Memoirs part 1

Disclaimer: Personal views. This post has high perishability.

This is where our Mr. X (for choice of a better name) can speak out. Now can he? That is what he thought when he filled out that wretched feedback form. The course was some basic one on management. The lecturer was the Numero Uno Mr.Y, of the new campus. He was terror unleashed on the students. His booming voice, hostile remarks and short temper unnerved everybody. Now in this perfect setting, our bloke sat about filling the form at the end of his first trimester exam. The form had just 3 simple questions. And enough space to communicate his feelings. Or so X thought. So here goes THE FORM.

Comment on the following

1. 1.Course structure

Loosely structured with total disregard to students.

2. 2.Course content

Out of date case studies. Repetitive slides

3. 3.Course scheduling

According to the whims and fancies of the professor and his family.

The forms were collected back by the assistant. As usual the chatter was about the exam. People were asking each other how many additional sheets they used. Our X felt so much left out of all this. He was wondering if anyone will even go through the answer scripts and he was pretty sure about the feedback forms being thrown away. Or else someone would have infused some sanity into the professor way back. But in his batch he was sure no one else would have written anything other than the typical three ‘GOOD’s. He smirked with an evil sense of power at having had the opportunity to lead the crusade. He turned to his mates to begin the ‘chai’ routine before classes resumed. But they were still immersed in discussing the paper. In his mind, he reinforced his thoughts of not belonging to the college in any way.

The rest of the day was uneventful, some boring lectures with few nodding in the first row and religiously making notes of what ever were on the slides, not withstanding the fact that the lecturer mailed all of it the next day. The chai routine was only something that our X was looking forward to everyday. Sipping his cuppa, he reached in his trousers for his ringing mobile. X was wondering as to who it could be. A local landline number in a new city was unusual. As he answered, he heard the familiar voice of the dutiful assistant from the administrative desk. Again unusual! What does X have to do with the administrative desk? In fact he wanted to be as far away as possible from it.

The assistant said ‘Where are you Mr. X? Prof. Y wants to meet you. Immediately!’ Then it dawned upon our dumbo. Oh Holy f***!! They have zeroed in on the feedback form. But how could they? It was supposed to be anonymous. The assistant was awaiting his reply. ‘Oh! Mam. I just returned to the hostel. Can’t it wait till tomorrow?’

‘NO ! SIR SAYS HE WANTS TO SEE YOU TODAY!!’

‘OK mam. I am starting from the hostel to college mam. I will meet him right away’, X hung up.

Now was the first time, X missed all his close friends back home. Anyway he had a new group. So form the Chai Dukhan opposite his campus, he called them (SMS: Save My Soul). B & C turned up. X curtly narrated the situation. C said, ‘Bosidike! Kya ho gaya tuje!!’ And B pitched in saying, ‘Dude you are a goner’.

So the three gulped their chais, trying to think clearly. The gravity of the issue was still sinking in them. B broke the silence saying, ‘Dude the maximum he can do is, throw you out of campus. Can you handle that? Will your parents stand by you then?’.

X was simply blinking, imagining how his father will react if he came to know of it. No, that is too much to think about now. One problem at a time. ‘Guys! Just tell me what I can tell him now, to reduce the impact of the damage already done.’ B called out, ‘Gulfam!! 3 more cups.’ Gulfam gleamed and was right there with his chai.

C out of the corner of his eye watched the assistant returning home. X now tried hiding behind the tree. Too conspicuous. Gulfam’s cash counter seemed better. So he pushed Gulfam out and hid himself there.

‘OK you are safe now. Come out. How much time do you have left?’ enquired B, glancing at his watch.

‘Not much. I told her, I am starting from the hostel. That gives me like 20 minutes. So ten more I guess’, said X wiping out beads of perspiration from his forehead. X was now visibly shaken. Adrenaline was coursing through all his veins. Such level of heightened thrill, he had never felt before.

‘Mate! You cannot go in and argue that it is not your form. So get in, agree that it is yours and ask sorry. Also I think he cannot throw you out, as an anonymous form cannot be used as evidence’, B encouragingly told X. Now X felt a little better. Yeah! You cannot use a lousy form as evidence against you. C chipped in saying, ‘Dude, be brave. We are with you.’ X knew that it was only figurative. But when you are under pressure, you like to hear reassurances like that, though they mean nothing.

‘Chalo logon, time to face the music. Anyone coming with me’, asked X mockingly. B being in the goodbooks of Prof Y asked earnestly, ‘I can mate. If you want me to.’ ‘Thanks yaar! Let us save that one for the bigger troubles’, grinned X.

X got into the lift, acknowledging the ‘All the best’ signs shown by B & C sarcastically. He found the lift climb slowly. He smirked to himself thinking even the lift is having its share of fun. Finally it jerked to a stop on his floor. He walked out of it and asked the guard if Dr.Y was in his room hoping against hope that Y would have left. The guard nodded his yes very cheerfully. The lift and now the guard, X felt as if everybody is conspiring against him.

To be continued….