Wats up.....!
Hmm....! seems only yesterday that I would wake up only to rush to the college, catching my breath 'Hey! Do we have any presentations today. Our group's turn. Why didnt you tell me, so raha tha kya'. As a matter of fact we all were (sleeping over it.) In a space of minutes we would all gather around. 'Okay guys! Has anyone read the case. Never mind! Here is what its all about.......'Bunking the preceednig lecture, wacking our brains & scrambling for ideas, don't know how but somehow we manage. While others are making their presentation, we are busy pressing the keys of the laptop, puting our thoughts meaningfully into a PPT.
Suddenly the big bang! ' group number 5 on the dias please. '
'Okay I am introducing the group. Thats all I know!!!!!
Big question???????? kaun banega bakra, akka presentation kaun dega.
Tu nahi tu ja na, mai nah. Shanky u do it.'
Big deal man I can do it.
INSIDE: Jittery me, khados professor looking at me & smiling like a butcher does before chopping off the lamb's head. Chill man, just a presentation, might be a few ackward questions, slight niggles, some lambastings but hey they all teach you their bit. You can & you will do it.
As I take my postion on the dias. Look around, my group members; some relieved that they don't have to face the music, others tensed; yeh kachda to nahi karega. I silently prepare myself not only to speak & discuss but also critically analyse & debate on a case study that I merely read about an hour ago. Embrace yourself guys, ready or not here it goes.
Opening statement is decent, all I got to do is elaborate it further. Shouldn't be a problem to take it on from here after all good start is half the battle won. With my nerves settled I feel it isn't as bad as people make it out to be.
Suddenly I get concious, what I say, it makes sense na? How to find out. Check with the audience. As I look around making my point or rather our point, find a myself up against a varied audience.
A group of girls in the corner quite discreetly chatting amongust themselves. Bunch of smart ass guys blabbing away pretending to know it all. Some chaps drooling; lost in their own sweet world. Enthusiasts in the fornt seats staring down my throat, eagerly waiting for an opportunity to pounce on. The groups in waitng keeping themselves busy with their laptops, others even fast asleep. Most importanly the chap in the last keeping a strict vigil on it all, the one with the pen & paper in his hand, the professor; his verdict matters the most.
As I immaculately bring out some facts; some real, some cooked up others well they just came out; a voice interupts my otherwise salient march. 'Shashank you say that...........' I look into straight into his eyes as if saying how dare you question me & then calmly but firmly reply, 'Yes I did'.
All group members come up to me, united by the sudden attack. The atmosphere in the room suddenly changes. Day dreamers wake up from their reverie, aab aayega maza. I make a gesture towards my mates, don't blame me. He woke the sleeping giant, am not gonna leave him.
Before you know the battle begins. Swords & daggers unleashed, no one willing to relent. Its a war out there. Seriously its not an overstatement, the whole thing gets blown out of proportion. The case is no longer relavent, (it never was) the discussion has lost its track. Its a war that has just been declared.
We haggle, we fight & enthrall ourselves in what can be termed as most meaningless debates of all. He tries to have a dig at me
Allrite you asked for it, I retort back
read it in my eyes 'dig on this u asshole' is the reply.......You dare question me, wait till my turn comes. You are up on stage next...
The sudden realisation Oops didnt think of that...We will settle it amiably.
Others members are quick to quirp in. Compromise, settle it now.
Okay now both parites are ready to relent.
In this utter confusion & chaos, the best part is, at the end of it all , everyone emerges a winner. The Prof. never found out for real how well we had braced ourselves for the occassion. He is all in smiles assuming he has forced us to wear our thinking caps. Unaware & unperturbed by the real drama backstage.
The guys in the middle of the action have their chests up with pride for having supposebly impressed their girls. Others relieved that the maddness is finally come to a hault, others bemused & wondering bandh kyu kar diya maza aa raha tha. Some girls even smiling at the prospective knights shielding their armours.
All said & done no hard feelings, its all a part of the game; the bigger game that is.
posted by Shashank Jain @ 9:40 AM
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