Fun-filled, traumatic, joyous, troublesome, boring, cruel, pleasing, satisfying, challenging, tempting, misleading - yes Life is full of 'em - that is why life is so very SPECIAL - and yet the thrill is in "living" life! And all the accompanying ordeals are the frills attached with the thrills.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Birthday bashes in hostel

I always felt that atleast one year, everyone in his/her college days should be away from home - preferably in a hostel.

Being in a hostel makes you learn so many things. The foremost thing is to be indepent and next is you learn being accomodative. You might have room mates who have dress sense, hygiene level, etiquettes exactly in contrast to yours. There might be people who would use your combs, your shirts, your bathroom slippers - but the real challenge is to live cordially with them all.

I had great time when I spent 3 years in hostel during my post graduation days. We definitely had lows too but they were all part of hostel life. The worst ordeal, according to me, was when we run out of water in the toilets. Not taking bath is no big deal, but imagine not having water to... (hope you get the picture?).

The most exciting times were the birthday bashes. Actually we had improvised on the strategy each time. The speciality was the "solution". We used to make this solution with... hold your breath - ink, shoe polish, blue, soap, shaving creams, perfume, powdered incense sticks (this is to counter the awful odour), shampoo and any other harmless elements which is available. We even once used cowdung powder (which is readily available in stores there).

We would separate the solutions into three. First stage is dragging out the birthday boy and smashing with eggs. This, at times, is very painful especially when the egg hits with full force on your bare skin. And then we would cover our hands with plastic covers and smear the "solution". Then drag him to the bathroom and lift him aloft and drop him into the water tank (which is in every bathroom and is know for its "cleanliness").

Then we allow him to take bath and as he walks back on the corridor to the room, the second round awaits him. And then the third...

The first time we tried this "strategy" on our friend, his face and whole body was covered with bluish black stains (because of the solution). The next day he had to face our class girls to get their wishes and so it was important (to him ofcourse, why would we bother!) that he looked good and so as he was busy scrubbing his face (he thought he could cover his body with clothes anyway and so was just concerned about his face). He even had to use a scrubber to get the stains off. After rigorous scrubbing, he opened the bathroom door and showed me his face "Has it gone Ravi?". Before I could even reply, I burst laughing because inspite of all his efforts, I could only see his white teeth when he peeked out!

And all this would be followed with inquiries from our warden the next day for all the mess created in the corridor. The eggs give a very awful stench. Though we haven't tried this, we were told (by the other "experts" that eggs buried in sand for a day, turns rotten and would give a even worse smell which is supposed to stick on to the birthday boy for days!!!

13 comments:

R. Prabhu said...

Nice post Ravi!. It reminds me of the welcome tortures and teases that we did during the schools and colleges. However, in our own ways. It really makes me smile when I recollect the pitiable faces of the guys caught amidst all these. :) :) :)

Ravi said...

Prabhu,
Collge/school days are the best. Without earning a paise, we felt like kings and now earning enough, we still feel like paupers. Thanks for your comment!

Marutham said...

LOL!!!
Funny ....
But- yeah sure is a nostalgic one...Ilaya? :)
Am gonna miss my college days... Innum sila natkalil...
Hm..Generally pasanga have this kind of fun...Naanga girls- hm..adhu vera kind of fun :P
I had neighbors who also study in the same college... :)They used to celebrate their room mates b'days this way. Sometimes.... the used to chase the birthday boy in the street & smash eggs! But funniest is - when some1 has the birthday during sem exams...Veetla naanum oru few minutes (12:00- 12:15) padika mudiyaadhu- distracted dhaan! :) And it would really be pathetic when the VICTIM pleads-"Naalaku exam daa..vandhu vechukalaamey- plz..."
And gumbala sound varum.."Dey... birthday elaam once a year daa.... Vidadheenga!!!"
Yes idhelaam en study room varai ketkum! :)

PAAVAM ... But yeah- there is no compromise for fun! :)
Once again, Lovely post.. :)

R. Prabhu said...

Rightly said Ravi! Not only the monetary aspect, but also the time. We don't find time for ourselves, friends and family these days. Totally mechanical and fast!!!

Ravi said...

Marutham,
Thanks and make sure you enjoy this life the most because, believe me, you will never get it again. So enjoy the most - come what may!!

Prabhu,
Fully agree.

Sree's Views said...

Ravi,

Nice post !Romba rasichu ezhudhi irukeenga...I dont know much about hostel-life..but sure sounds like great fun..looks like we day-scholars missed out on all that!!

Ravi said...

Sree,
Welcome here! Yes, that is what I had mentioned in the beginning. Atleast oru varusham aavadhu hostel-la thangi padikkanum - to know both the plus and minus. Thanks for your comments.

Anonymous said...

giggles!!!sounds funny!!!

I really wish I were in a hostel atleast for a shortwhile...it would have been fun..sure you sound to have been quite mischievous during ur hostel days....you have memories which you can cherish!!!

It's me Soumya
(I forgot my password which I enetered during the upgrade for my blog)

Arun R said...

Hi,

I've spent 6 years of my life in hostels, and I have seen my friends applying this strategy to others on their birthdays... :)

Luckily I was spared this torturous treatment; the only thing I received during my b'day were b'day bums!!!

Ravi said...

Veda,
Yes, very true. Infact many people who haven't experienced hostel life envy the ones who have - atleast for these kind of fun.

Soumya,
Hello and how have you been. Try the "forget password" option on your gmail account.

Arun,
Welcome back (after a hiatus). Its surprising that you missed the "treatments" but good you got the bums atleast. Oof... sometimes they are painful - aren't they?

Anonymous said...

wow!you guys seemed to have had lots of fun in the hostel! As for me ,i have never stayed in a hostel, though my brother used to religiously tell my parents to put me in one, saying that only then i will know how to share & get along with others!! for I was the typical spoilt pampered kid at home!:))Ravi i have posted the roghan josh & naan recipe that you asked for in my blog:)
paati

Marutham said...

//Marutham,
Thanks and make sure you enjoy this life the most because, believe me, you will never get it again. So enjoy the most - come what may!!//
Boo hoooo hooooooooo :(
elaarum idha final yearla dhaan solreenga :(
ippo am worried if its too late ..
but thankx :) am making very sure - i enjoy tis! :)

I was hoping for a new post :)

Ravi said...

Paati,
nice to see you here again. You a spoilt kid? Unga recipes elaam paartha appadi thonavae illai. And thanks for the recipes.

Marutham,
Had I known you before, I would have told you. Infact I keep telling the same to everyone who's in college life.