Broken Links – The Isolation

I still remember that last day of the college. The first time when no one was discussing question paper after the exam. All were busy scribbling the messages on each other’s shirt as they were going out to be the last messages of college life, of friendship that we all cherished for last 4 years. All of us went to our ways with the promises of calls, messages, re-uniting, partying and much more.

Slowly and gradually all the promises faded away in the long and speedy run of life and never-ending ambitions. The friends, who promised to remain available at any time call, fell short of time to just give a reply on whatsapp, forget about answering the call. Facebook became the only mode of knowing who is getting engaged or married with whom.

Now no one knows which friend of theirs is working with which company and in which city. I feel that’s the cost every human being has to pay to be a part of speedy world where if one stays, one fails. Its not a fault or a sin committed by us. We are just abiding by the rules of nature, or better say the world. But in the crowd where many come as friends and many leave as strangers, there are still a handful of hands always ready to atleast ask how are you…Whats up.. How is life. There are still some hands who will poke you once in three months to see if you are really doing fine.

The unbreakable links of the past are now broken but still I carry some pieces of that chain with me. Earlier a life surrounded by wellwishers used to seem disturbed by isolation but now at the time, when isolation is the best buddy, an interference of a known face, showing up after a long time, seems to be a ‘what the fuck!!’ moment.

But as it is said Change is the rule of nature. Places in life never remain vacant. One leaves and the other occupies. But somewhere a memory deep buried inside the heart takes you back when the mobile used to beep with the message – “Send it to all of your friends whom you never want to lose……………………..………..”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPIKSO!!

After sharing a long saga of something out of my life, this time I have come out with something, else I would say with someone who is very special to me, who came as an angel in my life and I feel myself really lucky that I deserve to be called as her friend, I am lucky that I hold the privilege to know her, to talk to her, to share with her everything…my sorrows and my joys…………………………

She is an angel not only for me but for her every bestie and for her every family member. Whatsoever I know that reveals that she is the ‘jaan’ of her family… she only knows how to love and care. She is the best in whatever role she plays… May it be of a friend, a daughter, a sister, a grand-daughter, a niece, an aunt (can’t miss Kush and muskaan here) or any role.     

In the words of her Mom – “She is very naughty, chulbuli ladki. Har waqt pure ghar mein hangama machakar rakhti hai. Whenever she is at home, pure ghar mein har pal chahakti rehti hai. But when she goes back (where she is working) aisa lagta hai jaise pure ghar ki raunak hi chali gayi ho…. Juhi is very very innocent girl… she is so good at heart that finds it somewhat scary to adjust with shrewd people.”   

Well, I fully agree… She is like that only… always energetic, turbulent, vibrant, giggling and the list is never ending like this. 

When I asked her brother Ankit to state something about her, his words were as follows: I got a call some days back from Mansi Di and she asked me to write something about you.... It’s quite difficult to write about a person like my sister.... Juhi Gupta.... 

The most common name in my mind... Name I have in my mind since I was very very little.... I dont feel i can descibe her in 1 para or in one page or even in a book.... At this moment of time I can write hundreds of book about her.... But as I have to write a brief description so, all I can say is that she is the most amazing girl I have seen till this age.... She is real gem of the person... She is the one who can listen to all my nonsenses any time.... She is a way more emotional... 

Ya I have quite a lot of friends who are girls but of all them she is my best friend.... Bravest and most adventurous girl I have seen.... I remember the night when we went to Vaishno Devi... She was having more energy and spirit than any of us.... 

I have got millions of moments which we spent together and we both can’t forget..... When alone, I just smile sometimes remembering those moments.... 

Do you remember the time when I got gold medal in 800 meters???? Ya you remember that.... I can visualize a smile on your face.... I remember how you just picked me up after race and gave me glucose and all..... and after dat you also ran for 1500 meters.... I would say... Those were the best days of my life.....

I have learnt a lot from you di.... you r my real inspiration di... From the elephant race (in which u won 1st trophy for home) to till date... you are really the best... 

Just wanna say... :Happy Birthday To You..." May God Always remain with u....  Just Love u di....

You know what, sometimes i think maybe god played unfair in making u ma sister because i wanna marry a girl who is just like u from heart.... 

Just remain like that forever.... Miss u dis birthday....

                                                                                                                         

On the occasion of her birthday 27^th April 2011, I have tried to recall some memories from the starting, I have tried to give words to the strength of the bond we share and moreover, I have tried to define (it’s nearly impossible to define her in few words) my bestie, my spikso, my angel—   JUHI J

I don’t remember the day exactly but I remember those moments. Those were the starting days of our college... perhaps the very first month. Late admissions are always there at the end of the first month. Anyways, one morning before the class, all the students were busy with their gossips and other works when Tinni came bouncing and chirping “oye sun...sath wale section mein koi nayi ladki aayi hai.” Listening to this few of us sprinted towards the door as we were to get a glimpse of of of…mmmmm…. Shahid Kapoor (wooh…my sweetheart, my darling)

                     As I stepped out of the class...There I saw a girl... She was cute, really cute and beautiful too… And perhaps, this was the reason that boys were staring at her and girls were staring her coz most probably, they were preparing some material for their next gossip. Coming back to that girl, she was wearing a blue top...With a stylish cut on the sleeves and a pastel color trouser carrying a bag. She entered the classroom adjacent to our classroom. But few minutes later, I saw her coming to my classroom coz she was admitted in the IT section...And by mistake she entered the CS section. She stepped in and there was some hesitation, some shyness in her steps. And she took the seat behind me. Obviously, she was not feeling comfortable amidst all strangers. Suddenly, I heard some khusar-fusar among all the students…everyone was desperate for a quick, informal intro of the new face…. So taking the lead I got up from my seat went in front and said “Attention everyone…. Today there is a new face in our class. And I would request her to come here and introduce herself to all of us…. Come...Please.” Well, at that request (that had made her more uncomfortable) she came in front and introduced herself. Whatever she said, I don’t remember each and every word but what I remember was her name (a beautiful name) and her city from where she came.

The name of the girl was JUHI GUPTA. And she was from ankleshwar, Gujarat. That was the first day I came across her and I met her…. To be honest, days after that, better to say months after that she was just a classmate for me. Our rapport was of only friends…that too because we knew each other and we were studying together... Not more than that. Our rapport didn’t reach the ‘special level’ till we entered the fourth year of our B.Tech. Before that, for the whole period of three years what I can remember is this----- her nicknames given to her by us, how at the cultural fest she was looking like a ‘Bharat Mata’ coz the saaree she was wearing made her to look so..Not our fault, how she, with her group, used to disturb CO Sir by throwing some chits bits at him while he would teach, how she was the leader of the ragging team when the first lot of juniors came in our college and thus managed to get at the top in the ‘Wanted List’ of the management, how she once was working with a hammer in the workshop lab and instead of the wood she struck the hammer hard on her right thumb, her closeness with Monika Mam, red color on her college shirt, how she once gave a big chocolate to a boy of our class to take her old half filled cello gripper pen from him.

                               As we entered the fourth year of our B.Tech, I don’t know how but slowly and gradually, the level of our friendship started increasing. In a very short time, we were in each other’s ‘Besties List’. I tried hard to recall but don’t know what were those reasons or incidents that two ‘so called friends’ changed into ‘besties’.

And after that I remember each and every moment that was special for me, for her or for both of us…. I remember how beautiful she was looking at the farewell and that made her to grab the ‘Miss UIT’ title... Well, it was not her beauty only but her simplicity, her nature, her intelligence that made her a deserving candidate (I mentioned other characteristics otherwise she will kill me...LOL). Scooty rides with her and our exam’s time study—I can never ever forget that. During Scooty rides, we always managed to catch glimpse of cool dudes. And during exam’s time study that we used to do together... There used to be everything during that time except study. And I won’t miss our trip to Chandigarh with other frenz during the campus placement.  When I met her in the starting and for the initial years, I always used to think that for me, juhi will only be a college friend. Our friendship was not so strong that we would carry it further after college time too….. But just contrary to what I thought, today, she is my closest bestie with whom I share my each and every sorrow and joy….. For whom I thank God for sending her in my life.

The more I know her, the more I thought that God has made her in such a way that no one can ever hate her or dislike her. It would not be wrong to compare her with the purity of fresh dew on the morning green grass, with the sweet bright colors of a butterfly, with the turbulence of the river waves. Everyone who shares a relation with her treasures her presence in his/ her life. And really, her cuteness has increased with time. There is something unique in her nature that no one can avoid her… it’s like ‘meet her once, talk to her comfortably and the next day a name will increase in your list of the people whom you can never forget’. Well, I can never become like her but there are few things which we share in common…. A very strange thing that when we were in college we always used to have the same celebrity crush.. May it be Vijender Singh or Rahul Gandhi… We gals possessed crush over them at the same time… And we both are really crazy about chocolates. And it is a sweet memory to both of us when we shared Rum Raisins with each other and yaa, we both like reading novels.

And wait wait wait….how can I forget the most important thing—the names which we have given to each other. She calls me ‘piddy’ and I call her ‘spikso’. And to everyone’s amazement we have derived these names from pets’ name. That shows how much crazy we both are. ‘Crazy’ word holds a very big importance in Spikso’s dictionary coz coincidently a large number of crazy and strange things happen with her and she always makes them a sweet memory for herself by her cuteness. She possesses the power to wipe out the darkness and spread light in anyone’s life, a true epitome of love and care. She is delicate but strong, emotional but practical too. She doesn’t know how to hate or how to hurt... I am not boasting about her..But the fact is in the entire time since I know her I have never seen her hating someone nor I have seen her involved in backbiting type of things. But one thing is there in her.. again a unique thing… if a person hurts her, she will forgive that person and will forget everything but if the same person will hurt her near and dear ones, she never gives the second chance to forgive and forget…. When she loves and cares, she does so by all heart and soul but if anyone hurts her near and dear ones she hates that person by all heart and soul.

                        The smile, cuteness, freshness on her face and the sweetness in her voice is very much capable of eliminating the sadness and stress of anyone’s mind….. And I have experienced it. I am really getting short of words to define her in an exact way…. Could only say that she is a sweetheart, innocent with a pure heart.

                  

Its nature’s rule that every person’s presence, other than the blood relations, in our life holds some reason and in most of the cases the reason is always unknown but in my case I am not at all unknown of the reason why God sent Spikso in my life or why in the last year of our college life we became so important to each other. Sometimes I wonder what I would have done without her. I can rely on her so much so that whole world can turn against me but not she. Sometimes I think what if we wouldn’t have become besties—just thinking this only makes me shiver coz den for sure, I would never have been able to recollect myself during all the tough times. She is always with me whenever I am alone, she is always to laugh with me over all those stupid things which I can’t share with anyone else, she is always with me to support me whenever I feel it difficult to fight with the odds of life, I don’t have to look in any other direction when I feel lost and unguided, not only joys she always stands by my side to share my tears. And now it’s a part of my nature whenever I think how much blessed I am to have a bestie like her, tears rolled down my cheeks and out of my nature, while writing this post also I am unable to hold my tears…..

                              I know when she will read it she will call me and will behave in a very humble manner but through this post I just want to tell her something which I will never be able to say her at her face or over phone—

Dear spikso,

     You yourself don’t know what you mean to me. Words like bestie, close friends, special friend are very little words to define the bond I share with you. I would not hesitate in admitting that the life I am living now is a new life for me.  And I am living it only because of you. You became my strength when I refused to fight, you showed me the path for a new beginning. In short, you saved me… and I won’t thank you for that coz I don’t want to insult our friendship. I can never forget our long hour conversations (that involves waking you up at even 02.00 or 03.00 am) where you guide me as a teacher, you scold me as an elder sister and you make me laugh. I have learnt a lot of things from you which have added into me as a person and which will surely help me in the life ahead. I know whenever you ask any suggestion from me I irritate you by suggesting all stupid things but seriously, I confess that never ever in my life I would be able to return you what you did for me…. It cannot be compared with money, with gifts or with the biggest wealth of this world…. Coz its ‘Priceless’. You know, whenever I feel myself in low spirits I buck up myself thinking that I will never let you look down by making you feel that your piddy surrendered against the adversities of life.

               I would always pray to god to give you happiness in abundance, not letting even a single moment of sorrow to touch you. May god send someone in your life who will give you every happiness of this world, who will love you and care for you so so so much that no one else ever could. May god keep the shining and sparkling smile on your beautiful face intact. And seriously, if anyone will ever hurt you I would pray to god to give me a chance to break that person’s teeth!! You are really my angel (big and cute angel) and I am proud of myself that I got a friend like you.

                  Kanha,

                                Thank you for sending this angel in my life… Always take care of her, expose her to every success, every happiness and always keep her safe from every difficulty. And give her the reason to celebrate and enjoy every moment, every day of life

Spikso yaar, I don’t know how you will feel after reading this but it’s just a minute attempt to do something for you on your special day. Hope you will like it. It’s a mix of memories and emotions. I have tried to recollect every memory but if I have missed anything do remind me………

                 Last but not the least,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

            

           

              

Best Dayz Of my Life. Part 3: The Medicals And The Final Moments..

My stay at varansi and those 5 days during SSB were not only the most beautiful days of my life but also they taught me some thing which I still treasure and I will treasure for the rest of my life....

Sometimes we keep on working hard but lots and lots of struggles come in our way. Then there are times when our faith on god almighty starts shaking. But in reality, inspite of numerous struggles our god will never ever leave us alone. And reward is only meant for hard work... no short cuts. If we apply for a short cut then we deserve no right to complain to god. After getting recommended, I realised how it feels when one gets reward of one's hard work. I also tasted the similar sweet fruit.

Also, I realised time is not the foundation for the strenghth of any relation. The bond I shared with Megha and Aniketa was installed within five days but it continued to blossom thereafter. I became more liable to the 'hurdles of life'. I felt the power of prayer.
Really, An unforgettable time, the most valuable one, the most precious one!!
One step was over and two more steps(medical and the merit list) were yet to be completed to achieve my dream for which I had craved since chidhood..

After going through the beautiful and best days which were only and only mine I came back to home..not forgetting to mention that I caught Eye-Flu :-(.. (I was looking like a chinese or japanese coz size of my eyes darstically reduced..) During my journey, in the train, my co-passenger was a lady from dehradun and my god!! she was so so so talkative (all mixture of sensibles and non-sense but most of the time non-sense ) that at the end of the day my ears started showing signals-- OVER FUNCTIONING.. NEED REST.
Anyways I reached home back safely with my safe ears but with japanese or chinese eyes. After reaching home, I came to know that I was supposed to leave for delhi just after 1 day coz I got a call from that NIIT guy (whom I have mentioned in the first post of my blog)..

I just managed to get well with  my eye-flu somewhat so much so that I was looking like an Indian. I reached Delhi to meet that NIIT guy and and and for my medicals..( My next step towards my dream.... :-))
My medical was to begin from 4th oct but I reached Delhi on 30th on the invitation of NIIT guy.

And from that day onwards till my last day of stay in Delhi I encountered those situations where I was supposed to implement whatever I had learnt during my SSB.... Wasn't it strange?? Both the SSB and the medicals were a part of the way to reach airforce.. Still SSB was something I would never ever like to forget and Medical was something which I would never like to recall.....

When I reached NIIT, those so called unproffessional people told me "Due to your inability to give joining on 21st september you are among the list of 'uncertain candidates'."
What A Nonsnese!! This was what that came out of my mind when I listened to that B*****D NIIT guy. Even not only this, but even more than this.... That day I came to know how rich my abusive vocab is!! The reason being that he could have told this on phone also.... Totally an unproffessional behaviour!! Damn B*****D..  He could have told it on phone even then why the hell he called me there?? Till today I could not find the reason to this...

After 3 days my medical began... It was really like a hell. Though hell but important because it was alot significant for me to clear it to get into the Air Force.
With my medicals, a new thing began in new delhi to which whole country was watching-- Commonwealth Games 2010. I remember that time I saw a new and a more organized delhi.. not even the traffic but the lanes, security and everything was organized to its best. And also it was really interesting to see the stadiums, buses full of players and foreign delegates everytime I would move out.
Well, coming back to my medical journey!!!

For medicals, I stayed at Subroto Park.. Entirely an Air force area. With me, only jahnavi was there from my batch. I didn't know why but I was not enjoying my medicals though I wanted to. I wanted to escape from it not because they were tough or I was afraid of the failure but there was something else that was frightening me.. I wanted to move out of delhi as soon as possible..

I still remember our medical would start at 7.30 am to last till 3.30 pm daily.. and more than half of the day all medical candidates would spent in 'Waiting Lobby' watchinag all the swimming and wrestling competetions at the commonwealth.... The very first day the thing happened I was afraid of - I was underweight. Only 4 days were ahead in conference and I was about 2 kg underweight.. Well readers, 2 kg appears to be a small number but these air force guys are very particular specially about small things.
For all 5 days I and other candidates were tested from head to toe.. there were lots and lots of tests..it was like a series of never-ending tests.... I really hated it literally.
Not only this but I also hated the food of the mess.. The more it was good at varanasi, the more it was bad at Delhi. Instead of compensating my underweight, I got afraid of losing it more due to the bad food served there in the mess.

But the thing that I loved during my stay in Delhi was my visit to India Gate. I went there on 3rd or 4th day with jahnavi and deepu. First time when I had a close view at the war memorial- INDIA GATE. No doubt, I felt a lot of patriotism running in my blood that time.. Moreover the weather..oooooooohhhh....

Just before 3 days of my conference, I got a call from Dell- An interview call from Dell. And just look at kanha's way- he is so smart..he fixed the interview date as 8th of october.. and that was the day of my medical conference. Wasn't it strange?? When I was going for SSB, NIIT came and now during the medicals, Dell came. Was it a coincidence?? Or was kanha trying to say something?? Was I unable to understand his signals?? Was kanha trying to stop me from................?? Well, My conference was important for me so I missed the interview at dell.

Then came the day of 8th october-- The final day of medical conference. On the final day, I was again checked for my weight and yuuuhhhoooo, I escaped. Now I was afraid of carrying elbow angle and the haemoglobin.. These two scenarios are such when permanent rejection is given in Air Force.. I was so tensed and nervous... praying, praying, praying.
When the final moment came I entered the room of medical board president to listen to his single sentence- either You Are Fit OR You Are Unfit... I entered, greeted the president and took my seat. The president started studying my file.......

I was stable at a place.....

My fingers tightly clutched.......

Ears wide open coz this time deepu was not with me to wake me up........

Eyes fixed at the president..........

And then President closed my file.....

Looked towards me and told me the RESULT.....

And and and whatever he told, it was enough to bring moisture to my eyes.. enough to left me sobbing for the next few moments.....

I moved out of the room with tears in my eyes, I moved towards jahnavi and hugged her and then I shouted-- "yyyyuuuuuhhhhhooooooo jahnavi.. I did it.. I cleared my medicals.. I am fit.. I am fit .. I am fit.." and my tears of happiness continued to find their way out of my eyes.

In my happiness, I even forgot that I was standing outside the president's room....

One more obstacle was over. Now only merit list was left and I had full faith on my kanha that he would not pull me back after sending me so close to my dream.

After medical I came home and started counting days for merit list to come.

AFTER 2 MONTHS

One by one days passed on and the day came for which I and few of my besties were waiting so eagerly.. The day of merit list.. 8th of december.. 2 months that passed was not a small period of time.. not atleast for me. Things never go as planned.. this was one of the thing that I learnt during this tenure.
Anyways merit list came and deepu told me on phone about its 'Grand Arrival'.
I was over desperate to know my rank in the list. But what a bad coincidence that my system chose 8th of december to go bad.. Huh..
Well,,, coincidences always chose a dramatic time and a dramatic way to enter into my life.. And this thing simply fascinates me!! :-)

I called one of my friends and asked him if he could check my rank in the merit list.
Heart was pounding in and out!!
Waiting for his call and for the result 1 hour passed... and after 1 hour I got his call.
" Haan... what is my rank?? jaldi tell...plzzzzz"
"Wait wait.... what is your official DOB"?
"its dec 2 1988.... my name is there na?"
"oye mam.. your DOB is here and so is your name.. Mansi Jain.. with 22nd rank"

wooohhh... The suspense was out... My hard work in the SSB, endurance in Medicals and my stamina in all ups and downs in the previous 2 months ended with 22nd AIR in 50th SSC Technical (women) Course of AIR FORCE.. For days, months, years I waited for the day for my name to appear where it was...
But Still this was what I spoke after listening to my result..

"well,, its good,,, quite a sort of achievement for me.. but I am not going to celebrate it.. Coz after all, I am not going to join Air Force... I will not join it"

I still don't know whether  really it was that much easy for me to leave that thing I was so passionate about. No.. It was not!! I still could not make it out whether I did a right thing or I did a grave mistake.... but whatever.. Things never go as planned.. Time is the biggest director and we are only small puppets who dance on its tunes.....

My journey to air force is and will always be a very special for me and very close to my heart.. Still, it brings smile and tears out of me... but anyways more is still there to come...

This post I have written while stealing some time out of the breaks of my training session.. Comments are invited..  And next will not be a story or narration but something straight from the heart!!
Air Force was not just a job for me but it was something that I would never be able to justify in words...
Still trying to bring it out of the heart in the form of words....

Best Dayz Of my Life. Part 2: My SSB at Varanasi

My SSB date and NIIT joining dates were clashing but I knew what was more important for me. I asked for a 10 day stay from the recruiters but while asking for the stay I told them the truth that I was to go for SSB. that was a mistake as This gave them the hint that my priority was somewhere else. Anyways the day went good. The whole next day went in all the preparations and packing.

Then came the day of 19^th September. It was my reservation from dehradun at 08.00 pm that day. It was raining heavily since morning and I was praying to kanha to stop the rain as I was afraid of cancellation of train.

At 08.00pm I reached dehradun railway station with Papa. As we were entering the gate an old man with all the looks of a villain came to us and said, “andar jaakar koi faida nahi..sab trains cancel hai….he he he he.”

I was shocked but more than that I wanted to kill that man for the way he laughed. I said to lord kanha “bhagwan ji help… and after that take all the teeth of this old man.”

I was damn scared. My hands were shivering and I was continuously praying. And then came a ray of hope. A bus was going to Haridwar from where it was possible to catch the train to Varanasi. But there were limited seats in the bus. I managed to get in and got a seat at the back. Later on I realized that my seat was giving me the enjoyment of ‘WATER KINGDOM’. It was an AC bus so all the rain water gathered in the AC cooler was falling over my head every time the brakes were applied. All wet I reached Haridwar and got the train. Once the train started moving I was relaxed. The journey to Varanasi gave me shivers initially but later on it was normal.. nothing special happned. On 20^th evening we reached Varanasi- the ancient city of India.

Next day I was to begin the journey to my dream job…. SSB.

DAY 1: 21^ST SEPTEMBER

At the reporting time I reached at the point where all the candidates coming for SSB were to assemble. When I reached there, there were about 80-90 gals… tall, short, fatso, slim, smart and sexy to behenji and champu type…. Gals of all categories were there. I was preparing myself for the tough competition. After 5 min. a girl came to me and asked “u r here for ssb na?”

I noticed her.. When I looked at her face the first word that came to my mind was INNOCENT. She was wearing a suit and dupatta, wid a long choti at the back… I replied “yes”. After few seconds I asked her “I am mansi…. whats your name?” actually she was so sweet and innocent looking that I could not resist myself from asking her name. she replied “I am megha.”

Shortly after our intro all d galz got a call from the Air Force representative. He checked our documents and our luggage was taken in a truck and we, gals got into a bus. Everyone was a stranger to me. I was damn nervous. I closed my eyes and focused on my capability. As our bus entered into the selection board.. I experienced a different feeling… a feeling that cannot be described in words. We were taken to a big hall. We took our seats and then came an Air Force officer…. He introduced himself to all the girls. He was our DSO… the lucky officer who was responsible for the custody of all the girls!!

I was listening to his every word carefully when his one of the sentences broke my heart, “…..all the candidates have to deposit their cellphones with us.. till you are at the selection board no cameras, no pagers, no cellphones.” I thought “oh god ji… without cellphone!!” but that time my eyes were only on 1 thing.. GETTING RECOMMENDED so I prepared myself to live without my cellphone. All the girls were given their identification numbers which are called as chest numbers.. I was chest no.15. After a little refreshment came the time of our first test- SCREENING TEST. My mind was all full of tension and nervousness. A lady made the entry into the hall. She was Dr. Mala…. Our psychologist. She was a soft spoken lady wid an over-white complexion. Her eyes resemble that of a cat that’s why when I saw her for the first time a song started in my background- billo rani kaho to abhi.. errrrrr..wait..usme jaan dene wali koi baat nahi thi.

She took our verbal-non verbal tests. They were easy so I was relaxed regarding them. Then came the turn of picture perception test. A blurred picture was shown to us where a girl at the center was getting senti and 3-4 women were pampering her and we were to write a story over it. Later on, candidates in a group of 12 were to undergo a GD regarding the story.

I was good in GD but there many other gals were also good in GD. During the GD, all the girls spoke their story and 11 out of the 12 girls concluded with the same conclusion that life of the girl in the picture has undergone some tragedy. Everyone is consoling her and telling her to move forward. But one girl told an entirely a different story that hailing from a very poor background she has managed to win a gold in Olympics due to her sheer hardwork and after winning the medal as she came to her village everyone is hugging her, appreciating her and seeing this she got senti. Well all the readers, U wanna know who the girl was?? It was none other than Chest No. 15.. Mansi Jain.

After 1 hour results were announced of the screening test. Those who qualify were to stay for next 4 daz.. rest were supposed to leave. Out of 90 girls, 46 were told to stand in a different group. I was among that group. We all were confused whether we were selected or rejected. The officer telling the result said “you all have passed the test.” All selected galz made the hoo haa noises. I was so happy to pass the test. Now all tension and nervousness was away. That day only all the 46 girls were given new chest nos. which were our identity for the next 4 daz. I was Chest No. 8 now. The same day our other written tests like TAT, WAT, SRT, SD were taken. It all took 4 hours. All the 46 galz were damn tired by then. I tried to convey positive meaning in whatever I wrote. As the tests were over all the galz were divided into a group of 9. I with my huge bag entered into the room where other 8 girls were present. All 8 strangers were to live together for next 4 daz. In all the four daz we 9 girls built a special bond between us.

Chest no.1 – Meenu- She was a cute specso and possessed a worth appreciable dressing sense. i found her matured of all with good understanding and intelligent mind

Chest no.2- Asha- Purely a maharashtrian girl who was very fond of using the word ‘like’ in her sentences.

Chest no. 3- Chaya- Yaar, I really fell in love with her eyes. they were so beautiful. she was the other matured girl in our group like talk less, listen more!!

Chest no.4- Anjum- She was the quietest of all. Very serious and a keen observer type. The thing I liked in her most was her daily beauty routine consisting of applying 5-6 lotions one after the other, that too in the same sequence daily.

Chest no. 5- Aniketa- Words are too less to describe her. I shared a strong bond with her. She was so caring towards me similar to an elder sister. Very religious as she was knowing almost all the bhajans and mantras.

Chest no. 6- Jhanavi- She was a totally bindass gujarati girl. I really liked her. She was bold, confident.

Chest no.7- Megha- My another bestie with aniketa in the group. The same INNOCENT girl. And in 4 days I really found her Innocent with a sort of purity of thoughts. She was really too good.

Chest No.9- Deepmala @ Deepu.. she was the bachcha of our group. Daz why I named her deepu.

Everyone was damn tired so after formal intro all the galz went to bed.

DAY 2: 22^nd SEPTEMBER

All the girls got up at 4 as 6 was the reporting time. After the breakfast our DSO came on his royal enfield. He came and stood infornt of us. “So ladies, had a good sleep yesterday?”

“Yes sir”, all 46 candidates replied.

“Any mosquitoes?”

“No sir”, All lied.. in fact there were mosquitoes everywhere in the room, in the store, even in the washroom…

Then he started giving instructions for the tests further.

On day 2 our group went through group discussion- it was good for me as I  gave the chance to speak and also spoke out my views in a good manner

Group planning exercise- where I got drastically confused but thanks to kanha all the tubelights of my brain lightened up altogether.

Progressive tasks- this is one of the task where evry candidate has the chance to come into the notice of the GTOs. I did my best in it. It was really a fun to carry heavy loads, jumping over logs of wood, climbing over heights…

Half group tasks- this is the short version of Progressive tasks. I loved this task coz this one was the first task where I got hurt. I was sitting over a log at a height of 6 -7 foot, lost my balance and landed down.

I remember while going back to our rooms all covered wid mud and sweat, we girls saw an army bus standing in the premises of the board with a dashing, handsome officer standing infront of it. All the girls reacted in the same way, “shit yaar, wrong timing!! I am lukin so shabby and dirty. And that officer is lukin here only” as if that officer was to select a girl for himself

After the tasks, we were free for the rest of the day. We went to a nearby mall, went to McD where I saw a girl with the best smile of the world. IN fact.. megha also liked her smile,

At night after the usual chatar-patar we all fell asleep.

DAY 3: 23^RD SEPTEMBER

This day our command tasks, lecturette and interview were to take place. My command task went awesome. In lecturette, all the candidates before me got topics which were of my interest like politics, cricket, generation gap etc. but when my chance came I was to choose 1 out of the 3 topics and none of the topic was of my interest. I got education reforms or brain drain or single parenting.

I spoke about single parenting. Though it went not very good for me as I had expected but it was not very bad. Then came the time for interview. After a wait of 2 hours my turn came. I was interviewd by Wng Cdr Amarinder Gill. He was a gol man with a big moustache and heavy voice. I was not at all nervous as he interviewd me. My interview lasts for 1 hr 20 min where I was asked about my family, friends, all personal and professional matters, views about airforce etc. Honestly, I loved my interview.

After we were free we went to see Dabang. I really enjoyed that movie.

That night we all the girls talked about our personal lives. One by one evry girl narrated the story of her first affair or first crush.

Day 4: 24^TH SEPTEMBER: SECOND LAST DAY

That day our group was free as our tasks were over. Half of the day we kept on playing badminton, TT then we went to the Kashi temple.

In these four days we 9 girls of our group had becum like a family.. closely attached family. After 1 day we all were to get apart and we all were enjoying each and every moment. In the evening after having delicious dinner (food at selection board was always delicious.. the mess staff would serve ud with so love and care which added more to the taste of food.. adding to it, were the different cuisines that vary each day) all the girls of our group were sitting together when a girl from another group came and sat with us. She also was our good friend. Suddenly she said “I am getting so emotional today. Tomorrow we all will be going back homes… I will miss this place and it will be so sad when we will be giving our chests back to the authorities”

Listening to her words we all burst into laughter. She was confused and asked me why we were laughing. I controlled myself anyhow and said,”dumbo.. u will be asked to give your chest nos. only… not your chests”.. We all again laughed like mads. Few moments after our DSO came. He was a smart officer but one problem for everyone.. he was married!!

That was the last night we 9 girls were together. We talked till late night. About everything. Ranging from airforce to current affairs to non-veg talks. As we shifted to non-veg topics, anjum went to sleep.. everyone shared her knowledge except deepu coz she was d sweet bachcha of our group not knowing anything. Listening to everyone she ended up saying, “yaar, mujhe to kuch b nai pata tha…. Maine apni life mein kuch kiya hi nai.”

To which jhanavi said,” idiot… kuch karna nahi hai just increase ur awareness”

I don’t know why but everyone in my group except me was sure of my recommendation. But I was thinking that I wud nt get recommend so I packed my bag 1 day in advance.

DAY 5: 25^TH SEPTEMBER: THE CONFERENCE DAY

This was the day when tension was visible on my face. Air force was my dream and this was my last chance coz my parents were against it and I had promised dem that I wud nvr try for it in future. I was only praying to god. My conference went for approx. 2 min. whatever board president asked I answered confidently. After all candidates went for conference, DSO came wid the results. My heart was pounding fast. My fingers were clutched tightly, eyes were closed, body temperature was rising. He started announcing the recommended chest nos.  

Chest no.6… that was jhanavi

Chest no.8…. as I listened to it I opened my eyes. Initially, I thought that my ears have listened it wrong. But then deepu who was sitting by my side said “congrats mansi!!”

And my first reaction was :Shit..i got recommended…yuhhhhooooooo

As I stood up lakshya’s title song started in my background: lakshya to har haal mein paana hai

Oh god!! That was a wonderful feeling. My dream was to come true. I was so so so happy that tears came in my eyes. i felt how it feels when after putting your best sheer hard work you get the reward and I got the reward of my life. AIR FORCE- TOUCH THE SKY WITH GLORY. I was not getting how to celebrate the moment. I was happy, emotional, mad all at the same time.

So this was my journey to my recommendation. Wrote it in abit hurry but hope u will like it.. as always +ve and -ve comments are welcome.. next will be the medical and the final selection

Best Dayz Of my Life. Part 1: A Day In Campus Placement

My journey to my selection in air force was the most interesting part of my life. Those 3 days before ssb that include my journey to Varanasi (my ssb center), 5 days of ssb, 5 days of medicals were more than awesome and somewhat adventurous too. Now it’s only a part of my memory, just trying to share it here. I am not a perfectionist in writing but doing an effort. Beginning from 4 days before my ssb here I go…..

It was 17^th September 2010.

I was at home. I woke up early...  at around 5 am. Don’t even think that I disturbed my sleep for studying because in entire 22 years of my life I have never done that. Though many a times I tried by putting an alarm of 5, sometimes 4 (in very rarest of the rare cases), sometimes even progressed to switch ON the light but failed every time at a single point... And the point was ‘haye yaar, kitni neend aa rahi hai. Kaun padhega itni neend mein’ Dis point was always raised by hypothetical devil inside me dressed in a red robe with two red horns. At such times I was in so much love with this red devil but an angel (who was also a part of me) dressed in a white rob with white feathers always interrupted my love session with the devil by saying ‘C’mon get up.. You have to do it. If you will hard work today, you will get the reward tomorrow.’ And I was left with “what the hell is this... Hey, you angel, just shut your mouth” and then I would always switch OFF the light saying “god ji, bas aaj sone do... kal se pakka jaldi uthkar padhugi..I promise”. Even many a times while getting back into my bed, I had listened to the angel’s crushed weak voice “no... Work hard” and simultaneously the devil’s cruel laugh “ha ha ha ha... As usual... I won!!”

Well, getting back to my abnormal deed of getting early, the reason behind it was I was to reach dehradun by 8 am. Coz I was to attend a campus placement. I woke up 3 hours before coz my home was 35 kms away from dehradun... And at such occasions I had always missed having a home in dehradun... 15 minutes later I was out of my bed thinking if I had been living in dehradun, I would have slept for 1-1.5 hours more.. Shit man!!

So my day started very very slowly like a bullock cart (that too broken with an ox that was to die the next moment). I took 45 minutes to get up fully ready (45 minutes coz I was in my sleep hangover.. don predict that I was applying any sort of make-up and all similar sort of things).. 15 minutes went in breakfast and then I proceeded for my destination.

At the bus stop also, I was not thinking about my interview and the recruitment, the thing that was in my mind was ‘Hope I’ll get a good seat in bus where I can complete my sleep…huh...’

After 1 hour 20 minutes I was at my destination and in these 1 hour 20 minutes I totally removed my sweet sleep hangover. The venue for campus placement was DBIT… I had always possessed a sort of negative feeling for this college. And I have got the reason too… the very good and the logical reason is that as soon as one enters into the college, the mobile network stops following you… In short, one has to leave his/her soul outside the college gate… not actually everyone, but gals and guyz like me jinki jaan cell phone mein basti hain… aisa hota hai due to an another logical reason which I would prefer to keep a secret…sssshhhh.

So, I entered into the college gate with my two besties Nitti and laxmi with our souls left outside the gate. After getting in, we, the trio, took our seats in the hall. There were students from our college and from some other colleges. Now we had no option but to wait for the company people to come. I was under a constant torture coz I was doing the worst work of WAITING that too with a cell phone without network… Again a body without soul… uuuuaaaannnn

After around half an hour I noticed a strange thing. Laxmi was moving in and out of the hall again and again in every 15-20 minutes… HOLD HOLD HOLD… let me first elaborate this strange creature in my life. Laxmi is my really dear good friend and we are friends since the first day of the college. She is a good and a caring human being always carrying a strange permanent expression over her face. If I’ll have to say something about that expression, it will be something like this ‘oh god, kya karun main, kitni tension hai, somebody help me out… I am in so many problems.’ I think u guys can make it out now what I mean to say.

This time I followed laxmi to see why she was going out again and again… and there I got her.

“nahiiiiii… this is impossibleeee”, this was my first silent reaction when I came across the whole matter.

SHOCK 1 of the day!!

The reason was her mobile was catching some soul outside the hall. I tried for my cell phone again and again but all in vain. “chee chee god ji… why such a partiality…this is not fair.” I came back with such an expression as I had missed the chance to dine with shahid kapoor…  ooooooo shahid kapoor… he is my sweetheart, my first love, my first crush, just irresistible and so on….

On getting back I told this thing to nitti.

“yaar… laxmi ka to network mil gaya. Lagi padi hai wo apne cell mein”

“chod na tu use…. Uska to yahi kaam hai”

This was nitti. My cute sweet choti tinni. Her every elaboration will surely start with her looks and the way she carries herself. Gifted with good looks and smart, cool, sexy personality… I just love her… hey, I just love her coz she is my very special friend… it’s not coz of her beauty… after all I am not abnormal. One SATUTORY WARNING about nitti: JUST AVOID HER IF YOU ARE TO GO FOR ANY EXAM OR TECHNICAL INTERVIEW. The reason being that she will ask you such questions (out of her habit) that how much confident you are about your preparation, at last you will be left with these words “abbey… mujhe to kuch bhi nahi aata.”

2 hours were over but there was no sign of the recruiters. I wondered what the hell this is. They are making us to wait here only coz we are unemployed??? Well… every dog has his day!! Majboori kaa naam Mahatma Gandhi!! Bapu amar rahe!!

Laxmi was so busy with her soul so I turned to nitti.

“come yaar… lets go to canteen… feeling kinda hungry”

“ya ya ya… tu khilayegi na?” another unique characteristic of nitti. If anyone was to go for canteen or restaurant, one could never expect her to pay the bill and I had an ample experience in this field. But that was the thing of the past… now she is just opposite due to her monthly salary she gets from Dell. But now I really miss her this unique characteristic.

At canteen, while I and nitti were having stale patties (they were just horrible… the crumb was so hard dat I felt as if I was doing a commercial of VICCO VAJARDANTI… when my teeth were struggling to chew them a music started i       n my background… vajardanti vajardanti vicco vajardanti, vicco powder vicco paste…… the rest I didn’t remember)…

So, coming back to the point… at canteen while I and nitti were having stale patties, niiti asked me about the whereabouts of a very special person in my life and at that moment, I really missed that person badly.  I missed that person more coz just a day before I had enjoyed the rain and a burger at McD and had shared a lot of things with that person.

And that person was none other than…… errrrrrr…. Wait, guyz and galz, Are you thinking that person was my boyfriend?? No no no no… A person who is even more special than a boyfriend and the person is JUHI GUPTA. MY ANOTHER SWEETHEART.

I would not elaborate her much coz I don’t know why but whenever I elaborate her or talk about her nature, her relation with me I get really very senti… but in short I would say she is the angel of my life and I think god has sent her in my life coz he knew that many a times I will face some situations where I will feel damn weak and shattered and in those situations juhi will be my support. Well… I am really proud and damn lucky to have her… and I swear had I been a boy I would have married her for sure!!

Well, there is a thing about juhi which I have never shared with her but I am going to share it here. When I saw juhi for the first time 4 yrs. back I felt as if she resembles a bollywood actress but in all the 4 years till now I am unable to find out who the actress is… but I am sure there is one… perhaps someone belonging to my grandparents’ era!!

Shortly after getting back into the canteen the company (NIIT) people came and our aptitude test started. I and nitti got through it. After that there was a written paper in which we were asked to answer some awkward questions like dialogue writing, manual writing etc. after this test was over I and nitti were sitting together with one other friend. Clock was striking 18 hours and I was feeling somewhat tired. Then began the last round- PI. I was on my chair hearing to the man who was coming after every 10 minutes with a bundle of papers announcing the name of candidates who failed to pass the second round. I was enjoying that thing coz it was somewhat full of suspense. I and nitti were safe till 4^th or 5^th list. Suddenly a round man with round specs came from behind and asked me, “who is mansi jain?”

My tired mind said, “abbey gol insaan, mansi se hi puch raha hai ki mansi kaun hai? Chal..bhag ja!!”

But the decent and good girl inside me stood up and said, “Sir, I am mansi”

“Come fast with me, u have been called for the PI”

SHOCK 2 of the day!!

I grabbed my cv, put it in the file I had borrowed from nitti and I ran behind the round elephanto creature with one of my shoe laces open. I noticed it when one boy out of the group sitting at the stairs said “arey mam, aapka shoe lace khula hai.”

I opened the door of the room and went in. I wished the interviewer and took my seat. She was a lady… a fat lady with dark circles. She took my cv, read it and asked, “so mansi… u know only c++ and java… no .net??”

“No mam… my both the projects were in these languages.” Inside I thought “oh god.. dis fatso is saying I know only c++ and java!! Instead She should gimme a standing ovation dat I know at least c++ and java”

Then she said “ok mansi… just gimme 2 minutes.” With this she took her cell phone and went at some distance. I listened her saying to someone “ye candidate ke dono projects java mein hai… kya karein??”

When I heard this my mind said “lo ji… gayi bhains paani mein” and I even saw a hypothetical flash of a picture with a big bhains jumping into the pond making a loud chapaaakkkk noise and I also saw bhainsa and bhains ka bacchaa jumping behind her shouting mmaaaaaa. To my surprise the bhains was resembling the fatso.

The fatso came back and said, “mansi, ur profile is quite impressive”

“Thank you mam”

“But if you are interested to work with us then you must know .net”

“mam, once I join I assure you that I will learn .net in the minimum possible time”. Wow… I was sounding so innocent that time… as if I was the hardest working person in the country.

Now I was expecting some technical questions from her side but her next line gave me 2 shocks at the same time.

“ok mansi… you are selected. You may join from 19^th of September”

SHOCK 3 of the day!! I got selected without going through any technical questions.

SHOCK 4 of the day!! She asked me to join from 19^th and I was to leave for Varanasi that day.

And then I did a big mistake!! 

The mind didn't work correctly at the time and it was as if jumping on a sharp axe that too without shoes......

well... this was the first part of my journey. very soon i'l be sharing the mistake and my ssb journey...