Carpe Noctum... Sieze the Night!

It was early morning 2:00 AM on 7th May 2009. We three : Galli, Dopa and me were out on main road near GC, playing football with a ball of the size of a human testicle. Shouting and wailing in the middle of the night it was not a surprise that we invited some angry inhabitants of the "Staff Quarters" part of the campus.
Soon we came to know that this was what Galli - the 'sentiman' always wanted to do. Actually a part of Galli's "VirGaDo list" - things to do before one leaves the insti. So we proudly checked one from the list.
Discussing the list further he revealed things like losing virginity, getting a girl friend or rather having an emotional relationship with a girl blah blah blah... till he said he wanted to take a dip in the swimming pool in the middle of the night. Now this was something we could possibly do at the dead of the night, let alone losing virginity.
At first it sounded scary... security on the prowl, police guys roaming around in bikes and the possibility and the consequences of getting caught trying to sneak into pool. But then it was Now or Never". It was then we three decided to take a dip in the pool that very night.
All the way to the pool we were convincing ourselves that it would be easy, discussing every possible way of getting caught and rebuilding the strategy again and over again.
Not a minute after we reached the back gate of the pool and were inspecting it for any guards, our first glitch: two guys in khaki on a bike stopped just behind asking who we were. Still sweating from the midnight football, we had a hard time convincing them we were students, on a night walk. We took a complete tour of the perimeter of the pool till the main entrance. Again caught staring over the compound by the security guard. We tried to act casual got our asses back to the back gate.
Now here was the situation:
A guard in front and a room in the pool premises with lights on and more importantly with us having no idea whether anybody was there inside. But the time of reckoning had come, we had to go in. It was decided that me and Dopa go in first and if we successfully go past the room, Galli keeps a watch on the front guard else we run for our lives.
We carefully get ourselves over "an excuse for a compound" adjoining the gate with no barbed wire and land ourselves in the well-lit corridor which leads to the pool. There was no place to hide and more so no reason to do so, Cuz anyone in any corner of the pool premise would spot us anyway. We walked carefully with meticulous steps and straining our eyes to see against the light to check for guards. Slowly we reached the room (with lights still on). Crouching now, to avoid the sight of anyone through the window we reached the door of the room, only to find a pair of slippers outside and the room unlocked...
But 'twas too late to turn back. Dopa had already signaled Galli to go and keep a watch on the front guard. Crouching behind the silhouette of the room , me and Dopa were trying to converse telepathically. But frankly speaking telepathy is not easy shit. Damn, I could not understand a single expression. We had to blurt it out at the end. I ask rhetorically, "Karna hai kya??" bang comes the answer "Ob!". Now this guy has some guts.
I checked my watch, it was 2:30 am. Not a sound, except that of crickets. The water of the pool was dead still , not a single ripple. We could see an impeccable reflection of the diving tower in the water. Except the intermitent sounds made by animals in the bush the only noise I could hear was our breathing.
We mustered courage and as quietly as possible crawled across the room, trying hard to keep our heads below the window of the room. It was apparently a pump or a sterilizer room and we had no freakin' idea what was a guy doing inside it at 2:30 in the morning. With the room crossed we walked on the grass adjoining the pool. It was pitch dark in this region of the pool.
We reach the far and dark corner of the pool. Now, Dopa steps forward towards the pool. Climbs down the stairs and midway we hear a hustle in the bushes. Dopa stops, knee deep in water. A few ripples were already traveling across the Olympic sized pool. We waited for about 30 seconds like statues waiting for further noise from that direction. With none coming, Dopa continues to descend into water. Completely immerses himself in and rises. Slowly climbs up and back to the grass. It was my chance now. Around that time we catch a glimpse of the guy walking inside the room. We stay inert for some time and after a minute or two, its my turn to go. I remove my shirt and advance towards the already disturbed water. I check my watch again. 2:38 AM. I go down as slowly as possible but come out with jerk. The noise of droplets of water hitting the pool surface is too much to be quiet. I climb out, water lavishly dripping from my cotton trousers. It was done for the both of us. But what about the guy who actually wanted to do it. Galli!!
We retrace our path, this time with extra care as the wet slippers were making a hell of a squeaking noise. We climb out of the gate, half scared, half excited. But it was galli's turn now, and don't go by his size, this guy was too terrified to go alone. So it was me and Galli this time. Seconds after I was out of the premise I was in again, this time with Galli. My heart still racing at 120 bpm, we race towards the pool. crouch around the room. And reach the pool. It was one of the 'firsts' for Galli, stepping into the insti pool. And what a way to do it. He pushes his six feet frame into the water creating a din, goes down for 2 seconds and guess what!! The dude comes up gulping a gallon of water. Starts coughing badly, still in the pool. I ask him to keep quiet and make it fast. But poor guy still madly coughing out water. Gathers his stuff and we start running towards the back gate. Well, damn! Galli, still coughing. The room was yet to be crossed and we could sense movement inside. But there was no time to wait with Galli's condition not improving, we clamored to the gate, dripping water all through the way and slippers squeaking and squealing all the time. Moments later we jumped out of the compound. Once out of the gate there was no way we could control our excitement. We had done what no man in insti had done before. Taken a midnight dip in the pool and had come out uncaught. So it was time to check one more thing from "VirGaDo" list of Galli's.
The night was still young and it was time to come back and put a movie!!
They say Carpe Diem...
We say "Carpe Noctum" -- Seize the Night!!

Shailesh R Nadar.
4:22 pm, May 07, 2009.

A Tribute!! to wing-mates and wingmen!! :P

Its been almost three years since I came here… living with friends... away from family… well this kinda in itself is one… Its time to pay some tribute to the second family…Over a period of time of knowing people… their names don’t jus remain names… they signify complicated emotions :P …they ring a bell…
Well here are a few!
Lets start with
Chandu:
chan (v):
1. It refers to that novel way of RG ing in which u pain the shit out of people by saying nothing at all, well obviously unintended!! You are kept from knowing vital info, which apparently haunts you big time later.
2.This refers to joining someone in their endeavors, working on it and then kicking the main guy out and taking his place… For further info contact Satyaram… Cuz he sure has been brutally channed many times.
Usage: to chan, channing, to be channed, to have got channed etc. etc.

Hussain:
huss(v):
It refers to the plain, on the face lying with no apparent motive but just to make a fool out of the listener. It differs from fooling in the sense hussing is most often caught very soon… But gotta be aware while talking to him else “Dude!! You are so hussed!!”
Usage: to huss, hussing, to get hussed, etc. etc

Bulla, the great! (title the great is self proclaimed!!)
bulla (v):
to pull out a bulla(phr.)

MEANING DELETED BECAUSE OF PERSONAL DISSENT!!

Usage: “Gosh! You almost pulled out a bulla!”, “stop bullaying”, to get bullaed, to bulla etc etc.

The Big J
jayantise (v):
It’s a new found way of socializing, in which you befriend an almost unknown person in moments (by using all the PR skills u possess in one flow) that by the end of the day you are only a bit less than ‘langotiya yaars’
PS: Big J was a PR coordinator for Saarang ‘08
Usage: to jayantise, jayantising, to get jayantised etc etc

Pondy… (for those ignorant enough: Tummala Yashwanth)
pondy(n):
Refers to a person who despite of having all sorts of comforts luxuries and happiness, feels that he is the unhappiest person on the planet!
Eg. A guy studying in one of the premier institutes of the world, having a CG of more than 8.5, undoubtedly having a great future.. but still comes up with the most depressing status messages of all times!! Pure statistics… 9 outta his 10 status messages contain the creature :(

Here comes the Heavy weight
Poorna Chander Reddy (aka Reddy gaaru.. aka Full Moon Reddy)
to poorna (v):
Content too offensive to display… anyways for most of those reading this, the meaning must be obvious… for those who don’t it wd be granted only on personal request!
--- By the order of “ the one who is always right!”
Yet to come: to dopa, to black hole, revised version of “to poorna” and many more! :P

Shailesh R Nadar
3:20 pm, Feb 18, 2008.

End-sem blues!!!

“And ther, the monsters approach.. as huge and scary as they always are!!"

--- anonymous
November is nearing its end!! Endsem time again… The only thing that scares the shit outta every one who had in the past, experienced its magnanimity… The power with which the cyclone strikes, leaving nothing but a mess of debris behind!! It’s only those who have lost everything in the Endsem storm who would really understand it! And well I lost not once, not twice… but multiple times…

You feel like you are one of those soldiers in the movie 300 armed with just a spear. As you helplessly watch the hordes of Persian army descend upon you… The idea is no more to win the war… or to kill the enemy. It’s just to stand your ground against the min- numbing force and come out alive and if possible smiling…

The excessive pressure to perform every single time… crushes every single drop outta you!! Many a times this goes in vain!! It leaves u tattered, shattered and broken… it really takes you considerable amount of time to come in terms with reality…

Endsems are like being thrown in the ring blind folded against Mike Tyson!! Unarmed and unprotected… Its no more about throwing punches… its more about proving a point by dodging as many deadly punches as you can, before the inevitable “knock out”

Believe me sometimes you are not even given a chance!! One Bang and KO!! ting ting ting!! They can sometimes be scarier than the scariest of your nightmare.

Again and over again…they never change, Endsems are always the same. The only thing one can expect is a better outcome… Like surving the war or comin out of the ring ALIVE!!

Shailesh R Nadar
10:15 pm, Nov 23, 2007.

Crash.. r ther!!

“Sleep is the second most pleasurable thing to do.. so go n enjoy every bit of it.”

--- SHAILESH R. NADAR

Well sleep was never an issue before comin here(IIT).. it was never such an integral part of ma life as it is now.. Though the hours have remained more or less the same or may be even reduced they seem much more meaningful now.
Now I realize the so called “sleep” I used to sleep was more a mechanical activity. Bed at 12 or 1and rise at 7or 8. Same shit over and over again.
Never knew the thrill of goin into a nite... not knowing when u gonna sleep…

I quite mastered the art of sleeping, over the years, And have broadly classified them into six types..

1. Most normal kind of nite sleep: its those times wen u ready ur bed wen ur eyes start to wink, then put off the comp, lite, go to the bog(I spose every one does that), set the alarm and hit the sack well prepared.. and yaa even keep a bottle of water near your bed. You drift into sleep with a faint smile.Zzzzzzzzzzz..

2.We came, we saw, we collapsed kinda sleeps: Remember those times, jus back from baddy at 1, or jus walked all the way from main-gate from a late nite treat. Your body starts listening to ur muscles before it does to ur brain, which BTW stops functioning by that time. Forget latching the doors, the only thing u ever do before goin to bed is remove ur footwear. Dhumm dhadaash!! Hit the bed with a audible sound.Zzzzzzz

3. Late nite ooops early morning sleeps: Those weekends wen u wait for the world to sleep.. putting movie marathons on ur comp. They happen wen u r really satisfied with urself… like comin outta quizzes alive…etc etc. Time keeps ticking… 2am… 3am… 4am… 5am … and with the first stroke of sunlight u start yawning and hit the bed with little or no idea about when u gonna wake up!! Zzzzzzz

4. Afternoon sleeps: As against the general notion of sleeps this sleep doesn’t reenergize or refresh u but drains energy outta u and leaves u good for nothing for the rest of the day. But still, till date the most satisfying of all the sleeps… U feel doped wen u fall(Mind u I don dope..)… may be the word “crash” has its origin from here… doze off with mouth open totally unaware of things around. Zzzzzzzzz

5.MSB(Mech. Sciences Block) sleeps: Being in Mechanical, I dare not miss this!! Those hours of LVR(Man Tech), Design of Machine Elements and Heat transfer which we spent sleeping.. Though these sleeps are shallow, believe me you can even manage to have dreams if u r in the right place… Aaah awesome experience!!

6.Miscellaneous: And then ther are sleeps which fall in neither of the above categories. What do u call wen u wake up at nine and fall asleep agin by 10.30, when u doze off at 6 in the evening and wake up by 9. Well, I classify them under the misc. category.

That was SLEEP... classified for you!!!

Aaaaaaaggrrrh !! enough of classification... its 11.30 pm already..
I gotta CRASH!!!

Shailesh R Nadar
11:31 pm, Oct 28, 2007.

A sem to forget… aanh or a sem to remember..??

The end of fourth semester must mark a new beginning to my life at IIT Madras.. or atleast I hope it will!

This.. incidently is also the sem I sweared at the most..

The REASONS clearly being-
- Academically the heaviest sem I would ever be in.
- Special mention to the math course LinAL (Linear Algebra) which is the crapiest thing I ever heard or will hear.
- My performance (academic) the worst ever, I spose.
- Low EQ (Entertainment Quotient) all through the sem.
- Away from home for the longest period in my life… 124 days..
- And last but not the least.. Expectations, many of ‘em were belied.

Here it starts..
The number ‘26’ acquires a NEW meaning..
The sem started on a scary note with 26 credits to complete.. u wd know better if u knew wat credits were. Attending the first few weeks of classes, we knew we will have to go through complete crap… and I bet it was!!

A SAARANG dat cupped..
Then came SAARANG our cult fest.. supposed to be the 5 most happening days of the even semester. But guess wat?? To add to the agony of the sem, it cupped and very badly at it. “An excuse for a pro show” by Sukhwinder Singh made half sure that the guests wont revisit SAARANG. And from my side… it cupped too.. despite of being in the Hospitality department I could not find a girl to go for Salsa with me… Can u believe it?? Well in my defence -- I din put fite!!

Quizzes came calling… infact without calling...
Well I don remember much… C’mon the sem is over daa!!..... :)

EQ!!!!
There was little or no entertainment this sem.. no enthu to watch English movies.. watched DDLJ, Bombay, Roja, Anbe Sivam and nothing new..
And with F.R.I.E.N.D.S over.. had to find solace with “How I met your Mother” and “Two and a Half Men”.

Nearing the end..
Towards the end it was reduced to counting the days.. End sems were seen as nothing but a barrier between home and hostel.. And all that remained was to cross it soon… whichever way possible!!!

Confidence graph!!!
Had a bumpy confidence graph all through sem... sometimes at my zenith and other times at my all time low....

**But still Every dark cloud has a silver lining.. And this sem, (DARK as you may call) was no different..**

I broke barriers this sem...
Be it the way I thought about people or the way I looked at life or be it the number of classes I bunked or the number of torturing PJs I shared (with a friend of mine)...

I came out of the shell called “SHAILESH”.. listened to arguments.. made mine and got convinced and made my point too.. Mind gave way for new ideas about future.. And for a change, I started thinking seriously about them... Life(minus acads) suddenly seemed much more peaceful..

Life used to be painful.. It(I mean ‘the sem’) taught me to find pleasure in the pain..

Experimented a lot.. did things I never did before.. and liked them too.. (I don mean booze or fag.. okay )

Finally….

Fell a lot this sem… but got up too…

Understood my friends well… and enemies better…

Suffered heavy blows… but din fail to strike back..

There were failures this sem, literally BIG in magnitude, but the HOPE for REVIVAL still remains..

And it is for this one reason.. This sem would remain as a “Sem to remember” and never to forget..

1:52 am, May 9, 2007 Shailesh R Nadar.