A Stranger In Pune: Survival of the Fittest

Chapter 3: The conclusion

A year of patience, continuous calls, messages, rejection and heart breaks.. “Ha Ha” I am not talking about a love story, you people and I’m not going to talk such. Don’t worry, just settle down as I try to finish the conclusion of my journey.

Although I was a stranger as I reached Pune and started to mingle with the people the feeling of being stranger started to fade away with the time. As I was done with my police verification and to fetch my Residential permit I went to the Foreign Regional Registration Office in Pune, which was situated in the police commissioner’s office. As I reached there I saw so much punctual people which they should get an award to be on time. Although the office hours starts at ten a.m. and even I was there around 10.15. none of the counters were ready to serve the people who came there for their service. They were simply walking around just having tea and arranging their desks. Talking on mobile and taking selfies. “Seriously?” Then they could have told the working hour starts around 10.30 a.m right? But What to do if they do so however the work will eventually start at 11.a.m so let it be, I was just simply saying these to myself..

As I reached an officer he told that I need a Unique I.D for my registration. As I am unknown about this new term which was called “Unique I.D.” I further inquired him how to obtain one, he told that contact the “International Centre” of your university and they will help you. So I returned back and went to the “International Centre”. When I try to inquire them some of the staffs’ faces were puzzled more than mine and they didn't even know what a Unique I.D. is As I am standing there with confusion, a girl who came there for some documentation work from another country so me suffering and she elaborated about Unique I.D. She explained that it is provided by the respective colleges where you studying not the international centre, furthermore she told that she got her I.D from the college she was studying and she told that she don’t know about the university procedure. After sometime one person from the Centre told me to contact my respective department for the specific necessity.

So I reached my department and tried to find a solution for this confusion from the administrative people. As I’m so close with bad luck, there goes another confusion amongst them, as they also don’t know what Unique I.D really is. I was like “WHAT??” inside my head there was world war 3 going on. To make them understand and to get a clear idea about this problem, finally I contacted my Sri Lankan friend and asked him, he told me to go his department as they already been proving these Unique I.Ds to students so they will guide you to obtain one and also he gave his bonafide Letter which consisted his Unique I.D. for further reference.

 After that I took the Office person from my Department to my friend’s Department. There they explained all the procedures in detail. After that we came back and tried to register me for a Unique I.D but then only we got to know that our department is not yet been registered with the Foreigner registration system to provide a Unique I.D. What to say about my bad luck? Everywhere is a obstacle freshly being prepared for me I thought, But my department people were so curious to solve this problem so they tried their best. The office person himself made an application and sent that to the police station to activate the registration system, the registration process took long and the system got activated by next Monday. So I had to wait for a whole week. Finally I got the Unique I.D and finished off with all my regulations.

During this period I started to get along with people in my class, started to talk with them share my views and get to know about theirs as well. Good people, good talks, as I started to talk with them, the distance we had started to get reduced, Tasting the typical local food, getting to know about the cultures made me to think more and made me to know more as well. Eventually the days became awesome. I started to make nick names for almost everyone in the class and greeted all with the best smile that I could give. These made me one step closer to them. As my good luck being lifted up the Fresher’s Day came by, this made me to get along with the seniors as well as my classmates.

Fresher’s Day was truly an awesome day in Pune I may say. As the day started off with a lecture but along the day it turned out to be a very good one. I didn't mean that the lecture was not good. Its good only but we were not ready to learn and it would have been awesome if we were ready to learn that’s all I tried to say, hopefully that day all were in a mood to enjoy, That’s it.

Games, laughs, ramp walk, Dances, music, Songs and finally I got crowned as Mr. Fresher as well. (See I noted that I got Mr. Fresher, OK? – Actually my Friends told me to note it.) Strangers became classmates and classmates became friends. Later on the days turned out to be good, from 9-6 however we would be hanging around in the laboratory that made me to know all.

Language is kinda barrier to me, I try my maximum to overcome that, whenever people around me talking in Marathi, it feels little awkward only not because it’s wrong, just because I couldn't be able to understand it. I try to ask them, sometimes they tell but sometimes they just laugh and tells nothing. I know it can be nothing but that laughs makes me feel uneasy. Some really takes their time and explains everything but I cannot expect that to happen always right?, Some words I can understand with the flow but sometimes it feels like I’m inside a dark jungle with my eyes tied up as well. Ya, I know it’s a problem that they also can’t do anything about it. People who belongs to a nativity will speak the local language only, it just happens and they don’t do it deliberately.

Sometimes I feel like I’m the odd man out, that time I try myself to get along, ignore what they speaking in their local language and will quietly stand there with a smile. It’s easy to walk away and stay alone. But walking away will take me totally away and that I really don’t want to happen. People are so good, each and everyone has their own quality of uniqueness with them, that’s what makes them who they really are. It’s fascinating to see each and everyone how they talk get along and share things. Sometimes things are surprising and sometimes things are usual as I expected.

As for my conclusion...

An awesome class filled with awesome people no words to explain about them simply I call them my family as they accepted me with so much love and they accepted me in the way I am. Lovely University the atmosphere, the monsoon weather, the evening drizzles, the roads, buzzing vehicles, and rides in my bicycle makes my life something interesting. And the book of life happily started to add pages about Pune with so good memories. More to tell and more to share, but let it be personal to make it more valuable...

“Life is simply something what we learn, by what we get from it”

~Kohulan.R

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A Stranger in Pune - Rough Rides

Chapter 2

After so much running, traveling the tiredness grasped me and made me sleep so long that even the drizzling weather which gave an awesome atmosphere that knocked me out for several hours, but my sleep’s bigger enemy “my alarm clock” woke me up without letting my sleep to fulfill my dreams. And yet another day started in the Pune city..

As I stepped out with my newly met friend, who came to take me to the university with his bike, we introduced ourselves and started moving. As we got on to the bike the nature started crying and weeping a lot. We knew it’s not gonna stop so we rushed towards the university, especially towards the international Centre. When we ended up there we met our best friend known as the “Problem”.And there goes the first problem, It was raised as such that I didn't give a printed copy of my application form and I should get it printed to get verified with my other documents.So what to do, we went to take a printout in the Internet café which is situated inside the campus. Although we thought it would be easy, but there was a big queue and the manager of it made me us wait as he also asked for id to let us use a computer.

I was so puzzled to see this, these things are so new to me and I was wondering why these people act like this. I don’t complain about all of them but at points these sort of things irritates a lot. Being a foreigner from a country known to its friendly atmosphere, in a country which is also known its friendliness these things, I didn't even expect at all. As my thoughts were growing my friend called me and gave “Parle-G”, a biscuit which is known as the world’s highest selling biscuit and also a good, cheap one quenched my hunger for a bit. I was standing there for minutes as I saw a guy who was just browsing “Facebook” without doing any important work but there are people outside who all are waiting to do their work, But an idea stroked my head. I just went near to him, the one who was lost in Facebook, told my problem and told that I just need a printout only nothing much. He was so kind though to accept my request and he let me use the computer.

After thanking him took my printout and went back. Got my documents all verified and asked for my “challan” (Bank Draft) to pay my admission fee. They just told “you will get that by evening in your login ID”, even though I requested them to provide that to me now, they didn’t listen to it at all. Ya, I know there are regulations for them as well. So I couldn’t bother them more, I took my friend and rushed towards my department. Actually he was the one taking me everywhere. My mind was filled was thanking him loads and all the Srilankans who gave me faith to do all these procedures even with all these difficulties that I was facing.

The department again welcomed me, took all the documents and asked for copies of them. I gave the copies to them but they wanted it as attested copies. But I told them that I’m new to here, suddenly how to get attested from someone? And I asked them that can I get attested from a lecturer of our department? But the person who was doing these admission procedures told “NO, you must get attested from a professor of any other department so it would be good for you”. “When everything is going wrong how this would go right” I asked. He told “You go and ask from any department, with all your copies and original documents and they will do it”, he said. So helpless I was, sadly came out and took my friend we visited several departments and ended up with failures as I expected, “How could they attest my documents without knowing me?”, I just asked myself all the way. Then only my friend told let’s meet “Podi Hamaduruvo”, (A Srilankan Monk now who is my dearest friend and my hostel mate who guided me in all other works of mine). So we went and met him, he greeted us and told us to take lunch with him, at last someone really helped us to get rid of our hunger, and we both really were starving a lot at that moment.

Ate there and asked him about the hostel to get admitted there. He told you give an application with a “bonafide” letter from your department and it would be done. After that I explained the attesting problem, so he told he’ll help and took us to a Buddhist temple which is situated inside the campus. There we met another generous man who told us to go political science department and get the work done. As we went there got signed from a professor, I went to get the official seal from the office of that department but they didn’t even listen to me, started shouting at me and told “Get Out” very harshly. There goes my vision towards Punekar which again got spoilt. But I didn’t lose hope I explained to him that I’m a Srilankan and my problem, after keeping me there for 25 minutes he gave the official seal/stamp. I thanked him and thought after all he is not bad that at last he understood me.

After saying bye to our new friend we went towards my department gave all the attested copies and requested him for a bonafide letter, he told he’ll get it done by tomorrow, so we went back home peacefully.

The next day again started with rough rides, as I ended up in the bank and got to know the banking hour begins from 10am. “Seriously?? “ I asked myself because I’m there by 9am. What to do, I waited for an hour, paid my admission fee and handed over the payment slip to the International Centre and asked for my admission letter. They told “you upload these copies to your account and you will receive your admission letter”, but I explained that I don’t have any sort of internet facilities. They asked “Don’t you have phone?”, but I told “I don’t have a sim”. He told ok go to a net café and he just went. I was like “what the **” but what would they do, they made these automated systems to help us only.

But I didn’t want to end up in the same old café I suffered, so I went to meet my Srilankan friend who is in the hostel. And he helped me to upload my copies. I uploaded them had my lunch with him and went to my department. Collected all my documents from the office as I tried to get out, I met three freaks of my class (No offense girls), Who also became my friends later on. After introducing myself to them I left that place and went back home.

Then I applied for a new sim card under my friend’s name because I didn’t have a proper place to stay yet, as they request resident proof and all to provide a sim card. We paid the money and asked when it will get activated, the retailer told that it would take two days to get activated because I’m a foreigner. Even though it didn’t get activated after two days at the end, he made me to submit all my documents again and after a week I got my sim card activated. What to do? When the problems just come and hug me even though I broke up with them, “Ha Ha” they love me a lot won’t they? All have enormous rules for them and everywhere is like I have to submit at least 5 documents, forms and a photograph to get my work done.

As the next day when I attended my first official class, I met few of my classmates and greeted them. I was so silent and just told “hi” and didn’t even speak much. My face was filled with confusion, I really felt like an alien and I felt so alone. Many things in my mind admission letter, hostel, police verification and Residential permit just everything. I couldn’t even speak properly, saw all faces that was in my class and they were looking at me with so many questions. I felt little embarrassed as I was noted by all. But it’s natural because I’m the only one from another country.

The best thing is the same class who made me to think that I’m an alien now made me to realize that I’m in a much safer place. As well as they became my very good friends as well.

Even though I’m a naughty, notorious person I kept calm for few days. After four days I got my hostel and the settling progress is still going on as some of the work is still pending. Punekar now became my friends actually the thought I previously had about these people changed because of my classmates, because of their friendliness which made me so comfortable being with them and them being around me.

There are years more to come but now this my place, this is my family and this is my life. Being “cool” is the only way I knew. As now I’m almost settled, cared by my classmates and by my lovable Srilankans as well. New people may call me that I’m silent, filled with attitude and bla bla but the people who knows me will miss me when I’m not there for sure ;)

To be continued…

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A Stranger in Pune - Struggle and survival

Chapter 1

It’s been a year that I didn't write anything but just poems, I don’t know what kept me or what stopped me from writing, when it’s been my true companion where I express myself fully without any hesitation.

Every time when we try to talk with someone what strikes our mind first? “Oh can I tell this to him/ her? What would happen next?” these are the questions which haunts are mind, which actually stops us to get mingled with people. It’s not only my problem but it happens to everybody, the basic thing is that we are afraid of an unknown person, when we try to talk with someone just a fear surrounds us, making us to think what all he /she could steal away from us, so we always keep a step back.

Ok ok enough, let’s come to my story otherwise you would get bored with all those tempting words right?

Pune, another chapter in my days in India hopefully it is going to last for two years from now. As I landed in Mumbai I got an expression on my face “Oh, wow! What an interior an how big it is” but when I stepped out of the airport and got into a cab, as it moved towards the streets of Mumbai then I got to know the real Mumbai and even I didn't expect the perfect scenario cause India is in its way towards “Vision 2020” we can expect a better nation in future but the first impression is kinda not cool.

As the roads touched the highways, the cab began to roll as faster as it’s allowed towards Pune, the land which Indians call as the oxford of the east. Reached Pune, as I got picked up by my wonderful Sri-Lankan friends the time I felt like that I ended up somewhere safe after a long tiresome journey. The hands where I belong took care of me that I can relate easily. Roads filled with water, bikes rushing, humid and drizzling weather. Seemed OK because its monsoon as they said, but I didn't sleep at home, even after landing I troubled those wonderful girls who troubled themselves for me to take me towards the university to do all the necessary formalities for the day, they simply took an immense time and patience to get me settled properly.

Even though a slightest fear in a nook inside my mind, whether I got lost in a deep jungle? Questions sparkled silently. But faith and the smile from my wonderful Srilankans really made me to believe that I can survive. First day was rushing, made us walk kilometers to finish my admission process even though one thing didn’t work out well, the other thing did work. Warm full greeting from my Department, the first person who originally from Pune smiled and talked. I felt so thankful for my friends who took me there on time.

As he talked with me, the way he made me get relaxed, seriously that is what I really needed on that time. We talked for an hour or more and then I left towards to make payment with my friend, where she waited for me till I finish my work, even with hunger growling inside her stomach. Though she was so hungry she didn't show it to me, she smiled and told “let’s rush towards the bank...” even though I felt so bad about me troubling these people I was really helpless at that time. Without them I couldn't be able to do all at once.

As we reached the bank the bank was being closed slowly and finally banking process was going on , First they didn’t allow us inside but we tried to reason with them what all had happened throughout the day and  hopefully a good banker accepted my payment and greeted me with a smile. That really made me happy for a while as one of the main subject got over. 

Happily we left there thanking all the people in the bank and I got to know that tomorrow will be more hectic than this. So while we returning back I requested my friend “Can I guy who is having a bike can come with me tomorrow?” and she said “We’ll arrange something for you Ayya (Brother), don’t worry” that really made me feel so good and I assured myself that it would be a rough ride though at the end I would worth it. 

I couldn’t able to thank them properly but I’m grateful to all those lovely Srilankans for making my day to end perfectly. As we did all other small works, had some snacks and walked back towards what I called it as “Home” where the people in that house warmly welcomed me and gave me the comfort that I didn’t expected.

And always one thing stroked my mind that, my friend told don't lose your "Cool" untill you all your works are done, so i tried to keep it always.

To be continued...

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Attam (Game) - Short Film

The official Full movie Attam. A production of KO StudioZ. from a Baseline we reached towards something.. All the incidents shown in the movie somehow taken from the real lives of people..

A Tribute from us to the Tamil Cinema Industry..

Produced By: KO StudioZ
Directed By: Kohulan.R
Director of Photography: Juliyan JJ
Production Assistance: Mathuharan
Staring: Kohulan,Juliyan,Karthi, Christy Suvi and David

For More visit: https://www.facebook.com/KoStudioz
https://www.facebook.com/kohulan.rajan

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Today's hope for tomorrow's Dawn..

Drizzles in a sea we won't be able to see,
Guzzle like an animal when the food is minimal,
Buzzing like a bee towards an empty bay,
When life becomes dark towards a light's spark..

Gazing upon the sun when I'm alone,
Creation towards the creator's lawn,
Waving beneath the air as it's always there,
Just to catch it so atleast we can spare..

Rivers as they flow on this floor,
Mirrors as they look and flowers they grow,
Covers all the land, burrows and mountains,
Power it gives the man sometimes it makes him swollen..

Rattling in the land chirping like a bird - till the,
Whistling wind's roaring storm take me away,
As I know I will be lost with the mankind hope to see kind..
At the end I will be stuck as the poll covered by vine...

~#Kohulan.R

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Switch...

An independent horror short movie, tried to overcome our fears of ghosts and relate it to hallucinations, it's just an experiment i hope you will enjoy...
Any Comments feel free to msg us..

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Switch (Upcoming Short Film) - TEASER

An Upcoming Exprimental Short Film Produced By:KO StudioZ
Directed By: Kohulan.R
Cinematography By:Jae Jae Jae (Juliyan)
Lighting And Additional Effects: Karthi (Sudan)
Makeup And Props : David

More Details Visit:https://www.facebook.com/KoStudioz
http://itisunderconstruction.blogspot.com

Hi Guys,
Our New Short Film Teaser Hope you guys will enjoy it...
Share among your friends and give us your valuable feed back..
~Kohulan.R

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