Perfect college..

Then we went for a walk and had Chili bajis and tea from a small tea stall. The price was shockingly low. But I had a hard time understanding the person speaking Hindi behind the counter. ‘Doordarshan Hindi ‘, I understand very well but this seemed not Hindi! Anyway I survived I guess. Then when it was about 8pm we decided to have dinner and go to sleep.
We had a great dinner. I never had Chili Aloo this tasty! Around us we saw a number of big dogs walking around. They won’t bother you but will sit nearby looking at you. Even though they are so big they look so cute, so calm and quiet. I saw many students patting those big dogs. One of them came near me and sat down. I had some chicken pieces from the fried rice I had and I gave it to her. Very calmly and with dignity she ate that. She reminded me f our pepper who is such a classy dog. Try giving him any yummy food in between his regular food time; he won’t even sniff at it. Unlike the younger Jackie who is like me who would gobble up any food that doesn’t bite us back any given time.

When we were going back to our room we saw students walking to classes and having discussions on the cement benches even though it was close to 9 pm. The environment was so relaxing and free. It seemed to me that they were seriously studying and the same time enjoying their freedom too. The whole atmosphere was perfect for students.

In the final year when I was at the College for Women in Trivandrum the authorities started having security guards at the gates(no no I was not the reason for that :) who would not let the students go out unless they had  permission etc etc. So many restrictions up on restrictions. The more the restrictions are imposed, the more is the tendency to break them. I must say I enjoyed the college life to the maximum and was able to get out before the rules became tougher. We went out whenever we felt like, just to walk around the college or go to some stores to look at a new pendant or bangles or to an ice cream parlor nearby. I remember jumping out of the back door at the same time when the History lecturer was getting in through the front door and running to the canteen to meet my friends. We were able to sit in the canteen and talk as long as we liked and have tea or snacks without ever being questioned by anybody. The atmosphere was so relaxing. I don’t know if such an environment exists in that college anymore. The sight of the security men at the gates stops me from ever stepping in to that college again. To study in a place like a jail is not easy for me. I agree security is a must, but after checking the identity let the students go and come as they please. Yes, I know there would be students who would take advantage of the situation if we let things more easier etc etc , but those students will do it no matter even if you put iron bars around them.

After dinner we went back to the room. I was also impressed by the way they kept the bathrooms clean. We tried to sleep. The single bed was too small for both of us and there was just one pillow. I used my sweaters as a pillow and kept the phone nearby as I had to give wake up call to my son who was going to be ‘alone’ with his grandmother :). As usual there was one mosquito in that room and it came straight to me. The only part that was outside the sheet was my nose and it sat right there. Then when I covered my nose that nasty creature landed on my head.

 Somehow we forced the dawn come early  and got ready for the day.