I know. This is not last week of December or first week January to write about endings or new beginnings.
BUT I just completed my first year as an MBBS undergrad. And it sure feels good.
I have survived one year of total fun, somehow managed to study and surprisingly remember some facts which to others seem like interesting trivia.
The year had its highlights.
I started with a month long bunk. Hurrah!
Made friends soon after I joined and my table mates (yes, the last table in the DH) are one-of-a-kind.
Tariq, your Birthday was fun. My first in Aligarh. Thanks to Fatima & Hira for the invite. Girls, you gave me some cool memories.
Being the Class Representative (CR)...Had a nice time doing whatever I did during the unofficial CR tenure. All thanks to Professor P.N. Singh (Physiology Department-JNMC,Aligarh).
The Agra Tour was beautiful. Thanks to everybody responsible for it - Sahleen, Mohsina, Juhi, Sohaib, Tariq, Baqar, Gavendra and if I missed anyone, thanks to them too.
Then came the Oh-So-Coveted Miss Freshers Title. Yes!!! I won it. It has its own story but who really cares and the ones who really do know about it already. ;)
And my batch mates - Unbelievable Selection!
Had fun with all the 150. Though haven't really got a chance to speak to every one of them but somewhere or the other they have played their roles, beautifully.
Topper's Gang - What would I have done without you. Thanks for being there guys. You made life rocking for me. Continue to rock the second professional year ahead and until we stay in JNMCH, ROCK ON!
(The Topper's Gang - Tariq, AbdulRehman, Zaid, Sohaib & Aqib. And Gavendra. Well, Rana is in a league of his own. :P)
Kulsum & Sumayya - Thanks sweethearts :) There is a lot to write about you & I may still miss out. So just THANKS :)
Urooj, Bushra, Sana Nawab, Sana Ansari, Naseha, Nazia, Nuha, Navnika, Zikki, Kifah, Sania, Shadma and all others - what memorable times in one year.
Thanks Sumbul, Sana Nawab, Anuradha & Hania for the scooty rides.
Anuradha & Hania - Early morning, getting late to class & tired of walking from my place to college. Enter two sweet people who would readily give me a ride to college.
Sana Nawab - Thanks. Have some shweet memories with you. And girl when you say something all sweet and nice to me... It does take some time to get back to Planet Earth. :)
Sumbul - Thanks for dropping me home everyday during the Profs. Can not thank you enough.
The train journeys between Delhi, Rampur and Aligarh have been interesting. Travelling without a reservation, buying general tickets, getting on the spot upgradation to AC coaches. Standing all the way from Aligarh to Ghaziabad. Borrowing money from Navnika to pay the coolie and then reminding myself everyday to return the money to her on the first day I meet her. :P
Oh yes, the train and aeroplane journeys or gave me some new friends - Chanchal, one click and friends :)
The year taught me that some decisions cannot wait and must be taken immediately. There may be infinite excuses to put them off. But if one is alert and can just see Allah's signs in time, one has nothing to worry about.
We were to give our Anatomy Table Viva. The night before the exam something untoward took place at the Boys Hostel and the classes were suspended for some days. Within hours I was on my way to Rampur to meet my ailing grandma (nani). Spent just about 48 hours with her but who knew they were meant to be our last moments together. May Allah bless her soul.
I had a short bunk again when I had to go to Dubai for my visa renewal. A good escape from routine and ma visited me just before Terminal Exams. Both events were sudden but served as a recharge.
The Profs (First Year Professional Exams or as Anoop Sir used to say Pehli Vaiwasahik Pareeksha) passed fast and took away my wallet with them. Yeah. lost... No no, didn't lose it. Had my wallet stolen during exams. A minor problem but a major complication with me preparing for the exams and rushing to the bank and getting a nice lecture for many days from ma... Sorry Ma but how could I KNOW?!
The year's mention would be incomplete if I do not mention the Student Union Elections. The Elections were just as political as the Lok Sabha Elections. And I thought being in MBBS just meant studying. Being in AMU means even Doctors have their role in politics ;)
Not sure about others but I sure enjoyed the whole election season from the sidelines. And the Court Member Elections were even more interesting than the General Union Elections.
What else...What else... So much more and yet nothing more to add to this post...
A big thank you to all the teachers who shared with us their immense knowledge in hope that we become good doctors of the future. Hope your hard work bears fruit.
Thanks to those who made the class super interesting and made us realise our shortcomings, our ignorance, etc etc etc... The Questioners (Pls. No offence meant at all here) Shah Huzaifa & Sahleen. What would Batch 2K11 be without you? And of course our in-class Wikipedia pro - Obaid.
And then there are some people who have been with me throughout the year, not in college, but listening to all that happened at College & have been my support system. Thanks Rashid mamma, Ayesha, Imran, Ma, Saman, Reshma Mami, Rashid Mama, Jhilmil, Faguni, Poorva, Renu, Akku, Shahana, Shifa, Iqra, Saeeda, Sheeza, Haleema Appi, Arham, Arqam, Junaid, both my lovely aunts -Asma Khala & Reshma Khala, Vishal, Vinay & Saad.
Ankur, you read my posts, thanks. Been nice talking to you everytime. And finally I kept my promise of mentioning you in my blog. I have to write about us as kids but would you really like to read what I got to write... I wonderrr ;)
Archana & Madhyama - Would love to meet you both but I still could not manage to... Sorry and surely we do have lots to catch up on.
Vidisha - our phone calls, though just twice a year - on your birthday and mine - mean the world.
Since I just thanked everyone I ought to, Maria & Vansh crossed my mind.
Maria Zafar, cousin of cousin ( he he), fellow writer and someone who has given me some enjoyable reads. Thanks :)
Vansh, if I took all that you say to head, I would be the most snobbish person on earth. :P
Your words of praise have always been encouraging. Thanks :)
A big Thanks to Gulf News! Yes, it is the newspaper whose website gives me the chance to forget where I am. Sitting in India, the pages make me feel like I am back home. And participating in the live debates makes me feel sooo alive while I am on the go (India, UAE or even from the airports).
Thanks Gulf News!
The beautiful interesting blessed year would have come to an end with my first Ramadan in Aligarh but Allah had His own plans. And here I am writing poems and updating my blog while observing the Holy Month in one of my favourite places on earth - UAE.
All in all, Thanks Allah for being there and giving me such a beautiful first year in college.
Yours forever grateful
Fatima
