The Lovely Nature!
IIT Guwahati...
The word springs up different images to different people. For uninitiated,its simply another IIT,fledging and perhaps not worth going if one gets some other good college. For some it conjures up grisly images of militants,clad from head to toe in a black overall,their unsympathetic eyes gleaming from the slits in their dress and an AK-47 clamped on their shoulders. For some others it connotes a temple of knowledge and for some it means nothing!
But I will associate it forever with the soft nature..the lush green mountains that cradle the college..the calm and mighty Brahmaputra that gives the place an enigmatic charm..the soothing rain that fills the air with a queer romance...day and night..its a place where you cant help but fall in love!
It was here that I arrived for my summer project in June 2002. I had already done a successful summer project here in the summer of 2001.It was my second time, the magic of Brahmaputra had attracated me again! Being second time,I had no problem in getting a hostel room and mess card. So within a few hours I was ready to begin my summer stint again. We were four guys from REC Trichy and were split into two teams for two different projects.
It was the evening of our third day. I and my project partner were returning back from the lab after a hectic day..dabbling with the System C and struggling to learn it. We were required to design a processor model to simulate an algorithm..our heads were reeling with the convoluted concept of threads,processes and the Reservation Station. Thus occupied,we rarely talked and slowly traversed the long and meandering road from the college to the hostel in silence. The sun was slowly settling down behind the mountains,bathing the beautiful nature with a mellow red light..there were few clouds in the sky..floating aimlessly and reflecting its rays to create the proverbial silver lining around them. A cool breeze flowed and it served to soothe our senses as we concentarted silently on our day's work.
Suddenly I heared a voice..no..it was a smile...a very clear and ringing laugh.I turned around and saw her..she was walking with her friend. Her dark black hair flowed carelessly down her shoulders..her hands struggling to clear them off her beautiful face. Her deep eyes were filled with a childish innocence, her face was suffused with the enthusiasm of a childish prank and her lithe figure traversed that road casually. There was that charm around her..she had in her cascading black tresses the magic of dark clouds..her walk was so much like the gentle ripples of Brahmaputra..the innocense of her face was so much like the guileless nature around her. I stood there,until I was pulled by my project partner. I still looked behind as I walked...and on reaching the hostel,there was only one word I murmured to my partner annoyed at my digression, "Nature"..I whispered.."she is Nature."
Night fell and we retired to our respective rooms. There was no solace for me. I remembered her face,her voice,her walk..I had seen her for a few seconds but her image was forever imprinted on my heart. When will I see her again?..I wondered. The chain of my thoughts was suddenly broken by a loud thunderclap. I got up and opened the window..a waft of cool breeze rushed in..it was soon followed by a shower and very soon I could hear the drop of cold water bathing the grass outside. I jumped out of my bed and opened the door..bare feet I went out and stood there..in the rain..it drenched me..the natures gift. As those rain drops covered me and water trickled down my face..tiny streams bathing me with their soothing sensation..I was filled with a strange,almost unnatural happiness..I could feel nature all around me..Yes..here she was..in the rain..in the mountains..in the greenery..in the fresh morning flower..she was in the clouds..in the nature..Yes..she was the nature..and I knew that I loved her..I could feel what the love is like. For the first time in life,I knew the meaning of love.
Drenched and soaked after this spell in the rain I returned back to the room. The rain had almost stopped and the torrent had turned into a gentle shower.Outside I could hear the croaking of toads...the noise of insects soon filled the atmosphere with a queer romance. How could one remain engrossed in mundane thing like processor in this atmosphere? I wondered. I tried to sleep,but my attempts were thwarted by my own thoughts that veered around the charming face I saw in evening. She had aroused my limited poetic talent..therefore unable to resist, I finally got up and took the pen..on our project notebook I began to scribble:
In morning:
The rising sun salutes her grace,
Its gentle rays kiss herlovely face,
Her langour becomes the glory of the morning,
Her very presence makes the world charming.
During the day:
The ripples of Brahmaputra match the rhythm of her walk,
The symphony of words harmonizes with her mellifluous
talk.
Her calm eyes hold a sea of passions,
Her silent lips convey myriads of emotions.
Her sweet smile melts tenacious hills,
Her coy blush turns the world still.
Her cascading tresses add to her grace,
The rhythm of the rain becomes an ode in her praise.
In evening:
The sun hides behind the mountains for a last glance,
as she will come out and slowly prance,
the audacious clouds atand still,struck by her charm,
the evening twilight bathes her beauty,silent and calm.
In night:
The serenity of night sings an ovation,
the nature embraces its most cherished creation,
Gentile breeze touches her and it preens,
In the arms of sleep she goes in the world of dreams.
Having thus penned out all I saw that evening,I slept,wondering if she will ever know my emotions...thinking of a way to convey her my words of admiration.
In morning as we were sitting in the mess for breakfast,I saw her again. There she was,with another girl this time. Charming and beautiful as ever...the nature,washed by the night rain seemed to have given all its glory to her. Her hair was tied carelessly and she took up a cup of coffee and started towards our table. My heart skipped a beat,she was coming closer..I could see her clearly now.Her eyes as usual radiating charm..before I could recollect myself and gather courage to say "Hi"..a voice interrupted us.."Pooja"..there was a girl calling from behind,beaconing her to join their group. My face lost colour..I wanted to stop her,but she just turned around and changed track. I could not understand whether to curse her friend or to thank her. I cursed her friend with all my heart..but I also thanked her for letting me know her name.
IIT Guwahati in summer was always full of people from other colleges,who came here for projects. Also there were people from IITG itself who were staying back in the college for project. Overall,the atmosphere in the college was always one of joy and fun..what with the wonderful weather complementing our mood! The foursome from my college included,besides myself,my project partner Sujit and two other guys: Syed and Mukesh. The former was from Assam while the latter was quite gregarious,especially when it came to people on fairer side. Humourous in his own unique way and ever condescending, Mukesh soon became a favourite among all girls in the college. In my present sitaution I saw him as a bridge between myself and her. Afterall I had often seen him chatting with her friends, may be he could introduce me to her.
I asked him and the information I gleaned was not entirely discouraging..he gave me her mail ID,saying that now the ball is in my court. Ball was in my court no doubt,but I was unfortunately not a very deft player! What will I do with her mail id..I thought and thought..but came to no conclusion. The day passed again stuggling over our processor in the lab. It was slowly taking shape,we had learnt the basics of the new language,we were now developing an algorithm to implement our design. Page after page was soon scribbled with convoluted logic design and neck deep in the quagmire of complex signals moving concurrently over various modules of our design,I almost forgot her.
We four returned late from the college. The road was lit by a dim streetlight. Dark mountains loomed before us and the serenity of night allowed us to loose ourselves into our own world. I again thought of her...but then,I didnt know how will she react to my mail. And what do I write her..."I like you"..no..no..she will be angry..."I saw you and want to compliment you"..no this sounds too dramatic..."Can we be friends"..no..she is sure to misinterpret this...
My chain of thoughts was broken as I found myself in the foyer of the mess. Time for food! As we stood in the queue,my eyes strayed yonder..beyond the chaotic mess..away from the noisy groups discussing the latest in cricket..over the group of giggling girls..away they went near the last table in the corner where she sat..with her two friends. I was seventh in the queue. It will take at least 15 more minutes before I am served..she may finish up by that time..I grew impatient,but it was of course impossible to get thru the hungry throng standing before me! Suddenly she stood up, red T-shirt and a blue skirt making her hell of a beauty..with her plate in hands she started towards the wash room..."OOOpppppppsss.." I had missed the opportunity again. Avoiding the busy tables interposed between her table and wash area she came towards the queue. A glimmer of hope lighted up as she elegantly walked by the side of the queue..approaching the wash area from the start of the queue. She walked passed the queue..past the girl standing in front,that rowdy looking guy standing behind second in queue..that fat belly behind him..4..5..6..now she walked past me..her hand brushed mine and I felt a strange sensation..her sweet fragnance lingered for a moment in air and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath..it seemed to linger around me forever.I opened my eyes to find that she was standing right behind my friend Syed..she had come for another helping! So I was lucky indeed..she stood there,a little irritated perhaps for having to break her meal in midway. Even as I watched,Syed struck a conversation with her. She was from Assam..Syed got an edge and in the vernaculur,they soon started off. I could not understand a word but I keenly looked at her sweet face as she listened him with all innocense in her eyes. I tried to chip in: "Assam is a beautiful place...."...suddenly there was some commotion..people from behind jostled me and as I saw in front I could see that I had reached the first place in queue and the mess employee stood there, food in his hands..beseeching me to pay attention and take it. Flushed, I pushed my plate before him..she gave a sweet smile..Ah! her million dollar disarming smile..I just shrugged my shoulders and collected my helping. Out of queue I waited for Syed..perhaps she will come with him..but no..her friends were there..waiting for her and with a sweet Bye..common to both of us,she started back..I stood there glaring at her receding hourglass figure when Syed pushed me at a nearest table and I reluctantly swallowed my food.
I was all ears for the next half hour to what Syed had to tell me about her: "Her name is Pooja and she is from Naugaon in Assam. She is doing her Phd at IITG and is staying back for project with her other classmates. She will be here throughout the vacation and she lives in the hostel adjecant to the mess". And finally: She has told Syed in her sweet voice that he is "very much like her younger brother"! Last sentence raised my brows...silently I scrutinized Syed: Medium build,childish face and innocense all around him..no doubt she compared her with the right person..I got assured that I dont stand any chance of receiving such compliment. According to his analysis she was a genial and sweet girl. "Very much like nature"..I silently mused.
Next day flew past in the bowels of processor and its spaghetti signals criss-crossing various modules,at times beyond our comprehension. our processor had started limping and our code did have some shape now. Issues had begun to crop up..we wrote and re-wrote the test programs in the designed Assembly Language..ran again and again to our guide for demos..added a new instruction..designed and rejected the ways to develop the hardware model for algorithm..analysed,discussed,debated,refuted..sometimes doing everything simulataneously! The modules were being integrated..the algorithm being implemented and efforts to increase the pipelining,enhance the concurrency,deal with data conflict, to enable effective branch prediction and provide maximum concurrency were on with full vigour. Even as myself and Sujit were thus fighting with our own creation,the scenery was all around us..those mountains and the clattering noise of rain as it fell on the tin roof above us! Its clamour matched with our arguements and counterarguements..and perhaps it also matched with the deep desire lurking in the corner of my heart : to talk to Pooja,to dedicate her my composition..to tell her how much do I appreciate her......
That evening we started back early to hostel..too tired to continue any further. Syed and Mukesh also joined us. We four headed together to the mess for a tea and then perhaps for a trip to the bank of Brahmaputra to soothe our minds. The afternoon rain had washed the nature..there was cool breeze,rustle of leaves and a wild chirping of birds as they headed towards their arboreal abodes. The mountains stood silent,serene and calm..covered with verdant luxurious cover of nature. We entered the almost silent mess..evenings in mess are always silent and people rarely care to travel the distance, more so on Wednesdays when u get nothing but a pack of Parle-G with tea. We took our usual place and talked about our projects and the probable date of departure..it was June and placements would start from July or June end..we need to reach the college in last week of June...we also need to prepare for the placements as.........
The rest of the conversation was lost to me as my eyes were riveted now on the mess counter where Pooja had just arrived..in a plain pink suit..her hair flowing down her back..a little red "bindi" on her forehead..Ah..her serene smooth guileless features, her lovely face..she is a poem..she is nature..she is the gift of nature to.....
...and then it happened..she had picked a biscuit packet and was going to move back ..her steps locked when she heared a friend saying: "Hey Pooja dont take that,we have brought one for you already". She smiled.."Oh Thanks!".. and placed the packet back on the counter. "Its now or never"..my heart told me. I started towards the counter..in one quick leap I left my place and was now making my way through the maze of tables,to reach there before that other fellow who was at mess entrance could reach there to get that packet. Even as my friends,now diverted from their subject,watched me in awe and astonishment,I was rushing towards the counter..we reached there almost simultaneouly from opposite ends..with a leap that characterises Ricky Ponting as he picks a low flying catch, I jumped and collected the packet she had touched moments ago...holding it with my both hands..not minding that this dive had put me on the floor and now the other guy stood in horror observing this hungry fiend...not minding the loud guffaw it elicited from the group of girls including Pooja and unmindful of the fact that now Syed and Mukesh were standing around me to give me a helping hand. It took me a minute to understand the situation and the effect my action had produced on the people..I got up, Biscuit pack still in my hands..."Sorry Boss"..I muttered to the other fellow.."You know how is it sometimes..". The other person,perhaps by now doubtful of my sanity,simply mumbled: "Yeah..I do!". Too dazed to speak, I started out of mess,as I walked out the group of girls again gave a huge laugh..I didnt mind..may be I wasn't its subject..and even if I was,its good as I always want to see her happy afterall! My three friends followed me outside, the Parle-G pack still clutched tightly in my hands.
We four silently started towards Brahmeputra. We crossed the thicket and climbed a hillock..water dripped from the leaves and we were wet as we brushed through them. There was a slope and here lay before us an amazing sight....the slope led to a huge rock,and below that there was the calm and mighty Brahmaputra..the river with thousands of secrets and an entire world beneath its calm waters! Rain had roiled up the waters and our eyes could see its broad expanse..on the other side lay the city of Guwahati. Lights had begun to turn on and we could see a panarominc view of the pearly reflection of the infinite row of bulbs on other end on the silent waters of the river. We sat there and never spoke a word. The serenity of nature had overawed us..its silence had a voice..it was telling us that nature is supreme and beautiful than any of the man made mundane creation. I had my Parle-G packet clutched as ever. I could feel her close to me..she was there in the nature afterall! Finally my project partner Sujit spoke : "Lets move"..we woke up from our trance...Mukesh looked at his watch and exclaimed: "Why its 7 and we never realised!" The sun had set and the lights were glowing on the other end of river. On this end there was silence..without interrupting it we started back towards our room. I kept the Parle-G pack safely in my suitcase.
Two more days passed and we were involved deep in our work. The processor was now running and we were adding some more enhancements in it. our debates had ended and our guide had given us a clear signal to move on with the design we proposed today. The next task was to clean up the code,implement the design and resolve the issues in algorithm implementation. We hoped to achieve a significant improvement in execution speed in terms of clock ticks..all analysis was worth it, the design appeared to be fool proof. Over the weekend we four went to city..moved around and got our reservation done. Fourteen days were now left for our deaprture from this abode of nature.
On Monday, after work,we sat down to check our mails. It was then that I got this idea..why it was such a simple way to convey my appreciation..I should have thought over it a long time back! I consulted with Syed and Mukesh...they agreed. It was then that a queer sounding but rather explicit mail id was born: whoisshe_at_iitg@yahoo.com.
From this mail-id the first mail was sent:
Dear friends,
We all are here for doing projects and in this staid routine some change is always welcome. Therefore we are starting a puzzle..u need to guess who is the person being referred to over here. There are no marks except perhaps a couple of brownie points for the successful person. However we,the organizers,earnestly hope that it does help to lighten our project burden a little bit.
With Luv,
Organizers.
With this mail was attached the compostion I made on that rainy night.
It was sent to all mail ids..all boys and girls,including us and of course..Pooja.
Next few days were full of activity. The e-mail had created ripples around the hostels. The grape-vine was active and rumour mills were hyperactive,churning out new names of the probable "Organizers"! We participated actively with other guys in finding who the "Organizers" were. Mukesh was active in getting the news from the girls end..it turned out that they were equally curious to know. There were words of praises for the composition:"Downloaded from net".."Plagiarised from some book".."I think I have heared it somewhere before"..I listened to these comments and chuckled. A single e-mail was bringing out diverse opinions!
Replies were also received: some were happy for this change,some wanted the "solution" of the "puzzle" while some of course asked to stop this "bulls***". We too replied each mail in its authors tenor. The mess was now overflowing wih rumour. In partcular there was this guy called Pradeep. He seemed to have developed a liking for Pooja and was therefore eager to know if it was she "organizers" meant. We were wise enough not to reply.
The week flew by in the ambience of Nature and its human counterpart. Everytime I wanted to tell her:"Pooja its me who wrote it..I admire you yaar"..but the fear stopped me. Discretion told me not make her name public and my heart told me to convey her my emotions. In this tug-of-war a third dimension was added by our processor! It was now running..we had implemented the algorithm successfully and were able to code an Assembly Langauage Program for bubble sorting in our processor. A substantial reduction in clock ticks was achieved. We were given a go ahead to submit report.The last phase of our soujourn had begun.....
Three days were left for us to go back. I sat there in the lounge after lunch..waiting for rain to subside. our project report was almost ready and submission was due for tomorrow. As I saw outside,I felt as if nature was pulling me..beseeching me not to go..remain here forever..but alas..I cant help it Nature..I have to go..back into the concrete and steel jungle...I again took up the pen..it now moved smoothly:
ON MY DEPARTURE.....
The sun will still rise, the flowers will still bloom,
Her very presence will still drive out the gloom,
Its gentle rays will still kiss her face,
She will still lighten up the world by her grace...
Her smile will still soothe the pains,
The song of her praise will still be in the rains...
The mountains would still move by the way she shyly blushes,
The gentle breeze will still embrace her flying tresses.......
Nature will still cherish its precious treasure,
Clouds will still be charmed by her beauty beyond measure....
Her eyes would still spell their lovely charm,
Her talk will still turn the clamourous Brahmaputra calm......
Her lips will still hold the untold passions,
She is and will remain, the natures sweetest creation....
But time does not stand still,it passes through,
And with moist eyes I bid adieu,
To the sweet seduction I experienced here in her presence,
To the silent calm I got in her ambience..
To the beauty I saw,rustic and disarming...
To the magic she created...lovely and charming...
People come and go,the world is like a train,
Life goes on, only memories remain...
May you always keep smiling,your beauty remain adorable and rare,
Nature is her image and she is "prayer".
Of course the last word was the very translation of her name!
At last came that day...our luggage was packed and we were ready to say good bye. It was raining since morning..prehaps the lachrymose nature was expressing her emotions on our departure. The rainfall,that always seemed to be so charming,today appeared to reflect the sad state of my mind. I knew that we will never come back to IITG for project..this was our last year in college afterall. We will be placed..go places..but I will forever miss this trip..I wanted to see her once before going...but could not. I sent the last mail from the "Organizers" desk:
Dear friends,
The puzzle received varied reponse..but now i'm finally sending the solution. Its there in this composition...guess it if u can...
Happy reading and good bye...
-organizers.
With this was attached my second composition.
While our journey back to college was not entirely devoid of misadventures..thanks to Mukesh,I will describe this in a later post. But coming back to IITG: after mailing we started back for our college..never present at IITG to see the consequences of our last post.
As we reurned back,in the college..a mail awaited us into our account of "Organizers",this was from Pradeep..who now too happy to find his guess correct had mailed to all:
hi friends
yes i have got the solution......i got who is prayer.......if u translate in hindi......am i write.????? reallly u'r puzzle was nice....
now dear organisers will u plz disclose your names............
i hope u will reply soon...
bye
pradeep tripathi
Worse..this was written all through in font of 15 and was highlighted in Black..perhaps reflecting his enthusiasm. Oh Pradeep..he was a nice person! My heart goes out for him when I remember his following mail that followed the above one:
Hi,
Yaar that whoisshe fellow put us in hot waters! You know all girls were so angry at my last mail that they went to authorities complaining. Our project certificates were denied to us and we could only get them after a lot of haggling. I wish I could teach that fellow a lesson...
bye
Pradeep.
As we read this our eyes gouged out with laughter.Somewhere there also was pain,as I knew that the reply of Prdeep must have indeed hurt Pooja..which was never my intention. I wish he had observed some discretion!
Gallons of water has flowed under the bridge of Brhamputra since that soft romance of IITG occurred in June 2002. Syed is working at I-flex, Mukesh at Infosys, Sujit at TATA Elxsi, Pradeep at Soni Ericssion and myself at GE..we have passed out of college one year ago...as for Pooja, of course I never remained in contact with her. Sure she must have completed her Phd and must be doing a job or may be she is married..who knows? Still the memories of that IITG stint are so clear in our hearts...whereever she may be I still do and always will, pray for her happiness. I think wistfully: If only those days could come back! Nostalgia perhaps,but a very deep one. And the memories always come flooding whenever I open my suitcase and see that Parle-G..still unopen..still pristine..just like Nature..the person who once touched it!!
Pooja..are you listening?
Note : The name(s) of key character(s) has(ve) been changed to maintain privacy!
The word springs up different images to different people. For uninitiated,its simply another IIT,fledging and perhaps not worth going if one gets some other good college. For some it conjures up grisly images of militants,clad from head to toe in a black overall,their unsympathetic eyes gleaming from the slits in their dress and an AK-47 clamped on their shoulders. For some others it connotes a temple of knowledge and for some it means nothing!
But I will associate it forever with the soft nature..the lush green mountains that cradle the college..the calm and mighty Brahmaputra that gives the place an enigmatic charm..the soothing rain that fills the air with a queer romance...day and night..its a place where you cant help but fall in love!
It was here that I arrived for my summer project in June 2002. I had already done a successful summer project here in the summer of 2001.It was my second time, the magic of Brahmaputra had attracated me again! Being second time,I had no problem in getting a hostel room and mess card. So within a few hours I was ready to begin my summer stint again. We were four guys from REC Trichy and were split into two teams for two different projects.
It was the evening of our third day. I and my project partner were returning back from the lab after a hectic day..dabbling with the System C and struggling to learn it. We were required to design a processor model to simulate an algorithm..our heads were reeling with the convoluted concept of threads,processes and the Reservation Station. Thus occupied,we rarely talked and slowly traversed the long and meandering road from the college to the hostel in silence. The sun was slowly settling down behind the mountains,bathing the beautiful nature with a mellow red light..there were few clouds in the sky..floating aimlessly and reflecting its rays to create the proverbial silver lining around them. A cool breeze flowed and it served to soothe our senses as we concentarted silently on our day's work.
Suddenly I heared a voice..no..it was a smile...a very clear and ringing laugh.I turned around and saw her..she was walking with her friend. Her dark black hair flowed carelessly down her shoulders..her hands struggling to clear them off her beautiful face. Her deep eyes were filled with a childish innocence, her face was suffused with the enthusiasm of a childish prank and her lithe figure traversed that road casually. There was that charm around her..she had in her cascading black tresses the magic of dark clouds..her walk was so much like the gentle ripples of Brahmaputra..the innocense of her face was so much like the guileless nature around her. I stood there,until I was pulled by my project partner. I still looked behind as I walked...and on reaching the hostel,there was only one word I murmured to my partner annoyed at my digression, "Nature"..I whispered.."she is Nature."
Night fell and we retired to our respective rooms. There was no solace for me. I remembered her face,her voice,her walk..I had seen her for a few seconds but her image was forever imprinted on my heart. When will I see her again?..I wondered. The chain of my thoughts was suddenly broken by a loud thunderclap. I got up and opened the window..a waft of cool breeze rushed in..it was soon followed by a shower and very soon I could hear the drop of cold water bathing the grass outside. I jumped out of my bed and opened the door..bare feet I went out and stood there..in the rain..it drenched me..the natures gift. As those rain drops covered me and water trickled down my face..tiny streams bathing me with their soothing sensation..I was filled with a strange,almost unnatural happiness..I could feel nature all around me..Yes..here she was..in the rain..in the mountains..in the greenery..in the fresh morning flower..she was in the clouds..in the nature..Yes..she was the nature..and I knew that I loved her..I could feel what the love is like. For the first time in life,I knew the meaning of love.
Drenched and soaked after this spell in the rain I returned back to the room. The rain had almost stopped and the torrent had turned into a gentle shower.Outside I could hear the croaking of toads...the noise of insects soon filled the atmosphere with a queer romance. How could one remain engrossed in mundane thing like processor in this atmosphere? I wondered. I tried to sleep,but my attempts were thwarted by my own thoughts that veered around the charming face I saw in evening. She had aroused my limited poetic talent..therefore unable to resist, I finally got up and took the pen..on our project notebook I began to scribble:
In morning:
The rising sun salutes her grace,
Its gentle rays kiss herlovely face,
Her langour becomes the glory of the morning,
Her very presence makes the world charming.
During the day:
The ripples of Brahmaputra match the rhythm of her walk,
The symphony of words harmonizes with her mellifluous
talk.
Her calm eyes hold a sea of passions,
Her silent lips convey myriads of emotions.
Her sweet smile melts tenacious hills,
Her coy blush turns the world still.
Her cascading tresses add to her grace,
The rhythm of the rain becomes an ode in her praise.
In evening:
The sun hides behind the mountains for a last glance,
as she will come out and slowly prance,
the audacious clouds atand still,struck by her charm,
the evening twilight bathes her beauty,silent and calm.
In night:
The serenity of night sings an ovation,
the nature embraces its most cherished creation,
Gentile breeze touches her and it preens,
In the arms of sleep she goes in the world of dreams.
Having thus penned out all I saw that evening,I slept,wondering if she will ever know my emotions...thinking of a way to convey her my words of admiration.
In morning as we were sitting in the mess for breakfast,I saw her again. There she was,with another girl this time. Charming and beautiful as ever...the nature,washed by the night rain seemed to have given all its glory to her. Her hair was tied carelessly and she took up a cup of coffee and started towards our table. My heart skipped a beat,she was coming closer..I could see her clearly now.Her eyes as usual radiating charm..before I could recollect myself and gather courage to say "Hi"..a voice interrupted us.."Pooja"..there was a girl calling from behind,beaconing her to join their group. My face lost colour..I wanted to stop her,but she just turned around and changed track. I could not understand whether to curse her friend or to thank her. I cursed her friend with all my heart..but I also thanked her for letting me know her name.
IIT Guwahati in summer was always full of people from other colleges,who came here for projects. Also there were people from IITG itself who were staying back in the college for project. Overall,the atmosphere in the college was always one of joy and fun..what with the wonderful weather complementing our mood! The foursome from my college included,besides myself,my project partner Sujit and two other guys: Syed and Mukesh. The former was from Assam while the latter was quite gregarious,especially when it came to people on fairer side. Humourous in his own unique way and ever condescending, Mukesh soon became a favourite among all girls in the college. In my present sitaution I saw him as a bridge between myself and her. Afterall I had often seen him chatting with her friends, may be he could introduce me to her.
I asked him and the information I gleaned was not entirely discouraging..he gave me her mail ID,saying that now the ball is in my court. Ball was in my court no doubt,but I was unfortunately not a very deft player! What will I do with her mail id..I thought and thought..but came to no conclusion. The day passed again stuggling over our processor in the lab. It was slowly taking shape,we had learnt the basics of the new language,we were now developing an algorithm to implement our design. Page after page was soon scribbled with convoluted logic design and neck deep in the quagmire of complex signals moving concurrently over various modules of our design,I almost forgot her.
We four returned late from the college. The road was lit by a dim streetlight. Dark mountains loomed before us and the serenity of night allowed us to loose ourselves into our own world. I again thought of her...but then,I didnt know how will she react to my mail. And what do I write her..."I like you"..no..no..she will be angry..."I saw you and want to compliment you"..no this sounds too dramatic..."Can we be friends"..no..she is sure to misinterpret this...
My chain of thoughts was broken as I found myself in the foyer of the mess. Time for food! As we stood in the queue,my eyes strayed yonder..beyond the chaotic mess..away from the noisy groups discussing the latest in cricket..over the group of giggling girls..away they went near the last table in the corner where she sat..with her two friends. I was seventh in the queue. It will take at least 15 more minutes before I am served..she may finish up by that time..I grew impatient,but it was of course impossible to get thru the hungry throng standing before me! Suddenly she stood up, red T-shirt and a blue skirt making her hell of a beauty..with her plate in hands she started towards the wash room..."OOOpppppppsss.." I had missed the opportunity again. Avoiding the busy tables interposed between her table and wash area she came towards the queue. A glimmer of hope lighted up as she elegantly walked by the side of the queue..approaching the wash area from the start of the queue. She walked passed the queue..past the girl standing in front,that rowdy looking guy standing behind second in queue..that fat belly behind him..4..5..6..now she walked past me..her hand brushed mine and I felt a strange sensation..her sweet fragnance lingered for a moment in air and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath..it seemed to linger around me forever.I opened my eyes to find that she was standing right behind my friend Syed..she had come for another helping! So I was lucky indeed..she stood there,a little irritated perhaps for having to break her meal in midway. Even as I watched,Syed struck a conversation with her. She was from Assam..Syed got an edge and in the vernaculur,they soon started off. I could not understand a word but I keenly looked at her sweet face as she listened him with all innocense in her eyes. I tried to chip in: "Assam is a beautiful place...."...suddenly there was some commotion..people from behind jostled me and as I saw in front I could see that I had reached the first place in queue and the mess employee stood there, food in his hands..beseeching me to pay attention and take it. Flushed, I pushed my plate before him..she gave a sweet smile..Ah! her million dollar disarming smile..I just shrugged my shoulders and collected my helping. Out of queue I waited for Syed..perhaps she will come with him..but no..her friends were there..waiting for her and with a sweet Bye..common to both of us,she started back..I stood there glaring at her receding hourglass figure when Syed pushed me at a nearest table and I reluctantly swallowed my food.
I was all ears for the next half hour to what Syed had to tell me about her: "Her name is Pooja and she is from Naugaon in Assam. She is doing her Phd at IITG and is staying back for project with her other classmates. She will be here throughout the vacation and she lives in the hostel adjecant to the mess". And finally: She has told Syed in her sweet voice that he is "very much like her younger brother"! Last sentence raised my brows...silently I scrutinized Syed: Medium build,childish face and innocense all around him..no doubt she compared her with the right person..I got assured that I dont stand any chance of receiving such compliment. According to his analysis she was a genial and sweet girl. "Very much like nature"..I silently mused.
Next day flew past in the bowels of processor and its spaghetti signals criss-crossing various modules,at times beyond our comprehension. our processor had started limping and our code did have some shape now. Issues had begun to crop up..we wrote and re-wrote the test programs in the designed Assembly Language..ran again and again to our guide for demos..added a new instruction..designed and rejected the ways to develop the hardware model for algorithm..analysed,discussed,debated,refuted..sometimes doing everything simulataneously! The modules were being integrated..the algorithm being implemented and efforts to increase the pipelining,enhance the concurrency,deal with data conflict, to enable effective branch prediction and provide maximum concurrency were on with full vigour. Even as myself and Sujit were thus fighting with our own creation,the scenery was all around us..those mountains and the clattering noise of rain as it fell on the tin roof above us! Its clamour matched with our arguements and counterarguements..and perhaps it also matched with the deep desire lurking in the corner of my heart : to talk to Pooja,to dedicate her my composition..to tell her how much do I appreciate her......
That evening we started back early to hostel..too tired to continue any further. Syed and Mukesh also joined us. We four headed together to the mess for a tea and then perhaps for a trip to the bank of Brahmaputra to soothe our minds. The afternoon rain had washed the nature..there was cool breeze,rustle of leaves and a wild chirping of birds as they headed towards their arboreal abodes. The mountains stood silent,serene and calm..covered with verdant luxurious cover of nature. We entered the almost silent mess..evenings in mess are always silent and people rarely care to travel the distance, more so on Wednesdays when u get nothing but a pack of Parle-G with tea. We took our usual place and talked about our projects and the probable date of departure..it was June and placements would start from July or June end..we need to reach the college in last week of June...we also need to prepare for the placements as.........
The rest of the conversation was lost to me as my eyes were riveted now on the mess counter where Pooja had just arrived..in a plain pink suit..her hair flowing down her back..a little red "bindi" on her forehead..Ah..her serene smooth guileless features, her lovely face..she is a poem..she is nature..she is the gift of nature to.....
...and then it happened..she had picked a biscuit packet and was going to move back ..her steps locked when she heared a friend saying: "Hey Pooja dont take that,we have brought one for you already". She smiled.."Oh Thanks!".. and placed the packet back on the counter. "Its now or never"..my heart told me. I started towards the counter..in one quick leap I left my place and was now making my way through the maze of tables,to reach there before that other fellow who was at mess entrance could reach there to get that packet. Even as my friends,now diverted from their subject,watched me in awe and astonishment,I was rushing towards the counter..we reached there almost simultaneouly from opposite ends..with a leap that characterises Ricky Ponting as he picks a low flying catch, I jumped and collected the packet she had touched moments ago...holding it with my both hands..not minding that this dive had put me on the floor and now the other guy stood in horror observing this hungry fiend...not minding the loud guffaw it elicited from the group of girls including Pooja and unmindful of the fact that now Syed and Mukesh were standing around me to give me a helping hand. It took me a minute to understand the situation and the effect my action had produced on the people..I got up, Biscuit pack still in my hands..."Sorry Boss"..I muttered to the other fellow.."You know how is it sometimes..". The other person,perhaps by now doubtful of my sanity,simply mumbled: "Yeah..I do!". Too dazed to speak, I started out of mess,as I walked out the group of girls again gave a huge laugh..I didnt mind..may be I wasn't its subject..and even if I was,its good as I always want to see her happy afterall! My three friends followed me outside, the Parle-G pack still clutched tightly in my hands.
We four silently started towards Brahmeputra. We crossed the thicket and climbed a hillock..water dripped from the leaves and we were wet as we brushed through them. There was a slope and here lay before us an amazing sight....the slope led to a huge rock,and below that there was the calm and mighty Brahmaputra..the river with thousands of secrets and an entire world beneath its calm waters! Rain had roiled up the waters and our eyes could see its broad expanse..on the other side lay the city of Guwahati. Lights had begun to turn on and we could see a panarominc view of the pearly reflection of the infinite row of bulbs on other end on the silent waters of the river. We sat there and never spoke a word. The serenity of nature had overawed us..its silence had a voice..it was telling us that nature is supreme and beautiful than any of the man made mundane creation. I had my Parle-G packet clutched as ever. I could feel her close to me..she was there in the nature afterall! Finally my project partner Sujit spoke : "Lets move"..we woke up from our trance...Mukesh looked at his watch and exclaimed: "Why its 7 and we never realised!" The sun had set and the lights were glowing on the other end of river. On this end there was silence..without interrupting it we started back towards our room. I kept the Parle-G pack safely in my suitcase.
Two more days passed and we were involved deep in our work. The processor was now running and we were adding some more enhancements in it. our debates had ended and our guide had given us a clear signal to move on with the design we proposed today. The next task was to clean up the code,implement the design and resolve the issues in algorithm implementation. We hoped to achieve a significant improvement in execution speed in terms of clock ticks..all analysis was worth it, the design appeared to be fool proof. Over the weekend we four went to city..moved around and got our reservation done. Fourteen days were now left for our deaprture from this abode of nature.
On Monday, after work,we sat down to check our mails. It was then that I got this idea..why it was such a simple way to convey my appreciation..I should have thought over it a long time back! I consulted with Syed and Mukesh...they agreed. It was then that a queer sounding but rather explicit mail id was born: whoisshe_at_iitg@yahoo.com.
From this mail-id the first mail was sent:
Dear friends,
We all are here for doing projects and in this staid routine some change is always welcome. Therefore we are starting a puzzle..u need to guess who is the person being referred to over here. There are no marks except perhaps a couple of brownie points for the successful person. However we,the organizers,earnestly hope that it does help to lighten our project burden a little bit.
With Luv,
Organizers.
With this mail was attached the compostion I made on that rainy night.
It was sent to all mail ids..all boys and girls,including us and of course..Pooja.
Next few days were full of activity. The e-mail had created ripples around the hostels. The grape-vine was active and rumour mills were hyperactive,churning out new names of the probable "Organizers"! We participated actively with other guys in finding who the "Organizers" were. Mukesh was active in getting the news from the girls end..it turned out that they were equally curious to know. There were words of praises for the composition:"Downloaded from net".."Plagiarised from some book".."I think I have heared it somewhere before"..I listened to these comments and chuckled. A single e-mail was bringing out diverse opinions!
Replies were also received: some were happy for this change,some wanted the "solution" of the "puzzle" while some of course asked to stop this "bulls***". We too replied each mail in its authors tenor. The mess was now overflowing wih rumour. In partcular there was this guy called Pradeep. He seemed to have developed a liking for Pooja and was therefore eager to know if it was she "organizers" meant. We were wise enough not to reply.
The week flew by in the ambience of Nature and its human counterpart. Everytime I wanted to tell her:"Pooja its me who wrote it..I admire you yaar"..but the fear stopped me. Discretion told me not make her name public and my heart told me to convey her my emotions. In this tug-of-war a third dimension was added by our processor! It was now running..we had implemented the algorithm successfully and were able to code an Assembly Langauage Program for bubble sorting in our processor. A substantial reduction in clock ticks was achieved. We were given a go ahead to submit report.The last phase of our soujourn had begun.....
Three days were left for us to go back. I sat there in the lounge after lunch..waiting for rain to subside. our project report was almost ready and submission was due for tomorrow. As I saw outside,I felt as if nature was pulling me..beseeching me not to go..remain here forever..but alas..I cant help it Nature..I have to go..back into the concrete and steel jungle...I again took up the pen..it now moved smoothly:
ON MY DEPARTURE.....
The sun will still rise, the flowers will still bloom,
Her very presence will still drive out the gloom,
Its gentle rays will still kiss her face,
She will still lighten up the world by her grace...
Her smile will still soothe the pains,
The song of her praise will still be in the rains...
The mountains would still move by the way she shyly blushes,
The gentle breeze will still embrace her flying tresses.......
Nature will still cherish its precious treasure,
Clouds will still be charmed by her beauty beyond measure....
Her eyes would still spell their lovely charm,
Her talk will still turn the clamourous Brahmaputra calm......
Her lips will still hold the untold passions,
She is and will remain, the natures sweetest creation....
But time does not stand still,it passes through,
And with moist eyes I bid adieu,
To the sweet seduction I experienced here in her presence,
To the silent calm I got in her ambience..
To the beauty I saw,rustic and disarming...
To the magic she created...lovely and charming...
People come and go,the world is like a train,
Life goes on, only memories remain...
May you always keep smiling,your beauty remain adorable and rare,
Nature is her image and she is "prayer".
Of course the last word was the very translation of her name!
At last came that day...our luggage was packed and we were ready to say good bye. It was raining since morning..prehaps the lachrymose nature was expressing her emotions on our departure. The rainfall,that always seemed to be so charming,today appeared to reflect the sad state of my mind. I knew that we will never come back to IITG for project..this was our last year in college afterall. We will be placed..go places..but I will forever miss this trip..I wanted to see her once before going...but could not. I sent the last mail from the "Organizers" desk:
Dear friends,
The puzzle received varied reponse..but now i'm finally sending the solution. Its there in this composition...guess it if u can...
Happy reading and good bye...
-organizers.
With this was attached my second composition.
While our journey back to college was not entirely devoid of misadventures..thanks to Mukesh,I will describe this in a later post. But coming back to IITG: after mailing we started back for our college..never present at IITG to see the consequences of our last post.
As we reurned back,in the college..a mail awaited us into our account of "Organizers",this was from Pradeep..who now too happy to find his guess correct had mailed to all:
hi friends
yes i have got the solution......i got who is prayer.......if u translate in hindi......am i write.????? reallly u'r puzzle was nice....
now dear organisers will u plz disclose your names............
i hope u will reply soon...
bye
pradeep tripathi
Worse..this was written all through in font of 15 and was highlighted in Black..perhaps reflecting his enthusiasm. Oh Pradeep..he was a nice person! My heart goes out for him when I remember his following mail that followed the above one:
Hi,
Yaar that whoisshe fellow put us in hot waters! You know all girls were so angry at my last mail that they went to authorities complaining. Our project certificates were denied to us and we could only get them after a lot of haggling. I wish I could teach that fellow a lesson...
bye
Pradeep.
As we read this our eyes gouged out with laughter.Somewhere there also was pain,as I knew that the reply of Prdeep must have indeed hurt Pooja..which was never my intention. I wish he had observed some discretion!
Gallons of water has flowed under the bridge of Brhamputra since that soft romance of IITG occurred in June 2002. Syed is working at I-flex, Mukesh at Infosys, Sujit at TATA Elxsi, Pradeep at Soni Ericssion and myself at GE..we have passed out of college one year ago...as for Pooja, of course I never remained in contact with her. Sure she must have completed her Phd and must be doing a job or may be she is married..who knows? Still the memories of that IITG stint are so clear in our hearts...whereever she may be I still do and always will, pray for her happiness. I think wistfully: If only those days could come back! Nostalgia perhaps,but a very deep one. And the memories always come flooding whenever I open my suitcase and see that Parle-G..still unopen..still pristine..just like Nature..the person who once touched it!!
Pooja..are you listening?
Note : The name(s) of key character(s) has(ve) been changed to maintain privacy!
posted by Techie Author at 6:39 PM
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