Tea Time

-9-
The noise of cheering to lift up the team spirit while playing volleyball at the hostel courtyard shook me out of the afternoon slumber. The excitement amongst the players was creating a wild uproar and despite my attempts to embrace sleep by changing positions, the lovely slumber was fast eluding. The corridor was silent and appeared deserted, Dipanjan's room was open, he was immersed in The Times of India with his glasses fixed on the tip of his nose after covering the long journey over his nose, the cigarette without filter was hanging between his lips and smoke was standing like a stick aspiring to touch the ceiling. We called him Deep more for convenience of pronunciation than affection. My sudden entry startled him and demolished the tall ash over the smouldering cigarette. He however welcomed me with a radiant smile and pushed the cigarette pack towards me. I extracted one from the pack, it was a cigarette without filter and was smoked regularly,only at the confines of the hostel, outside hostel only cigarettes with proper filter were smoked. No one questioned or broke the unrevealed rule but all smokers followed it religiously.
“India and China bilateral relations gets a boost” blurted Deep while keeping away the newspaper. He continued “ You know what, this economic relation is nothing but an eyewash, we poor Indians will consume more of Chinese goods and these so called economists would realize it too late”.
I frowned while emitting a thick blue smoke and crushed the remnant of the cigarette in an overflowing ashtray. Deep pulled out his glasses and wiped it with the flowing window curtain and then thoughtfully said while placing it back “What is your opinion”. “Er...Hmm...where is Sandeep, he can throw some real light on such dark events” I opined with a mischievous grin. Deep's slightly open mouth turned to a big smile. He called out while knocking on the wall “Sandeep....Sandeep...you are wanted”.
“Tumne pukara aur hum chale aaye...jaan hateli pe le aaye...” Sandeep strode in singing while brushing his hair with fingers. Sandeep was alloted the room adjacent to Deep's and their rooms were separated by 4-9/16” thick wall, all rooms were however separated in the same dimension. A knock from one end was generally reciprocated by one or two knocks from the other end, this symbol bore no clear communication apart from the assumption that one was remembered. Bindu, hearing the mild hubbub joined us “ Have you all thought anything about the project and the presentation to be made tomorrow”, he said,delighted and relieved to notice that it was not only he who was not engaged academically.
“There is a whole evening and a long night between now and the presentations”I said cheerfully. Everyone looked at me expectantly. “ It is time to consume some tea at the mess and evaluate the skills of the moron cooks” I continued.

In the meanwhile Dinow clapped and announced while crossing the room “ Taime for tee gais, harry aap aar I will braik your hed”. He imitated Dr.Swain quite well. Everyone started for tea downstairs amidst laughter, smiles, whistling, small talks, someone playfully swirling the key chain, some fixing the strap of sandal while walking.
All entered the mess like a gush of air making the dining area abuzz with activity.

Oblivious of this din, Sanjiv, in his room,was engrossed making notes, referring books that lay spread all over his bed and table while smoking his King Size Cigarettes.