Fest@2k10!! The hidden truths behind a college fest!!

                    Foreword

Today, I consider myself fairly well versed in leading a life in Gandhi. I seem to be digging my heels deeper here and a farewell seems nowhere in my sight.

          Penning down our event was my to-do list to share with my fellow folks as a tribute before we go in search of our futures. I want to rekindle those personal, interpersonal & group memories and uphold that bonds forever which our fest created among us.

          My book divulges our combined efforts, our integrity, our determination, our sacrifices and our hard work to overcome the hassles and hurdles behind the screen because of which we could make our fest a grand success. Nevertheless, my book also reveals so much that is uncomfortable, unsettling and difficult to accept that makes one understandably reluctant to make that journey. Is it better not to know? Hard on the heels this question is a more pragmatic one, for those who believe remembering is important and necessary.

          A majority of my pals seem to be happy and upbeat which conforms and further strengths my positivity about this book. I hope Gandhi will not lose its character as a safe friendly institution with a good balance between reality and futility.

          My only aim is to take my companions back to the context which we created on behalf of our fest. I never intend to hurt anyone by this book. I will take a walk down the lives and experience on campus while organizing a grand event- some jovial, while others painfully heart wrenching- through this journey. Turns the pages and enter into the weird and wonderful reality, keeping aside all preconceived notions, clichés and any emotional baggage you have.

A CRAZY ACT!!

                            26^th December, 2013

SPM lecture hall:

I had my SPM pre final practical today.  We should take a Clinico-social case after statistics and epidemiological exercise. Even though I prepared well, I was tensed. I was ready to take any case, except those two diseases caused by that awful Mycobacterium.

Even though, we were related to Community Medicine since our second year, we were never told about the pattern of the practical. It was around 10 am, we finished our stats and epidemiological exercise. I started developing tachycardia, thinking about the Clinico-social case. A final year PG, Dr. Niharika came and started calling the roll numbers.

Answer sheets were kept in a row in inverted manner on the table on the stage of the lecture hall. Each student was asked to pick any answer sheet of their choice and take the case of the disease that is written on it. It was purely based on our luck. I was in deep thoughts thinking about what case I would get…

“Roll no: - 60!!!” the PG called.

“Who is roll number 60??” she shouted this time.

“Sharmila…”

“Sharmi…” shouted my friends in chorus.

I came into my senses and ran towards the podium to check my fortune. I was glancing at all the papers, thinking what to take…

I kept my hand on the last but first one on my left, I was about to take it. My heart sensed something bad & within microseconds I changed my mind and took the paper which was right in front of me. 

I was about to turn the paper and see, but suddenly the pg dragged it from me. She noted it on her paper and returned it back to me and said, “Go to O.P fast… be ready with your case in 45 minutes…”

“Ok madam!” I said hardly and I turned the page to see the case. To my shock… and to my misfortune it was… TUBERCULOSIS!!

My mind was blank, and I almost stumbled from the stage. Reluctantly, I collected my things and started walking to the O.P.

“Sharmi…! Wait till I come…” I heard Prathyusha’s voice.  Her face was very sad even than me.

“Yaa… Ok! I will wait there at the steps! Anyhow why are you such gloomy? What’s your case?”I asked.

“Hmm…. LEPROSY!” she said in a dull note.

“Eee… why is this Mycobacterium only behind us? I don’t know anything about TB health Schemes and treatment protocols… that DOTS and other stuff!” I was worried.

“Chill… You can read that in Park after your case is finished. But what about me, I have to examine all the peripheral nerves! I don’t know their anatomy at all!” she screamed.

“You can call someone from the hostel to come downstairs, to give you anatomy book.” Someone said hearing our conversation.

“Idea…!!! I will call Himaja to come with me to O.P and help me in the case.” I shouted.

“Tell her to bring the book too” Prathyu added.

****----------------------------------*****---------------------------------******

“Hello! Himmi! What are you doing? Come fast to O.P. I got TB case! You have to help me…”

“What? Sharmi… how can I come? What if the staff sees me there?” Himaja exclaimed.

“Oh!! It is only a pre final. No one is going to come to check the students.  Stop the discussion and come fast. Also bring Anatomy text book for Prathyu, she got Leprosy case”

“Ha ha …. Both of my friends got wedged with Mycobacterium… LOL!! It is so good to hear,” she giggled.

“Stop your non sense. Be in O.P soon… I will be waiting! Bye!”

“Ok… bye!! I’m coming…”

****------------------------------------*****----------------------------------*****

TB clinic:

I entered the TB clinic. I got a Relapse case of a 40 yr old male. I started taking the case. Even though, I don’t need Himaja, I just called her without expecting the further consequences.

I was engaged in my work. Suddenly I heard someone screaming Himaja’s name.  Though I was happy that she came, my smile disappeared as soon I saw her. My dearest friend came to help me as soon as I called, not even bothering about her appearance. 

She didn’t even comb her hair. I couldn’t resist laughing at her. I and Himaja discussed my case for a while.

“Sharmi…  I know that you don’t need me… you called me unnecessarily.” Himaja yelled.

“Oh… I just called you, because I was tensed. You can go now…” I started concentrating on my patient.

I thought that himaja left. But she didn’t go…. She was busy chatting with my other classmates and I didn’t notice that.

Suddenly, two PGs came to the clinic.  Everyone who had their books open closed them, and arranged themselves in front of their patients.  

One of them was Dr. Niharika… I could hear her voice from my back. She was asking, “Who are you?”

I turned back to see, who that was? And I was shocked to that it was Himaja… My idiot friend still didn’t go from here!! I was frightened. I was just staring them with fear filled eyes.

My clever friend started acting like a lay village girl with an innocent face and naïve eyes. She didn’t react to our PG. She behaved as if she doesn’t know English.  She was seeing around the surroundings, typically like the patients who come to Gandhi for the first time.

Even though, the situation was serious… I was laughing hysterically. My cute friend will definitely get a Nandi Award if she does a movie… seriously! True…

Our pg came near to Himaja and asked in Telugu, “avaramma nuvvu?? enkada endhuku unnav?” Himaja said in a low voice, “Madam… ma uncle!!” she pointed towards a patient.

“Ok! But why are you so afraid? You are a medico. You have to be bold!” We were hell shocked, when we knew that our PG recognized Himaja as a student.

“Madam… that my uncle came to this clinic…” Himaja said.

“Ok… don’t ever fear to speak. Be dominative! Here exam is going on you go and sit aside.”

“Ok… madam!” Then Himaja left.

Our PG indentified Himaja as a medico. But she was not clever enough to find out that she was helping the other students. J

Although, it was a serious scene, we enjoyed a lot. Himaja’s stellar performance was worth to remember. It was one of my crazy acts in Gandhi with my bestie.

 I'm really lucky to have such a friend, who supports in every act and never complains about anything.... 

                          

Mysterious n8!!

At around 1 am, I got call from my aunt about my uncle’s emergency appendectomy. I started to Mythrivanam on my friend’s old activa.

On the way, a guy with a bandage to his left leg, came across my bike and said, “Anna! I had a fracture. I can’t walk. Please! Give me lift up to Mythrivanam.”

As I was alone on bike, and it was late night, I felt pity and decided to help him. He got on my bike. We started. Mean while he spoke, “Thank you! Anna!  I can’t forget your help. By the way you look handsome.” I blushed.

We reached Mythrivanam. He held my hand and said thanks once again. On a sudden, he kept his hand in my shirt’s left pocket. He took a 500 rupee note and pushed me. I fell down along with my bike. He started running away.

I was shocked. Within a few seconds I realized that he had no fracture of his leg and he was a burglar. I came out of my thoughts & started my old activa to follow him. I was a bit late, but I could see him in my eye sight range.

He turned into a street. I reached there. But I couldn’t see anyone as it was very dark. I was angry thinking about what happened. I felt it very irritating. I went into the dark road searching for him. It was a dead end.

I came back to the main street and waited for about 15 min there. Suddenly, I saw a shadow approaching me, with a rod in his left hand surrounded by cigarette smoke. I felt apprehensive and I got down from my bike. I was looking clearly to that shadow which came near and near… within 5 sec there stood a WATCHMAN!! Hmm… he was a security guard to a nearby apartment.

I spoke to him regarding my issue. He said, “No one came here sir!!” I sighed, “Okay!! Let that idiot go… Is there any coffee/tea shop here?”

“Yes sir! Just go straight for about 500 m, u will see a mobile tea shop in the right.”

“Okay… thank you!” I started my activa and headed towards the tea shop.

I felt very bad and at the same time very happy. I had my i-phone in my other pocket. Thank god! He didn’t observe that.

I reached that mobile tea stall. There I saw that idiot drinking tea. I parked my bike on a side. I came to him and shouted, “Hey! Give me my money back!!”

No response. I shouted again. He said, “Who are you? What money? What do u want?” I told the entire story to tea stall guy, he said, “Sir! Don’t shout. He is not a good guy. Leave about it and go back.”

“I am not afraid of him. I will see his end today!” I was fuming. All of a sudden that idiot, stood and said, “Sir! Take your money!” He kept a 100 rupee note in my hand and slapped hard on my left cheek.

I was dumbfounded on such a behavior. Within seconds, I revolted. I punched twice on his ribs and kicked him in his stomach. I couldn’t control my anger. I pushed him on ground and kicked him hard and hard.

He jumped into a manhole nearby and escaped.  Suddenly, the tea stall guy came and kicked me from my back. Then, I become conscious that he too is related to that idiot.

I slapped that tea stall guy. He fell down and couldn’t get up. Meanwhile, another two thin, dark colored men joined us. They held me stretching my hands back. I struggled and got out form their grip. I caught one’s neck with my left hand and with my right hand I lifted the other into air and threw him away.  The person in my left hand shouted to tea stall guy, “Hey! Bring a stone!! Let’s break his head into pieces!”

Till then, I was not in my senses and I was fighting with anger. I looked at the surroundings. It was dark. I was one. They were four. What if they kill me? I felt panic. What I’m I doing?  Y I’m I Risking my life? I was not bothered about money, but I was annoyed about his cheating. I was upset about my virtue.

I stepped back and stared that tea stall guy. He was choosing a stone to lift up. I threw the other man in my right hand towards him. They both crashed on to a stone.

Suddenly a new character entered. He said, “Babu!! Why are you fighting? What if anything happens to you? Take this 500 note and go from here.”

I took that note from him, kept it my pocket and came towards my bike. I gazed angrily at the guys with whom I fought till know. I started my activa and drove to home…

I lay down on bed and started thinking about what everything happened. I don’t know why I took that money? I took the note from my pocket. Surprisingly!! It was my 500 note which that idiot stole from me?!