The Pre-CCTV and Lock-up era was a happy one for the students of AIL. I’ll very briefly write the reasons why they were happy:
- They were not afraid of the prying eyes of the administration on them, following their every move. They could get away with murder and no one would notice (not that it has ever happened).
- The interaction between boys and girls was at its peak when the fences in the girls’ hostel were less.
- Girls could share their 3 a.m. Maggi with their “boy friends” (the gap between the two words was intentional) or vice-versa.
- A lot of couples could hang out in the campus and no one would disturb the other set of couples or fight for space.
- Most importantly, students could order food late at night.
Enter 2018. Twenty-seven fully functional cameras *coughs* and double fenced wires later, the students of AIL can’t contain their joy. It was such a wonderful sight after the winter breaks had ended, to see the administration taking the things to the next level and trying to be with the students at their every step. Don’t have anyone to cry with you in the parking lot? No worries! Are you afraid to play all alone on the basketball court? Don’t fret! The administration has finally sought a cure for our loneliness. Kadam kadam pe aapke saath.
After the imposition of the curfew, we have also understood the importance and value of discipline in our lives. AIL has taught us an important lesson that ordering food late at night is nothing but a shameless act of self-indulgence and an excuse to poof off our parents’ hard-earned money. Only the weak succumb to such hunger pangs at night, the strong endure.
Unfortunately for the guards, their duties were majorly put to stop. They don’t have to go on surprise rounds around the campus anymore, which they surely must have looked forward to. Late at night, they won’t have to deal with stubborn boys and girls who wouldn’t stop requesting for an extra minute. Let’s pray for some of the cameras to stop working. AIL doesn’t feel the same without the guards patrolling around the college.
And just in case you get caught for “chilling” too much around the campus and you get an inquiry on your head, that’s not the end of your “counseling sessions” with the administration. You’ll get a lot more opportunities. You ask me why? Because they’ll stay with you inquiry ke saath bhi, inquiry ke baad bhi.
fin.
This article has been written by Parika Bharadwaj.
