Dorm Days

4

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"Oh bhaii kya hai ye.. khane layak kuch dete hai kya ye log?" Although she was never taught to disrespect food, Heer knew it was impossible to eat. She turned to Maher who was already holding her puke. Her eyes filled with tears due to the constant gagging noise she made.

( What's this.. Will they give anything edible to us anytime?)

The frown on Heer's face was soon replaced by a suppressed laugh. Both Kashvi and Dia snickered looking at Maher's condition. She was having an expression of leaving this earth in no time soon.

How the fuck this mess cooks named something 'Mixed vegetable bhaji' when it had only lauki and tomatoes that too coarsely chopped. The oil on the top was enough to get you a good bedrest for weeks.

"Haslo haslo mai bhi dekhungi yahan se lauki kon shift karata hai glass se dustbin tak.. Aur waise bhi checking duty aaj G4 walon ki hai" Maher smirked. She was a meticulous schemer in this. How she hid her filled-with-waste glass from the one who inspects the plates was covert.

(Laugh now I'll see who'll shift all your gourds from glass to dustbin.. Moreover today's checking duty is assigned to G4)

Besides girls of G4 were even worse than the actual food when it came to inspecting. All they waited for was complaining JKH regarding her house kids. Once when a girl kept a small piece of half-cooked roti as a leftover, they had run all around the mess just to say "dekhiye mam G1 walon ka ye haal hai"

( Here mam! This is what G1 girls do)

"Huh!! Waise shift toh tujhe hi karni hai" Kashvi said sheepishly for which Maher gave her a haughty smile.
(Whatever.. It's you who'd shift)

"Aunty thoda kam.. aur zyada kam.. thoda sa aur kam karo naa" The serving aunty who was now annoyed dipped the spoon in the vessel, pulled out a large serve and tossed on Dia's plate
( Aunty a bit less.. A bit more.. Please do a bit less)

"Aunty ye kya kar diaaaa" Dia stood back baffled. No way she was going to eat this much of lauki
(what have you done)

"Bulau mam ko?? Bulauu??" Threatening her, the serving aunty moved on to serve others. Dia mouthed a small "mar jaa kutti" and moved ahead not before stomping her foot.
(Shall I inform your mam?)

"Deeptii sunn! Lauki ki sabzi chahiye??"  Heer whispered once as she sat. The other trio also looked at her pleadingly.
(Listen! You need veggies?)

"Thoda dedo.. Bass thoda" Deepti forwarded her plate and all the four dumped some of their dishes.
(Just a bit)

"Pata tha teri gandi taste hai.. Par itni?? Mujhe kya lele" Dia pulled back her plate which now looked almost better.

(I knew you had a bad taste.. But this much?? Whatever, you take this)

"Aeyy mujhe lauki-latrine samjha hai kya.. Nikalo sab itne mai toh mar jaaungi" Requesting them was a vain attempt when they did not even pay heed to her and turned back eating. Deepti however stuffed, chugging down water in each bite.

(What do you think of me.. Take it back or else I'll die eating this much)

That's how most of the hostel food is. A challenge ready to be embraced. Soggy vegetables, overcooked and bland. Curry almost ready to supply water for deserts when filtered. Yet it's a reminder that even in the toughest of places, we can find the joy, the laughter, and the cheer. Amidst all the chaos and groans, we do miss it secretly when out.