Life @ LIBA... Lanes of memories

Few days back I had to fill up a section of the Yearbook - "What will I miss about LIBA?" Such a simple question, but it took me few hours to decide what to write there. But even after that, something kept bothering me because I felt that was not all. I had not done justice to that question.

So now as I close my eyes and think, scene by scene the Life @ LIBA flashes before my eyes. So let me take you on a journey through my memories once again...

Scene 1: Its 7.50am... As usual I'm running late for the morning class... Keeping my fingers crossed I run down the stairs to the streets, wishing I'll get an auto and reach the college in time... Like everyday, I blame myself - "Kabhi nahi sudhregi!!!" After waiting for few minutes an auto passes by... I stop it and ask - "Anna, Loyola college back gate, ulle pona, ewlo??"... The guy quotes Rs. 30... I say - "Anna, daily poro... Rs. 20 correct rate anna..." After a little persuasion he agrees... Phew!!! I reach college starp at 8am and run to the class. I'll miss this!!!

Scene 2: I am inside the class. The faculty is scribbling something on the board, oblivious of what's happening behind him. I start dozing off, head flopping over to one side. He turns around and the whole class suddenly becomes very attentive. Someone elbows me and I wake up startled, pretending I have not even blinked. Well what we assume as micro-sleeps lasting only seconds, are actually around 15 minutes long each. And by that time, everyone in the class has seen you, has had a good laugh and some have even taken some photos of you. I'll miss this!!!

Scene 3: I'm in the canteen. On a table where only four can sit, atleast four more have squeezed in. It's like an adda. We are all here for 2 'F's - Food & Friends. I am gorging on some junk food from Give Life cafe and of course, a bottle of Pepsi. I can hear giggles and laughters all around, people pulling each other's legs, all kinds of masti-mazaaks, gossip sessions, people desperately trying to pass their food coupons and shout their orders to the guy behind the counter... "Anna, masala dosa", "Coffee Anna, less sugar", etc. Someone once told me that a college is incomplete without a canteen, like Tom is incomplete without Jerry. So true... It's where friendship emerges. I'll miss this!!!

Scene 4: It's someone's birthday...(Let's assume it's a guy... that way it's more fun)! He is gonna cut the cake in the canteen... Half the class turns up for the celebration... Most of the people are more interested in the cake than in his birthday and half of them are more interested in giving the guy some birthday bumps, than in either the cake or his birthday... As soon as the cake is cut, the torture starts... All you can hear are Ooh, Aah and Ouchs and many more @#$%^&*s (censored swearing). I'll miss this!!! }:>

Scene 5: Festival Time!!! Whether it's the Festival of Lights or Mahabali's homecoming or any other festival, LIBA celebrates all with equal grandeur. Everyone turns up dressed in their best attires on the day, some for fun, some for friends and some for the good food (called the Theory of 3 Fs). In LIBA, dates really doesn't matter. We may end up celebrating Janmashtami during Onam and Onam during Navratri, but its the spirit of celebration that matters. I'll miss this!!!

Scene 6: It's a conference day... 3 buses are waiting in the parking lot to take the students to the venue... Everyone turns up earlier than usual, suited up... The consolation prize of attending these 'Attendance compulsory' conferences are that - you get to have yummy food and yummier dessert. I'll miss this!!! :-P

Scene 7: It's either Freshers Party (when people are dressed as weirdly as possible) or Libarated (when we tune our vocal chords, walk the ramp and burn the floor) or Chrysalis (when we are at our intellectual best) and as usual, there is a flurry of activity all around. You can feel the energy and enthusiasm in the air. And then comes the DJ night with people dancing on the beats of "Munni Badnaam"s and "Sheila ki Jawani"s. In the end, they were all good good nights. I'll miss all these!!!

On a more personal note, I'll miss walking out of college with Pritha, I'll miss pulling Munna's coogly woogly cheeks :P, I'll miss going to Nescafe with Chaitik and Navisha, I'll miss the trips I have taken with some good friends, I'll miss reading Chaitik's hilarious posts on Pandora's box and if I keep writing, I'll miss even the CRM exam that I have tomorrow...

I have been through myriads of emotions in the last 20 months... I have met so many people, some of whom I'll remember throughout my life... I have learnt so many valuable lessons, some through the people and some through the vibrant life we spent here. I can proudly say no matter what, those were the best days of my life and I believe this lively culture will keep throbbing in the heart of LIBA even after many many years.