an exciting plan…a bunch of enthused friends…100+ excited mails…fixing of dates…fixing of venues…crosschecking availabilities and conveniences…and the countdown to June 21! š
there were 15 of us in our PR&Ad class in collegeā5 guys and 11 gals…OK…wrong math…
there were 16 of us in our PR&Ad class in collegeā5 guys and 11 galsāand one year of togetherness: the joys, the suspension (!!), the unity, the rifts, the support, the quarrels, the fun-times, the bitching (fun again!), the backstabbing, the strong friendships, the new relations, the joys…well, lifeās a full circle!
In a college predominant with north Indian students, ours had been the only class with an only-Keralites population! Though we were all 16 totally different peopleāin the true sense of the word ātotallyāāprobably because of the āspirit-of-the-Malayaliā, we had a strange unity which was lacking in all the other courses/classes taken together!! And so, even when we got suspended (for bunking our half term exams!), all 16 of us were in it together! (Actually, noā¦there was one guy who didnāt; but we managed to get him dismissed forever! The things people do in colleges!!)
It was a strange yearā¦that one year at SCMS. Within a small group of just 15 (not wrong mathā¦remember one went off forever?), we somehow managed to have the number of āissuesā and quarrels youād actually expect from a group of 50! Within the class, most of us had problems with the other; but between us and the college management, we were one! Between one group of friends and the other, there were never-ending troubles; but between us and the rest of the students in that college, we were one! Even after college, rifts between individuals continued; but when it came to a meet-up after two loooong years, we were all game!
Of this 15, though only 13 were invited (along with their spouses/future-spouses) for The Meet (TM henceforth š ). Of that 13, one was in Bahrain, one in Dubai, one in Chennai, one in Hyderabad, four in Kochi, and the remaining five in Bangalore. Since āmajority winsā is a universally accepted slogan, we decided TM should happen at Bangaloreā¦the dates 21 and 22 June were blocked in everyoneās calendarā¦and awwwā¦the excitement that went into itā¦
Jaya started the mail-threadsā¦telling everyone to gear up ⢠Gulfu took charge of booking the venue ⢠Leena and I contributed to the mailsā¦doesnāt cost anything to motivate people, does it? ⢠We fought with Manjuāfor saying she might not be able to come because of a company review (and gave her sound advices: there are a million other companies you can get into, but friends like us, thereās jus us!) ⢠We implored Raju, whoād come from Dubai for a short stay with his folks, to extend his visa up to 25th ⢠Biju, as always, was gameāany day, any time, any place: just tell him and heāll be there! ⢠We told Poornima to make sure tickets from Bahrain are booked well in advanceā¦and to even pre-pone her university viva if possible š , so that she can make it to India! ⢠We told Siji to make sure her 3-month old baby is all fineāand make it for TM ⢠We told Rakhi to ditch her first filmās music launch (sheās a singer) and come over to Bangalore ⢠We told Deepti to book flights from Hyderabad to and from Bangalore for at least one day (since her dad wasnāt too happy with the idea of sending her over for āa weekendā) ⢠Breeze had her MBA exams going onā¦and was all teary-eyed (weāre sure) for missing out on the fun! ⢠Merlin is always waiting for a chance to escape from the heat of Chennaiā¦she doesnāt need any coaxing!
the thrilling plan…13 enthused friends…100+ excited mails…fixing 21 and 22 June…fixing venueāa jungle resort (!?)…crosschecking availabilities and conveniences…and the countdown to June 21ā¦until it all boiled down to nothing!
It never happenedā¦heheā¦yes, you read it right, it never happened!!! We are still that same group of 16āwell, 13 according to the new statisticā13 totally different individuals; though as a group we were all excited and united, guess within everyone (knowing each other as well as we do) there was a guarantee that itād finally be all smoke and no fire! š
It’s always like this…when we do/plan something with all excitement, especially if it is well in advance, like a much-awaited film; a highly anticipated trip; a dress given at the tailor, which you are so looking forward to get back (this happens to me every single time, damn!); anything, anything at all that you are hopeful ofāMurphy is sure to mark his attendance!!! But well, we are all still positiveā¦we still hope…we still anticipate; and so I’m still hopeful we will have TM someday, wonāt we, friends? Unless 13 is that bad a number!! š (It’s good to always have a back-up excuse; let’s point fingers at 13!)
I dedicate this post to all members of the SCMS PR&Aā2005-06 batch! š