The day before my presentation was filled with a lot of commotion. Tragedy struck early that day I have no “vehicle pass sticker” attached to my scooty so, while I tried to enter the main building campus , the guard’s better connoisseur appealed to him, accumulated from years of experience dealing with shrewd NIT students( as they say!). He gave me a scornful look; trying to stop me he said “Where is your pass?” .To that I replied “pichwade me” and sped through the gate. I don’t know what he made from it but when I turned back momentarily. I could see people in hell breeding; through his eyes. Now there was our electrical lab test and my batch mates all desperate, trying to swallow whatever they were able to get at the last moment. We all scattered ourselves on the lawn under the shade to evade ourselves from the merciless heat, waiting for our turn. Meanwhile people lost their practical record, nerves, temper, common sense and even mobile phones! Our group went at the last. We settled ourselves serially, the examiner asked us some questions, and in response whatever remnants of hysteria he was having he started shouting. I thought he had gone mad .Aggregated to all the above I also had to write up for the assignment. I was so very much exhausted after such an exhilarating day.
The next morning when I woke up I got a felling out of the whole randomness “oh my god!” I have a presentation to give today. The slides were prepared a fortnight ago but I had no clue whatever I was assigned to say. However, I remembered I had a hand booklet that helped me a bit, as I reached the classroom I could not find my partner along with whom I was to give the presentation. We had least bit of communication between us. I was not even sure that we would be able to present our show. It all now depended on what the situation would be just before our turn. Well, finally after about half an hour wait my partner showed up. Though I was in full despair for any kind of procession, but the slides that we had made gave me some bit of courage. The scenario inside was just like a theater. With all the lights put off, only the weak radiance from the projector showed off, which was not able to disturb the least bit of us engrossed in all the negotiation, approval and appreciation like the two lovers in the back seats of a cinema hall! Next I recall standing in front of the whole class and noticed the dire need they showed for a good performance. I said about drugs and the facts related to them.
It doesn’t matter whether people appreciate it or not but at least I became more acquainted with the true face of drugs and how it is rotting our world just faking everything giving us a virtual world where we can accept ourselves only to crash down when this baseless virtual world vanishes. Finally the lab ended. I started to scan from among the options of many footwear, the one that resembled mine the most. The empty burden making my steps heavy. I could not help stop myself from thinking about how this world has succumbed and surrendered itself in the hand of drugs only to get that high and not make an effort to make your life a high. Well it might be complex how human mind works but at least one should stand out of the crowd, make an exemplary effort.
By
Sudhir Saha
