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The (un)forgettable misdirection given by me inadvertently (which still haunts me), happened a year back exactly. Hope the victim is not cursing me still...
During one of my wandering trips at that time, I was on my way to Nerul -- by train from CST. This was after my two days stay near 'nerul' (one of the main train stations) in the heart of navi mumbai. When I came to board the train in CST, a lady ( looked like a malayali from outside mumbai in her 20s) approached me particularly and asked me in her broken hindi if I am going to 'nerul'?
I said 'Yes' for three reasons.
(A) the impact of my 'Nerul' stay
(B) the Panvel Local, which I was about to take then - to reach the Navi Mumbai.
(C) the way it was pronounced by her.
she was glad that I was guiding her properly and just got herself tagged to me without asking more questions. There were no crowd. After clearing my check-in luggage, I went to the station counter and bought the ticket for the navi mumbai.. She too took it, eventhough she asked me 'why?'. I explained her that to reach the city we need to take a ticket (a funny reply!!). I thought she was too naive by asking these type of questions.
This panvel local, normally takes 70 minutes to reach Navi mumbai.After getting down at Nerul she asked me where can she get a train to board pune. I didn't get it initially. Again she asked, the platform where she can get a train to board pune as she had heard that there are trains running between kalyan and pune. Then she showed me in writing that she had to go to 'Neral' (near karjat) which sounded like 'Nerul'(near Panvel).
I was shocked completely and slowly realised the effect of my understanding her broken Hindi. I told her that I was not going to Neral (Near Karjat) - but am going to the NERUL. It was her turn to get shocked then and was about to cry immediately. She realised that she cannot get back to the PUNE even if she returns back from the NERUL to the NERAL (timing was so close, then).
She was so tensed and started checking with some neighbours . (she should have done this earlier itself. So, unfortunate!!) She couldn't do anything more than that.. She started asking the other person about the solution and never even turned to me. After reaching the Nerul Station, she started her efforts to return to the Neral. she must have cursed me a lot then.
Later I realised, the reasons for her approaching me. Couple of times, I have been approached by people asking whether I am a southindian - due to my complexion, my way of speaking & hair. So, this lady might have thought that I was from the keralic states going to the destination where she wanted to go.
Sometimes, I don't get these malayali accents easily and that time it was so miserable..(Neral Vs 'Nerul' ). I Believe, that girl would have reached her destination (pune) in the next day after reaching Neral. Prayed to the God at that time, on behalf of her..... for my deed.
Got a mail from my SIWS junior college mate today..He is studying in Jaihind college now and as usual was grumbling about degree college disciplines. i feel certain degree colleges imply too much discipline on students nowadys .It was not that bad during our junior college days in SIWS. Being a college of more than 25 years old at that time itself, most of the buildings were old but well maintained.
I was a day-scholar in the first year(Fyjc) It was the only hall in the campus. It used to be rectangle in shape with balconies on both sides of the rooms.. one balcony facing inside empty ground and another balcony facing the outside campus i mean road.. (the reason for this explanation is coming....)
Being a loose college not adhering to disciplines, the college rules were also like that. Need not be present all the time. But one biggest REGRET was the INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY lectures . Our IT madam used to be so punctual and so strict that even in holidays she used to take extra lectures.(!!). College peons and Labratory incharges may come for round-ups. Then for an half an hour, a break would be given.. We can sign the book at the hall entrance and go out of the campus -- to taste some of the delicacies, which are famous in Mumbai (Ragda pattice,Bhajiya, etc.,).
Eventhough, I used to SIT for IT lectures initially and thoroughly, I enjoyed crossing the limits couple of times. I used to go out for roaming with friends and bunked the lectures. Since the hall gates would be closed by once IT lectures started, we had to jump into the hall somehow, thru the outside balconies.
One of the efficient guys (!!) would climb up first and then drop an indications/indicators for me to climb up... I had bruised my hands/legs couple of times during these adventures (!!!). I was never caught during these episodes....eventhough, few collegemates had the experience of going upto the Disciplinary committee on this account.
The Climax was a memorable one..
During the final semester exams, we visited our friend's nearby house for group studies. Sometimes we used to stay in his house, sometimes returned back to college in time for IT lectures. His mom used to make nice pav bhaji's. Don's ask me, how much I gobbled during my visits!! Just on the penultimate day of my FYJC college life...I returned to the college to attend the all important IT lectures at about 1.00 pm with another friend. While I was approaching the hall, we were noticed by our labratory incharges... Immediately we skipped the idea of getting into the hall, and went over to another hall located somewhere backside the campus. (there also we jumped over the wall..that's where my friend was put up).
Next day morning, I was called for... and the Disciplinary commitee. gave a good lecture. The good impression which they had on me earlier, saved me from disciplinary action....that final day.
Otherwise, it would hv been another memorable tale in my not-so-adventurous life....
Pl. enjoy my other posts as well.
