It was 25th December 1965, papa had come to Patna to attend Chhatii (6th day after birth) ceremony of Pappu (my cousin bro) and he visited my hostel as well. One of my first year engineering hostel colleague had changed his room and as a teenager (I was 15 going on 16) I thought of a prank to dramatise his shifting. I was an ardent Sadhana fan and had seen her film Arzoo released that year 6 times. I remembered each scene and dialogue of the film and my roomates enjoyed me dramatically recreating the film with all dialogues which could last almost for one to two hours. I was getting famous for my dramatics and I went ahead to make sentimental statements for my roomate changing the room.
Now about the prank and the repercussions..
Around mid night when all the roommates were asleep I wrote a small suicide note and kept a liquid medicine bottle for minor skin problem labelled "poison" over the letter. After some time I started making strange noises as if I was having difficulty in breathing and choking. My room mates took note of this and were panicked.
They started linking of this with visit of papa who as per their understanding had noticed a photo of Sadhana in my purse and had scolded me (though nothing like this had happened). I continued my drama and my friends were convinced that I am dying and called the warden, who was visibly annoyed being disturbed at this hour. However seems he was also convinced about my attempt and gave me some homeo medicine which I took after initially refusing it. He ordered for me to be taken to hospital urgently. It is then I realized that I am in grave self created problem. My pleadings that it was all fake and a drama fell flat on about 30 pair of ears and I was taken on a cycle rickshaw to Patna Medical College Hospital. On way I though of getting off the rickshaw and run, however two strong friends escorting me made it impossible. In hospital I was given a bucket of water with K2MnO4 and was forced to drink almost all. All patients in near by beds were looking at me as a zoo animal and I was very uncomfortable with so much attention from strangers and friends ( all most whole hostel had come to hospital at this late hour.
In the morning Police came and started inquiring me and I became more and more nervous. I anyway wanted to go even run away but some one warned me not to attempt any misadventure. Now my family at Patna my cousin sisters Shanti di and Chhotu di were informed. They informed my uncle who was appearing in a Public Service Commission exam and he has to leave the exam. My father who had gone back home was informed, who came back in a hurry, my cousin sis Dr Pushpa was called from Buxar to tackle hospital. My Bhullar mama an advocate was put in service to tackle the Police and with the help of a related minister Police were restrained from harassing me. I had some relief but the hospital will not release. Dr Pushpa Prasad Intervened and the hospital released me under own risk. Now the new problem surfaced as the warden had recommended my expulsion to the principal. However as per argument put forward by my uncle I was merely expelled from the hostel for rest of the session and I returned to hostel in the 2nd year !
My efforts to clear the air however did never work with my friends who still feel I really consumed the poison !!
Now about the prank and the repercussions..
Around mid night when all the roommates were asleep I wrote a small suicide note and kept a liquid medicine bottle for minor skin problem labelled "poison" over the letter. After some time I started making strange noises as if I was having difficulty in breathing and choking. My room mates took note of this and were panicked.
They started linking of this with visit of papa who as per their understanding had noticed a photo of Sadhana in my purse and had scolded me (though nothing like this had happened). I continued my drama and my friends were convinced that I am dying and called the warden, who was visibly annoyed being disturbed at this hour. However seems he was also convinced about my attempt and gave me some homeo medicine which I took after initially refusing it. He ordered for me to be taken to hospital urgently. It is then I realized that I am in grave self created problem. My pleadings that it was all fake and a drama fell flat on about 30 pair of ears and I was taken on a cycle rickshaw to Patna Medical College Hospital. On way I though of getting off the rickshaw and run, however two strong friends escorting me made it impossible. In hospital I was given a bucket of water with K2MnO4 and was forced to drink almost all. All patients in near by beds were looking at me as a zoo animal and I was very uncomfortable with so much attention from strangers and friends ( all most whole hostel had come to hospital at this late hour.
In the morning Police came and started inquiring me and I became more and more nervous. I anyway wanted to go even run away but some one warned me not to attempt any misadventure. Now my family at Patna my cousin sisters Shanti di and Chhotu di were informed. They informed my uncle who was appearing in a Public Service Commission exam and he has to leave the exam. My father who had gone back home was informed, who came back in a hurry, my cousin sis Dr Pushpa was called from Buxar to tackle hospital. My Bhullar mama an advocate was put in service to tackle the Police and with the help of a related minister Police were restrained from harassing me. I had some relief but the hospital will not release. Dr Pushpa Prasad Intervened and the hospital released me under own risk. Now the new problem surfaced as the warden had recommended my expulsion to the principal. However as per argument put forward by my uncle I was merely expelled from the hostel for rest of the session and I returned to hostel in the 2nd year !
My efforts to clear the air however did never work with my friends who still feel I really consumed the poison !!
