College Picnic at palolem. P---putting your best foot forward I--- Inculcating the Spirit of Game of Life and Joy C –Cutting Ice through Grass N – Negating the Sharp Turns on a Sloppy way and Rough Sea I---- Inclined To Bring Out the Best of the Rest C---- Catering To the Wild Dreams
By Armstrong Vaz The scenic backdrop of the college surroundings was perfect blend for romantic bliss. New grown vegetation, wild shrubs and the hilly terrain home for the Cashew and mango fruit, a small hillock to take refuge, a diverse campus setting taking care of the varied looks of the youth at the height of their youth vigor. A fragrance of fresh flowers invited you for the strenuous or blissful day ahead of you in college as you disembark from the college city bus packed to its capacity with a khaki clad conductor ensuring that he got the best of returns from the fifty percent concession traveling students. His shirt smelling of the sweat on a hot sunny day and which needed an immediate wash The two banyan trees one which provided a perfect shade to the gurka or gate keeper from the blazing sun on hot sunny day. The other banyan tree provided a sitting place for students mostly girls to picture paint their teenage crush heroes from the institutions and plotting and planning their next maneuvers to profuse their liking for the dream hero of every reason and occasion. The end of the academic year was ringing in, the last days of the winter had just vanished and with it the chilly early morning dew. It was time for serious introspection in the next couple of weeks plunging one self deep into the hordes of books in tune with the examination time. The last dash of bash was waiting in the wings to unfold its magic, the magic of getting going for picnic. Cajetan- was puffing away his cigarette in style sitting on one of the wooden bench of the college canteen in utter disregard to the warning—cigarette smoking is injurious to health-- and -- principals standing orders-- both which were prominent on the walls which had big cracks enough for the snakes to creep in and play havoc with the girl students. Slim and attractive enough to invite the stares of his girl students, Cajie carried his quota of two cigarettes along with from the city to tide over the cigarette famine in college. Cajie sat in a round table chat with his friends Geroge , Anacelto, Feliciano, Ivan, Allwyn and Joel discussing arrangements and things to be put in their place for the upcoming fun and frolic of picnic. The canteen was one place the bunkers could bank on. Plotting and planning was their domain the noisy gang was the nomenclature they earned and they lived by the sobriquet. They ruled the 200 meter long passage of the college with disdain and calmness of the cunning foxes which strayed into the college campus, a passage which they had made their own which led to the 25 odd class room and a quarter of the laboratory . A passage which made or broke academic careers on which side of the coin you brushed your head. Heads rolling on the football ground with the bells ringing in the corridors shuffling through the thick pages making way through the end of the tunnel- brightness or dullness. Attending lectures were not noisy gang’s way of live- but cultivating the right contacts with a perfect blend was a cup full way of college life. John for history, Joseph for psychology, Vincent for English, Alice for mass communication, Sheila for Geography-- were all student’s tutors and good Samatarians. Principals have changed, the college premises have changed from a small goan style titled mangalore roof eight room house to the modern one storey building. A building which reflected the changing façade of education and a system a far cry from the early post liberation system where opportunities inthis state came far and few in between. Picnic was a time to run the hair down, pin one to the sand, and bring out the hidden talent, come out of the introvert shell, express and do things which the bubbling energy synthesizers had no chance to do in the corridors, canteen and on the wooden desk of the classroom. The Picninc planning revolved around the girtls without them anything would not move. The final word of favour forward came- spot, planning, day and transport. The building blocks were Sandra Sydney, sumita, Fiona, Maria, sheela and alice. Palolem haunted house of the figueredo’s played the perfect hostesses to the college picnic with white skinned tourists to the minimum . Minimum they were as the urbanization and hippie crazy of the 70’s was yet to rotate into the late 90’s. Briyani, Sandwiches, crockets, folk songs with Cajetan belting his fingers hapzardingly on the stringed guitar set the tone for the picnic mood. Unmindful of the din two Israelis with long black hair were smoking chillum on the huge black rock which stood out on the hillock. The strong smell of ganga- the relief powder for the Israelis, just back from the rigorous military training. Traveling with the winds down beneath was the smell which made the nasal senses run high, where the picnic group had perched itself. Palolem of the 90’s were concrete structure, open pig toilets, and sand mining was slowing creeping in the face of the toursists onslaught and the urban craze. A tan sufficient enough to give her dark brown skin a glow, a tan radiating on her face in a smile, a smile which made one forget one worries and study woes, with the brain cells tickling for action real hot action, appeal which gelled with her expressive eyes changing in expression and surprise, an appeal which swung well with her medium built height. Her fixation came throwing arrows of attention for red as hot chilly lips of Joseph a smile, which made fountains spread even wider and chubby faced which watered barren deserts for Alice. Face, smile and lips- food for thought on the mattress and fodder for thought in pause of study lessons. Picnic was the time to say that in words and to seal it with a kiss on the white shining sands of palolem many a romantic dream land for many. The hillocks on either end converging to meet in deep waters as the two sealed it with a kiss. Alice has sent the fire ball rolling into Joseph”s heart. A thunder bolt which struck on to josephs heart, with ocean of storm lashing each other heartthrob. The spark has ignited and the fire glowed underneath the skin. Love affection, sympathy, concern and a shoulder to shoulder push emerged. Picnic had just blossom the love tree. Live love grows. The long treacherous journey of love has just begun on the silvery sands with all the ingredients. The sleepless night, dreams and blending of hearts has just rolled on.