Coimbatore - part 1

It was the fact that I wanted to do something different for a change rather than continuing my mind-dulling routine of lectures and more studying just after the end of our third block exam, the reason for which I jumped on the idea immediately for a short journey to Coimbatore – the opportunity of a life time – for my lecturer’s wedding reception. (Coimbatore is one of the main cities after Chennai which is located in Tamil Nadu, the southern most state of India). The timing for his reception could not be better as it is just a day after the end of our third block exam – the most viable time out of our whole terribly busy semester. And mind you, it is not without a downside; attendance for classes had to be sacrificed, not only for a day, but two days!!

For those who are wondering what two days out of the whole semester is worth ( I mean like haiya… two days only what), I must convince you of the obsessive ness of MMMC batch 19 students when it comes to a perfect 100% attendances of all the lectures. It is a pure fact that many thrives on that torturous and tortuous journey to receive that appreciation, the certificate of honour for going to every single lecture class for the whole year round, and according to the Dean, an achievement to be proud off! (Others just view that attending every class is equally as important to be able to play the catch up game for acquiring extensive amounts of knowledge in a short space of time).

Nope… none of those fears were going to prevent me. Sing Cher, Shao Sze, Eric and I were going ahead anywayz, no second thoughts, no doubt! I would never miss this for the world.

MAY 10^TH 2007 – Thursday

At the rate we left Manipal after our last exam, it had that authentic mission impossible theme…our only mission: to Coimbatore at any cause.

3.30pm… the last group for the biochemistry practicals had just ended.

3.36pm…off to the travel agency to buy the last minute tickets. We were ready to assassinate the poor fellow manning the counter if he did not confirm our train seats. The most exhilarating part was telling that person the destination we were heading. Initially, none of us could really catch the pronunciation of the name of that place - twisted heavily with that crude Indian slang, and we were left fumbling with coim“muthu”? Coim”buntut”(huh... ass)? coim“butu”? Whatever… at least he understood us and we’re going the correct way…right? (I’d cross my fingers on that one).

5.12pm…Our job well done as we grabbed the last four available seats of the train and they were first class tickets - just perfect…too perfect for the four of us! (Ah! divine intervention from my dear friend…thank God for helping us) Any extra passengers will just have to be put on the waiting list… and now for the packing.

5.50pm… we rushed to have our last minute dinner. Eric went to collect our printed train tickets, while Shao Sze was off to buy a nice congratulatory card for our lecturer… it was a really huge one indeed; how sweet of him!

6.35pm… I finished my dinner and was still in the food court with Sing Cher (I was unlucky to get my food later then expected… is not that I ate slowly k… my munching speeds were supersonic…hump!). We ran to a waiting Eric at the bus stop, obviously in anxiety with a worried-filled sweat on his brow. Many buses had come and gone and we were late. Our train in Mangalore – a two hours journey from manipal - was scheduled at 9.15pm and the time was 6.55pm; so much for our “secret agent” gimmick.

7.00pm… our journey to the Mangalore train station begins… in the hope that we will not miss the train!

Note: I would like to give Sing Cher the credit for finding out information about getting to Coimbatore and for keeping in constant communication with our Lecturer, Mr Sudarshan and his dad. She was in fact the one who actually initiate that plan itself for that trip and got us all fired up to follow her.