The Almamater Chronicles: A Journey Through College Memories

Do you find it amusing why I chose chemistry in college? My friends tried to outperform me in college, but their efforts could have yielded more favorable results. Despite their diligent efforts, they could not achieve academic success. I didn't know about their lack of strength, but I took a little time to notice their feeble efforts. I had a group of people I considered my friends. They devised a plan to approach our exceptional math tutor and request extra help. I wasn't worried because I was not ignorant. Lately, a colleague I trusted shared their dark scheme with me. Some can call it treason, as he did not keep the secret. He disclosed this secret to me after realizing their intention to outperform me. I felt a surge of excitement, expecting the satisfying feeling of victory. I pretended to be clueless about their sneaky plans while smiling, acting as if I were unaware of what was happening.

Although I enjoyed being with our math teacher, I completed my work to ensure I did each task. I learned many equations and formulas and put in a lot of effort to innovate, and I still remember his class where he taught y=f(x), etc. My friends heightened the competition. They desired to surpass me and believed they could despite lacking logic. But who knew I always stayed one step ahead when differentiating and integrating? My good father bought scores of papers for rough work, which I used during holidays. Many times, I used it sideways to solve lengthy equations. Call it healthy competition.

Every day, I gained more knowledge and became brilliant. I emerged victorious in the end. Because of my perseverance and dedication, I outperformed them despite their utmost efforts. Yes, winning feels great. I have the most brilliant mind in this room. I surpassed my classmates on the test. More intelligent than all of them.! No, it is only perseverance that gave me the score.

The fun adventures of the physics class—a place where arrows, being good, and surprising heroes come together! Imagine this: a brave boy shoots an arrow while the lady teacher teaches, making the classroom a pretend archery place. The person who did it is superb at hiding who they are, and now everyone in the class is confused and having fun. Meet Mohandas, a clueless and helpful person. The physics teacher, trying to make things right, points a finger at Mohandas, not knowing the real archer among them. He takes the blame and leaves, knowing he's being blamed for something he didn't do. When Mohandas sacrifices for the team, the absolute wrong person enjoys not being understood, maybe planning the following bold action. Mohandas, who didn't mean to be a hero, enters the hallway, holding the weight of untrue accusations while still smiling. His friends don't know he's the secret hero who protected the real archer from getting into trouble for their impossible stunt. The classroom is like a big show where kids do funny things and have a lot of drama. Sometimes, teenagers act like heroes, and there's a lot of excitement. They shoot arrows, and good always wins. 

Our brave heroes journeyed through organic, inorganic, and physical mysteries in the Chemistry lab.

The lab was a treasure trove filled with peculiar contraptions—Bunsen burners that seemed to have a mind of their own, desiccators guarding the secrets of moisture, burettes and pipettes (not parrots), crucibles standing firm in the face of extreme heat, weighing balances testing the weight of knowledge, conical flasks brimming with potential, and watch glasses keeping a watchful eye on all experiments. Our brave students, with their curious minds and sometimes wearing safety goggles, worked hard to write their experiments, observations, and guesses. Sometimes, when they looked, they saw nothing. And when that happened, they would write, "A gas that you can't see or smell makes lime water look milky, and there's carbonate in it." The intelligent tutor was fantastic at finding creative descriptions and making them more accurate by asking us to repeat the salt analysis. We had no other way other than trial and error. During my science adventures, I had something incredible—a Bunsen burner that made my friends super jealous. The fire moved like a graceful dancer, making every science project look amazing.

 As the students ventured into the intriguing world of acids, my daring soul experimented with a drop of sulfuric acid during my 12th-grade escapade. I knew little that this adventure would leave a mark!

The burn took over a month to heal, becoming a cautionary tale that echoed through the hallowed halls of the chemistry lab.

 From that day forward, I handled acids with the utmost care, although nitric acid, in its mischievous ways, left potholes on many shirts. Amidst the bubbling concoctions and scientific wonders, the students navigated the peculiarities of college attire. 

Pretty girls adorned uniforms in white and green, a sartorial choice not always appreciated during their teenage years when they yearned to shine. The boys flaunted various outfits, most opting for the classic mundu.

The stories of love, bravery, and the stinky smell of rotten eggs—those were the days of our college adventures! A group of friends got caught up in a lot of drama and started fighting using their bicycle chains. It was a war like the one in ancient times, but instead of swords, people were fighting with the sounds of metal hitting bicycle frames! Back when classes started, there was a stinky smell like rotten eggs. It made everyone feel sick. I wouldn't say I liked the foul smell. I went down the corridor without permission. My professor caught me and warned me. He didn't know I wanted to be a chemist working with natural things. Even though things didn't go well at first, I thought I could make my professor like me by buying an expensive book on organic chemistry from him. It was a wise choice to invest my time because I worked hard and got the best score.

I learned a lot and even got praise; I'm not sure he changed his opinion. Now, let me show you a fantastic movie adventure. Some friendly tutors told us watching movies can help us feel better when stressed. The only rule: you can't use proxies! I used some of my small savings to pay for these fun movie afternoons during language classes. My lovely mom always helped me and told me to hold 25 paise more for the bus ticket. This way, I could take the next bus and get home sooner. And remember the youngsters from far away singing songs on the way home on school buses with the newest movie songs. I remember when we used to listen to songs from movies on the bus, and our school days were filled with love, laughter, and sometimes exciting adventures! Hi there! The magical songs from the movies are now playing during Christmas, a time for celebrating, eating, dancing, and having fun! During this auspicious time of year, something strange happens: after the 25 days of Lent, we all gain 3 pounds. It's the unique feeling of the holidays or the result of our fun parties. Now, think about the Bible story where Jesus ate nothing for a long time, like 40 days. I can't stop considering whether his weight changed during those 40 days.

Did some old magic math make it so that you lose weight when you stop eating for a while, but after Lent, you regain it all? Oh, the wonders of belief and science mixed! As we go through the fun holiday time, enjoying the merry songs from movies and wondering why our weight changes during Lent, let's think about how God must have a funny side when we celebrate on Earth. Everyone can understand Laughter is a great song, no matter where they're from or what time it is! And so, the chemistry lab became a realm of laughter, discovery, and the occasional chemical mishap, where the student's quest for knowledge was as colorful as the reactions in their beakers.

A sad event took place during all the tests. As the day for my big science test got closer, my mom's dad had died. It made me sad. I had to choose between going to a funeral or doing my schoolwork. I decided it was more competent to do my schoolwork. My grandma advised me to attend the funeral in the morning and take the test in the afternoon. It was essential to show respect to the person who passed away while ensuring we had a fantastic future. My mom and dad helped me decide to focus on school and work hard. I bid farewell to my grandpa in the morning, then studied chemicals and reactions in the afternoon. With my family's help, I can overcome this tough time at a young age. I didn't have to miss an entire year because of it. Life's mix of sadness and obligations made me contemplate. The test room was a safe space where students strived to succeed, even during difficult times. It was an essential part of life, as well as taking tests.

The last tests loomed, and the time bid farewell to our faithful lab companions. The chemistry store awaited the return of its treasures, and each piece of equipment had a tale to tell. My beloved Bunsen burner, a partner in scientific escapades, was now destined to surrender its flames. With a twinge of sentiment, I replaced the desiccator lid, ensuring every item returned to the store. Some people started being greedy. I walked up to my drawer; I saw that my clever friends had opened it. In a fast trade, things got switched around, and I ended up being part of this sneaky switch. Whether they had told the person or had a special feeling for cool things, the outcome was a fun but tricky trade. Wanting stuff terrible, it seemed, had always been something people did, even way back in the olden days. It made even the tiresome task of giving back science stuff a fun and sneaky adventure. 

The six-hour standing test, where Bunsen burners rebelled, and balances played hide-and-seek with precision! Exam fever hit harder than a caffeine rush. The Bunsen assigned to me went on strike, and the balance played hard when I approached my table. I sweated more than a cat in a room with a natural breeze. Fans were luxuries. But fear not! Friends, ever the chemistry accomplices, intervened. Through a mix of tips, tricks, and maybe a little bribery, they secured a Bunsen that danced to their command. Yet, fate, the whimsical examiner, toyed with your aspirations. A pass mark in practicals slipped through your fingers and the elusive first class bid adieu. What about those friends who fancied a piece of my drawer and coveted my treasures? Life rendered its verdict.

Some stumbled, others scraped through with a pass, and a few embarked on becoming ministers. As Joseph in the Old Testament said, man proposes, and God disposes—or perhaps, it's God's grand plan. Not getting into medical or engineering school because of my lack of first grade seems like life had its plan. Kakinada had its great medical school waiting for me, but my wallet staged a silent protest. I guess even God thought, 'Let's spice things up for this one. As destiny played its cards, it turned out it did not mean I would be the next eminent doctor or engineer.

Wow, there are so many fantastic characters in space! Mohandas is in Mumbai, and Mathews is in the USA, living the dream! Disneyland every day–now that's a commitment to tourism that deserves applause. I can picture him strolling down Main Street, enjoying roller coasters like a pro, and perhaps giving Mickey Mouse a run for his money. Who knew conquering frontiers could come with a side of daily theme park fun? It seems like Mathews has found the ultimate formula for a 'mouse’-terful life in the States.

Meanwhile, my dear friend Varghese, our very own Thalipeeli, returned from his Gulf escapades, perhaps with tales of sands, camels, and a bit too much sun. Life's unpredictability—the absolute master of ceremonies!" Rajendran worked as a police expert who studied fingerprints. I can't help but wonder if he ever looked for fingerprints on that hard-to-find Bunsen burner, trying to solve the mystery of the stolen stuff from the science lab. Maybe he had his special glass that makes things look more prominent and a kit to find fingerprints, all set to catch the person who took your favorite lab buddy. The story of the stolen Bunsen burner makes this funny space adventure even more exciting. It's all about fate and fingerprints coming together in life's experiments.

 "I got a call from Radhakrishnan, the guy who once sported those pants that could blind the sun. Now, he's deep into the world of law, arguing cases with the vigor of someone who knows the difference between pinstripes and stripes. I hope he's in court declaring, 'Even if a thousand culprits escape, one innocent soul should not get punished.' And then there's Rajendra Babu, the handsome lad who now rocks a silver crown on his head. Time turned his hair into a work of art–not just graying, but graying with style! In the intricate tapestry of our college days, Vellavoor stood as a pillar, more than just a friend—an elder brother who shielded us from the metaphorical cycle chain smashes of life. His passing has left a void, a missing piece in the mosaic of our shared memories. I forgot to tell you that after his adventurous journey to South Africa, Sadanandan, the class's pint-sized dynamo, now stands as the charismatic heart of Cochin, weaving tales of his global escapades. Sorry for missing other names and other adventures.

And those girls who couldn't flaunt costly fashionable attires? They might be the trendsetting grandparents now, sharing stories of their college days when uniform constraints bound fashion.

Now, at life's twilight, these memories stand as witnesses to the unpredictable experiments of fate, where Bunsen burners flicker, balances waver, and the grand play of life unfolds. Cheers to the memories that make us smile, even when we lose a first class but gain a lifetime of tales!

 Let me submit this poem by an unknown Confederate soldier to all my friends.

 Unknown Confederate soldier's poem 

"I asked for strength that I might achieve;

 I was made weak so that I might learn humbly to obey. 

I asked for health so that I might do more incredible things. 

I was given an infirmity so that I might do better things. 

I asked for riches so that I might be happy.

I was given poverty so that I might be wise. 

I asked for power so that I might have the praise of men. 

I was given weakness so that I might feel the need for God.

 I asked for everything so that I might enjoy life. 

I was given life so that I might enjoy all things. 

I got nothing that I had asked for. But everything that I had hoped for.

 Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. 

I am, among all men, the most richly blessed".