The silver jubilee celebration that had gathered hundreds of alumni was
over that evening. The nostalgic aura that was all over the place for
two days was now a victim of the Sunday evening that was paving its way
to the rigid Monday morning. Some had to attend college, others their
jobs. Some had to catch a train to Bangalore, others, a bus to
elsewhere. I was in the league of the guys headed to Bangalore in a
train to attend my college.
It had been a year since I had joined college and my looks were nowhere close to a college guy. Also, it was not the first time I had encountered a situation that had put me in an awkward scenario- like the one I’m going to narrate- about which I don’t really complain.
I was in my usual rags. A knapsack, earphones tucked in I boarded the Channamma Express. As I was searching for my berth, my eyes caught a familiar face. As I approached him, I thought he must be Hanumanthgouda Patil, a senior four years older to me. I paused my music, removed my earphones and said- Hi anna, I suppose you’re from navodaya. Hanumanthgouda anna right?
He- Yes. Indeed. I remember you from yesterday. You’re from which batch?
Me- 18th batch. Ashok sir’s son’s batch mate. Four years junior to you.
He- Oh! Nikhil’s batch. Which college?
Me- (with pride) MSRIT.
He- (in a suspicious tone) Rammaiyaa? Bangalore?
Me- (bit surprised) yeah.
He- studying diploma there?
Me- No. Engineering. Mechanical branch.
He- (suspiciously) management seat?
Me- got it through CET (Common Entrance Test).
He- (surprised) what was your CET ranking?
Me- 1578
He- Good ranking.
Me- thanks anna.
He- (relaxed) who was your batch topper?
Me- me.
He- (with a convinced look) what did you say your name was?
Me- Anna, Warsimakram.
He- (grinning) so you’re the guy on the board.
After another brief conversation about some random stuff, I bid him adieu. The TC had allotted me an AC berth, seems I was lucky.
Again, the earphones in, volumes up, I went on to search my berth.
(Don't be too much inspired. Warsimakram is my good old friend who hangs with me. He is also unemployed. Yo!)
It had been a year since I had joined college and my looks were nowhere close to a college guy. Also, it was not the first time I had encountered a situation that had put me in an awkward scenario- like the one I’m going to narrate- about which I don’t really complain.
I was in my usual rags. A knapsack, earphones tucked in I boarded the Channamma Express. As I was searching for my berth, my eyes caught a familiar face. As I approached him, I thought he must be Hanumanthgouda Patil, a senior four years older to me. I paused my music, removed my earphones and said- Hi anna, I suppose you’re from navodaya. Hanumanthgouda anna right?
He- Yes. Indeed. I remember you from yesterday. You’re from which batch?
Me- 18th batch. Ashok sir’s son’s batch mate. Four years junior to you.
He- Oh! Nikhil’s batch. Which college?
Me- (with pride) MSRIT.
He- (in a suspicious tone) Rammaiyaa? Bangalore?
Me- (bit surprised) yeah.
He- studying diploma there?
Me- No. Engineering. Mechanical branch.
He- (suspiciously) management seat?
Me- got it through CET (Common Entrance Test).
He- (surprised) what was your CET ranking?
Me- 1578
He- Good ranking.
Me- thanks anna.
He- (relaxed) who was your batch topper?
Me- me.
He- (with a convinced look) what did you say your name was?
Me- Anna, Warsimakram.
He- (grinning) so you’re the guy on the board.
After another brief conversation about some random stuff, I bid him adieu. The TC had allotted me an AC berth, seems I was lucky.
Again, the earphones in, volumes up, I went on to search my berth.
(Don't be too much inspired. Warsimakram is my good old friend who hangs with me. He is also unemployed. Yo!)