The End of Ragging. Phew!

The next evening. Thomas and Manish are at the mess.

Manish: Yaar, Swami is not to be seen since evening. Where's he?

Thomas: Don't you know today is their MR. He won't be back tonight.

Manish: Yeh MR kya hai?

Thomas: You've become a proper loverboy! You have no clue what's happening around us.

Manish: What crap! Just tell, no...

Thomas: Arre, it is Mass Ragging. The last day of ragging. TN association is having it today.

Manish: Oh! What happens in MR?

Thomas: Anything can happen. And if you survive it, then you get the welcome party.

Manish: Shit! Do they hit also?

Thomas: Depends, man. Some states have it very bad. TN, AP... are worst. Others are OK.

Manish: What about you? Your MR is over?

Thomas: Of course, you didn't see I wore jeans to class today. Anyway, you don't see anyone else nowadays.

Manish: Arre yaar... I am getting worried. Did you get hit? Tell me, no, what happened in your MR.

Thomas: See, my seniors were quite cool, man. They just teased me and had some fun. And it was over.

Manish: Lucky, yaar. Pata nahin how our MR will be. 

Thomas: Don't worry, it should be over this week for all states, I think.

Next morning. Swami is brushing his teeth. Thomas enters the bathroom. 

Thomas: Oye Swami-ji! How was it? When did you get back?

Swami (looking up): Hi, da.

Thomas: What, man! Your face is swollen... it's looking like a tomato. What happened?

Swami: Nothing, nothing... little bit in the MR. It's ok, now.

Thomas: Hey, you got hit badly, it looks like, man!

Swami: Yeah. Lots of slapping. I lost count after 100. They finished at 4'o clock.

Thomas: What the fuck, man! 100!! Manish! Manish!!

A couple of days later. Evening, Hostel 1.

Thomas: Man, don't worry. You will be fine!

Manish: What, yaar. Swami ka face is still swollen. I won't go for MR, yaar. What will they do?

Thomas: Hey, everything will be fine, man. Your seniors are not so bad. I don't think they will hit you guys.

Manish: Yeah, till now. But what if they become mad on this MR day?

Thomas: See, it is better to face it than run away, no? If you don't go today, they will catch you tomorrow.

Manish: What if I complain to the Warden? Those other guys complained, no?

Thomas: True, and those seniors were expelled from hostel for a year too. But that was an extreme case, yaar! That chap fainted.

Manish: But what if mine also becomes an extreme case? I don't want to find out later.

Thomas: See, Rajeev is there, no? He likes you, I think. Just be around him and he will protect you.

Manish: I don't know, yaar. To go or not to go...

An hour later. Somewhere on the University Road. A solitary street-light provided dim lighting on a new moon night. Oh, the omens! Ten freshers from Maharashtra stood in line. A bunch of seniors were loitering nearby. One of them took charge. "Attention! Now we will have march past and twenty-one gun salute. Guard of honour is our Association President, Sri Varoon Hegde."

A round of introductions followed and the MC announced, "Now, everybody will describe his wildest fantasy to the audience. And stories from recent Debonairs are not permitted. We have read all of them, mind you!" Manish gulped, he had been getting ready for slaps but this was worse. He had never read a Debonair, so he had no idea what was even expected. Rahul was saying something about Silk Smitha and something he wanted to do with her - the seniors seemed quite excited by the story, someone was even whistling. A fresher smiled. The MC pounced on him. "Sharad, you were smiling. Smile Wash!"

Sharad enacted the Smile Wash, zipping his mouth and shoving it into his backside. "Meri hansi meri gaand mein ghusi. Oiyeee!"

And then it was Manish's turn. He vaguely remembered a movie that he had watched at his friend's house... a French movie with subtitles; most likely none of these fellows would have seen it. He had to take his chances.

Manish: Sir, my fantasy is that I am a French nobleman with a beautiful wife and two mistresses.... (somebody clapped; "sahi, firangi story!")...one day, I am with my first mistress and my wife comes home... (hey, this won't do! we need more details! what were you doing!)...

A few minutes later, Manish managed to end his story, though a few seniors were grumbling that this was like a U/A movie, not even adult! 

After all the freshers had finished their stories, the MC announced that there would be a round of one-on-one interviews. Manish hurried towards Rajeev, hoping to get him as the interviewer. The MC, Shyam, blocked his way, "Arre Manish, you never met me even once during the ragging period. Give me a chance to talk to you." Manish was trapped as he looked down at Shyam who was at least a foot shorter than he was. "Yes, sir, sure sir." 

Shyam: So Manish, you got away without telling us a good fantasy. Why don't you tell me another one?" 

Manish: Sir, I am not able to remember anything sir. Only that one fantasy I have.

Shyam: Come on, man. You must be at least eighteen years old, no? You must be having many fantasies.

Manish: No, sir. I don't know, sir.

Shyam: Achcha, tell me, what was your count during ragging?

Manish: What count, sir?

Shyam: You don't know what is the count! Count of how many slaps you got.

Manish: None, sir.

Shyam: Oh, is that so? You've been let off lightly then. Bend down.

Manish: Sir?

Shyam: Sit on your knees so that I can slap you properly.

Manish had received three slaps when Sri Hegde announced, "End of ragging! Welcome to REC." And there were smiles and shake-hands and whistles all around.

Rajeev found Manish standing by himself.

Rajeev: Hey Manish. Welcome! Welcome!

Manish (mumbles): Thank you, Sir.

Rajeev: Call me Rajeev now. Hey, are you crying?

Manish: No sir. 

Rajeev: Come on, tell me. What are you crying for? And call me Rajeev.

Manish: No, no... I am OK.

Rajeev: Did Shyam slap you? I saw him talking to you.

Manish: No... yes... two - three...

Rajeev: He is a fool, bloody frustuu, man. Just don't mind him. And you're so much bigger than him. He couldn't have hurt you.

Manish: No.. not that.. it's not paining. It's shameful to be hit when you can't hit back. Particularly that bloody short fuck!

Rajeev: Hahaha! That's the spirit! You will get your chance sometime in life. So now, just enjoy. Ragging is over!

Manish: So where are you treating us now?

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Episode 8: Males and Non-Males

For a change, this episode of Hostelitis is in a comic format. The previous episode can be found here.

This is Episode 8 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here.

Photos used with permission for representation purposes only. If you want to volunteer your Hostel photos for future comics, please sign up at the Facebook Fan Page.

This format is inspired by Fly You Fools!; Thanks to Saad for his tips. Will take a while before those quality levels can be reached.

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Introduction to Two Women on One Day!

Prema looked up from her plate of half eaten masala dosa.

Manish had no choice now. "Excuse me." "Yes?" What a voice. She must be a singer.

 "Those seniors sent me. They want your introduction. If you don't mind. I am being ragged." Please. "What introduction?" "Your name, which college, hobbies, you know that kind of thing." Date of birth."Oh, OK. My name is Prema Maheswaran. I am from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Madras. I like reading books. OK?" What about singing? "Thank you very much." Manish turned to go back. "Wait, what is your name?" Hooray! "M-M-Manish. I am in your section only." "OK."

Swami and Thomas waved their hands excitedly as Manish walked back to the seniors. Avoiding their eyes, Manish reported, "Sir, her name is Ms. Prema Maheswaran. She is from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Madras. Her hobby is reading books. Sir." "That's all? Why didn't you ask her something else?" In front of the entire college??!! "What books does she read? Who is her favourite author? Which branch is she in?" "Sorry, sir." "You have no guts, man. Rajeev, I think you must demote Corporal Crap and train him some more." 

Rajeev, aka Thug#1, took charge. "Do you see that lady in red t-shirt in the corner? Her name is Miss Lily. Go and tell her, 'Miss Lily, Don't be silly.' Go fast before she finishes her chai." Manish gulped, looked at his feet and pleaded, "Please, Sir. She may get angry, sir." "Not at all, she is a very friendly lady. She might buy you a cutting, you know. Ask her that also, if you can share her chai." "Please, sir. Please." "Corporal! You will be demoted to Sepoy and run around the campus five times today if you don't move your ass immediately! GO!" 

Manish moved slowly, praying that Miss Lily would finish her tea and return to her class immediately. But she seemed to be in no hurry. She was sitting with a couple of friends, and they were busy talking. Manish looked back, hoping the seniors were only joking and would ask him to get back, no such luck. The canteen was not too big and soon he was standing at Miss Lily's table.

Miss Lily looked up. There was a peel of laughter from the thugs. Manish stood there, not daring to lift his eyes up. She asked him, in a not unfriendly tone, "What do you want?" 

Manish: (silence)

Miss Lily: "Did those guys send you here?

Manish: (nodding)

Miss Lily: "Are you supposed to ask me something or tell me something?

Manish: (nodding)

Miss Lily: "So speak up! I am not going to eat you up.

Manish: (croaking) "Miss Lily.... Miss Lily.... you are... you are...

Miss Lily: "What?

Manish: "Silly.

Miss Lily's friends laughed loudly. Miss Lily began to smile, then made her face strict. "My name is not Lily. And I am surely not silly. Next time you want to speak to me, call me Mala and look into my eyes. Now go away."

Manish said a silent prayer, glanced up slightly and saw that Mala was now smiling. He took courage and ventured, "Ma'am I am also supposed to ask you to share your chai with me. They told to tell you, ma'am." Mala stood up, held Manish's shoulder and walked him back to the seniors. "Rajeev, you cheapskate! You are not only ragging this poor fellow, you also want me to buy him chai! You buy him chai now. And the next time anybody calls me Miss Lily, you've had it." The last statement seemed to be for the benefit of the entire canteen because it was shouted out loudly. 

Rajeev, too stunned to react, found his voice after Mala was back at her table. "What nakhras! Oye chotu, ek chai for this bachcha. Mere account mein daal dena." Turning towards Manish, "Dismissed. Enough for today. I will see you tomorrow, same place, same time."

This is Episode 7 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here.

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Travails of a Loverboy

Next morning Manish rose early and rushed towards the Main Block by 10am. He wanted to get a chance to speak to Prema before Swami and the others reached the class. He waited patiently at the entrance, mentally practicing the conversation. Twenty minutes passed and there was no sign of Prema. However, Swami and Thomas appeared, grinning widely.

Swami: "Hi, loverboy. Who are you waiting for?

Manish: "Nothing. Nobody.

Thomas: "Don't lie. I saw you leave half an hour ago.  

Manish: "I wanted to check out the library.

Swami: "Ha! What an excuse. 

Thomas: "Look all the girls are the coming now. Swami, which one of them is Prema?

Swami: "The blue one on the left... I mean, blue dress. 

Thomas: "Wow. Manish, good choice, man.

Manish: "Shut up. I don't know what you are talking about.

Swami: "Why are they all wearing same type of clothes, punjabi dress?

Thomas: "Maybe that is part of their ragging, like our full sleeves. 

Manish: "I am going to the class, OK. See you later.

Thomas: "Our man has really fallen hard, Swami. Take care of him in the class.

The next four hours were torturous for Manish. He saw no possibility of speaking to Prema without half the college, including Swami seeing him. Swami had apparently decided that he would be Manish's chaperone, he refused to let Manish go out of sight. Manish did not want to lose this opportunity - he had a great excuse to go speak with Prema. Manish observed during the first break several guys in the class trying to draw her into conversation; she was polite but, thankfully, did not seem to be talking too much with any of them. Come on, God, do something!

Soon it was lunch break and Manish was nowhere closer to saying hello to Prema, forget about getting her intro. He headed towards the canteen, to keep his date with the senior. He had also seen Prema walk towards the canteen with a couple of other first year girls. At the canteen, he spied his two friendly thugs at the corner table, their haunt, it appeared. He walked towards them, nervously. As if on cue, the third senior also appeared and asked him, with a smile on his face, "So Corporal, what report do you bring us?" Manish gulped and said, "Sir, I-I-I could not speak with her... she was busy in the class. Sorry, sir." "How dare you disobey my order! I want to hear her intro now. Is she in the canteen?" Manish looked around and saw Prema at a table near the door. "She is there, sir, near the door." "She is not busy in class now, right? You can speak to her now." "Now, sir?" "Yes. Go." "Don't be shy, Corporal. We are doing this to make you a brave officer," chirped in Thug#1. "Go fast," prompted Thug#2.

Manish swallowed hard and turned. Everyone in the canteen had stopped talking and were looking at him. Or so he felt. He was also feeling excited about finally speaking with Prema, but he would have preferred a less public conversation. Wow! She is so good looking. Is she looking at me? Finally he reached her table and stood there. Silently. By now many in the canteen had realised that some drama was happening. Someone whistled from the back. The freshies looked at him, not sure whether to be envious or sympathetic.

Prema looked up from her plate of half eaten masala dosa.

This is Episode 6 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here. 

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Luck By Chance

DF2 Third Hostel. Enter Manish. Bent at right angles, hands stretched in obeisance. 

Manish: "Namaste Sreemanji, Namaste Sreemanji, Namaste Sreemanji.  

Thug#1: "Come in, come in, Corporal Crap. At ease.

Thug#2: "I don't think you have met your great-grandfather, here. Why don't you give your intro?

Manish: "Yes, Sir. My name is Manish Malhotra. My father's name is Mr. Raghav Malhotra. I am from Mumbai and I did my Higher Secondary Certificate from MBM College, Chembur.

Thug#1: "What d'you mean by MBM? Main Bhi Madhuri College?!

Manish: "Sorry, Sir. Sir, Motilal Bharatram Mehta College. My percentage in the Higher Secondary Certificate exams was 88.6%. My father works in Indian Railways and my mother is a housewife. I have...

Thug#3 (a final year student): "Hey, enough enough. I don't want to know more about you. Tell me about this girl in Section B. What is her name?

Manish: "Prema Maheswaran, sir.

Thugh#1: "Is she your sister?

Manish: "No sir, sorry sir. Ms. Prema Maheswaran.

Thug#3: "That's better. Bol, what do you know about her?

Manish: "Nothing sir. Just her name, sir." 

Thugh#3: "Kya dhakkan hai!. Tomorrow by lunch time, I want to hear her intro. I will meet you at the canteen, OK. 

Manish: "Yes, sir. Sure, sir.                                      

Later that night, in Manish's room. 

"Aisa mauka phir kahaan milega..." Manish belted out, in context and out of tune. Attracted by the noise, Swami entered, followed shortly by Thomas. Good looking and with curly hair, Thomas was an aspiring rock singer from Goa. Unfortunately for him, he was also quite intelligent and scored such high marks in HSC that he was forced to join engineering college. Little did he know then that engineering college would give him ample time and opportunities to pursue his primary career interest.

Thomas: "What's the scene, man! You seem totally khush.                                

Manish: "Nothing, guys. Generally singing a song.

Swami: "Is this fellow blushing or what? Why are your cheeks turning red?

Manish: "What crap! Why should I blush? I just got back from ragging.

Thomas: "Blushing, blushing. Our man is blushing...

Swami: "I know. I know. He has fallen for that girl in our section. 

Thomas: "Prema? What!

Manish: "What crap!!

Swami: "I know. He had this dazed look from morning.

Swami & Thomas: "Manish is in love. Manish is in love.

Manish: "What crap!!!

Thomas: "Saanson ki zaroorat hai jaise, zindagi ke liye, bas ek Prema chahiye, aashiqui ke liye. 

Manish: "Swami, mein tere ko dekh loonga. Now I am going to sleep. Good night.

Thomas: "Sweet Dreams.

This is Episode 5 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here. 

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Introducing Prema, the female interest

Manish's first day in college. A real eye-closer. His eyes remained closed in prayer as he could see only boys and more boys around him on the campus. Not just boys, but several thugs, each of them viewing him (and the other first year students) with relish. Where were the girls? O God! What had he let himself into? 

The painful reality of engineering college gender ratio dawned on Manish. A batch of three hundred students usually has about fifteen girls; twenty, in a good year. But, Manish, like his father, was an optimist. Classed would start at 10.30 am and there were still ten minutes to go. Waiting in the Main Block for too long was not a good idea, there was a distinct possibility of a thug setting up a date with him. Manish entered his class-room and looked around. All full-sleeved guys. He was in no mood for casual talk and went to an empty desk. If this was his day and if Hindi movies were to be believed, she would occupy the seat next to him. Touchwood.

"Hi!" said Swami, sitting next to him. "I am also in this section," he continued, ignoring Manish's protests. Manish had heard the term KLPD used before; he experienced it for the first time now.

"You know da, there are only sixteen girls in our batch," Swami went on.
Manish: "What! How do you know?
Swami (whispering): "I looked at the batch list in the Admin office. I had to give five rupees to the peon there.
Manish: "What! You actually paid five rupees for this. I can't believe it.
Swami: "Don't you understand. Now I have an advantage over everyone else. I know their names.
Manish: "Big deal!
Swami: "And birthdays! There is lot of information in the admission files that I got from the peon. 
Manish: "Wow! Remember we are friends, OK. Any girls in our section or not, first tell me that! 
Swami: "Now you are interested. There are only two in our section. I remember one name because she is south Indian...

A sudden loud buzz in the class interrupted Swami's intelligence report. There were nervous giggles and the sound of about fifty guys drawing their breath in. Manish looked towards the door. And there she was. The most gorgeous looking girl he had seen in real life. He could not take his eyes off her as she walked in and sat in the first bench. He was not alone in that situation. Forty eight other guys were having similar thoughts as he: Thank God!

By the end of the first break a couple of hours later, 26 guys had introduced themselves to that girl. (The other girl, as per Swami's intel, did not exist or had decided to avoid the excitement of Day 1.) Manish and Swami were amongst the other twenty two who were either too shy or claustrophobic. Perhaps they were waiting for a Hindi moviesque introduction - dramatic, with a dash of humour. It was not yet the moment. Of course, Manish knew her name. Everyone in the classroom knew her name. Before the end of day, about thousand guys on campus would know her name. Prema Maheswaran.

 

This is Episode 4 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here. 

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Corporal Crap and Sergeant Shmuck

Manish's father had insisted that he would accompany him for the admissions and ensure that he was settled into his hostel room. The usual fill forms in triplicate took them to several parts of a pretty large campus, spread over several acres (source: pan-chewing admin clerk). On their way to the University office adjoining the college campus, Manish saw a bunch of almost dilapidated buildings, not dissimilar to the chawls that one notices - with a bit of sympathy and embarrassment - while moving around Mumbai. Must be the servants' quarters, Manish dismissed them, eagerly awaiting the allotment of his hostel room.

A couple of hours later, the hostel office peon led Manish and his father to the first of the chawls. "This is First Hostel, all the first year boys stay here," he said, sending shivers and other inexplicable pulses down Manish's spine. He stared at the row of grim-looking, crumbling structures - his home for the next four years! I just hope that everything else compensates for this.

Manish squinted through the thick lens of his specs, trying to estimate the distance between where he was and safety. 

"Corporal Crap! Be alert! The security of Kashmir is in your hands," bellowed Thug#1. "Yes Sir, Major!" replied Manish from above the cupboard in a room in Third Hostel. 

"But I hear that there are explosions in Srinagar," countered Thug#2 as two other freshers shook the cupboard violently. Manish hung on for dear life and attempted to deflect the attention, "Sir, the Intelligence Bureau report has warned of terrorist attacks in Lanka, Sir!" 

His Major answered, "Is that so? To the count of three, I want you to fly down to Colombo. You can join Sergeant Shmuck. Three! Two! One! Go!" Taking a deep breath, Manish landed with a thud and crawled under the bed to join Sergeant Shmuck, whose name he would learn later was Swami Iyer.  

A couple of hours later, having defended Maldives from a coup and raided a terrorist camp in PoK, the brothers in arms walked back to their hostel. "That wasn't bad, in fact I was beginning to enjoy it," whispered Swami. "What! we were getting ragged there and you were enjoying it?" Manish retorted. "Boss, it could have been far worse. We were not hit and we were not made to strip. Today we are lucky," explained Swami. "What is your room number?" "AS4." "Wow! we are neighbours. I am Manish." "Myself Swami."

Here, a brief explanation of the hostel structure is called for. The first three hostels, that housed the first and second year students, were three storied buildings (ground + two), with four blocks each. Each block had five rooms per floor, making it sixty rooms per hostel. The rooms were designed to be occupied by three inmates, but many had been converted to four-seater rooms. Only the third and fourth year students had the privilege of single rooms to themselves, in the fourth, fifth and sixth hostels. The Seventh Hostel was special - on the other end of the campus and surrounded by staff quarters, it was home to the fifty-odd female hostelers. Male entry into the Seventh Hostel grounds was restricted to the watchman and the hostel warden. Unless of course, if you could prove that you were the brother of one of the girls, in which case you could stand close to the hostel building, look up and wonder what was happening inside. 

Back to the First Hostel, each block of five rooms had common toilets in the center: two bathrooms, two loos and two urinals serving between fifteen and twenty students. One of the two bulbs illuminating this essential infrastructure was usually fused, but more about those things later. Since the rooms were designed for three, there were only three cupboards - so two of the four roomies had to share a cupboard. In order to make this very democratic, there were only three desks and the other two had to share a desk. Fortunately, there was space for four cots. 

An hour later, in Manish's room: 

Swami: "You know da, we should go to the same seniors for ragging tomorrow also. They made us do some fun things, na?   

Manish: "Well, last night that ugly fellow wanted to see the colour of my undies. Luckily he forgot that desire today.

Swami: "That's big deal, da. As long as he did not want to see something else, it's OK. 

Manish: "Woh bhi hai. You said something about being hit. Is that true or were you just scaring me?

Swami: "No da, one of my room-mates was slapped twenty times today by some seniors. His face was swollen when he came to the room. It could happen to us too.

Manish: "Oh God! Lets go back to the same seniors tomorrow, but how?

Swami: "First of all, if anyone calls you for ragging, tell him that you have already been called to Third Hostel DF2. That will give you an excuse. By tomorrow, I will find a way to get invited back to that room. Hey, your room is empty - where are your room-mates?

Manish: "There is one guy Thomas - some seniors came and took him before dinner, he hasn't returned till now. The other two guys are totally vague - I have not seen them around much.

Swami: "Cool. Arre, I need to go now. Have to wash my shirt. I have just one full sleeves shirt.

Manish: "So what?

Swami:  "What da, you don't know any of the rules or what? Till ragging is over we have to wear full sleeves shirts only, when we go out of the hostel, sleeves down. And shoes and no shorts. You have to be careful, da. Make sure you are in uniform tomorrow, else some stupid senior will pick on you and make you spend the night with him. Without the undies. Ha, Ha, Ha.

This is Episode 3 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here. 

 

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Rang De Undie

"Abbey, what is there to feel shy. Main tera baap hoon. You can take your pants off in front of me."

Manish gulped, blinked and held his trousers tight. His exploratory evening walk around the hostel had gone all wrong. Two thugs blocked his way and expressed their desire to see the colour of his underwear. Who were these guys? 

"Let me go," croaked Manish. "What is the hurry," retorted Thug#1. 

The road outside his hostel was dark, a single street light failing miserably in its attempt to illuminate a long, almost desolate stretch. Yet, he had set out, with the intention of getting familiar with the route to the classrooms, ahead of his first day in engineering college.

"Why are you holding your pants like that?" asked Thug#2 with curiosity. "Hands Up!" screamed Thug#1 folding his fingers to indicate a gun. 

The two thugs bent over in laughter as Manish's hands shot up into the air, almost involuntarily. Manish heard footsteps and felt his prayers were answered. With his hands still up, he whispered loudly, "Help". 

"Abbey, he is complaining," complained Thug#1. The footsteps, which were now nearby, answered back, "Hi guys, kyon bachche ko dara rahe ho? Leave him today. We are starting ragging tomorrow."

Three weeks ago had been the happiest day of Manish's life - he had finally got admission into an engineering college. Regional Engineering College or REC as it was popularly known. Well, it was not IIT Kanpur or BITS Pilani or something like that. What the heck, it was an engineering college and it was not in Bombay. And what did that mean? That he would be staying in a hostel. Whoopee!

For the last seventeen years of his life, Manish Malhotra had been staying at home in a Bombay suburb, under the strict control of his over-orthodox parents. School and home and classes and home - this was his routine for a better part of his uneventful life.

Now, everything would change. He was a free bird. No restrictions, no permissions, no jhanjhat at all. And girls! He could talk to girls, without worrying about his mother throwing a tantrum. Girls. Ooh La La! Manish could not wait to join REC.

"Chal, let's leave him now. Mess will be closing soon, we better hurry," said Thug#2. "Beta, you are saved today. Come meet me tomorrow, and wear the same undies - I want to see their colour, OK?" said Thug#1 dismissively. 

This is Episode 2 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here. 

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Urine.

Manish was overpowered by the smell of urine that pervaded the air. He vaguely heard his father mention something about the corridors being very dark. Yeah, Manish thought. As he and his father climbed the stairs to the third floor, Manish grew despondent. H2S does that to you.

Finally they reached AS4 in a dark corner of the A-block. The door to the room was locked but the sight through a broken pane did nothing to lift the spirits. Four cots, four wobbly, rusting cots, Manish would learn later, and a couple of wooden desks appeared to crowd a reasonably big room. Cleanliness and hygiene were obviously not the middle names of the existing occupants; Manish shuddered with dread and disgust as they walked back to the car. Perhaps you will lose weight climbing three floors, his father offered with a weak smile. Father thought he could see a bright side to anything.

This is Episode 1 of the Hostelitis saga. Check all episodes here. The Preface can be found here. 

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Introducing Hostelitis, again

About 17 years ago, I first walked into Bhabha Bhavan in REC Surat and experienced unimaginable depression. Four years later, I walked out of Narmad Bhavan with a lump in my throat. Four years of my engineering hostel life had come to an end. Four years that encompassed emotions and experiences of a lifetime. Four years that are captured in perhaps four dozen episodes.

Comparisons are bound to arise, particularly when Hostelitis is preceded by a successful book on a similar topic by Chetan Bhagat and a popular movie version too! But, to be fair to Manish and his pals, this is not a new story. It was first told fifteen years ago, in a JAM column by the same name. It is a story that was told as events unfolded. It is a story that has been waiting to be told in a better format and perhaps, with the benefit of hindsight. This is my second attempt at resurrecting Hostelitis; my 2007-08 attempt stalled after about 5 episodes... I hope I can sustain the momentum in 2010.

I was asked, during the JAM days, if Manish was an autobiographical character. The answer is yes and no. There are some elements that are drawn from my own experiences, but a large part is an assimilation of a few other people at college. In fact, Manish, Swami, Thomas, all of them are real - it is just that you cannot map them to specific individuals. Every incident in this story has happened - the dialogues have been dramatized a bit, that's all.

I also apologize in advance for any discomfort that some of the incidents and / or words might cause you. One cannot wish away or whitewash the realities of hostel life; I would be doing the story a dis-service if I sanitized the language too much.

As I used to say during the JAM days, this is an evolving story that draws upon experiences of real life situations and people. Your feedback and your stories will help make this more realistic and inclusive.

Posted via email from Hostelitis

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