The Journey- From Child to Man

It all started with.....


Last week of May 2006, I have just started to stretch my legs a bit after the deadly one month of Competitive Examination tortures and the results started to pool in. Scary moments I must say. Learning guitar was a mode to ease of the tension building up amidst all these. Though I can confess something out here that I was preparing myself for the College life ahead ( I thought it was all about playing Guitars and bunking classes, Silly me!!). And so the day finally arrives. I took off to nearest cybercafe early morning at 8:45 alone( requested my parents not to accompany me, still not sure why?) . The results were expected at 9 am. Luck seemed to have drained out that day, no cybercafes were open, didn't they know that the results were supposed to be out today. After a few more desperate searches I finally spotted a cafe wala opening his shop. I made my nervous footsteps to it. The feeling was indescribable. Thousands of questions were in my mind. After juggling with the keyboard and CPU, the screen asked me enter your JEE roll no.. Like a obedient kid i started pressing those 7 Digits and hit the Enter. The expression started changing from Nervousness - Dehydration - Shock -Surprise - More Surprise - rubbed my eyes - Joy - Victory. I shouted my heart out. Called up Mom and Dad and felt that pride in them. I had my Victory Lap from Cafe to Home.

The Screen said, " Congratulations!! You have been called for Counseling at IIT BOMBAY!"

Interlude.......

@IIT BOMBAY.... You have got B.Tech Civil in IIT KGP!! My first thought, the place with the longest railway platform in India, must be a good place!

Few days later, A letter arrived saying due to some errors before students with rank above 1600 need to appear for re counseling at nearest IIT.

@IIT KGP.... What a waste of land, this is so big and its all jungle everywhere. IIT Bombay was way better. Hostels seemed slum houses to me. I wish I dont get KGP again (no offense intended to KGPians). After much hustle tustle I got IDD Chemical IITR.

..... But how could that be possible. The brochure said last year it closed at 1345 and I got this at 2474. (For the confused souls, It was a mis printing, else i would never have entered that option).
Now wait what does R stands for . ROORKEE.... so where is it ? Must be near gangtok or so. Checked the map (ATLAS of School days), basically looking at eastern zone. couldn't locate it untill my brother pointed out its there in Uttaranchal.

Its time to get ready for an Unknown land.... Haridwar .. where I let the baby's hair shaved off.



From 1st day to 1st year.......

The train just passed Roorkee at 9 in the morning on its way to Saharanpur. A small station. Ahhh I am stuck in a village.
The bus from Saharanpur reached Roorkee and after a few hours I made my first few steps towards my ALMA MATER. The place is amazing, not so big as IITB or IITKGP. Similar to IIT Delhi, well maintained. Ahh the biggest Nescafe I have ever seen. Roads seemed confusing. Finally reached Rajendra Bhawan, where I was about to spend my next 10-11 months. After registration at hostel came to know, I'll have a room mate. I wished he(unless EUROTRIP kinda stuff happens here and I get a girl as a roommate) better be good and not so geeky. Sumeet Gupta enters, same branch as mine, but too geeky man. Damn college days gonna be studious days of my life. Half n hour later Ankur Gulati arrives, seemed more like me, fun loving. I wished he is the roommate. Again some confusions and wish came true.
(@Sumeet no hard feelings buddy, you helped me a lot in later stages)
So, the beginning of The BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE!!!!
We ended up forming a group called Roorkee Rockers. Birthday celebrations were a moment to remember. Birthday Bumps, followed by Make ups, Chapos (the word for treat). Trips, Debates, NCC Days, Fresher Play, playing cell phone games in class, 26th january celebrations on room. Everything was just as I imagined the life in College.

I regret that nobody told me how much studies were important at that time. Moreover stories of our room and the seniors didn't do us any good. It was said, only alternate batches do well in this room. With Room baaps already had branch change last year and "Room baap" ke baap(daddy :P) had 7 backs in 12 subjects through out the year. We felt its our time. Glas nothing of that sort happened

Amidst all these, Unknowingly the best thing happened to me, I got into PM. Thanks Samarth and all the seniors for letting me a part of the group. I didn't know then, what I had till now was just the Beginning.


2nd and 3rd... the transformation ........


With just making new friends at the end of last year followed by trip to solani and nearby village. 2nd year took off in a better fashion. There were no classes to attend. Most of the time were spent at nesci or Snack Point. Attending class were more fun all of a sudden. BP used to always agree with us of not having the classes. Fluid proff was at ease always. There were more rockets and airplanes in the air than no. of students in his class. Chemical Lawns were our usual hangout between the classes, and those were the days when i recently got my laptop and started my hands over CS and other games and watching series and movies were the favorite timepass.
The only worst moment I can recall is when 8 among us (chemicools) were suspended for ragging.
Then came the Cogni days, working during those times were hell lot of learning experience. I take this moment to thank all those around me (esp KP sir) seniors batchmates and juniors to letting me know what life and college life is all about.
Many memories were made during these times, and I found the best friends forever among Sumit Pj Mohit Joey Aunty Billo yamma kholu ramil and many more.





I wont forget my June 6th 2008 B'day ever. I was close to my parents and family and was even closer to you on that day. (still have the 25 hourly SMS)

I can sense the transformation now, from the fun loving kid to a bit more mature person.


4th year...A bag of mixed memories.......


Many things were happening, Life all of a sudden got busy in studies, started realizing I am a DUAL deg student and not a B.Tech. I need to walk to the classes alone now.

This may not be my last year, but This is my last year.

I again started being part of the trips and we had an awesome time together in Dharmshala. Helping batchmates with placement sessions just to be a part of the activities was turning out to be the only thing I could do with them. Followed by many chapos and time spent together in canteen and watching IPL with Kukki, gabbar, ishan, bhavi, jindal, kholu chammiya peejay don shikhandi,. The batch people seemed much closer now. Even the girls started hanging out together :P. Then there was 4C's which was getting bigger always, ending with 8 members I suppose. Everybody knew these were the last few moments spend together and then Hum kaha and Tum kaha....

GOA

I would just say, I was there at the best time with the Best people possible and had the Best of the times together.














The last days were the most to remember by, with farewell being planned and the task of giving names to every1 is a special one. followed by those departmental photo-shoot, Campus bhraman after the farewell and the days followed are unforgettable. Filling out yaadein brought out all the memories back together...


I don't know what happened last day on 29th May with joey mohit and sumit, but thanks for giving me the tidbits of it.


5th Year.. the final year...


Not sure whether I call this last year or a very long last day?? It feels like standing just on the border line waiting for just that last step to cross the line seperating college and the life ahead.
I realised Campus/ College life is not because of College, Its because of the People associated with it.

This year can only be accounted for making new friends and getting close to some even more.. in the names of Jimmi, happy, siddhi, vanya, nisha, chotu, somani, pj, prachi, ravi, tantar, payal, yashad, pardha, and all the others.



..........yaad aayega ye campus or iski apni duniya
ho yaad aayega humesha ye aashiyaan
(i am really gonna miss this place
i am gonna miss my college days) - Gaurav