THE WAITING ROOM CHRONICLES

My head was splitting into two halves. I couldn’t take the pain. Maybe I should have had something.  An empty stomach was only adding up to state of misery. I sat all alone in a corner. The fans were not working and the room was pretty crowded. There were small groups spread across the room. I left my seat and took another empty lonely chair near the broken window.

I read the sign board again. WAITING ROOM it said. 

A cold breeze that was blowing through the broken window was the only good that had happened in the last past few hours. Suddenly to my left a group of boys, mostly from the northern parts of the country started to sing.

“Dulhe ka seharaa suhana lagta hain.. Dulhan ka toh dil deewana lagta hain”

While one fellow was trying his best to imitate khaddar khan from the song, the other few were under the spell of zakhir hussain and beating the table with their bare hands. A few girls looked at them and giggled. As soon as they saw that, the team jumped to more new and peppy tracks.

“Teri teerachi najar ne, dil ko kar diyaaaa paaeeenchaarrrrr…”

I felt that my brains would literally blast out and splutter all across the room. I tried looking out of the window at the road that connected the college.

“Owwwwww.. paanchaar..panchaar.. teri.. paaanchaar..paanchaar.. owwww paaanchaar.. paanchaar… teri..owwwwwwww”

The song and the singers had turned into a vicious monster torturing its kill before it eats it.

“Ankit..!!!” somebody screamed… “ANKITTTTTTTTTTTT” everybody screamed. The khaddar khan from the choir team got up. “Coming sir.” Packed his stuff and left. Everything went silent for a minute, and slowly the chatter began to continue. The choir team dint seem to mourn for their loss but immediately started a new track.

"Sandese aaaaatteee hain. humeeeee tadappaaaaa te hain..!!!"

Now to those who don’t have a clue what was happening, welcome to the waiting room. And what in the name of god was I doing there??? waiting for my turn to attend the HR round for Infosys.

*********************FLASHBACK**************

1989, 3^rd December.

I was 2 years old. My parents were.. wait a minute.. that too old. I dint mean to go that back in time. Sorry.

Well, flashback to yesterday night.

**********************

*phone rings.. sweet dreams by marlyin manson*

Me : yo.. ssup ??

Voice : daa.. did you hear the news ??

Me : nopes. Enlighten me.

Voice : its pool campus tomorrow at college.

Me : anddddd…???

Voice : GSSS is attending. Bwahahahahahhahahaaha

*GSSS is an exclusive girls engineering college. Strictly no male beyond the college gates. Urban legend/Rumor has it that the gates conceals some mind blowing babes behind it*

Me: WHATTTTTTTTTTTTT???? Buwahahahahahahahahhaha.. I joined.

Voice : so, whats the program ??

Me: serious bird watching. See you tomorrow. 9 at College CCD.

Voice : cool…!! Will summon the rest of the gang too.

Me :copy that. Over and out.

*********************

*Today morning*

I was waiting in the college CCD all alone. Not a single Di*k from my class had come yet. The urban legends were true. There were good chicks, there were better and then THERE WERE SOME BOMB CHICKS *whistles as I write* I was making a quick mental notes of the incoming flock and based on the groups they were forming classifying them into which college they would belong to.

Suddenly all of them were moving into the seminar hall. No signs of any of class boys. I had to either wait for them or follow the birds. I decided to do the latter. I quietly tip toed throwing frequent glances now and then at few good ones, separating the ugly ones and the okay types. Everybody took their seat. So did I. A man in suit came on to the stage and started talking which I hardly was paying attention. For obvious reasons he wasn’t half interesting as the girls around. I dropped some quick message telling them my current location but none had responded yet. I carefully looked around.

The nerdy ones were jotting to whatever he said. Few were busy chatting and texting. I was in midst of all these when a guy asked me “excuse me but aren’t you from Mtech?” “Yup” I replied. “They are asking for you” he said. 

What??” I was shocked…!!! How did they know that I was there? I was cornered and was asked to stand up. I blew up my cover. The man in the suit asked me if I was from Mtech and I nodded. He said if you get through you would be offered a different package. So best of luck.

There was a series of chuckle as I stood up. I knew the reason why. While he was explaining me my package, everybody was busy reading the quote on my back that said ENGINEER IMPOSSIBLE..!!! Apparently everybody finds that funny. I dont. That says the plight of every engineering student.

I received a message from a fellow comrade, will reach in an hour. Now having an hour to kill, I casually walked into the aptitude room where they were allotting seats. Sat down in midst of two pretty looking girls and hoped they would ask me for answers. (hehehehehehhe,*evil laught* sadly they dint. Grrrrrr..!!!) The paper was easy, I actually completed quite fast. Walked out to find the rest of the gang sitting in the CCD.

We were in midst of fully faltu(nonsense) talks, when our class CR came and said, “George, your name starts with George ??” “Ya, who told you that ?” I asked. George was my sir name and I never say that out. He said, “Nobody, it’s on the notice board, apparently everybody now knows it.” He smiled wickedly. “Now get up and hurry, you have an interview to attend.”

I rushed back to my room, quickly changed into formals, took all my certificates and rushed back and was asked to sit in the WAITING ROOM till they call me.

**********************

FLASH FORWARD-Present.

I plugged in my earphones and was listening to Led zeppelin when a boy tapped on the shoulder. “George, Are you George ?” “Yup,” I said “Prithviraj actually, that’s my sir name but whatever, what can I do for you ?” “Nothing, but if you want you can attend your HR interview. They are calling for you. you are up next.” He smiled and left.

I picked up my stuffs, packed them inside my bag. Pulled out my certificates. And walked in to find a lady sitting, waiting to take my interview.

I gave my interview, came back and slept off with my head on the desk for I couldnt take any of those chattering, singing ( ya, that was still happening and Ankit apparently had joined back leading the team ) or my very own headache.

************************

That was the end of the Waiting room chronicles.

P.S : By the way, I made it. Got selected J

P.P.S : to those who say Bird watching is a waste of time, I have a story to tell J J

Now Playing : Life sahi hai.. tension Nahi hai.. from Pyaar ka panchnaama J