We were in the second semester of engineering: SJCE, cool college, hot babes.... New FAST bikes, young blood, College crowd..... there was no way i could say no to a bike race in campus...
There we were, after finishing the graphics class, with a 20 min break and no work other than loafing around out fav hangout, the cycle stand (I guess most guys know why :)), where the idea of a unique race idea germinated in my friend's brain... and of course, he's a crazy riding maniac! aroung 10 of us classmates were standing and talking, and it was decided that the two of us, BULLET VS. CBZ, would complete one lap around the cycle stand..... in opposite directions, and that viewers would decide on the winner.... Off we went, vrooming, filling the usually silent campus with a lot of RACING noise..... the bullet is no silent machine! we completed the race, with the finishing line being our graphics drawing holders placed on the road! I won, although by a narrow margin, and proudly stopped my bike to discuss the race with my friends..... the bullet, being bulky, had gone off ahead and somehow brought in control..... and this is when WINNING took a bad turn.... there i was, basking in the glory of winning my FIRST race, when a prof who was witnessing this saga silently walked up to my bike, snatched the keys, and walked away!
The brat that i was, i just pushed the bike and parked it in the cycle stand, and without a care, got ready to attend the next class.... who knew more trouble was looming close by?!
We entered the Industrial Production building, where our class was supposed to happen.... and what do i see? the principal, tall, bulky, looking sleep deprived and disturbed, walking fast towards us, about five other profs by his side.... as is wont, I wished him a very polite "Nim Ayyun sir".... to which i got a curt nod! then, as i was about to climb the stairs, princy calls me:
"Hey, come here"
Me: Yes sir?
Princy: Are you in 2nd sem G section?
Me: yes
Princy: Do you know this guy named Ram?
Me: (In Shock) Yes Sir
Princy: Can you bring him to my office NOW?
Me: (the way princy said it, had i told him that it was me, he would have killed me there) Sure sir.... I shall bring him to your office in five minutes...
True to my word, 5 minutes later, i found myself in the office of the principal. He was not at his desk,... it seems some other situation required his presence.... a tough day, whereas normally he'd be dozing in his chamber!
this was the scene: 10 professors sitting as if attending a lecture; all looking very serious..... no return of greetings...... and, head held down, my friend, standing like a lamb in front of the princy's table.... to make matters worse (not better), his father was a math prof, hated his son for his antics, and was sitting in the forefront!
Enter Princy, and this is best written as a drama!
Princy: So where is Ram?
Me: I am Ram sir
Princy: What??? anyway, so you and this fellow here were the ones racing is it?
Prof #1 (Workshop lab as*h*le: interjecting): They were not only racing sir, these idiots were trying to jump their bikes over the sheet holders placed on the road! arrogant fellows.....
Me (Damage control): Yes Sir, and we are very sorry sir, this will not repeat again sir..... and we did not try any jumping sir, it was a simple race.......
Math Prof (Friend'd dad: interrupting): SIMPLE??? you two could have died! you buggers.... Principal sir, i know my son is useless.... and he's spoiling other students also,..... expel them both sir, they deserve it!
Me (More damage control): Sir, please sir, your son is not at fault, the race was my idea.... not his... and (to the princy) please don't expel us sir!
Prof who snatched my keys: Principal sir, i don't think the situation is serious enough to expel them.... they seem like decent boys.....
Prof #1: (Angrily): Decent? that fellow ram is and arrogant brat..... bloody fellow has no decency regarding elders and professors..... he did not even submit his workshop record on time...... useless student, must have payed his way in, and thinks he owns the college!
My friend (Damage control!): Principal sir, I know ram since my high school days, and he was a rank student through out.... he is a good and hard working student and has always shown respect to profs..... please don;t be misled by one professor's view point..... and please don't expel us sir...
Princy (completely frustrated): To hell with all this.... (to key snatching prof): how come you have gone soft? you were the one to recommend expulsion first.... (to my friend): yeah, you're his friend.... what else will you say about him but good? I will surely expel you both.... (to all the profs) now it is up to you people.... you decide and we will do that only
Math Prof: I too know ram and he is a good student; I think we should give them a chance to defend themselves......
All profs were in agreement..... and this is where the fun started!
Me: Principal sir, we will never repeat this again, please forgive us and do not expel us.
Princy: You will do it again only if you are here ! (laughs): how will you make sure you or ANY OTHER student will not repeat it?
Me: Sir, by putting up sign boards, road humps, and by educating students about the ill-effects of racing (we had had a serious accident just the prev. week with one person killed and another in a coma which continued for 3 months....)
Princy: and HOW do you plan to come up with the money for the tar??!!! (laughs again)
Me: Sir, my house is 6 Km away from college. I totally travel around 30 Km daily. Now on, instead of bike, i will travel by bus, and save the money i spend on petrol, which is roughly around 200 rupees per week.... and i shall also keep aside 500 rupees from my pocket money of 1500 to aid the same..... and, i shall also collect money from fellow students via an awareness drive.....
My Friend (Catching on): Sir, I too shall do the same... I will join hands with ram and do all that he said we'd do!
Princy (Amused and confused): You people seem to have very good minds.... i don't understand how you can do such stupid things as racing.... Okay, I shall not expel you..... But ram., you need to bring your father to college.... i shall talk to him personally about you.....
Now, My parents had NEVER been called to school or college because of my misbehavior.... and could not dream of allowing it... that, according to me, was somehow more shameful than expulsion! so, i started my second bargain round...
Me: Sir, my father is a business man.... and unlike in a paid job, where he can take leave, here he can't afford to leave the company and come to college. Please be considerate sir.
Princy (Frustrated and tired): Alright alright! give me his phone number... i will talk to him now itself..... now get out and don't ever show me your face for such things again!
What a relief! from expulsion to just a talk-to on the phone.... man! this merited a treat.... so me and my friend treated our classmates to some chaat and cool drinks at the canteen!
Of course, the princy talked to my dad, and advised him to sell by bike and get me a moped!
Dad did one better though... he told me, full of sarcasm "Its okay if you kill others son, but don't kill yourself" and bought me a brand new Maruti 800!!!!!!!
So, thanks to that mindless, stupid and useless race, I became famous in college, almost got expelled, and also ended up with a brand new car!
