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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