From The AMU Retrograde Memories: Thank you Aliya Aapa.

Hmmm Life in AMU, has certainly given me new meanings. It is correctly said 

“har shaam hai shaam-e-Misr yahaaN, har shab hai shab-e-Sheeraz

yahaan,hai saare jahaaN kaa soz yahaaN, aur saare jahaaN kaa saaz yahaaN

zarraat kaa bosaa lene ko, sau baar jhukaa aakaash yahaan

Khud aankh se ham ne dekhii hai, baatil kii shikast-e-faash yahaaN

After 5 years when I turn back, and see, I find many occurrences have been derived with me as life time accomplish lesson. No doubt I had great friends, seniors who had treated me like kids among them. Few of them are in still touch with me and they are my assets, I feel a sense of pride to posses such beautiful relation with them. One of them was Aliya Aapa, she was in final year of B.sc, when I joined Abdullah hall as a fresher- Aliya Aapa, gold medalist,  jolly, sweet nature and extremely caring for those too who may little matter to her.  I got allotment of my room with senior students of second year. There I meet Shagufta Aapa, she was one of favorite senior and room- met. During all those ranging and nostalgic time she was a big support and always encouraged me. Aliya Aapa and Imrana Aapa were room- Mets and they were very good friend and senior of Shagufta aapa. That’s how I was known to them. They used to come to our room for Shagufta aapa, and slowly and slowly I was also friendly with them. I don’t know who to keep above as both were very good natured caring and extremely loving to me. I remember during ranging period, the Saturday’s night was quite haunted among juniors. I fall sick and was very nostalgic and not taking care of my self, As at any cost I wanted to runaway from Abdullah hall jail.

Imrana Aapa came to visit me with one bowls of apple jelly and fruits and medicine and made me eat all that with warning, if I show any stupidity, today will be Naaz special Saturday night. Hahaha.

I remember initially, I was not having much friends of my batch, as my draw back was this that I had got a room which was senior dominated. Girls of my batch used to ask me how you stay there why don’t you change your room and get allotment in bathmats room. As in Abdullah hall, the seniors and their terror were quite haunting among juniors during intro period. But with the grace of Almighty Allah I had wonderful seniors as my room met, and never felt a dull movement with their presence.

I remember during those time I was friends with few my neighbor. I don’t remember what really happen. One day in some arguments I encountered with few heated words and bad arguments. I was feeling terrible as those heated words were passed on to me through a buddy whom I always looked on as a friend. I don’t remember the matter, what I remember I was feeling very disconcert and felt my image down. It was afternoon time and most of the girls prefer to utility of this time sleeping in their room.

I was troubled and I went out of my room and walking in corridor and then sat on staircase, - This stair case is also connected to middle wing of TW Hostel, which was final year student’s residence.It was quite silent cozy afternoon. Very few girls were in corridor. I don’t know how come Aliya Aapa saw me, may be after her practical classes she was returning to the hostels. Silently she came and sat next to me and kept her hands on my shoulders and asked me what happen why you are sitting here alone?  I smiled at her and replied her nothing, I was not feeling sleepy and bored so thought of doing time pass here by the time evening snacks bell don’t rang.

Some how she knew some thing is wrong, and asked me politely share with me I may not able to solve your problem but may be I can listen to you. Will you have say no to your elder sister at home? I don’t know what hold me that movement may be a trust of her sparking eyes which was telling me Don’t worry I am there , and I share everything and then cried and told her how upset I am with the friend behavior.  She listened to me then asked how are you feeling now I replied I am okay, and then she asked me you know Naaz ever you thought why your Papa has sent you in hostel, keeping away his sweetheart, not because he wanted you to take good education. This option is also available in our respective city. He sent you here because he wanted you to learn to deal in odd situation in life on your own.There are no accidents. Everyone you meet, everything that has come your way was not some random fluke, you encounter this situation where you trusted some body and upset today on her. Forget it and take it as an experience tomorrow when you will be meeting new but same kind of people and situation, you will realize “Arye I have known this kind of people, Arye this had happen with me earlier too and I can handle this”   we were giggling, I was in relaxed mode. Her humbleness and sweet advice accumulated in my mind forever.Life moved on after graduation I moved to Mumbai and she was in her life. Due to distance We were in on off contact. Last time when she was in Delhi due to some work, I get a chance to meet her, we were chatting remembering those nostalgic days of hostel life.I asked her Aliya Aapa do you remember that afternoon conversation she couldn’t remember , I made her remind she was laughing  and told me I don’t remember what we had talked that day but yes I remember “choti bacchi Naaz was upset that day”.I told her what she taught me that day. She wide her eyes and amazingly asked me you remember, I don’t remember what I have said!!

I giggled and tell her I remember Aliya Aapa, but may be forget to be thankful to you that day. I wanted to say heartily “Thank you Aliya Aapa” we laughed and hold each other hands, two drops of tears was also rolling out of my eyes, may be they also wanted to be Thankful to Aliya Aapa for her precious teaching.

It was time for me to say good bye

It was time… It was time for me to say good bye…. It was my last day in my hostel…22nd May the evening when I had to go out of Abdullah hall say good buy to this jail. I always wished uff how many days in this jail, but that day I don’t want to live that jail. It was the time for the final cleanup of my room and I knew I will be fined by warden if I don’t do it right. Actually, I had more important things in my mind… Everything seemed secondary… The thought of never being able to participate in any of birthday bashes and midnight parties, never having to pay fines for attendance shortage, never having to say ‘sorry’ to the professors for bunking their classes, never feeling upset for not getting good grades,

never having to wait for Sunday to celebrate and do Masti from 9:00 am to 06:30 P.M like Azad chidiya, never having to do our laundry, never having to drink water-y tea, from the dining hall never having to eat those chapattis which is always jail hui, Will never eat the Friday special Biryaani which has no test but we used to look forward, never eat those mathri jam/ butter combination in Sunday breakfast. Life would go on even if Dhaba and Chandru - coffee shop) lost one of its loyal customers, I thought as I picked my things to pack. Then my eyes fell on my old blue diary which was gifted by my mother. I had taken my friends/ junior autographs with their recollections note in that diary.

I had to pack Nilofer's one trunk as well (My soul mate – best friend for those three lovely years.) She and other my friends were coming back for 2004 session and enduring their Master, I was leaving, I always wanted to go, I had dreams, I wanted to explore, but that movement I felt why I took this decision. I wanted to continue in AMU for next session.

I remember the day when I joined the hostel on same day got allotment of room, which I share with my senior Rakya Aapa, Shagufta Aapa, Talat Aapa, Nilofer, and me… The thought of those spend years were coming out from my eyes. I remember how timid I used to be three years before, who used to mislay in Abdullah hall and then crying at one corner for help, and now I made a decision to move ahead to Mumbai, city of struggle/joy/ competition.
Remember the days of ranging and praying to god, when this phase will over
Remember I had short hair, when I joined hostel, and it was strictly not allowed to keep your hair open. It has to be oily and u have to tie it with two different color ribbon , one in saffron color, the other one in red color, and on top of it, we had to always take one saffron color duppta as we take when we offer Namaz, We had to only remove that duppta when we are using bathroom. I remember this punishment was made to us in the month of Aug- Oct, where the weather was worse, and top of it, there was always an electricity problem. Remember I had only short sleeve or cut sleeves kurta, while during ranging period all fresher has to wear full sleeves.
I used to cover my hands in duppatas till the time I got three new suits which was full sleeves. Talat Aapa was great help in this. She always saved me whenever I used to get due to this reason.

I remembered I used to get damm annoyed when light used to off for 24 hours and worse weather as well. I remember how I became senior next year and I was enjoying this, and felt stupid for my early behavior.
I remembered my frens, Nilofer, sakeena, shaheen, kahlida, farzana, etc.

My room with last one year never appealed to me that lovable as it was that day. Never realised how the time flew and we were no fresher. I remember one of my roommates returning my coffee mug sans its handle the day she came to say goodbye. Never realised how it went to her and her dupatta was with me.As I continued to rummage my belongings, I realised the huge amount of unwanted stuffs I had been hoarding during the period of my hostel life. There were definitely many that I wanted to keep with me for the memories attached to them. And the one I was sure to take it with me was that Blue diary which still I had with me. I was rewarded as “Miss Lucky” in my farewell party. The crown was there, I remembered we party till six in the morning.
I saw my saucepan which used to prepare coffee over gossips and during exams night out, the same saucepan used to cook Maggi in hot water, Nilofer used to like this very much, I started looking Some Stuff of Nilofer which I had to make shift in store Room, IT was a trunk, I made it prepared and then put a paper, named Nilofer Rehman Room NO – 62, B.A final year. The same time idea stuck to me to give Nilofer surprise when she comeback to Aligarh, I know I will’ be not there and we were tougher for last three years.
I went to bittan bhai shop buy a cardboard box, and then Idea implement, I was keeping all those things of mine which Nilofer used to grasp from me, started with saucepan, one suit, which she always used to like and few a time when iron that suit, she used to stole and be dressed in it, Naaz Badtamiz (she still call me with this name only) this only look good on me. I packed it in Plastic bag left a note with “It always suit on you.” One new dressed which she like much was unstitched and I had a plan to made it stitch at home; I kept for her in the box with one more letters. I kept few sunflower seeds packed which we used to have during afternoon time when we used to gossip with one more letter, I kept my favorite pen, I kept few music cassette of mine which she was found of with a letter. Perfumes, one new diary, photos of our tougher ness. Every thing I used first plastic bag with a letter stapled it and then kept it in the cardboard box. Then I put a paper level on it “Gift from Badtameez to Naaz to adorable Nilofer”

Sakeena came to see me for lunch, We were two only their from our group as our exams got extended she was amused to see me what I was doing, then said you know Naaz Nilofer will be very happy to see this and at a time sad not find you.( I don’t need to tell it was rightly said by sakeena after two month when Nilofer came back and join the hostel, and open the bag she called me in Mumbai, Naaz Badtameez you are my best friend and I really miss you.

Evening I had to catch my train before that I have to take Hostel vacate permission, Permission was big trauma in Abdullah hall, but I was not feeling terrible, I was little sad, I was leaving, I knew the decision move to Mumbai was not wrong, but I always regret is should have stayed there for two more years to be with my friend who were my family as well there. It was with my roommates and hostel mates I shared some of wonderful and memorable part of my life. It was because of their cheerful nature which transferred every gloomy, dark hostel days into joyous rainbow. It was because of my friends I was given a chance to taste and appreciate multi-cuisines of diverse Indian states. There was never a dull moment in my hostel life. Every time we would raid into our friend’s rooms as soon as they are back from their visit to home. The fun part would be when we used to hardly visit our relatives there.
I packed my stuff, my brother had come to Aligarh to drop me till home,
And as for that old Blue dairy it came with me when I left my hostel... Something’s are priceless because of the memories they bring back...

In the memories of AMU.

Hmmm. I always wanted to share this, now time to write something about this. Flashback to few years ago, this was the time I started living by myself...Those were my pleasant hostel days. I always have a very special soft corner for those days. I still remember the 12 August tuesday ealry afternoon when I took admission, was thrilled as I am going to live finally on my own, and was horrified with ranging and other stories reason. Was little sad as now my dad will not be there with me, happy coz when I will be going home in vacation I have stories to tell my younger brothers.
I will described it in three phase –
1- Phase one – Sad – crying – please save me god I am I hell .
2- Phase Two- Little better – confused – what Next
3- Phase Three – hmmm.. MASTI, Masti, Masti and only Masti...

Full on dada giri, seniority bhaichara, Drama, bunking collage, meeting to short attendees. There is lot to share. Though I had a image of sweetu cutu bacchi among my seniors but few had a privilege to know she is nani of shaitani. though I had not done that much fun due to ghar pe complain na pahuche ( I was shareef badmash) but yes I had fun love, joy.I read this poem some where, which is I am going to zot down, and I am sure who ever live in hostel can easily associate him/ her with this.

This is for all my hostel friends wherever they are, though among those I have lost touch with some but I feel it will reach them someday somehow.............

Yaad hai tumko wo hostel k days,pepsi pe k sona, khana wo lays..........
Ragging seniors ne leni har rozz,wo pakadna s.c. mein, bolna chalo jaldi do intro .
College jana wo tricolor mein lagana sar mein tail (oil)
seniors ka darana, hojaogay warna fail.
Roz hamein phir ek acche din ki aas,raat ko rona, jana wo friends k paas..
class mein pahuchna time se pehlay aadat wo khaas,
wo sir ka kehna ,bachon aaj nahi hai class
kapdon ka dhona sunday k din,line mein lagna kabhi wo bucket k bin.
fest pe hamara wo beauty parlour jana,
bus mein phir jhoom k wo gana ganachoti choti baaton pe friends se takraar,
ab lagta hai kya din the wo yaar..
wo kehna Bhai ka tumhe batatate hai aajhar din bus yuhi guzar jana,
par yaar har din tha wo khaasyaad hain tumko kya wo hostel k day,
wo kehna warden ka, this you will have to pay, You girls never learn any etiquette.
That giggling and waiting Uff when we will be out of this jail...

I also remember my pa words that he told me o first day when i was joining Abdullah hall
"Beta you are going to enter in a different life from the life you had in your home, enjoy this, it come to few relish it, and succeed it, the enjoyment part should come with the responsibly. I am not a father of conservative thinking, you are going live alone going to know people, just be firm whatever you do.

After now more then four years i feel it was rightly said