The Red & Blue Combination

Shivaji University

Shivaji University was like my second home during the engineering time. I used to spend more time in University than in college or home. 

There is a very huge library named as Khardekar Wachnalay just near the main admin building. 

It’s an Old building which with lot of ample space for students for studies; approximate 200 benches that is what I had heard. Students come early in the morning at 6:00am to catch a place to sit in the library. By 7:00am its almost like pack house.

Khardekar Library

Totally Pack Library

When in 3rd year I tried studying there couple of times but it wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s a complete silence zone (Pin drop silence) U cant even talk, if u want you can only whisper that too at the lowest pitch. No talking on mobile etc. lot of rules to follow. I had a friend Abhijeet Kadam who stayed near me & was a frequent member of Library. As he insisted I should also study in Library, I accompanied him for couple of days. 
He used to go early in the morning & used to reserve a seat for me as well. I usually joined him @ 9 or 10am. After the entry in Library, I used to keep my Bag at the table & go out for a cup of tea. The break was more than an hour. After Tea again at library for studies. As there were lots of known faces in the library, often someone used to ask out for a cup of tea & there were again Tea-breaks in studies. So there were more Tea, refreshments breaks than Studies. This was helping completing the syllabus.

Once day I planned to go early morning before Abhi could reach. I was very happy to see some spares seats for the first time as I enter the library. I kept my bag on a chair & sat on another. For the first time I did some serious studies in the Library. I guess the boy on the opposite of table was sleeping as he was laying his head down on his folded hand on table. 

After a while Abhi arrived. Immediately the Tea was due. We went out & returned after half an hour. Abhi went to washroom while I came upstairs to our table. The Library was totally packed. Usually its pack during the engineering exams whereas on the other time of the year it’s totally empty. As I approached my table, I saw the boy on the opposite of table was still Sleeping. I thought why people come to library if they want to sleep. I opened my notes to read & intentionally kicked the table to check if he was sleeping. He woke up because if the jerk. I dint believe he was sleeping so long. He couldn't even open his eyes. He just looked up at me & again went to sleep. I can’t study watching someone sleeping in front of me so I again made some movements & tried to disturb him.

You can see this Often in Library

He woke up & folded his hands & slept on the chair. The picture I saw next was horrifying. His saliva was pouring from his mouth onto his shirt. It was just disgusting. I again kicked the table to wake him up. He did nothing just, rubbed the saliva by his hands & went to sleep mode again. Looking at this disgusting scene I packed my Bag & came out of the Library, that was the end of Library for me. As I told Abhi the entire scene, he said this happens every day as Students study day & night don’t look at them, just focus on your studies, but to study in so much silence was not what I had been doing since school days.

In last year of Engineering I started Group Studies. Our term of Group studies was little different that usual way. We were all together 6 friends. Myself, Nitin, Sudhir, Pravin, Rakesh & Shailesh. Our way of study was very simple & also effective (but effect was only limited to us).

We sat together in a group with one common subject at a time, one person used to read notes & remaining listen, the one who knows the correct answer will explain the basis & terminology. This had turned out to be very effective for us as learning from listening is very much useful than reading & remembering it yourself. So this was our new style of study. We generally sit for studies at any location in University & that too from Sunrise to Sunset all day long

Once it was a Saturday & we were seating in the main garden in front of main building near famous Shivaji Maharaj Statue.

We were seating near the Bushes & you can see white dots are the Concrete Bench

It was around 4pm in the afternoon, I asked Sudhir to bring some potato chips for me as I had Fast. College time is like all try to run away from bill for tea & refreshment not because they don’t have money just to have fun with friends. U know how college days are we somehow have to manage our expenses.

The good thing @ that specific garden location was, it’s circular in shape with road on the periphery & Concrete benches at certain distance.

Along with the studies we used to watch who was doing what, something for entertainment.

I again insisted Sudhir to bring Chips. As is mentioned earlier there are Concrete benches around the periphery of the road around circular garden.

Many of the benches were occupied. There were students, couples, children’s etc. One particular bench was been occupied by a couple. So Sudhir saw the same & said go & talk to the girl & I will buy u chips. Bet is some serious business in college days.

And all agreed as soon as Sudhir said so. I said you should also pay for the tea for all then. He was OK with it.

Now the problem for me was how to talk to a girl who is seating with a Boy (who can be her Boyfriend).

I thought for a while, by the time all had started teasing me, just a word with the girl & I can’t do it. After sometime I put on my Shoes & went to the Bench were the Couple was seated. All were quite looking at what I m going to do.

Before going to the Girl, I noticed that she was wearing a Pinkish Red color Shirt & Blue Jeans which my chance for a conversation because I was also wearing Similar color combination i.e. Red T-Shirt & Standard Blue jeans (which every college student has). I went near the Bench & turned back to see my friends, all of them were on there Toes. I looked ahead & went near the Bench.

I was dam nervous @ what I m doing coz if things turned out wrong then I might have a scene over there. But any how I went ahead & said "EXCUSE ME....Can I have a word with you...?”

The Girl was pretty shocked being approached by a Boy when she was already seating with someone beside her. I dint even bothered looking at the Boy......"Just 2 Minutes, hats all I need..?"

The Boy stood up & questioned "Whats the matter...?”

I said "I want to talk to the Girl for a minute..."

(When you have friends on your side, you are full of courage & remember Darr ke aage jeet he)

The Girl asked the boy to sit & said..."Yes tell me, what’s the matter...!!!!"

Now was my chance to start the conversation & win the bet. This is what I told her...

"Hi Myself Nilesh,,,I m pursuing last year of Engineering (Engineering student puts an impression, not always but sometime (J)),I do come here daily, for studies....you might have seen me (Just to hyperbole).We are 5-6 friends who study together, Sometime we Sit in this Garden or some times at Various departments but somewhere in Shivaji university ( Actually I was just buying time, so that I can at least talk for more than 2 minutes with her)

Thats me in same Red-Blue Combination
(Ganpati Special)

Believe me the reason for me to come & talk to you was the Color combination of our dress; you see m wearing Red T-shirt & Blue jeans, what my friends said to me,

(I showed a finger to my friends, All started looking here & there & behaved as if they dint know me)

This is the odd combination Red & Blue, so we had a bet this morning, if I see someone wearing such similar combination, I will shake hands with that person & you are wearing similar combination of Red & Blue. Believe me I have never ever wait for someone, they way I have wait today for this combination. So I was very happy to see you, so here I m just to shake hands with you so that I will win the bet or else I have to wait for another person with similar combination which I don’t think will happen today".

Well that was the longest Lie I had ever told anyone on face, but thank God the Girl believed me & had a long smile on her face. She said this Bet often happens with all friends, She stood up & so did her friend (Who was curiously listening to every sentence what I was saying) & Shake hands with me.

I asked her to wave hands to my friends, which she did & my friends were like,,,,, Ziklais re tu,,,!!!

I thanked both of them & returned back....Sudhir who was watching the entire scene immediately said with a Smile "Chala Canteen la, Bhavacha Upvaas astoy aaj...!”

The remaining day went in the discussion, what I said to the Girl. All I can say is Some lies are worth it & most importantly:

Good Times + Crazy Friends = Amazing Memories

 

 

 

The Fruity Story

Summer Vacations, the best time of the year. Everyone has some or other plan in his Summer Vacations. Typically Individuals plan for a long visit to some new destination with friends & family people plan to visit there natives, relatives & spend some quality family time.

Thats me on the Left with my Cousins

Till my school days, I always visited my father’s native “Kasar-Shirambe” in every summer vacation, it’s a Small Village near “Kolhapur” where I currently reside. The time spend there is like re-visiting your past. It’s just peaceful to be with your elders, your home, and your friends. We are pampered by our grandparents. Grandparents love is just grandparents’ love. I love my grandparents a lot. My grandmother used to wait eagerly, just for this time of the year for her grand-children. I used to travel along with my mother & sister to my Village. Father used to come just to drop & pick us up. (Being a Businessman gets u very less family time).

  

We stayed almost a month at Grandmothers place. Native was a Village and at my school days there were no Television, no Mobile, no Videogames nothing. So entire day was just wandering around with my village friends. Early morning start was with fresh Cow milk & believe me it’s just awesome. My grandmother & uncle used to milk the cow & I used to go to the dairy to deposit the milk. Everyday bath was at the Well which was not so far from home. Thanks to the Well I m able to swim today. I used to go our farm with my Uncle along our cattle. I loved to grab a stick in hand & run around them. This was like a daily routine schedule for entire month. Good thing @ vacations is school time is there is no home works so it’s like stress free life. My old Grandmother was always in tears wishing us good bye. I still have those coins, money notes given by her, that’s a priceless thing to me.

Mahadev Temple at the Tip of Hill

Village View from Top

Visiting native became rare during the transition period of School to College. I did visit Grandmother but the vacation wasn’t long as it used to be. But we used to visit back once again every year for the annual traditional function at our Village Temple which is at the peak of Hill right just near our farm. There is this huge fair, which I liked the most with lot of games, plays, eatables etc. it’s like a second Diwali every year.

Time never stops & so does Life. I was completing my Engineering, my both Elder Sisters were married & I was a Happy MAMA of 2 nephews & 1 sweet Niece. Now the tables had turned. My mother was a Grandmother who now eagerly used to wait for summer vacation like my grandmother for her grand-children's visit.

Three Little Angels

Mama-Bhache: Look-A-Like

Famous Ratnagiri Hapus

I liked summer vacations as I enjoyed playing with my nephews & niece. It’s always fun to be with small ones. My father always bought Mango boxes ( Ambyachi Peti of 5 Dozen) on the same day on arrival of my sisters. All kids love mangos.

Only eating, wandering, playing that’s the only schedule. I had also purchased a Video game for them to play. 

All time Favourite : VIDEO GAMES

We still play lot of indoor & out-door games. As all mothers instruct, indoor game day time & outdoor game in the evening. We used to go swimming at a lake which is near my home. Later followed by indoor games like playing cards, Business ( Vyapaar), Carom( the favorite game of all times) & the last option Video game. My mother never liked us playing video game, as we have to stare at the television continuously for hours. Evening was cricket time along with some fying disk, badminton, football etc.

I always used to Bunk college whenever my Sisters visited with children. I can recall the same moments I used to spend at my father’s native with my grandparents.

Nusti Pala-Pali

Fun with Soham

I know how my grandmother was, so I used to pamper my nephews the same way by spending most of the time with them. Even if I went out in the city to visit friends, my nephews used to accompany me as I used to allows them to ride the bike by seating in the front seat ( almost on the petrol tank). It’s every kids likeliest thing, to ride a bike (which he can’t even hold or carry). They used to simply sit in front & lean forward & blow the horn. But I never complained. I used to ask them to sit with me on the driving seat while driving Car but there was always fight amongst the 2 nephews for the driving seat so the deal was one will seat while going for a drive & other while coming. It was like a unwritten Mutual consent.

After having spend an entire month my Sister was about to leave to her home to Pune. But my nephew wasn’t ready for it. He cried a lot & requested my Sister if he can stay alone, but that’s how children’s are, he might say so but after an hour he will definitely cry for his mother. My mother asked to delay the travel plan by a day. Omi was very happy. We bought Mutton again that day as both my nephews & also niece loved it.

The day same was spent in similar manner. Next day packing was done & all were set to leave. Omi wasn’t happy @ leaving her grandparents. He was like glued to my mother since he woke up. He cried a lot & so did my mother. But after my mother promised that either we will visit Omi to his home if not then Omi will stay with us for 1 extra Week in Diwali. I was going to drop Sister on the Central Bus stand.

Bus station is hardly 3-4 kms from my home. As always Omi was seating in front seat on CBZ. We reached the station within no time. As vacations were finishing there was lot of rush on the Kolhapur central ST stand. I parked my bike inside the station & went to the enquiry counter to check on the Bus timing. Meanwhile Omi was feeling restless & my Sister was irritated by his behavior. The Bus had already arrived at one of the platform. I quickly went in the mob to grab seats & fortunately was able to get 2 of them. I kept her Luggage on the space over the Seats. Good thing it was an Asiad i.e. the one with the Cushion. It’s good for long journeys though. Omi grabbed the window seat as all children’s do, even I was one of them.

Meanwhile the Conductor arrived & starting taking tickets. We were very lucky to get seats right away as there was again a long queue. Bus was packed to its capacity. Good thing @ Asiad there are no standing seats. So it’s easy to travel with some space.

As I was talking with my Sister, I noticed Omi wasn’t looking at us nor listening our conversation. I just raised my eye-brows enquiring my Sister what happened, she said he wants something to eat & drink, but she dint want to give him as he is not used to travel with early food before journey & also he had heavy breakfast in the morning. I said to Omi I will bring him some refreshment to eat, till then the Driver had also taken his seat. I again said the bus won’t leave till I come back. I went running to the bakery near the station. I knew that Omi likes fruity, so I was curiously searching for it. To my surprise I was unable to find at few of the shops near the bus platform. I looked back, Omi was staring from the Window. I went to the Main Canteen, where I was able see packs of Fruity. But there was lot of rush at the counter. I grabbed my mobile if my Sister had called, but there were no calls. Somehow I got 2 Fruity from that busy Counter & my Phone rang. “Shit” , I knew it was my Sisters call. I took the call & my Sister said “ We are on our way, don’t buy anything”, in the background I heard Omi’s Voice shouting on her “Mala Fruity pahije mhanje Pahije”.

My Sister said the bus is almost out of the premises of ST stand & I won’t be able to make it to them. As a standard communication before the journey she said she will call once they reach Pune. For a Split second I dint knew what to do, I had these 2 Fruity in hand & I had promised Omi I will bring him the same. Again my phone rang & this time it was my mother whom I told Fruity story in a minute. Her reaction was “Arr,,,Bichara majha Porga,,,,Bagh jawal asla tar palat jaun de,,,,,,!!!!!”

That was the only thing in the entire world I was wanted to hear. Sometimes just some words of emotion, some words inspiration that’s all we need. I grabbed my keys & made a sprint to my CBZ. CBZ has a small storage above the speedometer; I was able to keep both the Fruity easily. And the chase begins.

I was on my way in no time. There is a Signal just outside Kolhapur Station i.e. Dabholkar Corner. Luckily it was RED & Omi’s bus was just at the front line. I was on “Street Hawk” mode, continuous horn & high RPM, all I want to do was to reach that bus anyhow. I made it to the Bus & Signal was green. I was almost there at Omi’s window but Bus took off again. It’s a small road near the signal & bus was on the right side & so was Omi. I was just trying if I can get a small space to overtake the Bus, but couldn’t make it. The Bus came to next roundabout i.e. Kawla Naka. For the first time, I was happy seeing the traffic in front as bus was coming at halt. I raised the RPM as I got side to Overtake. In a split second I was at Omi’s Window. I can clearly see the disappointment, anger on Omi’s face.

Fruity: One for the Road

The first thing I did was to reach for the Fruity. I was able to take one, I blew horn but as Omi was still angry, I was unable to get his attention. I went close to Bus & popped it inside the window.  Omi saw the Fruity in his hands & saw outside. I was so happy to see him Smiling looking at me. He shouted “Aai Aai bagh Mama……!!!”. He waived his hand.

But the bus was again in motion. I was happy that I was able to give him at least a Fruity. I saw Omi lookingout from the Window. I again followed the bus & as was able to pop another Fruity to Omi’s window at some further distance. My Sister initially smiled but shouted at me & asked me to leave & signaled that she will call me. Omi was very happy, I could see the watering eyes with a smile on his face.

Eyes & Smile are a unique combination, very rare. But that the purest of emotion you can ever see.

My Sister called me to tell the storey on other side. She said Omi was on his toes when I left the bus & the bus started to move. He was seating on the bag on his seat & looking out for me at all places possible, but I was nowhere. As we were almost out of the station Omi started crying, “Mama kutha gela……..To Fruity deto mhantlela,,,,,tuja mula mala nahi milnar ata Fruity……!!!!!”.

That’s when she called me to inform not to come & Omi kept shouting he wants it. Omi was very angry & crying a lot. He again said “ Mama deto mhantlela Fruity ani parat alach nahi……!!!!”,,,,,and the next moment there was a Fruity from nowhere right in his hands. She said he dint knew what happened, where did this fruity came from…….that’s when  Omi saw me & shouted Mama….!!!!

I was very glad that I kept my promise because it’s a deal with my nephews, “I will never break a promise that I will make & never make a Promise that I will break”.

Life is all about enjoying small small things. This little Fruity made their entire journey happy. Omi was happy getting what he wanted & I was happy to keep the promise I made to my beloved nephew Omi.