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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