Exam with FEs

That's RAITian graffiti for you baby! :D

A small crowd of SEs surrounded by an ever growing crowd of FEs.

Just in front of the main staircase… inside Glass Doors.

Math-1 exam. KT. Honestly, I was ashamed.

Took my hall-ticket… stood there talking with my batch-mates… waiting for them college authorities to pin up that goddamn seating arrangement at the eleventh hour.

Here and there I see some of the FEs who I know by face sneaking a curious glance at us. And we are grinning among ourselves. Yelling our hearts out from the inside. Can anything get worse than this?!

Erm… no.

We were supposed to sit with our juniors. We did.

Had never seen such a sincere class before! C’mon now… it’s Math exam and though I don’t copy, I’m used to seeing the whole class doing it.

I mean, Three Fourths of my class in FE copied during our first ever exam.

But these angelic freshers are content with their question papers and their answer booklets. They are content with holding their head in hand when they are clueless. They consider it a gravest sin to snigger when Hon. Supervisor mispronounces the words ‘Roll Number’.

RAITian rowdiness, anyone?

And yeah, neither did them FEs wanted to leave their comfortable benches anytime soon.

I vividly remember our ecstatic faces when we had left the class an hour early in FE. Hardly 2-3 students had remained sitting till the very end.

But that’s history now.

RAIT’s latest batch loves writing pads, wooden seats, shiny plastic calculators, math questions and that fresh smell of holy revered question paper.

Note: What’s my college coming to? Strict attendance rules, pathetic washrooms and seemingly unreal sincerity towards exams?!

In a way it’s good that RAIT will see good academic achievements in the years to come. But that should NOT (I say, should NOT) overshadow this rebellious spirit we’ve got.

What was done by a certain group to try and bully the management into giving them the Council was wrong. But the act needed guts. I doubt whether any other college in Mumbai will tolerate such behavior from its students.

We RAITians are known to make our presence and importance known!

What we need is sincerity, dedication and devotion towards everything related to our college. Not just studies, mind you.

But yeah, studies should be (I say, SHOULD be) included. :P

In all, the experience was enlightening. It taught me to detest and loathe KTs even more.
Come to think of it, I aint sure whether I still love KT Holmes any more… :P
(But her eyes.. *drools*)

Jai RAIT!
\m/

That First Meeting

It was decided.

I was supposed to work for the Dynamic Youth Games along with my so-called twin Pratyush and my batch mates- Sridhar, Dhanashree and Kanyha.

I remember the day. We were in the Alumni Room (Alumni Walk-In Closet, more like) and I’d just finished appreciating Zinal’s Calvin Klein sunglasses. :P

Note: She’s hard-earned it, which is admirable. She’s patiently worked in a call centre, which is admirable too. That also explains her accent.

The offer to work with Zinal and Kshitij for Marketing was made and we agreed almost at once. The sports event was going to be Big and I was just looking for opportunities to get involved. RAIT Alumni Association is exciting but not quite.

Then followed a period of no-work. For about a couple of weeks we just did our submissions work and small talks with Zinal to whom we assured full loyalty and commitment.

Note: These weeks also saw cancelled meetings; choicest swear words and bouts of sarcastic laughter. We SEs learnt how badly the Alumni Walk-In Dustbin needs an exhaust fan. We learnt to spray deodorants in the air when alcohol content of the atmosphere is increased.

One more Note: We decided that the RAA pc has been assembled by Chinamen. 3 of the 5 USB ports refuse to do anything more than to pretend they’re cavities. Also, its cranky with delicate health. The monitor hates being switched on and tends to die during the most urgent of tasks.

Finally, one particular day dawned when I could present my honorable self for the meeting. It was scheduled to start either at 2:30 or 3:00 hours. The time, it seems, was meticulously planned.

I was told to be present at Law Gym where I was supposed to get the new proposed location of the meet. Flanked by Dhanashree, I met Rhapsody blokes and ladies in the Gym.

Saved from being cursed (for a goof-up on RAA website) by the honorable Dhruv ‘GS’ Rishi (RAIT), I was directed to the place opposite President’s Office.

Crowd had gathered and I supposed this meeting was going to be a proper one… unlike the one where I’d been absent.

Kshitij and his smile greeted me and so did his hand shake.

Aditi’s grin accompanied me through the door.

On being ushered into a conference room; we, esteemed representatives of various D.Y.Patil colleges, seated ourselves on chairs surrounding the round table.

The first thing I noticed on looking around was that the girls were cute. Also, they seemed to be seniors. :(

Note: Why (in the name of Satan’s boxers) do the Medical people refuse to shed their white coats outside their college?! What do they see in it?! Are we supposed to look down at them or something?! It makes them stand out, yeah, but WHY should they stand out?! The girls do and I believe that’s enough! Why ‘white coats’?!

Ahem… so the meeting started with Kshitij addressing the (packed) room. Brochures were distributed and ceremonies were explained. Suggestions were given by many and the PowerPoint presentation was good. We were taught to say ‘World Class’ for any damn thing present in the campus.

Not that I aint proud of being a RAITian!

I had to go out and bring in Sridhar who was late owing to his vivas. His presence brought with it plenty of skeptical expressions (his), whispered conversations and much-looked-forward-to discussion (between the two of us) concerning the temperature of the room.

Comparatively warm. :P

Most of the talking was done by Kshitij and Kaveesh (Management)

They were good, open to comments and someone whom we’ll gladly respect.

The other guy, Kunal (Physio), contented himself by staring at random people. But he’s got his name on the brochure and though I couldn’t hear why, I could feel the force emanating from him.

One of the Medical girls fancied chewing gum for all two hours of the meeting.

One of them Dental guys made the saddest face possible (and made sure he doesn’t twitch a muscle on his face) on announcement of his share of the job.

He did twitch his jaw muscles (along with molars, pre-molars, canines and stuff) when Kshitij/Kaveesh took offence. :P

We weren’t named at all. This time I took offence and on asking, found out that we were free to work for any of the teams. We chose Zinal of course who, for some incomprehensible reason, was invisible.

And finally the meet ended. The esteemed representatives made chaos in the room and made sure they’d bumped into everyone present. Some pocketed brochures using their bags while others pocketed good-looks using their eyes.

Plans were made and I got in touch with my contacts that very day.

Headache irritated me all the way to my hometown in a bus.

I loathe bus-travel.

Looking forward to Dynamic Youth Games! :)

Questioning Soul..

Some questions I gathered -

1) What else do we need when we can listen to Pink Floyd while completing assignments in College Library?

2) What else do we need when our dear Profs encourage us to visit Aero-Shows? (Also tell us to balance studies and activities)

3) What else do we need when our very own corridors are full of registration desks and host Robotics Competitions?

4) What else do we need when there’s a Prom Night?! :P

5) What else do we need when our seniors come to invite us to every single seminar and competition?

6) What else do Guys need when there are plenty of cute and intelligent girls around?

7) Why do Girls look so cheerful if there aren’t many cute and bright guys around?

8) What is it that keeps Junior Computer Lab open in spite of full-scale revolution by all (surviving) computers and (three) printers??

9) Why should we learn Marathi and beg on our knees to get
our office work done?

10) Why do I like those very seniors who made me recite the FE
Anthem?

11) Why do I still love this college?

Because, it’s unique! Unbelievably unique! :D

Horizon 2K8

3 Days Of Madness
72 Hours Of Hard Work

Preparations:

1) It all starts with the frequent trips of SUCers to the FE classes. They try their best to get FEs talking but in vain.

2) Crowd outside the dingy Alumni room increases with the amount of graffiti and so does the garbage.

3) Alternative Rock music in the background… daily. Source: Jamming in the SUC room.

4) RAIT t-shirts are up for sale. Some FEs buy them enthusiastically. Some have to be convinced. Some have to be threatened.

5) Mysterious disappearances of numerous FEs. They turn out hours later with a wide grin (“Hey dude! I helped da SUC guys move furniture! I saw that babe up close! The GS called me by my name!”) :P

6) FEs given important jobs strut around with a Will Smith swagger (Hey Fraands! I’m in da SUC!”)

7) Missions sent to the city colleges. Horizon Publicity. People choose the colleges according to the number of chicks present or the presence of ‘gullphraand’/’buiphraand’.

8) Population believes that if you can speak good English, you can do work during the Horizon. (“Abe kya jyada shahana samajh raha hai kya khud ko?!”)

9) Empty classrooms. Quite a few frustrated Profs. (“Single digit term marks for you sonny boy!”)

10) Exhausted seniors. (“Jhol ke upar jhol ho raha hai!”) Tired faces, swearing, yells, bouts of sudden laughter, tempers running high, excitement running high. People running around like mad caps.

11) Lessons to be learnt by FEs: Be regular when there are no festivals. Be nice to the Profs. Don’t show attitude, we’ll shove it down your oral cavity. We are your seniors, respect us.


Horizon Mornings:

1) Empty grounds. Empty corridors. Classes with mattresses strewn all over. Pizza boxes and paper in the corners. (“What’s the date?”)

2) Slowly activity starts. Some event heads are out in the grounds arranging chairs and stuff. Some are near the glass doors just chatting. Some are invisible.

3) ‘Kalaraag’ blokes can be found only at HMCT auditorium during the festival.

4) Flurry of movement in the basement canteen… few contestants, workers and students are found yawning on the benches. ‘Poha’ and tea is being made ready for all.

5) Tins of glue and posters can be found in the corridors. We have the freedom.

6) Primary job: Laze around till 11 at least.


Horizon afternoons:

1) Volunteers slowly becoming crazy. A dedicated group of people is sprinting wild-eyed from one end of the college to the other. (The Amazing Race: Ateet and Aditya)

2) Crowd coming in. Desks being set up. First floor full of Counter Strike fanatics. NFS racers and AOE Lords queuing up too. Shreds of pizza being offered to the winners.

3) IT Lab: Same scenario. Literary Events and Stock Market sen’ors sharing a room alternately.

4) Benches being moved from one place to the other for no reason at all. FEs being caught and taught to sit at the desks. FEs who are working look smug. Seniors making them feel smug just for the sake of it.

5) Posters being torn by the Amazing racers. People running in and out of the college to stock up on resources. Hon. GS and Hon. CS not visible in the college.

6) Stage being set-up for the Live In Concert or The Fashion Show or the Pro Nite.

7) Pritam (yesh, the ‘metro’sexual ‘gangster’) can be noticed strolling up to the stage, making weird gestures and puffing on a fag.

8) Near the dental college, stage being set up for one of the most awesome Rock competitions in metal-head India! (\m/ “The Unchained Rules maaan!! My head banging ain’t enough! \m/”)

9) Here, the crowd with grey shades glides in. Long hair, accessories, black band t-shirts and fags. Slowly glaring at the Amps and the Speakers being set up. Chanting (Yesh, I’m making that up) gothic verses… having just performed the Satanic rituals of the most underbred. Hon. Nipun Sir (who plays awesome guitar) heads the proceedings. Vocalists get ready… adjusting the controls… squeaking out to the other band members. Their voice undergoes a transformation during the concert but that’s another matter altogether.

10) The rest of the crowd in the college is busy loosing their senses and having fun in the music shows and the Informals!


Horizon Evenings:

1) RAIT rises out of the gloom… slowly the population gets into the groove and the spirit of ‘Horizon’ sets in…

2) Heads being banged at the Unchained. Bands like ‘Black’ making the others see red. Some show RAIT ‘The Depths Of Suffering’. Metal Immortalized.

3) Most of the crowd gathering near the main stage for the concert or the *drools* Fashion Show.

4) All other activities inside the college building abandoned. Security beefed up at the gates. RAITians who have nothing else to do start yelling their college’s name… are silenced by Hon. Security Man.

5) Stalls put up near the grounds by dear sponsors. Coffee and every eatable imaginable available. :P

6) Crowd calling Pritam (Yesh, the same one) ‘Babaji’. They are enjoying his confusion on hearing the re-christening. To avenge it all, he jumps into the crowd. Front rows try to back off but in vain.

7) Music rules the evening. Unadulterated fun.

Horizon Nights:

1) The best part. Though I wasn’t present. Call it fear; call it mistrust, whatever… I do regret it though.

2) There was this war between the DJs and the lounge… good hookahs! :)


Gonna miss Horizon 2K9..!! :(

Hang Outs For RAITians

1) KG’s (250/500)
This place (just opposite RAIT) is quite cozy and comfortable.

Add in a stale odor of ‘Chinesh’ food. Also imagine a couple of rowdy waiters who are most pleased to scowl when you complain that the food hardly looks appetizing.
Pretty good for a short snack though. Be sure to gobble up the stuff before it gets cold. The products have that typical ‘Chinesh’ flavor which tingles the taste buds and leaves us satisfied.
Monosodium Glutamate anyone?

2) Vashi Malls (420/500)
The nearest and the smallest ever. Wide assortment of clothes, books, gadgets, foodstuffs and ‘pictures’ available.

‘Pictures’ as in Movies.

'Movies' as in Cinema.
There are four such malls in Vashi - Centre One, Raghuleela, City Centre and Palm Beach Galleria.

The first is based on the idea that a tower can be fashioned into a shopping complex. Escalators work according to their own whims and fancies. You have to climb all the way up for food and I need not explain the reason behind food court’s strategic location.

Raghuleela is still under construction and is recommended if you love glass architecture (check out the dome!!), if you love loose cement and are a sucker for Barista. No great opportunities for shopping.

City Centre and Palm Beach Galleria share a pavement. I don’t quite understand the logic behind placing two good malls beside one another. Both have theatres. Both have amazing *slurps* food courts. These places are the best bet for going to the movies, catching a sweet date or just roaming around with buddies.
(VISIT Bread Talk, Odyssey and Cinemax)

3) Masala Chai (450/500)
A short rickshaw-ride away, I love this place!! *wide grin*
Delicious food, coolest drinks, too good an ambience and friendly staff. (Non-tobacco) Hookahs available to all the smokers out there! A fine blend of CCD’s and Mochas’ auras. Comfortable seating and music’s okay too.

Make sure you avoid a power cut unless you enjoy being in an oven.
May get a bit heavy on the wallet but it’s definitely worth it!
(Try the cocktails and the sandwiches)


4) Campus Grounds (480/500)
I fell in love with the campus during my very first visit. Leave aside the fact that I was ragged in it. Lush green with good paths and numerous nooks and corners… other big campuses in Mumbai just cannot be compared with this RAITians’ paradise.
If you’re frustrated with the staring games between you and the blackboard, if your hand threatens to slap you out of fatigue and if you are in no condition to do 20 push-ups; a walk in the grounds is all you need!
Green lawn and old benches… l’il photo sessions with friends or just lazing around listening to John Mayer… this is what you’ll miss when you leave the college. The lawns were absent when I was a FE and now they are getting better each day.

5) Canteens (100/500)
One word: pathetic.
We’ve got three canteens in the campus.

The Medical one is too far away.

HM Canteen is alright and full of restrictions. At least they provide good water.
Should I even talk about the basement room-which-is-supposed-to-our-canteen?! Bad benches, okay food, unreasonable rates, no lights and ventilation.
I’d tried the coffee once. *pukes*
By the way, whatever happened to that hot chocolate?! I used to live on that stuff!

6) Red Rock Café (350/500)
This is good when it’s open.
Official Nestle outlet, sells better coffee, awesome cold chocolate, ice teas and (yeah baby!) Maggi Noodles too! It’s got some eatables… some music and more chairs would do just great! Also, a signboard at least bearing the name.
The Dental College is just beside it and boy oh boy do the white coat chicks frequent the café!
Why do they have to be so damn perfect in every sense?!
Gawd… why not RAIT?! Why?!
Ahem… so yeah, there’s this large Banyan tree in front and you’ll find an interesting variety of humans sitting beneath it. Some may be seniors leering at you, some may be Dental Angels, and some may be the SUCers while some may be just another group of twitchy FEs. Cool, eh?

7) Classrooms (400/500)
Another good hang-out in college. They are all big, airy, with plenty of benches with their share of graffiti, more graffiti on the walls and the blackboard and the whole area littered with chalks.
RAITians love graffiti.
Classrooms are:
- A refuge for those who see the basement canteen in their nightmares.
- A conference room for those who love planning projects in advance.
- A play-room for the many kiddos and a waiting room for those who’ve got nothing else to do.
The classrooms are a witness to the many speeches given by the SUCers in an attempt to remove the FEs from their stupor.
They bear the unbearable droning of a specific subject as well as the rounds of applause which follow when the bell rings.
Classrooms are the best place to complete assignments if you love discussions and enjoy swearing loudly.

8) Glass Doors (410/500)
RAIT main entrance. The place promises a great view of the lawns, of the mountains yonder and the INTERNATIONAL STADIUM IN OUR CAMPUS..!!
The origin of the name is obvious. Glass + Doors. Get it?
The place has seen smiles and tears alike. The staff prefers displaying the results here, you see.
It’s spacious, another good place to chat up with pals or complete assignments. Some blokes have their acting sessions here while sometimes there’s ‘ramp walking’. (Horizon: Fashion Show)
During ‘Horizon’ nights, the place is full of garbage. After ‘Aakarshan’ and ‘FE Night’, the place is full of garbage.
But in all, it’s good. :)

9) Library (what the…)
You call this a hang-out?! Where are you from? Agnels? SIES?
You don’t define the spirit of RAIT!
Get Lost!


Note:

** Hon. Author is fully responsible for the content. The criticism present is NOT a work of fiction.
** Neither are the compliments directed towards the fairer ‘n cuter sex which has engaged itself in Dentistry.
** Hon. Author believes the rating out of 500 gives way to accuracy.

Thank ye all!