me in his bike, on the way he told that a few other of his friends would also be coming for the treat. I thought, the more the merrier, for it was his generosity and I would make full use of it. We headed to Maharani Hotel and into the 'Tharavadu'(ancestral house) Bar. Inside the 'Tharavadu' I could spot many 'Thara'vaadis laughing, smoking, shouting and all in their own world. That was a joyous scene man (you know what I mean of you ever had been to a Bar). Then the party started and I had decided to make full use of the treat. Treated myself to some of the best beer available and a few rounds of vodka, then there came that feel-good factor of being lightweight. I was enjoying thoroughly!
I fancied a ride through the city on my cousin's bike and he gently agreed. We drove to the beach, spent some time there bird-watching and then as it was getting late for me to 'study' I asked him to drop me back to my room. I personally wanted to drive and forced the handlebar from him and drove up to my room. I was taken aback by the scene I saw at my room- I saw Aalap and Praveen swinging from side to side, asked them what the reason was for which the reply came 'We just had 2 rounds of Toddy'. I had mixed feelings inside me, I had missed a brief meeting at the Toddy shop with my friends and they must have missed me too. Dejected I asked them - 'Shall we have another round?'. On hearing that Aalap started the bike and in minutes we were found waiting outside the Toddy Shop. Minutes turned into hours and I do not remember exactly how many trips we had made that day to the Shaap. Exhausted and tired in the end we decided to end our travel and wind up at room. We had some music going in the midnight and were dancing to our own tunes. In the morning I was awaken by the dutiful Jasir who used to be the first one to wake up in our room.
The hangover was terrible and I had a sharp headache. My eyes were too tired being deprived of their sleep but the sense of commitment to Calicut
