255pm
Hy Tess, How are you!
From diary in the Cadet College, to Instagram, to Website. How’s the journey been!
Oh you want me to answer that! Okay!
Well, college. Lol! College was fun. I learnt a lot; none of which was study related. I learnt not to care for authority if you have the “people’s” backing. Its wonderful how QUICKLY authorities, especially those that have nothing but a loud voice and a large cane as their argument’s support, crumble down to pieces. I learnt how being polite + good at teaching makes you a good teacher. We had maths sir, I don’t remember his name now and I am sorry I don’t remember his name. His son’s name was Furqan and his caste was Paracha. He was the most polite, humble yet disciplined guy I have ever ever seen in my life as a teacher. Really, out of all 10 years spent at 4/5 schools, then 1 year at PGC before going to that cadet college, I don’t recall any teacher I have so much respect for, till now, today, that I have for Furqan’s dad. And I guess Furqan was in … Red house? I guess yeah, their color was red. All houses were pretentiously named after some big muslim fighters and scholars etc, I don’t remember that Red house’s name though. Ours was Ghazali. And ours was the only one that had direct building to building connection with another house, so much so that our courtyard was right in the centre, shared, common space. Ghazali was 5th, i.e the last, when I went in 11th grade. When I graduated in 12th, it was the 1st house. Not to say that I had any part in it, I was just the assistant house commander, 2nd in Oratory in college so that gave some points to the house, and I don’t remember the result on that English Essay Writing competition. Seriously though, and this is correct, I was the most unpopular guy amongst my batch because 1, I was physically weak, 2, I did not allow anyone, even my batchmates or roommates, to keep mobiles or use mobiles in my room, and 3, I was weak, physically.
But sir was good. Then there was the English teacher, not from our house, the other one. I don’t recall his name too but … and he was a little tightly wound if you know what I mean so people feared him more than respected him, but I got to see his soft side. He told the cooks to give me bread and butter as much as I wanted, and jam, on Mondays and Thursdays because I would fast those days and so won’t do breakfasts and lunches at regular time. So that was good of him, he was the food manager for all the houses. Then one time towards the end, I did not have a tie, and I had to go to some occasion, and there were some other people too who had to buy stuff for the same occasion and he took us all out of the jail to the nearby market. I had less money so I ended up not buying anything and instead wore Kurta Qameez on that occasion when I really actually wanted to be a babu, wear 3 piece. I did have an amazing shirt and pant. And AB, the only friend I had in college, lent me his coat. I guess AB is a pilot now, the last we spoke was 4 years ago and at that time, he was in Rawalpindi learning flying. His mom was/is an army general or something, and dad is a poet/writer, wrote some stuff for dramas etc. AB was a good guy. When the other college guys got really furious at me for the mobile thing, he was the muscle usually, for me. And in turn I would do little chores for him like teach him the test etc. Worse time of life, that college, but made good with sprinkles of kindness and friendship from AB and the teachers. Then there were M & M. M was the estupid one tbh, the loudspoken, outgoing, daredevil. M on the otherhand, his twin brother, was the brains but also muscle. But mostly brain. They were good roomies. They told me about NUST where I eventually ended up after college.
Unlike college, I actually enjoyed NUST although the administration really sucked. Good teachers left. But to this day I go back because … its relaxing. They have taken over this 2x2kms of space, made it a good area, and given me an Alumni card, so why not take advantage of it. And in this harsh cold winter, yesterday when I went and their whole library was heated. If I was not bound by the job time, I would wake up at 8am, be in library at 9am and just work their till 9pm, with a lunch and ciggs break. Here in home, go do groceries, go do photocopy for kids, make food at times, do this do that, too many distractions and then, you are supposed to make a smiley face. In NUST, I usually listen to NFAK most of the time.
So yeah, that’s … college and University, summed up. What was I talking about?
Oh yeah, the journey, sorry! … It’s been good yknow. Live and learn baby!
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