Sojourn 09

Sojourn ’09…

That some are liars does not surprise me; it is how often and easily they lie that does.
That some are cheaters does not alarm me; it is how tactfully and efficiently they cheat that is alarming.

I have organized a number of events earlier, small ones though, but Sojourn has been the most interesting. The best part about it was interacting with so many people, the honest ones, the bossy ones, the big mouths, the cheats, the most dependable, the unreliable, the scared, the fearless and ones who pop out of nowhere to help you out.


I have always found people amusing. (That should explain why I am mute… just can’t get my eyes off them!) Sojourn served as a platform for me to interact with a numerous people (can still hear my phone ring). Here, I couldn’t afford to keep quiet. I had to make sure I was listening keenly and also make sure that I was being heard.

Unfortunately for us, we were greeted by an Anti-Council undercurrent which did retard our growth to some extent. We had a lot of ‘connecting the dots’ to do before forming the complete picture.


People O’ People


I came across the lazy ones who need to be kicked to get work done. I came across the lazy ones who love to kick the other lazy ones to get some work done.

Some liked to be directed. Some found their way out. Some took ages to get the work done. Some dedicated ones did the work right away. Some didn’t work.

Like every organization there were a few who were victims of favouritism and partiality.

Then, I came across the ones who love to teach, and more often, across the ones who love to preach.

I bumped into the drama queens off n’ on, and the ones who lie through their teeth, and also the “I think it should be like this...” kinds.

The funny ones were those who, so obviously lacked wit, had nothing but abuses in their defense, no matter what the argument. Favourite one” This is Bullshit!” (Glad you can distinguish between horseshit and bullshit.)

I say:” Shove the bullshit up your ass Sweety that should ensure you shut up and behave!”

A handful of people wasted their time telling me how they’d love to help me out with the stuff and all the new things they’ve been thinking of implementing. My reaction:” Stop talking!”As expected, they didn’t lift a finger.

The most annoying was the lot which was scared to experiment, try something new and unusual. They inevitably chose to tread the beaten track and ruined the excitement, for me at least.

You know what the worst part about being on a post like this is? It is when a ‘good for nothing’ tells you that your opinion doesn’t matter.

I say:” I didn’t slog my ass off for some God forsaken entity, who surprisingly has the audacity, to tell me that my opinion doesn’t matter!”


Ex Council Members


When I say lack of experimentation this is what I mean-
Ex: We did it like this and this is how it is supposed to be done.
Current: This is how they did it so we should do it like this.

Worst part, Ex coming and telling you “I’ve been there, done that, and this is not how it is done.”

I say:” You did it your way. Now I do it mine.”

Guys, suggestions are always accepted and considered. Please, keep the sermons to yourselves.

Very few Exs knew what they were talking and could really direct us. Sincere thanks to them for their guidance.


BE (Final Year Students)


Just a handful of irrational, moody, interfering and selfish BEs is more than sufficient to agitate the remaining BEs and give you a tough time. Inspite of being in the last year myself, I conclude that we BEs have the least regard for time, consideration for our juniors and least amount of respect for the ones who strive hard to put an act together.

With their ‘Chalega’ attitude, their ‘adult arrogance’ and their egos riding high on seniority- “How dare you talk to your seniors like that?” Typical! Poor juniors!

Then I discovered a few extremely talented BEs who didn’t mind sharing some wisdom with their juniors. They also went ahead and trained them. We also had a few surprise packages and splendid performances.

It is weird, this junior-senior drama. Our BEs made sure that their performances were BE dominated but at the end of the day, our talented pass-outs seem to have got caught in the rut of ‘Self Promotion’.

I failed at this point. I tried to create opportunity for the students of the college to whom the show belongs, but the Alumni - ones who have been there, done that, managed to trickle in (no prizes for guessing how) depriving the fresh talent.


Audience


One word- ROCKED!!


Lesson


The one lesson I learnt from all of this-I learnt to TRUST.I talked about those unreliable personalities, remember? Well if you are in a fix and have assigned them a job,

TRUST them – they’ll leave it undone!


Overused word: Bullshit
Underused word: Thanks
Never used: Sorry

To hell with everything that went wrong.

Million thanks to everything that went right.


Thank you

This goes out to-The people who were at the right place at the right time doing the right thing.

The ones who did not have the guts to speak up when circumstances were being unfair yet stood by my side in silent support. Believe me that helped!

This one goes out to everybody who tried to ruin it for us-
F***K YOU!!!

CHARACTERLESS?

She wants to be used. She asks for it. We use her. We throw her. It doesn’t make a difference to her. She is characterless. Now if somebody, so readily, displays their desire to be used; why would we hesitate? She likes it and we don’t mind it. There is no guilt involved ‘cause we are giving the woman what she wants. We don’t treat good girls from good families like this. We don’t talk about our female friends like this. We respect respectable women.

That’s a man talking.

Most women would agree with the men in this respect. She is a shameless woman, she deserves it. Alright, maybe she does, maybe she doesn’t; but that’s not the point.

The fact that a woman wants to be used, talks about her character. Whether or not you use her, talks about your character!

Like my father asked me once- “You see the door. You see the keyhole. Would you look through it or would you walk away?” It tells you how the magnitude of self control defines your character.

Well, another question that is asked often is- “If you saw a Rs.100 note on the road, would you pick it up?”
Some would pick it up- Why not?
Some would pick it up and leave it in a temple- Fair enough.
Some would just leave it there- Not mine!

When it comes to treating women, or people in general, most of us would use them.
Extremely rare but not an impossible scenario where some great fellow would go out of his way to lead her to the right path.
Leaving her there, letting her be what she wants to be and respecting her just like he respects other women in his life; now that’s a Man!

BONDING WITH FRIENDS

It’s interesting how friends bond over a gulp of water left in one friend’s gym bag, some chewing gum flicked from another friend’s left pocket, and some utterly useless conversations like- “Who was which animal in their past life.”

You laugh. You laugh so hard that your eyeballs pop out. Then follows a silence, just enough to fill your lungs with some air before you burst into another riot of laughter.
It’s amusing to know that everyone is as bored as you are on a particular day. That is enough reason to meet up. So, you shamelessly invite yourselves to your friend’s place. Each one grabs a corner, wriggles into their comfort zones while the host tries hard to make some place for himself.

You warm your seats for hours together, refusing to lift a finger, avoiding visits to the loo lest your seat be taken. Here, you spend time observing each other’s physical attributes and ‘vital stats’ is not one of them. So, you sit and count the number of pimples on one friend’s face, note the receding hairline of another friend. Right from who has more hair on their legs to who’s got a bigger paunch, from the smallest butt to the loudest fart, it has all been carefully observed and discussed in detail.

Birthdays play a very important role in friendship because here you bond over cakes. Delicious cakes!

Well, it’s about to hit 12:00 am in another ten minutes but you don’t care. The Jing-Bang turns up at the birthday boy’s place at 1:00 am without a cake, as usual. Since, he knows that it is foolish to expect cake and presents, he buys one himself. He opens the cake box then goes in to fetch a knife and candle. When he returns, the cherries are gone, the chocolate flakes have disappeared and someone’s already tasted the cream. He doesn’t bother. He just lights the candle. The lights are switched off. One friend blows the candle, the other cuts the cake while the birthday boy claps his hands and sings the birthday song. Yes, that evening he gives you a treat too.

The late nights that involve lighting candles in the church, celebrating every party like it’s new years, long drives, mid-night ice-creams, watching movies up to 3:00 am and later caring to play stupid board games. Thanks to Maggi noodles, quick and filling, for keeping you alive through these nights.

Cheers!

P.S: This one is dedicated to apna building ka public with a lot of love.