Fast-Forward into tomorrow!!!

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"....Jab leher leher se takraye,
Dariya mein jo toofan aaye,
Tala tum woh kehlaye..."

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Time flies. Seems like yesterday that I was at the same point in time and it was in my second year. The unceasing running from one end of the football ground to the other end of the hall, legs feeling that they would never be able to stand again, rubbing my eyes as though I hadn't slept in a hundred years, and then feel all the tiredness just drain out of myself, as I stood on the catwalk watching thousands of diyas crackle into life-the moment into which had gone weeks of night-outs for so many people. Like all Diyas, these burnt out too. It was good while it lasted, and left an indelible impression.

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Its Illu-eve again.

Been much the same this year, more running around- inter-hall followed by inter-hall followed by dhop gathering sessions followed by some day-dreaming interspersed with some playful banter. Except that there were no wet tests this time-none of the thousands of diyas burning bright in their final dress rehearsal before the big day.

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There are Illu-eves and there are Illu-eves.

Like the one described below.

1.50 am: This is night, mind you, and it just became Illu eve at midnight-an hour and a half back. End of a hard day's work. Was passing my room with acroyali on our way to his room. Stopped short at the sound of the cell ringing with the special tone. Went in. Cell had 16 missed calls and a message waiting. Got a jhaar from her. Sweetest I ever had. Had my best sleep that night. All ready to meet up the day after. What I would have to miss for it didn't seem to be much in comparison. Still doesn't.

4.40 pm: Reach the hall after classes all geared for the last day of back-breaking work. Somehow it doesn't hurt anymore. Everybody's ready to handle all you can give them.

6.00 pm: The first signs of the sloth creeping in. People starting to gather in groups for bhaat sessions.

7.00 pm:The dinner gong

7.30pm: Back to the ground. Called by a senior. The final form of the dhops have to be drafted now.

9.30 pm: Dhop drafting over. Amazed as usual at the tempo this guy retains in his final year. Did most of the stuff himself. happily. I let him do it. happily!!!

10.00 pm: Final preparations for the last dress rehearsal. Some more banter with a couple of super-final year students. Adam-teasing, in my opinion, is what they did to me.

11 pm: A sight to behold. Every chatai, every diya alive, every shape etched vividly. Like they had finally found the moment for which they had been conceived. For a few minutes, everyone just stood and gaped, entranced.

11.05 pm: The reverie broken. An enthralled buzz, which slowly diffuses into the ever-rising din.

11.10 pm: Hits me for the first time that I would miss the grand finale. A pang of regret. Not strong enough to compare with my anticipation though.

11.30 pm: She called. All seems right with the world.

12 midnight: Hugs all round for an illu job well done. Everybody's doubly pumped for D-day now. A sight.

For just a few minutes, every ordeal in kgp seems worth it.

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"...Is tala tum mein hum,
Dil ki kashti sanam,
aa chuka lenge...."