saturdays...

During the final year of my UG course, i looked forward to saturdays. Though i don't exactly know the reason why. Perhaps, we had few classes that day, and no labs(final year students have labs everyday, if not two each day).

As usual, wake up at 5:45 in the morning, meditate for a short span of time, read something till 7:15, run into and out of the bathroom, present myself for breakfast at 7:45, eat a small amount or lick the plate clean(if i'm in the mood), and walk to the bus-stop near Banappa Park. Time flew.

At college, classes passed very quickly(either they were interesting or i slept through the entire period). And we were free by 11 or 12. We usually cancelled the last class.

Then, came the fun part.

Our lunch boxes would be polished clean(i mean really clean). Saturdays at home would mean uppittu for breakfast. That's when i started eating it, without a grimace. Anyways my friends were there to finish the food(with pickle of course).

After our ritual of lunching, we would sit in the classroom and yap. Records, assignments would be brought out, and spread on our desks. Untill we were shooed by the maids who wanted to lock those classrooms. We've had some rifts with them.

Gruumbling in audible tones, we would march to the erstwhile BBC(basketball court). Again the same git-mit. A group of three girls, two of whom are highly reputed for talking non-stop.

Those times were lovely. Maybe, it was required, the lazy demeanour, that we carried. We discussed about everything under the sun, right from petty cribble against lecturers, to the pleasures of motherhood. That's when we realised the essence and flavours of friendship. Suddenly, to be somebody's friend was nice.

At times, we would walk along this particular road that runs from my college. To drink fruit juice, eat chaat. We, then strolled towards the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium. Seminars were held once a week, for which we had enrolled ourselves.

After the seminar, we often visited Chalukya. We hung around the cash counter, till we found seats for ourselves. Masale dose, idli, vada, sambar, tea, were the usual stuff that we ordered for. It would be anywhere between 5 to 7 in the evening. We departed with loud shouts across the junction, with stares coming our way.

I would reach home with a full stomach. Sometimes, we decided against Chalukya, due to lack of energy or resources.

On reaching home, and when i flopped on my bed, requesting mother to make a dish in the process. Mother always said this, 'I thought you would have finished eating at Chalukya. Thus, i have not prepared anything for you.'

As and when i reached midweek, i wished for saturdays. For all the good times we had. I enjoyed those advices that we gave out to each other, the support that we gathered from the others. These memories will last me for a long time to come.

What fun!!