The First Year maniacs

Its May,2051AD."Time to pack the bags and proceed for the bigger challenge"..that's what Dean Academic Affairs doled out in "Rukshat" ,the farewell function for final year students.Evening function was jotted with same staple dance and music program with love birds prefering a cosy corner of the audi to discuss their future rather than break their heads on what was happening on stage. The special dinner prepared for the function was worse than the regular mess food...in whole there was not much to cheer about for the members of Bajrang Dal ..those unfortunate/fortunate lot(..as you like to say) who were still deprived from cupid's blessings

People like Rashmi and Maneka preferred a stroll and have a puff along the railway track that bisected the college into two halves...At distant ,the dim light of incoming train personfied the inevitable..The parting of ways. "The Honeymoon is over and the corporate world opens its arms..blah..blah.." echoed the voice of the Dean across the microphone

Rashmi got hold of a high end job in a Bio Tech firm and was moving to LA in last week of May while Maneka got offer from a Sweden based Manufacturing unit..In true sense it was geographical,emotional,physical parting...nothing they could do about it..Both Rashmi and Maneka sat near a signal post,Maneka squeezing the last puff out of the cigarette...The train whistle drew closer and closer...and their Memories became vivid and clearer....... The scorching light of the engine flashed across their eyes, mind,ears.....And....

Year 2047.Its Autumn season and as the Reva,the indigenous Indian taxi,screeched near the entrance of Tagore Hostel(..the first year hostel) a crowd was awaiting Rashmi.Her father was on an official visit to Iraq, she had to come all alone to this college,Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology.Rashmi secured 113 rank in AIEEE examination and just manage to get hold of the last seat in Mechanical engineering.She pulled her baggage down from the taxi and waded through the crowd near the warden's office

Rashmi could see that it was anxiety of the parents rather than the students who was driving the warden to crazy limits.The constant queries regarding the hostel allotment,start of classes,mess facilty etc etc...made warden and her caretaker hysterical.Rashmi finally managed to get inside the Warden's room and get hold of the Hostel application form.

At a distance she could see there were rows of table arranged,with a @HelpDesk billboard hanging over it.But there was not a single soul to bestow help at this moment.She realized that the volunteers ,supposedly, seniors of the college were busy grilling a fresher near the corner of a room..

"First year!!!" growled someone over Rashmi's shoulder.Heart beat stopped and pulse started raging faster as she turned back.A muscular,gym tuned frame with trendy Tees and ragged jeans was standing infront of her.There was a cut mark across her eye brow and her clumsy curly hair suggested that she is just back having a brawl with someone.

"Yes..Mam!"...

"You rascal..how you dared looking in my eyes..."She barked."How come you exist in this world.You filth...dont you know that you should show respect to your Mom"

Rashmi wondered whether she actually showed disrespect to her mom..last time when she left her house in Merrut..She touched her feet..took her blessings..promised her that she will page her once she reaches Allahabad...How come this bloke drew the conclusion.

"Follow me!!" commanded the girl to Rashmi and marched past her towards an isolated room.

Rashmi followed her with the application form still dangling in her hands..She had heard of something called ragging but didnt have any clue what was in store for her.

They both entered into a dark hall,where in one corner an old tattered table tennis borad was placed and adjacent to the entrance door was a television with plugs and wires hanging all over the place.Magazines and newspaper spread all over the floor. There was something that resembled carrom board on the far corner of the room but of late had become nest for spiders and moths.Across the wall something was scribbled with a Paint which suggested the name "Common Room"

"Intro?"...demanded the girl.

"My name is Rash...."...bang!!!... before she could finish the sentence she was hit flat on her face by ,what probably was, a metal palm..Instantly a drop of teared rolled down her eyes..

.
"Who will the ask for permission...you slimey old creature?"...raged The Predator.

"Madam..can i have y..yo..your pp..pppermission to introduce myself?"...

"Thats more like it...day by day these firsties are forgetting the manners"...declared the tormentor

"Permission Granted!!" said the girl with a sense of satisfction and pride

"Mam,my name is Rashmi Agarwal and my date of birth is 22 July,2034".

"I got 113 rank in AIEEE..and"...bannng!!!...this time the slap came from the other side...few more drops of tear rolled down the innocent eyes of Rashmi

"Didnt your dad teach your mom.... while reproducing you as a burden on this earth.... that NEVER utter the Acronymns while giving the intro!!!"fumed the boss

"Sorry....m...mam"

"I g..got 113 rank in M...m...Mechanical Engineering and I got All India Engineering Entrance Examination as my branch"....

"What???"......saying this the girl started laughing hysterically

"Sorry...sorry mam!!!"

"Hmm..so another daughter of Vivek Chandra??...You know who is VC?"

"No..mam"...sobbed Rahmi..her eyes fixed at her toes

"Well VC has screwed all the women of Allahabad and produced filths like you...he is HOD of Mech Deptt"

"So who is your father.....??"

"Rajat Agarwal"

Chaatttaaaaaaak!!!!!!!!!! another slap

"Didnt i tell u about VC...you are his illegal daughter!!!!...so who is your father??"

Within minutes the girl had changed the genetics,parentage,pedigree...everything that Rashmi resembled of in this world.

"V..Vivek Chandra"...thats more like it...

"Thats more like a good girl!!"...said the girl wryly"Enough of blabbering about your history..need to test your aptitude as an engineer.."

"Yes...mam" whimpered Rashmi

"Okies...babe...what about having a vivid description of my love..my dream date Jaden Agassi...Imagine him to take bath fully bared...and describe his contours in fully mechie terms''

Rahmi became red like an apple..never she knew that her first class as an engineering will be lewd and brazen...

"I said bark...you b.." shouted the girl

Tears were flowing like stream from her dark eyes...she hesitated and then started..

"Agassi is taking bath..in bathroom..the tap is open..the shower is running and.."

Slapppp!!!...this was the strongest of the four nasty blows that hit Rashmi's soft cheeks..

"Are you narrating a Ramayana or mouthing ugly shit....you fu.."

"What's going on??" before the girl could finsih her whipping,the door of common room burst open .Stood on the doorsteps were chief warden,warden,caretaker and couple of senior girls.

The girl froze then and there itself.."Mam i was just helping her out.."

"What's your name?" inquired chief warden.Chief Warden was a fat old lady with wrinkles all over her forhead..She wore a dark gown along with thick glasses,,Her countenance beamed sterness and discipline from distant itself.

"Maneka...Maneka Sinha" said the girl

"Which year?"

"F..first year ...first year..mam"..stuttered Maneka

"And why this girl is crying?"

"Mam..sh ..she is feeling home sick..isnt it Rasmi?"

For a second Rashmi felt kicking herself for being foxed by a first year then she realized that she has got a golden opportunity to pay back that bitch Maneka for her delinquent act..She can literally give a stronger reply to those four slaps which shook her up..Nobody had dared to touch her in past 17 years..Her mom and dad had brought her up like a delicate flower..and for the first time she was out in this world on her own...such a rude shock...Its time to teach this girl a lesson said her mind..but

"Yes..Yes mam..Maneka is right", said her heart and mouth in sync.

"Then what are you doing here and what was the noise about?" asked chief warden..his temprament now bit mellowed down

"Mam..i had to fill the hostel form and i didnt get a place..Maneka...Maneka showed me this room and was helping me to do the formalities...Sir...i am scared of sp..spider...Maneka was shooing one of them off..the noise came from that only"

"Ok...so have you done with your formalities.." asked the chief warden

"No..mam...i havent been allotted the room" said Rashmi

"Geetanjali ji..check the database and tell me which room is allotted to Rashmi..Rashmi what??
"Rashmi Agarwal..mam"

The caretaker took out the PDA(..portable database administrator)..and announced Room No 137.B-wing

"You both can leave now" announced the chief warden and dismissed the proceedings

As the gathering dispersed and Rashmi strolled towards the door.."Thanks..thanks Rashmi" words echoed in her ears.She turned around to face Maneka who was standing apologetically.
"I am really sorry Rashmi" said Maneka

"Better leave..the place and dont ever come in front of me or you gonna get a spanking from me" fumed Rashmi

"That I can't do"

"What??"..barked Rashmi

"That I can't do....I can't remove my bodily parts from your proximity"

"Why...??"Rashmi moved forward in menancing fashion

"Coz...I am your Room Mate..My room is also 137 B-wing"

"Shucks...I can't believe this...I am gonna get it changed" Rashmi said irresistably

"Hey Rashmi..I am not that bad yaar...nobody will stay with me mate...i am ready to pay for my mischief....you can hit me any where..."Saying this Maneka turned her back towards Rashmi and positioned herself so that Rashmi could hit her"

Even with so much hatred filled in her mind...Maneka's action brought a wide grin in her face..

She cluthced her hand and said "Hi..Rashmi Agarwal from Merrut....Intro??"

"Mam...Maneka Sinha from Patna,Bihar..." said Maneka with a smile

Rashmi gave a soft slap on her cheek and said " Is this the way to show respect to your Mom"
They both had a hearty laugh and dragged their luggage and bedding towards Room 137 B-wing..What followed next was four years of strong bond of friendship between the two..