I have always been really bad when it comes to remembering names. Well, sometimes I do remember names and faces individually, but have a really hard time matching them. It takes me a while to be really confident. It's not really a big deal as on an average I may come across not more than two new names/faces a week. Imagine how I struggled when I had to learn up and match more than 150 names and faces in a matter of 3 weeks or so.
Getting into college was an exciting phase of my life. The freedom that comes with leaving home and the thought of making a whole new set of friends, were too tempting to resist. Right from the day I entered my hall (hostel), I was eager to start a new life. I had no idea about ragging and did not know to what extend it existed, but I didn't care. I was in MCC, and was going to make the best of it.
I remember walking into the hall with my luggage and coming face to face with a bunch of guys. Since I had to pass them, I said, "Hi, I'm Divyan. What's your name?" I got no response, but instead got a few ugly stares. Hhmm ok, not the really friendly types i guess. I continue you walk down the hall and I hear someone from behind, "Hey you. What's your name?" Ah, finally the friendly types. I happily respond, "I'm Divyan. Whats your name?" No response. He just walks off without even a stare. What's wrong with these people? A few minutes later as I am just about to enter my room, I pass by another happy looking guy who asks me for me name. I reply, "I'm Divyan, and what's your name?" He just smiles broadly and said, "You will find out soon enough." Oh ok, I get it. We are going to have some ice breaker game later on where we officially get to meet everyone.
I was wrong. There was no game and no friendly gesture from anyone. I soon realize that I am supposed to find out the names, room numbers and departments of more than 150 seniors. The worst part is that everyone refuses to tell us their names. How the heck am I supposed to find out? If out of desperation I approach someone and said, "Sir, can I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" the response I always got was, "WHAT? You don't know my name? How dare you! Go jump into the pond. Go duck yourself you worthless piece of shit." Let me not even get into how random guys just show up and ask, "Whats my room number? Which department do I belong to?" Uh? Excuse me. How would I know? "You don't know? Do duck in the pond" was their response. Honestly I lost track of how many times I jumped into the pond.
All said and done, in less than a month, most of us juniors knew every single person in the Hall by name, room number and even department. Suddenly it all began to make sense. We were not strangers or just individuals who came and left. We were one big family where everyone knew each other really well. That is why we do not call our place of residence as a hostel. It is much much more than that.
As the year ended, I waited eagerly for the new batch of students to walk in, so I could torture them with the task of finding out my name, room number and department, while keeping it a secret all the while. I had my fun and one of my unfortunate victim was none other than Mojo Jojo. He still refuses to let go of that incident and still harps on the fact that I was responsible for him jumping into the piss pond for the first time. Either way, he knew me well and we got close and now are good friends. So, if you ask me if id still try and memorize a hundred plus names and numbers, I wouldn't hesitate for long.
Getting into college was an exciting phase of my life. The freedom that comes with leaving home and the thought of making a whole new set of friends, were too tempting to resist. Right from the day I entered my hall (hostel), I was eager to start a new life. I had no idea about ragging and did not know to what extend it existed, but I didn't care. I was in MCC, and was going to make the best of it.
I remember walking into the hall with my luggage and coming face to face with a bunch of guys. Since I had to pass them, I said, "Hi, I'm Divyan. What's your name?" I got no response, but instead got a few ugly stares. Hhmm ok, not the really friendly types i guess. I continue you walk down the hall and I hear someone from behind, "Hey you. What's your name?" Ah, finally the friendly types. I happily respond, "I'm Divyan. Whats your name?" No response. He just walks off without even a stare. What's wrong with these people? A few minutes later as I am just about to enter my room, I pass by another happy looking guy who asks me for me name. I reply, "I'm Divyan, and what's your name?" He just smiles broadly and said, "You will find out soon enough." Oh ok, I get it. We are going to have some ice breaker game later on where we officially get to meet everyone.
I was wrong. There was no game and no friendly gesture from anyone. I soon realize that I am supposed to find out the names, room numbers and departments of more than 150 seniors. The worst part is that everyone refuses to tell us their names. How the heck am I supposed to find out? If out of desperation I approach someone and said, "Sir, can I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" the response I always got was, "WHAT? You don't know my name? How dare you! Go jump into the pond. Go duck yourself you worthless piece of shit." Let me not even get into how random guys just show up and ask, "Whats my room number? Which department do I belong to?" Uh? Excuse me. How would I know? "You don't know? Do duck in the pond" was their response. Honestly I lost track of how many times I jumped into the pond.
All said and done, in less than a month, most of us juniors knew every single person in the Hall by name, room number and even department. Suddenly it all began to make sense. We were not strangers or just individuals who came and left. We were one big family where everyone knew each other really well. That is why we do not call our place of residence as a hostel. It is much much more than that.
As the year ended, I waited eagerly for the new batch of students to walk in, so I could torture them with the task of finding out my name, room number and department, while keeping it a secret all the while. I had my fun and one of my unfortunate victim was none other than Mojo Jojo. He still refuses to let go of that incident and still harps on the fact that I was responsible for him jumping into the piss pond for the first time. Either way, he knew me well and we got close and now are good friends. So, if you ask me if id still try and memorize a hundred plus names and numbers, I wouldn't hesitate for long.
No comments:
Post a Comment