The V-Day

"You have lost", "what a dunb ass.!", "I hate you", "Stop sobbing", "Hahahaha", "no.. no.. no..!". Huhhh, I suspired.. as I was about to drown in an endless sea of a pessimistic dream. The time was 3:00 am, mom is sitting next to me, "(yawn).. Wake up Vicky.!". I wake up,.. I was still unable to believe that i woke up.! At 3 in the morning.! By 4 am, I was back to my senses and i had started my work. No.. not studies.! I Obviously not that.! I sat o’er my bed & started preparing charts for an exhibition to be held by 10 am (same day, i.e. 18/08/11) in Ethiraj College. The theme was “Electrochemistry in our day to day lives” and the topic of my concern was “Electrochemical Engraving”. Well, to be honest, it was Dr.G.Ramamurthy Sir’s idea which was supported by De.John Maria Xavier Sir quite well. In fact, it was JMX sir who did all he could to season me for this experiment. Even Johnson Sir gave his valuable inputs. 2 days (7am to 5:30pm) in lab was all it took to get ready. Cakewalk? Hellwalk.! With ammonia fumes, mercury vapors, minor electric shocks, burns,…. And I’m self-distracted from writing about my day. Coming back, I got the charts ready and rushed to college. From where, me, Ranjit, Anil, Joshi, Mano and Darwin double rushed to Ethiraj College. There I had a big laugh. Not a laugh of over confidence, but a laugh of taking the right decision. The day before, JMX Sir and I rejected 4 experiments which were apparently exhibited by 4 competing colleges. I sighed, “Thank God!”. We got ready with everything. Inauguration was scheduled to be at 10 am; and at 9:40 am I come to know that I forgot stencil papers (the heart of my experiment) at my college lab.! Beep.! I ran (quite literally..) to the Ethiraj Salai, paid the auto guy 10 bucks extra and asked him to fly me to Loyola College and back to Ethiraj College. I picked it up, ran back to my place and kept it all ready.

At 10:05 am, a group of teachers (judges, I assumed) came in. I explained the concept with lucidity and co-related it with daily life and also spiced my explanation with satire. The result: one of ‘em said, “I am a commerce prof.!”. I was dumbstruck. Then, I came back to my senses simultaneously. OMG.! I just had a ‘demo’ judge interaction. The same ridicule happened twice. By 12:30 pm, I was all exhausted when Ranjit whispered, “Judges came.!”. I drank a pail of H2O and ran to my spot. I explained it super well; but to me, it was as if repeating the same stuff 30th time. They appreciated my exhibit as well as the others’ showcased by my comrades, i.e. silver deposition and color electrolysis. The good part We were the only boys college (as far as I could see), the bad parts there was quantity which lacked quality, my exhibit and my comrade’s exhibits were crowded round the clock, due to which we couldn’t apprise other’s exhibits.

By 2:00pm, we had lunch after which we ambled our way to the auditorium. The valedictory function comprised of a very boring placement related speech by the chief guest, I which I apparently drowsed off (knowing that I’m in the first row.!). Our name, was then pronounced as the winner of the exhibition competition and I felt relieved and sad. Relieved because the hard work we put in paid. And sad because our our friend Darwin, who helped me a lot wasn’t recognized; since there were supposed to be 5 per team and he was our 6th man.! I thanked him so much and contrived him. But, he surely has a big heart, for he was happier than us and exclaimed, “Kalakitta macha” (U rocked.!)..!

After coming out of the auditorium, I made sure to get everything packed and told Ranjit to ask the Joint Secretary of Ethiraj College to mail him the photos of the valedictory function. What a day I had.! Every second was profoundly amazing and it was not difficult for a sententious man like me to encapsulate it all in article.! At the end of the day; I had one moment of remorse. I said a le to every visitor, including to the professors and the judges. I said them, “The engraved plate will last as long as 70 years.” :D The sad part is that they believed it! Its an another story that none would try it at home or lab, even after knowing the spontaneity and easiness of the blessed experiment.!