Ragging: When My Heart Skipped A Few Beats!

Short Story
Since many of our friends felt sad and traumatized by the true, sad ragging event I have described in my short story, I have decided to share one of my sweet memories of that period. Yes, what you are envisaging is correct, sweet memories can’t be without a girl. I am sure guys, the incident would make you feel jealous of me.

This happened when I was in GMKMC- year 1991. I was hardly a week old in that college. Had been undergoing many depressing ragging events at the Hostel. As it happens in a typical masala movie, those sad scenes followed by this romantic incident. Even after 23 years, while writing this, I could feel  butterflies in my stomach.

Fortunately, in the college campus – Ponni supermarket campus- seniors had to maintain certain decorum, ragging cannot go beyond boundaries.

The incident took place on a monsoon day. Weather was fantastic. Just stopped raining. Everything looked so fresh and clean. Gentle breeze was blowing across, soothing everyone’s mind. Perfect backdrop for a romantic event!

There were two groups of seniors standing in front of the lecture hall – boys and girls, few meters away from each other, enjoying the fun of ragging!

I was shuttling happily between those two groups.

When I was standing with the boys group, one senior asked me, “Tell me the girl who you like the most in that group”. He showed me the group of senior girls. It was more like a challenge, like testing my boldness.  Initially I hesitated.




Actually I had been secretly admiring a beautiful girl in that group since I joined. Appreciating beauty does not know boundaries of juniors and seniors, right? But I had doubt whether that was a real question or just he was making fun of me.

Then he declared, “Otherwise you need to run fifty times around this campus”.

Being in the college campus gave me some confidence. He cannot slap me like in hostel.

I told him, “the madam in red saree”.

Laughingly he teased me, “you have chosen my girl – you deserve some punishment”.

He gave me a red rose (he was hiding that in his pant pocket)  and told me to go and tell her that she was beautiful and I loved her. I felt shocked. Oh my god, what to do now. Running 50 times around that building flashed in my mind. Heart beat raced. Something inside told me – “Macchi, golden opportunity don’t miss it”.

I decided to give it a try. Prayed my favorite God(s). Took the red rose and marched towards her.
Five, six girls were standing there. They were chitchatting and laughing .Looked to be in good mood.

Even that breezy weather could not stop me from sweating. My hands were wet. Felt jittery.
I went straight to her. My hands and feet were trembling.

I saw her in her eyes and said, “Madam good morning. I am B…... your junior, joined few days back. You look wonderful and I love you.” I was stuttering and somehow finished the sentence. And I gave her the red rose with a nervy smile.

Suddenly there was a pin drop silence.   Everyone stopped chatting and laughing - glued to the event unfolding in front of them. I could see her emotions clearly. Her face became red. Anger? Shyness? Or embarrassment. Probably mix of all. But she managed it well. She was a bold girl. Quickly understood the situation.

She asked me, “Who told you to do this?”

I explained her. She took the rose from me with a smile.

She spoke in a loud voice in front of everyone, “Go and tell him, I like your boldness and I love you B.....!”

All the girls surrounding us made a whooping sound with laugh, relishing the moment.

My heart skipped a few beats. Started again without defibrillation but still beating irregularly. Took some time to understand exactly what had happened. By that time Ilayaraja started his symphony and Bharathiraja’s angels surrounded us with “lalla la”!

The senior boy was hearing everything what she told me. He looked pale and left the campus instantly.

He stopped talking to me following that incident. Of course he never ragged me again.

Later on whenever I saw her we used to remember that incident and that would bring a wonderful shy smile on her face. That was enough for me even though we never spoke to each other again.

                                                              ***************************

Disclaimer:

I wish those moments were true. Unfortunately only 0% is true, 100% imagination!

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