My hostel days - Room-mates
Hostel brings a lot of memories and a single post may not suffice for the kind of student life I lived, friends and people (all sorts) I interacted with. Most times I was lucky with my roommates. One year it was my cousin. She was like a protective big sister I was not used to and I did find her bossy at times, and she insisted on packing my suitcase even when we had a fight:) I was doing it so clumsily, she said, she couldn't help herself. We were a biggish group of 5 girls and we had fun times. Another year, I shared with another friend, part of the same gang, and I would say that was the best and most chilled out room-mate I've had so far. We both understood the concept of space very well:)
The year after was this spoilt little rich kid. She was a school topper and thought no end of herself. She kept her study table clean and that's all. I had some vessels - plates, a pan - she would borrow them and never clean them. Inspite of telling her like a 100 times, she was pretty thick-skinned and snobbish. In the early days, she used to miss home and home food. I used to visit my Masi's and would share generously.
She was once expecting someone from home and thus lots of tuck too. Once in a while to boost her spirits I would say, so you're going to meet your cousin etc and get tuck from home, so cheer up. So the day dawned and she went to meet her visitor downstairs, etc. A couple of days later, she showed me a jar with some savoury snacks. I told her, OK, so your tuck has arrived, she said this is all there is. I said, ok, enjoy it while it lasts. A few days later, when my eraser had fallen under her bed, I saw a bag full of food and I was shocked. I really found it cheap. I wondered what kind of impression I must have given her - someone waiting to pounce on her stuff? I think not. I remember being very indifferent to her from then on and not being overly enthusiastic when anybody mentioned food :)
My bad karma cycle lasted for 2 consecutive years. The next year I had this girl who has returned from UK. She used to wear these 4-inch boots (can you imagine in the humid Mumbai weather) all throughout the day to appear tall. She was very pretty, with brown-green eyes fringed with thick eyelashes and long black hair, which she never combed. She was friendly too but I became disgusted with her when I discovered she was using my shampoo, tooth-paste and even soap!!! Forget detergent, music system, books all that was assumed to be common property anyway. I just told her to continue using my soap, I'd get a new one, when no amount of straight talk made any difference to her and she did just that!! My only solace was she would go to her hometown every weekend and I had the room to myself or I would've gone near crazy.
When I moved to the PG I encountered pretty reasonable people and I almost cried with relief. Life was really much easier then.
The year after was this spoilt little rich kid. She was a school topper and thought no end of herself. She kept her study table clean and that's all. I had some vessels - plates, a pan - she would borrow them and never clean them. Inspite of telling her like a 100 times, she was pretty thick-skinned and snobbish. In the early days, she used to miss home and home food. I used to visit my Masi's and would share generously.
She was once expecting someone from home and thus lots of tuck too. Once in a while to boost her spirits I would say, so you're going to meet your cousin etc and get tuck from home, so cheer up. So the day dawned and she went to meet her visitor downstairs, etc. A couple of days later, she showed me a jar with some savoury snacks. I told her, OK, so your tuck has arrived, she said this is all there is. I said, ok, enjoy it while it lasts. A few days later, when my eraser had fallen under her bed, I saw a bag full of food and I was shocked. I really found it cheap. I wondered what kind of impression I must have given her - someone waiting to pounce on her stuff? I think not. I remember being very indifferent to her from then on and not being overly enthusiastic when anybody mentioned food :)
My bad karma cycle lasted for 2 consecutive years. The next year I had this girl who has returned from UK. She used to wear these 4-inch boots (can you imagine in the humid Mumbai weather) all throughout the day to appear tall. She was very pretty, with brown-green eyes fringed with thick eyelashes and long black hair, which she never combed. She was friendly too but I became disgusted with her when I discovered she was using my shampoo, tooth-paste and even soap!!! Forget detergent, music system, books all that was assumed to be common property anyway. I just told her to continue using my soap, I'd get a new one, when no amount of straight talk made any difference to her and she did just that!! My only solace was she would go to her hometown every weekend and I had the room to myself or I would've gone near crazy.
When I moved to the PG I encountered pretty reasonable people and I almost cried with relief. Life was really much easier then.
.JPG)
I had never been in hostel or pg's though I wanted to experience it.. At college days, I have secretly envied my friends who stayed in hostel.. can you believe that? Ah well the grass is always greener on the other side :)
ReplyDeletethe 2 yrs of experience you have written sounds scary..
It was it was Ani! I preferred to be in my room only to sleep. But hostel life is fun, it gives you a mixed bag of experiences:)
DeleteSounds like a pretty varied bunch of room-mates! Its true - you need some seriously good karma to land up with decent ones!
ReplyDeleteYes Aparna, one has to be lucky. I would've said easy-going too but there is a limit to that!
DeleteLOL at your cousin wanting pack your bag!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have so much of hostel life experience!!!
I didn't stay at hostel, but when i started working, shared the quarter with 2 other girls. One of them was a friend and another one became friend :)
We actually had fun, but i know of many horror stories of sharing rooms with other girls...Actually one of the girl, who had stayed in the hostels for the most part of her studies told me that this is the first time she was staying with 2 other girls, but didn't have a single fight!!!
You are indeed lucky, ZM! Could also be that my hostel experience was during college days when all of us were younger. I think that does makes a difference too. Of course, ultimately everyone has to make an effort to get along too:)
DeleteI have never had any experience of staying in a hostel. Looking back, I think I had a very, very, very sheltered life. It had its own benefits,but its own drawbacks as well. Anyways...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. How much of life experience you would have gained during your hostel days! I can only imagine!
Loved the use of the word 'tuck' here. Never heard anyone use it in this sense before. :)
Oh, tell me about people considering your property as their own and laying hands on it without your permission. I have experienced that far too much. :(
Thanks TGND, looking back I think I would've loved to stay longer with my parents and wish I'd moved out much later in life.
ReplyDeleteHostel life has it's fun though and I believe one learns from every situation.
Hey, I read 'tuck' first in Enid Blyton's Malory Towers and St. Clares Books.
You have to practice saying No. Imagine it is absurd when people take offence when you say no to using your stuff. Ulta chor and all that.
wow..that's sure a whole lot of hostel experience..you know, I so wanted to experience a hostel life but my parents were so damm over protective..I get a trifle annoyed even now when I think of that!
ReplyDeleteI know, it is hard at times, the instances you've mentioned are proof enough..but it is also so much learning, right? You learn early enough how unfair life is and how you can deal with unfair people..
Yes Uma, hostel is a mixed bag of experiences. My mother was very protective of me too. I don't know honestly if I can let my kids stay in a hostel:)
Delete