This time when I left Roorkee, it hadn’t been all about going back home. Unfortunately though, that’s all there was to it. Summers are like summers are meant to be – all the time in the world to do nothing. And that should have been perfectly okay albeit the fact that the rest of the people I hang out with were making a real good use of their time – and I mean everybody – in one way or another. IITs and esp. the grading system here, if nothing else, have at least instilled within us a stiff sense of relativism. So there I was, discontented with the gift of time and whatever measly intern I had managed to grab on to.
Uselessness gives rise to a lot of random thoughts in one’s head, which people often do mistake for thoughtfulness. Consequently, I had prepared a list of ‘Things-to-do’, hoping that they would give me a spirit of purpose and a joy of learning that I have lost somewhere on my way to the fourth year. As is with plans though, some were fulfilled, others partly so while the rest remained just that – plans. The vacations are over now and I will soon get down to making newer ones. It is amusing – this resilience and shameless optimism.
Coming back to Roorkee was different somehow. With an overcast sky and rain-fed, lush green fields, the world through which the train weaved was both dark and bright. A confluence so similar to my mood every time I have wondered what fate has in store for me in the coming year. Leaning out of the compartment gateway, the wind swept hair accompanied by an ever so slight drizzle against the face offered a delightful reception… and an explanation to why dogs love doing this in the car. I even contemplated hanging my tongue out. Just for the heck of it! However, I was certain it wouldn’t have gone down well with a middle-aged guy standing next to me who had been consistently inquiring about the kind of college IITs were; esp. after I had related to him the usual bull about them being the best of the lot.
Here in insti, much more than just the weather has changed. A certain set of familiar faces are now gone; their rooms, once a regular haunt, are crossed more out of habit than purpose. There are new landscapes, new folks, heck even the registration processes have been revised! This was sure to have spread smiles across many a faces until the good ol’ insti wi-fi plainly refused to be a part of such an atrocious crime… almost nostalgic. And for once, the whole lot of professors could be found cribbing about their inability to log in. Clearly such advancements in technology aren’t meant for everyone. Although such connectivity issues did a great job at making us old timers feel at home.
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There is a class at 10. Actually, that was a few minutes ago. And I find writing this post or for that matter practically anything else more appealing than the prospects of attending one. Some others I called, looking for motivation, are still snuggled up in their beds, enjoying the pleasant weather outside or resting from yesterday’s toils of having attended a lecture way at the opposite end of the campus – which is more or less round. Relativism takes its toll: There is a whole session left to learn regularity and punctuality. I, at least, had got up on time….
