As I pass through the memory lane and the wheel of time stops on the first day college, there are a few memories that stand out. The first look at hostel, the feeling that you are as free as a bird... dying down, the fear of how you will be able to survive for four years in this place, the first meet with friends (who later on became gang members… who still stick around with me!), the orientation, the first food at canteen (and you almost throw up), the bland hostel food, everybody talking in Tamil and none in English (for a person who is used to talking in Tamil ONLY with his parents and English/ Hindi rest of the time.. that was a BIG shock), thinking again whether you have made the right choice by leaving your comfort zone and coming here but then decide not to tell this to your dad cause you chose it and want to stick by the decision (read as EGO clash!).
There are few things that when looked back doesn't even matter now. It seemed so funny when I wrote the above paragraph as things changed a LOT in 4 years at THIGARAJAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, MADURAI. But then, there are a few things that flash through your mind… you remember how it was initially and what you expected it to be, and now when you see how it is… you have that silent smile on your face.
One of such things happened at the ORIENTATION on day 1 of my college. I don't remember much of the incident. I am sure someone would have spoke of the college… we had a tour of the college, etc. But there are some things that I clearly remember. It happened during my tour of college. Just when I was thinking of how crappy the place is and how the hell would I manage to survive for 4 long years in this god forsaken land which people outside Tamil Nadu have hardly heard about, there she was… In a traditional black salwar. I have no idea why I saw her, but I guess she stood out of the crowd. White as milk (with extra talc-powder! Extra-extra I guess), dangling earrings, cautiously listening to every single word that came out of a prof. who was blabbering (learnt later that she was from IIT, M teaching in physics department). I kinda got scared looking at her initially, looked highly padauk as if they we were going to write a pop quiz about the orientation, but most importantly, she made me realise that I had not heard a thing. Well, I almost believed that there might be a pop up quiz in the end and the topper gets his degree certificate instantly. But then, being just me, I did not bother about the orientation but surprisingly this female stole my attention. Well, after all, she kinda smashed the feeling I had that there CANNOT be gorgeous Tamil females, least of all in Madurai. She made me believe that if there was one like her per batch, there might be more fishes in the ocean (a fact that got squashed, smashed, vaporised as time went by). As I was looking at her, apart from other things, time flew by and we ended the trip. After which I NEVER saw her. I knew it was too good to be true and I can NEVER meet her again.
I NEVER knew NEVER would be so short. I saw her soon enough in college, a couple of classes beside mine. But, by then, I learnt that the best way to survive at madurai is to keep your mouth shut as English is considered SIN, Hindi is considered out caste and broken Tamil (well.. cracked.. crushed.. Tamil) like mine would be like begging people to make fun of me (sad that this fact remains true till today... no matter how much you improve... you are still remembered how you were when you initially came). So, the usually boy move (very different from other boys in mdu) to ignore the person (nothing like beating their ego!) and walk as if she never existed. Hmm... Little that people knew this was a desperate attempt not be made fun at in front of her.
Fast forward (wish there was something like that in real life…) Universe conspired... and due to various... NUMEROUS... truly memorable events... we met up again and started speaking. I don't know if it was because of courtesy or true affection, I was invited to her birthday party. Well, I so really wanted to be there… but then… I had to leave a day before for HOME. Tough decision… but I guess what I did was right. I REALLY wanted to go home. A lot of things happened when I was not there… but then… that's for later!
Well… for the good I guess... we ended up in a gang called SWASHBUCKLERS (the gang was the best thing that happened to me in my 4 years stay in Madurai). And I DID get a chance to go to her house (well… right now I must say… the first of god knows how many!) and not just that… we were invited for lunch! Food is something that stimulates me any day. But little did I know what that trip held in store for me. I realised from where she got that genes of being amazing. I met her mom. Man… I MUST say… as I keep repeating to anyone I meet… she is truly amazing. I cannot expect someone who would willingly invite a big bunch of hostellers for lunch. I am not sure if she knew what she was into but then too late to back out. I don't know about the rest… but I ate... ate... and ate like there was no tomorrow and then chilled out for the rest of the evening.
A little more into the future, these trips became more often (it's not easy to keep eating hostel food), we gelled better as a group and she always stood out. She had an identity of her own. A charmer, good at studies, ethnic, and almost everything that you can expect from a girl. As I look back now, I don't know what would have happened if she was not there. As time flew by, we became closer and I respected her for what she was. I can remember numerous events where we had a nice and memorable time.
5 years with this girl, laughs, fights, arguments, cheap talk, crappy jokes, first time I PROVED I could cut onions, embarrassment (I called her a deaf girl instead of a white girl... in Tamil), a little bit of sorrows, and lots of lovely memorable times we shared together. If I were to make a pie with these as the ingredients, I am sure that would make my taste buds go gaa gaa goo goo.
And now when I was looking at her, with that silent smile on my face, she was taking a big step in her life, with all these memories flashing by in front of my face, I really can not express the happiness I felt. I don't know why but to see her smile to glory, the sparkle in her eyes and the tears of joy silently dripping from her eyes after the event made the entire occasion even more satisfying. And to be there with ALL the swashbucklers standing next to me as we stole a silent look from each other… I am sure we all were happy for her.
I just hope our relation does not end over here… and you would still stand by us and be part of the Swashbucklers in spite of how cruel, demanding life becomes and keep up for all that we thought we were, the swashbuckling spirit. It has always been a pleasure to be with you and shall always be.
Wish you a Happy Married Life… Mrs. Nisha Vinoth.
August 28th, 2008
