Souls that Matter the Most.. Part II.. A Born Leader !!

The storm was at peak of its prowess.  I had to somehow weather it.  My first board results had spoiled it all. All my future plans had gone for a toss. 2^nd half of 2002 was certainly not going as per planned. My life anyways never followed my plans.

The scene of we all creating a ruckus one evening before the result, in anticipation of a good result, is still as fresh as a daisy in my mind. The final outcome was a mix. The result amongst 4 of us was exactly in the reverse order compared to what we had thought of. Vivek, whose handwriting would have given any doctor a complex scored the highest followed by Rachit and Himalaya who was considered to be the most serious amongst us, was giving me a good company in what we termed  as 2^nd division grades. The scene of so called growing up tough boys breaking down at the sight of one result made me realise what expectations can do to you.

 I had pre-decided to change my school after my 10^th standard as it didn’t offered Commerce stream. But that was supposed to be a decision and not a verdict imposed by external factors. This result had certainly promoted my decision to opt for commerce stream for my future studies, but this promotion came at a cost. I realised there are bigger pains than your love interest going out of your sight. Few days went by in understanding how the world around us has changed in blink of an eye. It seemed the world looked at us with perception of an offender or a criminal. But I was not the one who would sit hand in hand waiting for things to happen. I always believed in making things happen.

One fine day Me and Himalaya went around the schools in our area exploring the various options available. There we saw that we were not the only ones who were going through the phase. That certainly calmed down our nerves a bit.

*Love and Pain, both when shared, have the same effect on you –You feel good than before*

But as 15 years old, probability of school management taking us seriously was very less. And this was confirmed when Father of one of the schools asked us in a very inquisitive manner – “You have come alone, where are your parents?”

I had thought of making some substantial progress and then informing my parents, but I was left with no choice. I had to pass the buck back to my parents. After a prolonged discussion I convinced them on my decision of opting for Commerce stream. This seemed a more wisely act and in a matter of few days I got admission in one of the top schools of the city, a school whose tales I was quite aware of as one of my cousins studied there and was amongst the most notorious properties there.

I belonged to one of the biggest schools of the city, so that was the image which I carried of a school. Big corridors, huge ground, sufficiently big classrooms were something which were obvious to be there. I had never heard of the branch in which I got admission. I still remember my first day; Dad went to drop me and even after reaching the entrance I was like, where is the Damm School I can’t see it. Then Dad showed me a lame entrance and I was made aware that this was my new school. My whole world came crashing down. This was not what I had desired for. I will never forget the first scene I saw in the school. As I entered I saw few kids playing basket ball in front of the principal office, and instantly my mind popped up two questions – Firstly is this the place where they play basketball and Secondly where is the god damm second net of the court – I could only see on net in a corner.

As I observed for couple of more minutes my every question met with an answer. Both teams shared the net, so obviously there was no second net and this was the very place where they play basketball. I had grown up tumbling around in a lush green field; this was something very hard to digest by. But I didn’t know the worst was still to come. As I was figuring out my classroom, one school helper directed me to one corner of the school. Now again my sight couldn’t figure out a classroom. I went back to that helper and asked for directions again, and he showed me the same way. As I reached the corner of that tiny corridor I saw a door which was partly closed and it was so small that anyone would never see it as a classroom entry.  

My first day had hardly begun and already there was so much happening.  I knocked on the door and swiftly entered the door. The population inside the class was hardly 20 including the teacher itself. There were no signs of direct sunlight and natural air coming in. No doubt it was a make shift class room. As I was meeting each and every eye in the classroom, I saw a familiar face. I thought to myself, I know this boy. Yeah I certainly did. He had left our school 5 years back to move on to a different one and at this moment we had again landed on a same platform.  And anyways it’s always nice to have recognizable entities in an alien planet. I straight away went to him, ‘Vishnu, right?’ – I said, he nodded in affirmation and we had a sort of re-introduction or rather we made up for these lost years.

In the conversations that followed later in the day, I was made aware that the class room was actually a store room and that was clearly described by its structure. In the next few days we were first shifted to a chemistry lab and then finally to a proper class room, which thankfully had sunlight and fresh air in some proportions.

After me our class didn’t witness any new face until one morning, when the class had just started, we heard a heavy but a very low voice. A tall, dark, brawny boy was standing at the door and was asking permission to enter the class. After he got seated, teacher asked him to introduce himself to the class. For some reason he was all smiles. His volume was so low that I guess only he could hear his voice.  I teasingly commented from behind, “Volume.... Volume!!”. His smile didn’t appear to leave him. Somehow he managed some volume in his introduction and completed his part. ‘Rahul’.... ‘My name is Rahul’, he said in the lowest of volume possible. For a person with his stature and being so soft spoken and shy at the same time was certainly something which made me amused.

In next few days that tall brawny boy won over many people in the class, including me as well. I was always appreciative of the people who could easily make friends. I don’t remember the exact hour, but as far as I can search down my memory lanes, I remember it was a Wednesday and we had an extra class after the normal school hours. Due to these extra classes and our extended school hours I hadn’t seen my girlfriend for 2 months. As the last class was going on and I was lost in my own fairy land, Rahul figured it out that all was not well.

He had this habit of intruding in your own land, you like it or not, and taking out each and every detail out of you – He still has it...

When he started inquiring I couldn’t put him off for too long. “Ok, let’s leave the school after this class and we will meet her” – Out came his verdict. “And the extra class” – I was very sceptical about bunking the extra class. “That we will see tomorrow” – he said that with the most devilish smile one can have. Though I hardly followed anyone else pronouncement but in this case, somehow, I couldn’t differ on any grounds as this was what I also wanted to do. Though that day I couldn’t meet my girl but I never knew that it will be a start to another chapter in my life.

The group of 8 that we eventually formed up had one thing in common – we were all rebellions in some or the other way. Unnecessary rules & regulations was something which constantly bugged us and therefore we relentlessly broke them.

One evening when I proposed the idea of bunking the school to Rahul he latched on to it like a hungry cat jumps on to milk. Next day we parked our bike somewhere on outskirts of the city and had all sort of discussions ranging from cricket, girls to what we wanted to achieve in our lives. Life, for me, was never meant to be dealt with so seriousness. Leave apart next year I didn’t know what I wanted to do the next hour. But during that conversation I realized one thing, this guy was different – his dreams were big.

I was never a born leader but nor I followed anyone blindly. I had always preferred to make my own rules. To convince me for something one had to touch my thinking nerves. More often than not Rahul managed that.

 While batting first in a cricket match we were bundled out for a very paltry score. The heads had already fallen and the other team having a walk in the park was quite anticipated. Rahul went up to the captain and said – “Let me captain the side and I will win the match for you”. And with the confidence he said it was more meant to be an announcement rather than seeking an approval. Needless to say, we won the match. And it also certified my first impression of this lad – He was a born leader...

When I topped in Mathematics in the first terms exams, he was equally happy as I was.  Gossip man as he was, he narrated to everyone how I had toppled the claimed superlatives of the school. Though he not far behind either, he always claimed that I was the best in the business. Though I never said anything in this context, but always wanted to accept it that I was the second best.

Rahul – Dude, you were the best – Scores were a false indicator of the reality...

He never demanded attention, but because he was always there – always at you – you could never ignore him. After our school ended, his family business required more attention. We waited for hours at his office to have a brief chat but to no avail. The commitment with which he drove his work was something to be admired of. All I thought of while watching him work like this – how can one work so hard at this time. This was supposed to be our fun years. But every Sunday, I mean every Sunday, we three – Rahul, Himalaya and Me – had a drinking session in one corner of the city. Rahul followed this like a religion. Come what may it had to happen.

You can’t drive him away with excuses – never. If anyone knows how to please make me learn.

It was not that I was the only admirer of his superior capacities. Even In our homes Rahul was was often used as a metaphor to define responsibility. Everyone in our group somehow was always in agreement of his plans, his opinions. Though he never let his thoughts hide behind his face, but when he was drunk there was a totally different Rahul altogether. He would enter this preaching mode like with his followers all around and would begin his never ending speech about understanding life.

Rahul – your “CHILD DIAPER RATES” dialogue will go down in history as the most epic dialogue, Ever...

This piece of writing will not be complete without the mention of numerous instances we were left in the lurch by Rahul. I am sure everyone in the group had to face this quite a number of times in all these years. Ya I agree it was not always intentional, but somehow the frequency was very high at one point of time. Be it the first movie that we planned together or be it the Vaishno Devi trip, all we could manage was to shell out few abuses, either over the phone or telephonically, and all we got in return was a devilish smile showcasing all the 32 teeth of wisdom. Now when I look back at all those instances all I can do is smile and share a laugh. And I am sure all of us have the same opinion on that.

RAHUL - Over the last few years we have gone busy with our lives more than before. At times I have not been able to touch base for days. But somehow, like you have been doing for all these years, you have always managed to call at the most erroneous time possible – You know what I mean J.  The place is too less to describe what we have shared and executed in all these years. “Our Bike stunts in front of the school”, “Beating the shit out of that local goon”, “Sardar – CCD case” , “Terrified Pawan Sir”, “Our night tele-conferencing calls”, “ Duplicate Vodafone executive”, “Shariq sir case”, “Genesis club party case”, “Gaurav Balloons case” is some of the deeds I can remember of – we have at times switched our planner – executioner role  but mostly it’s been you coming up with these cranky ideas. I have always loved to play the second fiddle. We had our share of differences in all these years, but then that’s part of a thriving bond, isn’t it? The belief you have in my abilities sometimes terrifies me. I have always been of view that you belong to a totally different league altogether. Your aggressiveness in your professional life is something which I have always admired. You have always been my ‘Go-In-Crisis” man. We have our own sets of rights and wrongs and we never alter with that. Life has moved on at a more brisk pace for you than for any one else in our group. But still you have always put in your best to make sure all of us sail along in the same boat. I guess the thread that binds all of us together – You, Himalaya, Anand, Abhinav, Arpit, Me,- has gone through our soles and one knot is tied at your end.

A Born leader, as you are, you will always remain among the souls who matter the most to me...