Mr Kumar was anxious about the date 07-July-2007. That day his elder son was going to join his first job after finishing his college studies, while his younger son was going to join engineering college after completing his school studies. The particular date being an extraordinary configuration of three sevens, in essence epitomized the three protagonist of this story. Undoubtedly all the three were bond themselves in their own way, within their own eyes at least.
The younger son Rajiv personified the so called 'lucky seven' character. Despite his rather impulsive and reckless ways, he always had a lucky way out of even extreme tricky situations. The elder son Rahul was the more dashing & flamboyant brother of the two, a total lady charmer as you can call, and would essentially personify the 'lucky lips' character of Cliff Richard. Their father Mr Rajesh Kumar was the cheerful & optimistic 'happy go lucky' character who could always manage to have a smile on his face, despite how odd the situation may be.
Mr Kumar felt happy that his younger son Rajiv was joining the same college from which he himself had completed his engineering. It is but natural for any father to take a special pride in the fact that his progeny gets a chance to study in the same alma mater. Mr Kumar was even gladder about the fact that Rajiv was allotted the same hostel for staying, in which he had spent his most memorable four years of life.
Though they stayed in the same city, however the college being about fifteen kms far from their home, it was felt that instead of commuting for such distances daily, it is better to reside in the hostel. Rajiv had been extremely delighted at the idea of putting up in a hostel, but Mr Kumar took a solemn promise that excepting exams days, Rajiv would never fail to come home during the weekends.
The new office of the MNC bank was also very far from their home, in which Rahul was to join today. However the new metro route made commuting from their home easier. Rahul was never good or serious in academics ever, but he managed well to get through a B grade Management school after his graduation. His smart manners and poise coupled with his good extra-curricular achievements helped him to get a good job with an MNC bank, during the campus.
A somewhat traditional Mr Kumar was not particularly happy about his son working for some MNC bank. Mr Kumar had always believed that the MNC’s were prime responsible for draining out the best brains out of the country. Like many other of his times, Mr Kumar’s dream was that his one son becomes a doctor, and another an engineer and then they both get to work in the Govt or Public services. To that extent Rahul had completely disappointed him, but Mr Kumar still had some hopes pinned on his younger son.
While going through the morning newspaper, Mr Kumar waited eagerly at the breakfast table. It was 8 o clock, and there was no sight of either of his sons. Rajeev was frantically packing his belongings. Despite constant reminders from his mother for the past whole week, Rajiv could only manage to do his packing on the morning he was to leave for his college and hostel. Like many others perhaps, Rajiv had this particular trait of doing things at the very last minute. It was not only just being lazy, but still a higher pleasure and thrill of making a crisis situation out of nonentity. Rahul was no better. Rahul had gone to sleep only three hours ago, after the night out party with friends. Having to join a job is equated with end of the student life, and the associated joys of free time to hang up with friends. So the last night of such freedom had to be obviously boozed out. But then getting overboard had always been the case with Rahul. After much pestering from his mother, Rahul finally woke up with a heavy head, and needless to say with a big hangover.
Mr Kumar felt relieved that his sons could finally join him before he was finished with his breakfast. Mr Kumar felt puzzled to note the outfits both of them were wearing. Well it would be common sense to expect the one who is going to join his job shall be in an office outfit with neatly ironed formal shirt and trousers, while anyone going for his college should be in jeans and t-shirt. But it was totally the opposite, and Mr Kumar could not help ask the reason. Rahul says “Chill out Dad, formal offices are a thing of the past, and working in MNC’s is much different from your typical govt offices, and the crowd is also very young and peppy and I do not wish to spoil my first impression”. Mr Kumar wondered if Rahul made any sense, because he sounded as if he was going to some mall where he is supposed to impress the young and peppy things around. Rajiv gave a much more mature explanation “Dad I have found out that formal shirt and trouser shall be the dress code for three weeks for all fachhaas”. Initially Mr Kumar thought he heard some derogatory four letter word, but Rajiv was quick to note and clarify “fachha means fresher dad, and that is how I have to bear my dressing all during the ragging time till fresher’s nite”
It suddenly dawned upon Mr Kumar that times have really changed so very much from his own time. Mr Kumar thought that one would have worn their best dress at such historic events of life, but here his sons behaved as if it was just another passing day of their life. Mr Kumar recalled how in his times of limited opportunities it used to take so much of physical and mental hard work to get into an engineering college or to get a good job, but now days the young generation hardly value such achievements.
Mr Kumar announced that Rahul would be dropped first to the nearest metro station, while he would be escorting Rajiv all the way to his college. Rajiv thought how primitive would that look for any guy to be escorted by his parents to college, but he thought against protesting. Mr Kumar on the other hand felt very excited to step inside his alma mater again, after so many years.
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