The Mechrani

This is not a story, rather a tribute to the indomitable spirit and truimph over difficult circumstances through determination by a person; Mechrani.

First day in class; my wandering eyes focused on that girl sitting alone in first bench with moist eyes, looking towards the door, for every footstep heard in the corridor, with the anticipation of the arrival of one more female companion. The expression of hope doomed in the first week itself and replaced with the reality of inevitable. My legs were rooted to the ground whenever the thought to console her occurred. Muthu elevated himself to front bench closely followed by Maman. They gave company to her throughout the college life with others chipping in with useful contributions shedding their rough and tough image.

Occasional disagreements moistened her eyes and tears rolled through those bubbly cheeks, but she never lost her cool. As time passed by, those tears never fell from her eyes, although it moistening occasionally. This always reminded us of the feminine side of the Mechs. After first year, I saw her lose the control of this act only on two occasions; on hearing the news of the demise of our great friend and classmate Sankar and on the final day of our college life; our farewell day. She let go the control on emotions and wept like a child and forced us to follow her example.

She was the link between the studious ones and the underprivileged as far as learning was concerned. She was more than willing to supply notes and assignments to others when in need and we were in need most of the times. The machismo of Mechs only compromised for her and in her presence we were vulnerable as any Electrical, Electronics and Civil guy. As days passed I thought the machismo will have its effect on her, but she managed to keep her feminine charms in tact. She mastered the art of safeguarding the information on LH girls without annoying her fellow mechs who were too eager to know the proceedings in LH.

She was the first RIT girl to enter MH and under watchful eyes of Mechs she was more secured in MH than anywhere else in RIT. Though she didn't return the favour, many had dreamt that. Thanks to her, our pranks were never limited to MH.

Going back in time, if I get an opportunity to change anything in my college life, I want to go near her on that first day, sit beside her and announce to her in a voice audible to the whole class. "Please stop looking for another girl. We will never let you feel that you want one for company". Although we achieved it, the announcement was missing.