(April 22, 10:42pm)

Lots else to share about ACJ and Chennai.. But need to sleep early.. catching the 5am bus tomorrow to Pondicherry.. Good night!

XXX

(April 22, 3:33pm)

How beautiful it is to be here sitting in Lab 6.. and writing this post.. Oh ACJ... My ACJ.. Our ACJ.. it's such a rush of joy to you, when you go back to your college, after all these days..

With bags of experiences having changed you, and made you older... and then, all at once, in the vicinity of your professors, you become the playful and enthusiastic pupil again..

Wanting to do big in everything, and every way.. and aiming at the stars.. without a thought on Ur resources, or any assessment of your capabilities..The human grit and excitement weighing down all other consideration!

That's the power of college days.. and revisiting them is beyond wonderful..

XXX

Had a lovely time talking to Nalini Maam, and SKM sir... Both recognised me and treated me with the same affection, and there was the same bond developing instantly again..

And there was this nice exchange of greetings with Bindoo maam too!

XXX

Killing time in the lab... wish to have some canteen food in the evening... will they offer samosas still for 5 rupees?

In 2009, when they had charged us 5 rs a samosa, we were dumbstruck.. the many of us from smaller towns, where samosas for more than 3 rupees was unheard of..

Now four years down the line, I would be in for pleasant surprise if they get us for rupees five.. Yes, that's what people at other places charge you for samosas, but considering that ACJ charged Rs 5 in 2009, I should be prepared to cough out at least Rs 8..

XXX

Did I tell you, I clicked a snap with SKM sir?

He was a little awkward, but the girl who clicked it eventually, promised him kiddingly, that she would make him look beautiful.. ha ha..

"Fast, it's hard to pull back your stomach for long," sir remarked teasingly when I asked her to click one more.. :P

XXX

(April 21, 10:22pm)

Hi.. had a very good three days in New Delhi.. met my ACJ buddies too... lunch with V and S, followed by CCD gupshup with A and his girl friend P, who is very kind to me!

It was very nice..

XXX

Hmm, now in Chennai after a 28 hour non-stop Duronto ride.. It was the first time, I travelled in teh Duronto.. since there's none between Patna and Delhi, or Patna and Kolkata, or from Patna to Chennai, which I normally travel..

It's so so fascinating to be in Chennai.. the sprawling Chennai Central edifice in old red bricks, the cool sea-side evening wind, the un-understandable language, and the absolute thug auto drivers..

Loving it all..

XXX

Will be visiting ACJ tomorrow, where an interview is scheduled.. looking forward to meeting the professors.. Sampat Sir, Nishat Sir, nalini Ma'am, Arvind Sir..

And oh.... How can I frget him.. the man who lives literature.. and the man who inspires literature... my fav, fav SKM Sir!!

Will he remember me? I hope he does.. I will be devastated if he somehow he doesn't!

XXX

(April 17, 11:29am)

In Delhi.. to appear for the IELTS tests.. Will be travelling to two more cities, next ten days..

XXX

Sne**, Vi*** and I are meeting over lunch at 1pm.. Sarvana Bhavan.. which I guess is very close to Connaught Place.. We all wanted to taste some South Indian food, as that would make us feel like ACJ again..

Those Chennai days, when I was in college.. for the MA programme in journalism.. Strange, how you become fond of things which you once cursed and cribbed at.. the south Indian thalis, in our case!

XXX

(April 15, 9:26am)

Happy Bengali New Year 1420!

And here's my resolution - I will try to become less impatient, but remain just as impersonal!

XXX

(April 10, 10:18am)

Ye lo.. I thought I'd be preparing full time for the IELTS from today.. and the maid doesn't turn up..

Now who's gonna wash the dishes, do the house, or cook food?

XXX

(April 9, 8:27pm)

Okay I did something very silly just now... but then, that will exactly help you understand the plight I am in...

XXX

Hmm.. so despite this court verdict, the university did not make any payment at all... I waited, and then I saw my lawyer who thought a contempt proceeding will only mean no payment till the next court order..

So, may be an internal pressure group could work, or as in my case, expedite the payment process..

XXX

Thanks to my ACJ friend in HT Bihar, who I had met through Nishat sir when he dropped in to my place on my b'de last year (he was in deprivation tour of Bihar that time), the Registrar was taken to task..

So much, that he in fact went begging, "Pls do not publish anything, I assure you we'll pay withinn three days"..

(PS: The ACJ friend as well as the HT Bureau Chief, who anyway recognised my mother once I mentioned her name, had threatened the Registrar and the Finance Officer of a first page critical story)..

XXX

So, that is it.. Have been invisible, as there would be no vitality, either in the body or in mind, having have to run pillars to post - for my mother's own hard earned money - despite the Court instructions!

XXX

Anyway, coming back to the funny thing... I have my IELTS exams on the 18th in Delhi.. and I haven't literally touched the books I bought to prepare for the test..

And, disheartened and apprehensive that I am, all I did was type "Is IELTS tough or easy" on Google.. and read the comments below...

Mostly by people who probably haven't even appeared for IELTS ever, but who, as though by some gift of superfluous wisdom, know right every thing about the test..

XXX

And then, accept the ones which said it is easy, and dismiss those commenters who though it was not..!!

XXX

By the way, I mentioned I am disheartened and apprehensive.. But I didn't say depressed.. You noticed?

The emerald really is working.. right there on my little finger, studded in gold!

XXX

Seriously, full time preparations from tomorrow..

XXX