Ragging (part 3)

“Third button! No eye contact!” one senior shouted at me.

I hung my head like a war prisoner.

The introduction had a set pattern: full name, branch, and place of origin. We did this in a flash.

Then, one senior shouted in a horrible voice.

“Lights off,” he instructed one of his friends. I was a bit at ease and I raised my head a little, but it was just the calm before the storm.

“Remove all your clothes,” one senior shouted.

Everyone, including Gaurav, took off their clothes. I could make out their nude bodies even in the dim light. I could have never imagined such a sight even in my wildest dreams.

Now I understood why my father had called me his brave son. They switched the lights back on. Manav Bahadur and I were not a part of the exhibition, yet. We were still wearing our boxers since we had joined on the second day of the ragging.

“Do you need a special invitation?” One senior shouted at Manav.

“It is not possible, sir,” Manav said.

Five seniors jumped on him and forcefully took off his boxers. They started swinging his boxers in the air with pride, their laughter echoed in the corridors and our ears.

A rape scene from an eighties Hindi movie flashed across my mind. By the time they had turned to me, I had taken off my boxers and was standing nude, hiding my family jewels with my palms.

Manav’s dark ass had also joined the group of nude freshers. I mentally pleaded with all the known gods, hoping at least one would listen.

My turn, I thought. I was once again reminded of my father’s words, our family glory is in your hands. I thought to myself, I don’t know about the family, but yes, my glory is in my hands.

“Give your introduction, again!” A senior shouted.

“Ajay Pandey, Electronics from…” I was interrupted.

“Landey, he is also a Pandey. Handle him,” the senior said while looking at one of the half dozen seniors.

A creature with dark brown eyes and dozens of pimples on his face approached me.I had guessed his name was also Pandey. I was in a state of shock.

What if tomorrow my classmates start calling me Landey ? While I was busy mulling Pandey versus Landey , he neared me and started touching my chest.

As his fingers inched towards my glory, I pleaded Oh God, please don’t let him be gay! And please have mercy! Hope he belongs to the same caste .

“Please, Pandey sir,Please "I begged. Thankfully the Pandey saga worked and he released me.

One senior shouted, “Juniors raise your hands.” We obeyed; now our glory was visible to everyone.

I learnt a very important fact that day: one’s glory is inversely proportional to one’s build.

“Juniors, you have to scream in unison, ‘ Hammam me sabhi nange hain. We were all nude’.”

I Was puzzled but consulted with Gaurav who was standing very close to me.

“What is ‘Hammam’?”