Those of you who remember my 1st birthday bash in the college might recall that it was a bit different from others' birthday bashes. As the last few months of our college life are approaching, I think it’s the appropriate time to reveal that mystery. What exactly happened deserves a Blog entry. So, here's my story for all of you – those who know what happened (my batchmates); and those who don't know what happened (my juniors and seniors)...
So, let’s begin…
THE KNOWN STORY
The night was dark. But, the BH-2 was alight in full form; fully active; fully vibrant and alive with various sorts of activities- counter-strike, age of empires, action movies, hard-rock song, useless chats and some studies.
There were still 5 minutes before the clock would strike twelve. And, that meant people had started hatching conspiracies about how to make most of the opportunity of kicking me(I don't like using the other term). Behind the door of the room, where I was situated my heart pounded with fear. I was happy, because I was going to be a big boy now; but worried because I didn't want to be beaten mercilessly. Anyways I could do nothing. I had to wait for the moment to arrive and see what was on my cards...(mere sitare aasmaan me hai, ya gardish me hai)... I waited and saw the seconds pass-by...and then suddenly an uproar... the entire hostel began screaming...and shouting... “chalo chalo saare chalo Parth ka b'day hai”... they came and banged the door of my room... they banged again and again... Unaware and uninformed, my roommate Akash opened the door... what happened next...
The entire mob enters my room, but to their suprise no one is present inside the room except my innocent roomie... he is threatened...and people ask him - “where is Parth ?” He has no answer, but the mob is too excited by now. And most of you are aware what these excited people want to do. So, they lift up my roomie and bring him to the central lawn of the hostel and begin kicking him. From a not-so-remote location I enjoy the scene; though I feel a bit scared that my roomie would kill me in the morning, yet living in the present moment I enjoy whatever is going on. The next person on grab is one of my neighbours(Pankaj Gupta)...he is also beaten mercilessly with chappals and shoes...
I appeared only in the morning that followed. This story is known to almost all of my friends.
THE UNKNOWN STORY
Now let’s begin with the unknown story. It all began on the 15th of October... birthday of two great people...Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, and one of my dearest friends – DVM. It was his birthday. I was quite excited and went ahead to celebrate his birthday. But when I saw his plight, I was terrified. There were people who had till then not even spoken to him once, but they were beating him mercilessly; which meant a chatter-box like me would definitely be beaten severely....and this is when I began thinking...that I should do something....
26th October – that is 11 days hence, I need a plan, a plan to escape; It was not a weekend... and as far as I remember the frequency of buses in week-days in our first year was not that much. Hence I could not run back home.
So, the plan was formed and executed on the D-Day. It was the 25th of October. I was at Neogi sir's house, with some friends including Mr.President, Mr.ex-president, Babel and Vishal sir (and possibly some others, I don’t remember). We were involved in the usual Thursday Night Spiritual Discussions. At around 10:30pm, when we were finished with the discussion, Neogi sir offered us some sweets as usual.
And, while having those sweets, someone said – “aj tayar rehna bhai”.
And, I was like – why do you all keep reminding me of what is going to happen. Meanwhile Neogi sir inquired – what we were talking about? So, Divyanshu said – “sir aj Parth ka birthday hai.”
And I added – “aur ye sab pakad ke mujhe petne wale hai”.
Someone else added – “arey nahi Parth. Wo to hamara pyar hota hai; aur ye to tradition hai, tujhe bhi follow karna hoga.”
I looked at others. Kittu grinned; Vishal sir comforted me. At the same time asked me to be brave enough to face the circumstances. Neogi sir said – “No, no you should not do that. It is not a good thing. Someone might get hurt.” But, of course who would listen to a faculty on such an issue. Good or bad - the traditions are meant to be followed.
And, while having those sweets, someone said – “aj tayar rehna bhai”.
And, I was like – why do you all keep reminding me of what is going to happen. Meanwhile Neogi sir inquired – what we were talking about? So, Divyanshu said – “sir aj Parth ka birthday hai.”
And I added – “aur ye sab pakad ke mujhe petne wale hai”.
Someone else added – “arey nahi Parth. Wo to hamara pyar hota hai; aur ye to tradition hai, tujhe bhi follow karna hoga.”
I looked at others. Kittu grinned; Vishal sir comforted me. At the same time asked me to be brave enough to face the circumstances. Neogi sir said – “No, no you should not do that. It is not a good thing. Someone might get hurt.” But, of course who would listen to a faculty on such an issue. Good or bad - the traditions are meant to be followed.
THE PLAN
Although I pretended to be helpless at the moment, inside I was feeling victorious, because everything was going as planned. No one was suspecting that I had a plan. And, the plan was good. So when we returned back to the hostel, I made sure that no one was around me. I sneaked into the wing of one of my seniors. It was around 10:45, when I knocked on the door of his room. This senior was also in his first year. Actually, he was an M.Tech student and his name was Naresh Soni.
He directed me to come inside, and latched the room as soon as I was in. And, thus half the mission was accomplished. In his room, he narrated his own stories. One amazing thing about him is that the way he narrates you a story. It is so interesting that you feel completely engrossed. So, he told me the story of his own amazing birthday, when he was beaten mercilessly and left on the street with clothes torn in a condition that resembled a beggar.
Coming to his room was only the war half won. There were other hurdles. At around 11:30, Pawan came to his room for some discussion on electronics. So, Naresh sir asked me to get inside the wardrobe. I sat in the wardrobe for around 5 minutes, while he was talking with him outside. After he was gone, I came out and chatted more.
At 12:00pm we watched my birthday being celebrated in the Central Lawn of the Boy’s Hostel, with the exception that I was not there. We laughed a lot together. I slept in his room and at around 7 in the morning went back to my room. My roomie was still asleep with the door left ajar. I was thinking about how I would face him. But, to my surprise when he woke up – he smiled and said – “Happy Birthday Parth.”
This is for the first time in the past four years that I have revealed this mystery. My friends still think that I had gone to Singhvi sir’s room in the other hostel.
Lastly, I would say - each tradition that we follow has some or the other interesting history attached to it. I just wonder what would be the history of the birthday bumps. If anyone of you finds out, do tell me about it.
