I was popular in college for having friends in almost all the branches… In fact I had friends from other colleges too whom I met in bus stop:).. Most times people knew me as the bubbly happy and easy going girl... I carried the same attire and attitude when I happened to visit my college recently, just to refresh my sweet memories.. It wasn’t a surprise to me to see few known faces as I had friends from the junior sections too :)..

I met a girl with a broad smile on my face... I said “Hi, How are u??” Quickly she responded “I am fine. How abt u?” I was happy that she too remembered me…still I could see a muddled look on her face… For a moment I thought she is unable to recollect my name, so I said “U don’t remember my name right?” She said NO!! I dint feel bad… I replied in kannada “Nanna hesru Prathima… Ninna senior… Nenpaitha?” (*Myself Prathima… Ur senior.. remember?)
What!! She was flabbergasted and said “Can u speak in English or Hindi”..
I again confirmed from her, if she doesn’t recognize me… She asked me, "Who are u?".. With a grin on my face I blasted her telling, “Jab meri practical record ya notes chahiye tha.. tab toh badi yaad aa rahi thi meri… U ppl are sick to the core!! Just shoo off from my way now!!”
Later I went to meet my HoD… On my way back from CS department, I again met that girl… This time I seriously had no mood to talk to her… But she interrupted me and asked “Tell me what’s my name” !!
I politely asked her with strong words – Lady… have u gone nuts?? Do u want me to confirm ur name with the HoD or the college register?
This time she pulled my hands and said “Tell me my name!!”
I was shocked at her reaction… I had no clue if she was a psychic patient or if she has escaped from the rehabilitation camp!! I just knew that she was one among my college juniors who wanted inputs to get selected in campus interview!! All thanks to the HoD who had popularized our names to the juniors... Back then I also enjoyed my status for being the person who had 3 companies offer letter:)
My HoD came to my rescue and said to her, “What are u doing here in the class hours!! Y aren’t u in class Archana?”
Archana!!!! Now that was the shock of my life… Is she not Reshma!! I had a sinking feeling for blasting her for no fault.. May be she bunked her class just to meet me again:( May be she really dint understand kannada:(
She dint speak anything much later… She dint dare to turn back also….. I quickly bid bye to my lecturer and went in search of her…
I had to confront my mistake… I finally found her in college canteen… She was sitting with her head bent down… It was my turn to console her and I just did that…. She was fine after sometime :) I dint want to buy anything in our canteen coz I am too skeptical abt the food there, so I took her to the lassi center opposite to our college… I took a lassi for myself and she preferred a chocolate milk shake…
She said me that she is from Assam and she doesn’t understand kannad.. (This is how she pronounced Kannada).. We spoke for sometime and then left from there…

I got a new friend that day:) It was Archana… After reaching home, I thought abt the whole incident for sometime and then finally fell asleep… Hope to meet her someday again and meet her as a friend and not as a stranger :)

2 comments:

Gautam said...

Its common to forget names of seniors or juniors after a couple of years as we will not be in contact with them regularly.

People certainly remember the looks of a person who borrowed our books or other materials, but as years pass by, its common to misjudge someone else to be the person someone we knew :).

Suresh Kumar said...

Hota hain, hota hain.Sometimes faces look alike. They say there are seven people who may look like you in this world.

Look at the positive side. You made another friend and that too from one corner of India... Assam!

Post a Comment