तुमचा ससा !

It was T.Y.B.Tech Mechanical Engineering that I was studying in. Unlike now, I was fast, quick, intelligent, superb at everything I did. That I didn't want to participate in Annual Social Gathering (ASG), and preferred going home that year, I was about to leave the university on a weekend. But, somewhere, my friends had planned something else for me. My classmates, went to one of my professors, who was then in-charge of the Musical Events committee (ASC 2012), and told him that I could sing well. Friends always have this wonderful skill of screwing up your plans when you've planned something without them. So, there I stood, in front of my would-be-B.Tech-Project-Guide in a hall where auditions were being taken. But I didn't want to sing was what I said. So, my professor requested me to assist him for some time, till he could form a student committee, after which I would be free. To this, I had to agree. So,  there I began, working out some small silly things!!Somehow, within two days, I got so attached to all the people, that I thought of staying. So, I asked whether I would have to apply for becoming an official coordinator of the event. In reply, I still remember, my professor handed over me a bunch of applications for the posts of coordinators.

Including Pratik Kulkarni, the chief coordinator of the event, we were supposed to choose a team of 6. With dozens of applications, I felt a bit tensed. But, when we invited all the applicants, only 3 came to meet on the notified time. I still remember, I went to my prof and asked what to do, in reply, he said, the fact that 3 students came itself proves that they are interested. I was happy with this point of view. Also, it secured my position in the team without competition. But, there was still one vacancy. So, I asked the friend who got me into all this to accompany, and she did. Thus was formed the revolutionary team of 6 coordinators- Pratik Kulkarni, Sangita Ubale, Richa Patil, Kirti Bhamare, Supriya Pawar & myself!

Revolutionary I said. Its because, this time, there wasn't any professional band to play instruments during the singing event. Each instrument player had to be a student. And, trust me, all artists have this small little problem- they need lots and lots of pleasing, reminding....... Our team was established, we had 2 keyboard players, Vivek Patil and Lalit Khedkar , an octapad player, Sahil Relekar, a tabla player, Nikhil Awasarikar, side-instruments player, Akshay Bhide and guitarists Rohan Kamble and Utkarsh Sorte, dholki players Sumit Sarvade and Satish Manvatkar. My god, we had so many singers.....to name a few, Nihar Thale, Abhijit Mahadik, Abhijit Kadam, Anees Kazi, Dipali Biradar, Shreya Chavan, Harshal Shinkar, Pranay Jadhav, Jayesh Desai, Pradyna Abhange, Sonam Kumari, Nitin Sasane, Kaushik Muley, Kalyani Surse, Ravi Pawar, Pratik Gujar, Chaitali Ahirrao, ...........I'm sorry forgetting names or not mentioning some special people!!!
We met regularly, to organize the event. Worked hard, together, shared our feelings. I was greatly attached to everyone. That I have a problem remembering names, I called & I still call most of these by the song they sung!! The most satisfying thing I did in my life was this event. Nothing after that, or before that gave me the satisfaction and happiness which all of my teammates gave!!!
Time passed, ASC got over, but the place we met everyday, the NSS room, had made a great space in our hearts. The day following ASC, I remember, we all gathered in NSS room, it was an odd feeling. I knew, everything had got over. But it was difficult to let go everyone. We kept meeting, until a day arrived when we had to return the NSS room to the Prof. in-charge of NSS. Smiling, I remember, we thanked the Prof. with our heart for giving a place to gather, work, succeed. We thanked our Musical Events in-charge Prof. too.
We kept meeting since then. In lunch hours, I tried my best to see everyone at least for a minute, and made sure that they were fine.
Officially, everything got over, but the place we made for each other in our hearts, still exists. We still call, meet, although not frequently, but we surely miss those days spent together. Probably Kirti and Supriya, for I looked cute, innocent and  गोंडस , suggested my Prof. to give me the name  ससा. My Prof., by further justifying by quoting qualities like fast, sleek, intelligent, finally approved the title, and I became ससा .
That I am quite sentimental, and miss people, I just want to let you know, that I miss you all....Life sounds incomplete without meeting you, without those PJs, without those canteen meetings....I hope, somewhere, in your hearts, you still remember me, for all the time we spent......Wish you luck!