Rewind...

If you are reading in Facebook notes, then read the original post here and more similar stories at my blog.




My college started a week back and I was plunged into a hectic schedule. For the first few days the college hours were long with the "Orientation" program and some performances by senior students welcoming the freshers.


Today it was over a bit early and while on my way back home I passed in front of my school though while in a bus. It felt strange to see the juniors passing by the street. No one got into my bus. I stared at them hoping to make an eye contact. But all luck. I seem to have become an alien to the school with the start of college. Seems like I got isolated. No more school uniform. No more strangers asking me 'where is your school' or curiously seeing the monogram on my shirt. I became a stranger to this world. I lost an identity.


When I saw a guy waiting for his bus with a school ID card I felt like they are privileged to be still a part of my institution. I was no more one of them.


I had lost a recognition. Who would say that just a year back I used to walk on those streets in front of my school with my best buddies? My friends also disappeared as time passed. Everyone has either gone or will go to somewhere for some professional degree and compete to become successful in life. Even I am doing so.


A kid in the uniform was there. From his dress it was clear that he either had a fierce fight in the last period or had a great game of basketball or something in the games period. Comparing to myself I thought that how lazy I have become and how energetic they are. There was a time I use to run through the fields in my school or just play some silly "chor, police". Those used to be our favorite game. Who can imagine running after that friend all across the benches and jumping around. Nothing mattered except the strict glance of the teacher-in-charge or Vice Principal or Principal.
But now in college no one comes roaming to see what we are doing. But we also don't run on the benches given the freedom. The library of the school used to be one of the least visited places. But now the college library will become the second classroom.


The difference between the first year of college and the last year of school is also too much. In the last year, things like bunking classes or having some snacks when a sir is sweating out to write on the board or funny and adolescent back bencher comments to tease friends or to irritate teachers was a common thing. If people were asked to go out for not bringing a particular heavy maths book, we would go out even if we had the book. This happened in college and with a calculator this time... It took 10 mins for the professor to turn the culprits out and deny them of their attendance. People don't have private tuitions and they attend the class like making prayers to Jesus, err the lecturer. The labs are for hours and ultra-boring. No one is interested in making some fun stuff or some little mischief.


How can I forget my first crush?
And to see her the corridor rush....
Childhood love stories and sweethearts have a gloss of its own. Its always fresh. My first proposal in class 4 and my first rejection..... Well college is different. I tried to find my soul's calling in my class. Left it to see. But my soul closed his eyes and said to me "No one can replace your childhood sweetheart and rule me". I wore a special film on my spectacle to find some friend. The film suicided and said to me "This is not school, stop finding friends".....


College life is different. And sadly I have to change my timetable and write college in place of my school..!!!