Roomjacked

I have never really loved Jaipur summers in MNIT. But the one thing which motivated me to stay in 'MY' - and this word is of immense importance here - room was the strategically placed Khaitan cooler. The feeling when you splash the first mug of cold water in a bath - that is the feeling I used to get every moment in my room.

I still do, but I'm not alone.

Like a mouse who quietly snuggles into your room until you realize that hole in your LAN cable (I should really think of the internet less often, but that's another story), like the diplomat who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip, like all other similar 'likes' possible, the pied Piper of Columbia University in the city of New York a.k.a Piper, Veni, Vidi and Vici-ed MY room, not even consciously making me realize, until now.

And for once, the interesting part is not the end (makes me remember the grading system in MNIT!) but the means. The tricks, the tactics, the theory, all seems so evident now. So much so, I feel the urge to give Piper a high five (and kick his butt with the same intensity!).

The 'helping-me-fill-water-in-the-cooler' tactic: Piper, with a generous serving of his friendly nature, offers to fill in a bucketful of water in the cooler and by the time you say a 'yes', the job is already done. Such swiftness and speed, you have to be there to believe it! Needless to say, he stays in the room after that.

The 'let's-chill-out-and spend-some-quality-time-yaar' rhetoric: "Yaar, I can't remember the last time we saw a movie together, lets watch any flick from your mighty 1TB collection na!" ( I feel happy about the movie collection and Piper scores yet another!)

The 'man-of-contradiction-theory': "I know that you will not let me stay in your room today." *sad face* Now, anyone and everyone would fall for this. I reassure him that he can stay. (and still not believe I told that!)

The 'I don't want to disturb you anymore' masterstroke: You feel this inexplicable enthu as you see Piper packing up his stuff (all of it, the bag, the laptop, the pillows, all except the wardrobe) and leaving the room, promising never to bother again for so long. Then, you go to class and happily return, only to find him waiting outside your room with all his equipment, the soldier in Piper standing tall (pun intended!) and unforgiving.

And here I am, writing this memoir as Piper sleeps his way to bliss on my bed; not that I didn't get to sleep on the bed, but for the space I got, it felt like heaven, only that you had your limbs tied in that heaven, for the keeper (Piper, of course, its HIS room now!) is on the higher side of the weight scale.

-Sumeet Seth