It was third semester of my Masters degree though I have no clue on how I reached there but then to. The day was November 27th, 2009 and every person of my class was busy studying as exams were going. The hostel rooms were freezing and after the usual tea session we were in our rooms. Some people were studying, some trying to study and people like me were shuffling through the syllabus with my friend KS in his room (adda), while one other person DV was sleeping tight in his dreams of bikes and car games.
Then suddenly my phone rang, the display says CM calling. CM is one of my very good friends and her call at this time, means something is urgent. I picked up the call while KS started giving me looks, because I left the most important work of finding out the syllabus. As soon as I said HELLO , CM in over excited tone yelled, “You know what?” I asked “what”. She continued “A company is visiting our campus after two days, i.e. 30th November.” I said “WHAT!!!” She said “Yes”. After listening to my WHAT!! KS stopped giving me looks, as he understood something is wrong. Now he was looking at me, as if the Prime Minister of India has resigned and HE would be called for. I cut the phone and started giving looks to KS. KS was waiting for me, to say something. I was mum; don’t know what I was thinking. The room was silent after the call.
Then the silence was finally broken by KS’s words “Ab kuch bologe, ya maun vrat rakh liye ho” (Bihari ascent and Kanpuriya ascent combined). As soon as I tried to utter, the room door was banged open. And guess what, Mr Cris Gayle has arrived, with his typical Indori smile and a same question “Abey kitna kar liya” KS ignored Gayle’s question and asked me again. Then I started, “D company is visiting our campus after two days”. As soon as I finished, sleeping beauty DV woke up from his dreams, as if he was out of fuel on a long bike drive. DV in his Kanpuriya tone “ Aisa hai Bakwaas na karo, padh lo”. Gayle started to think of something, then said “ Are you sure”. I said yes, got the news from a very reliable source.
Now the four of us, were silent, not even thinking about the exam, but were looking at each other. We thought we were the first one to receive the news, so we should go and tell everyone. We went out and to the Intellect and his Son’s room. We opened the door and found that a big group was sitting there. The strange fact was that, they were not studying, not even the Son. I thought, something is not right here. As soon as KS was about to open his mouth to give the big news, Son with sense of proud and ownership, said “ D is coming to campus, day after tomorrow, so prepare yourself”. I was still confused, that how he knows it. Anyways I thought, and said “ya even I came to know”. So, I said “best of luck guys”.
We four went out of the room, with a feeling that now we have a chance to get a job. The countdown has begun. We went back to our adda and tried to study something, but no success. After fiddling with the syllabus and books for at least 3 hours, we thought of having food. The mess food was awesome as usual. I said “I am not in a mood for dinner right now, so guys can go and have it”. I went back to my room (DEN). Gayle also joined me. Bangali Babu (BB) my roommate was studying hard and making notes in the small hand writing. I told BB the news about D company, but got a very cold reaction, as he already knew it. I thought maybe I am the last person who now knows the news.
KS and DV said they are going to have some herbal air, so they left. Me and Gayle, started going through our CV and different stuff, to see where we stand.
At around 11:00 p.m. KS came to my room with a confused but sarcastic face. We asked “what happened?” After a stupid and weird reaction from KS, he said “pata hai!!”, I asked” What”, He continued “ List tayar hui hai (A list has been prepared)”. I said “List”, “of what”.
Then Mr. KS continued, “ The probable top 10 of the class, who could get the job offer by D company”. Gayle said “what is this all about”. KS in detail “The intellect group has prepared a list of the students of our class, who are THE top probable candidates for the D company.” I said “wow!! Is it”. He said yes. I asked who all are there in the list. And to my surprise, I was honored. Yes!! I was given the place in the list. There were some other names, like the two girl toppers, me, Punjabi boy, Bangali Babu, and some others, which I still don’t know, because neither I was the custodian of the list nor the part of THE INTELLECT GROUP. And yes, one more thing that “ACCESS TO THE LIST WAS RESTRICTED”. The obvious question from Gayle, “how come you know about the list”. KS now with a complete sarcastic smile “ I eavesdropped. I knew that something was happening few days back, but today got confirmed as he had a straight encounter with some of the verbal members of the intellect group at MALIK (the night dhaba “our life savior)”. Gayle was tensed as he was not given a place in top 10, as well as KS. But they were in top 20. Only me and DV were given the place in top 10.
I don’t know how to react. I was blank to this entire list and everything. Gayle started “Yaar thik haii, tum logon ka ho jayega, mere kya hoga?” I said “we will discuss it after the paper”. We again started to fiddle with books. DV was now in full senses. He laid down on my bed, as was bugging me, that I should dictate him the syllabus which I have read. I started it, and it continued for an hour or so. It was already 2:00 a.m. I said I am sleepy , and whatever happens in the exam , we will see. I switched off the light and jumped on the bed with DV (no wrong deeds ). In the morning, around 7:30 a.m. my door was banged open again. It was Gayle again (I think he has been inspired by Daya of CID) with his smile. He jumped upon us with same questions “kar liya na tum logon ne?”, “abbey mujhe bhi bata do” “Aur Mr happy go lucky so chukka tu”. ((Happy go lucky was the name given by Gayle to DV for some reasons). I got up irritated and pushed both of them down on the floor. BB on the other bed was smiling loud. He don’t laugh, rather smile loud. I got up and went to the bathroom. There I found few members of the Intellect group. I was given a different smile, when I walked in the wash room. For few seconds I did not understand that smile, then suddenly, “dimaag ki batti jali”. I thought I am the honored one. I did not bother to ask the reason of that smile, and behave normally as if I don’t know anything. I brushed my teeth, as soon as I can and went back to my Den. I entered the room and found, that DV has left and Gayle was now switching between mine’s and BB’s notes, as if in the whole night we would have developed a secret formula for the paper. I went to KS room to see, if he was awake. I knocked at his door. He opened the door, with a sign to be quite. I did not notice, but Gayle was also with me. KS asked to talk, but Gayle started “aur be, kar liya na sab kuch tune”. This statement was like, throwing a stone at a sleeping tiger. KS gave a look, but Gayle was still smiling.
