Back to the beginning - the return to ACJ story

We entered from the road from the opposite direction - I'm so used to entering from the other side
A trip back to where it all began...
I feel this tingling in my gut - I have definitely felt it before
Noo, it couldn't be, could it? What else could be the reason? it has to be...
Flashes of memory - of moments long ago - of feelings felt and never forgotten
The first time - the entrance exam - i felt the tingle - it was much more
The first day- it was there but different
The return - the tingle is back as Nelly screeches up the entrance
I park where i always do - but something feels different this time
We walk back into our past - a picture of something special
a look at Yolanda's surprise - like something she least expected
a few glances around...
A girl hurries past - short hair, glasses, a purposeful walk -- I'm guessing a broadcast student - story due on Monday.

A trip up the stairs - scenes of long ago - more memories of the past
When we looked at seniors with unfamilar faces in the known crowd
Now we were the unknown faces...at least with one exception... "SAIKAT" a voice travels
"You must be Saikat Niyogi" , "yes thats right" a tone trying to sound surprised
A walk up the stairs past a sweet face buried in a book - this batch's Chinmayi perhaps

We pass our lockers and stop and tug at some handles to remember the times like they used to be
We stand or kneel at our lockers and look at each other - "Man, those were the days"
Meet the lab guy - to whom i ask, "does the server still keep crashing?" to which he nods saying,"it happens." Some things never change.
Enter the library - the cemetery more likely- the silence is deathly- you can hear a pindrop.
You'd think it was empty- but they were as many people as on some days when we had quizes.
A guy on the leftmost desk had six books piled one on top of the other.
A few upward glances and they return to their work.

A stroll to peruse past accomplishments - the word
The glances as we walk by become more knowing - is it who they think it is?
The approach - Three quick steps followed by two slower ones - the girl reaches the shelf
"Are you Saikat Niyogi?" "Yes, and you are...
An extravagant hand movement followed by a step closer and a lean ... words whispered that were hardly audible
too late, two males had arrived realsing who it was that was here.
a conversation ensues mainly about woes of ACJ and questions whether it gets better
The decibel level goes slightly higher
Enter long hair, smile, Live life to the fullest attitude - "Are you guys having the key issues meeting here?"
"Oh, sorry" on seeing an unfamiliar face.
She walks straight past, reaches for the nearest book and listens.
The sound level increases a little more... A loud SHHHHHH..... from the nearest table
Ooooooh, thats cold! She looks like someone we know and sounds like someone else we know.
The ACJ batch of 2004 seems to have a lot of clones in the current batch to whom they have passed many of their qualities.

The labs are pretty much the same ...the messages are in early this year
"DOnt you dare sit here", "i'll be right back" "This is my comp" - For God's sake, even the names of the people are the same. Ah there's a new name - even that sounds like a name we know.
Another clone starts on her work - her voice and her mannerisms are uncannily familiar.

A trip to the terrace to catch up with one from the present batch
Oh there is something new - the railings - for safety - guess now there's no risk of anyone falling off now
We walk to the table in the centre of the terrace
We pause - look at it and at each other - we're thinking the same thing and are speechless until Nelly puts it in words...
"You can see them, can't you? She'll be sitting here next to this person and talkin to that person drinking coffee." We see them there and reminisce about priceless memories...
"Mann, we miss ACJ so much."