People do tend to count in their school days as one of the
best. I was, I must admit singing eons of such stuff. But that was even before
college began… Had to wait for college to prove me wrong.
The place I went to
study for my PUC (Pre University College) was a happy marriage of the ancient
Nalanda University of India where scholars from far way lands came to study and
the Municipal Corporation where nothing can be apparent than the color of money.
Though I must say it was a ball of a time I had there. The lessons went on
inside the classrooms, we were outside it. Katta (Marathi for a
small compound wall) was our college.
Morning, Noon and Evening. I bet you
cannot learn the art of gossiping and carrying on conversations with passing
strangers, better, anywhere else in the world. The whole gang was there. Once
inside, the teachers made things a lot easier for us be it in plainly ignoring
the paper missile attacks launched by student-folk or be it the celebration of
cricket wickets by bursting crackers behind their backs. The sense of doing what
you always wanted to do beats none. And when it gets acknowledged before a big
audience then you start feeling like a celebrity.
Though academics was always staring straight in the eye…I had absolutely no inkling of an idea about the place I’d have to spend the next four years of my life….