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I am drafting this blog sitting on the steps of my department at college, yes sitting there after a long time, nearly after 1.5 year (well, not too long though). Never had dreamt of sitting there again, may be this is what people call “kismet connection”. Empty classrooms, hardly any people on the campus, total silence, cool breeze and solitude my only company, (actually I am nuts, I should say) how can one expect anyone in the campus on a Sunday evening, that too after the semesters have ended.
Landed in CBE(Coimbatore) on friday morning, regarding a work(work??? Zzzzz) in the college office. Checked-in a hotel room near the bus stand and took a bike from my friend (i am always gifted with kewl pals). After a very long time, I was driving a bike on the roads of Coimbatore. The roads seem a lot different than a couple of years back; they were wide enough with hardly any trees on the sides. I drove straight to college to begin the purpose of my visit. Lots had changed in college as well, students and faculties roaming around with an identity card hanging in their neck- What crap, there are trying too much for maintaining discipline, I thought to myself and proceeded for my work. I was
-->befuddled to see many of my not-so-close faculties also calling by my name. They started inquiring about my life, my work, this, that, blah, blah, blah. Finally, started with my work, and as expected I was told it will take sometime for the work to be done. I just replied with a blunt OK and decided to roam about the city. First to Krishna bakery or KB as how it is known to us (students of CIT). Ordered for a tea (strong’a sakkare jasthi) from outside the shop and lit a cigarette (I dont remember the last time when I lit a cigarrette in front of KB. Yes, I wasn’t a smoker those days).
Sipping the tea and fagging, I was thinking about something (don’t remember exactly what). Fine then, drove through each and every street near college; to the old house where my friends and me stayed (it was totally an entertainment zone those days), to the place where we guys used to eat which no more exists (except the pity senile old man) and to few other spots where I used to hang around those days with my friends. That day I was at KB for tea and smoke at regular intervals. Neither had I visited KB so frequently nor had I drunk such a lot of tea per day; may be that’s what a total jobless person can afford to do.
Was back at college for the formalities and finally got few papers signed and was asked to come the next day to finish off the work. Drove out of college and the first place to go was the Jenny’s club for a coffee. This was the first time me going to Jenny’s all alone. Ordered for a cappuccino and was staring at the empty chair in front of me. And here came my coffee, I had a sip at it. Yuck!! Was that really a cappuccino? Has the standard of the restaurant gone down or I never realized its taste during my previous visits :D? Whatever may be the reason, I hardly completed it and drove to “hope college” for a spicy sweet corn, which charan and me used to enjoy during our college days. I decided my next halt to be “laiden” for a chicken sheaf submarine. Drove to “laiden”, gawking at the Chanthini’s and the Anjali’s on my right (both restaurants). Anyway, I wasn’t able to eat the submarine, as the shop was shut down and a new building was coming up. Next, to the “café coffee day”; took a corner seat for a coffee. Drank my coffee all alone and then to rayappas for my dinner, I wasn’t hungry at all but still, just for the prawns fry and for the reminiscences. I took prawns fry and a roti. My tummy was now filled with 10-15 teas, 2 coffees and the prawns and roti. My goodness, I was about to burst. Huff!!!
Back to the hotel and had a pretty good night’s sleep. Drove to college in the morning and proceeded with the formalities. I was almost done with the work but was asked to come once again on Sunday at noon to finish off the remaining work. Everything in the city has changed except these idiotic guys who still keep procrastinating work, I told to myself and left the place with a smirk. Spent the whole of Saturday driving; and before I could realize, I was nearing the outskirts of the city (I was at the agriculture university). Drove back and had my supper at the hari bhavan with dosa (and chicken curry). Back to my hotel room and switched on the TV for the India vs Australia match, which I almost forgot. Sat on the bed with my smoke in hand, it was an easy win for India, I thought. Yes, ofcourse it was a cake walk in the end even without the little master firing.
And finally, on Sunday at approximately 4.10 PM my work (What hell work was that? the purpose of this post is not to describe it, so leave it..) was done and I am here sitting in front of my department, composing the content for my blog and cherishing my old college memories. I might sound like a sentimental idiot, but I am fkin not that way, but a humane with a blend of emotions; doesn’t that make sense? Albeit, it was indeed altogether a different stay at Coimbatore.
Well, it is getting late, I have to hit a hotel for dinner and catch the bus at 9.00 PM for Chennai.
