Chapter 2: Life and times

Being in college is about studies… supposedly.

You might be the coolest kid on the block, but with an exam the next day, you simply have to sit down and read.

“You have an exam tomorrow, I hope you realize that Suraj!” said Srikanth in a fit of anger which was not a very rare sight now, with me being the sole reason to all of those… not that I was proud of it!

“You asked me to stay at Dipin’s room today so I could teach you, and here you are lighting up another one!” he said, pointing to my sixth joint of the day, as Dipin and Arun looked on.

“And what’s with the new obsession with Ganja? Just a month back a simple stick of cigarette used to completely throw you off, and here you are puffing up weed like it comes but naturally to you!” he went on with his reprimanding ways, throwing his hands in air, and pauses and stops out of the window, yet pissed as to why I wasn't replying to him.

Reaching the levels of annoyance and knowing anything I say right now would somehow boomerang right back in my face, I quietly stubbed out my roll. Trying to open my bloodshot eyes, the gibberish notes were now in limelight.

The last thing I needed right now was anyone bothering me with their opinions about my new habits, and the choice of this new lifestyle.

“Anyway, let’s not waste any more time” were the last words spoken by Srikanth followed by hours of technical terms regarding power systems and what not. He was quick to analyze the sincerity of situation while I was too lost to grasp the seriousness of it. With a sudden realization about the exam being on the very next day, everything took a backseat, and attempts to focus prevailed. Well… sort of.
.........

“Suraj! Why are people so irresponsible?”, squeaked Lia as she stomped all over an unextinguished cigarette that came flying out of a car driving past us.

“Why does one even need to smoke in the first place? As if the smoke and chaos these vehicles create is not enough”, she kept going on, bringing forth that adorable nature loving character that suited her perfectly.

“I know, but what can we do? At least I don’t smoke” I said, agreeing to her lie that this all seemed chaotic. The world seemed a better place in her company, and wind seemed to be sprayed with perfumes like never before. If this was chaos, then the term bliss was unknown to me!

“Yes, and you better not, or I swear…“

She muttered and sputtered, getting back at stubbing out the cigarette with a solemn vow to not stop till all there was left was a sheet of brown paper with no traces of fire, whatsoever.
.........

“Suraj! Suraj! SURAJ! Are you following anything that I have blabbered past hour and a half? We are almost done with half of the portions and you are lost in your own world again!” Screamed Srikanth, thus making me realize, I was once again in flashback mode.

Dipin sat there, looking quietly at the proceedings.

After a good few minutes of staring, observing, and trying to get a good grasp of the situation, he decided it was indeed time he intervened.

“Dude… when we met first, I could have sworn you would stay away from all this. But you sir are the biggest mess I have seen!” he said, pointing not a finger but his palm altogether at me.

“Oh he was... he was away from all of this!” Said Arun.