Here is the truth (finally!!) on what happened in Jaipur on weird and wonderful day (and night ;-) of July 12, 2002. The day was discussed many times over the years and here comes truth about what really happened.
That was a hot summer Friday evening of 2002, I was an university student that time, we decided to watch the laugh drama 'Tajmahal ka Tender'. I could not recall whose crazy idea was that, but soon found all 7 of us agreeing to that thought. After all, who do not want to laugh? Posters of the drama were all around University claiming it to be ultimate fun.
After reaching famous 'Ravindra Manch' drama theatre, we realized tickets are bit too costly ;-) Naturally, a heated debate had to start; some anti-art people strongly opposed the idea of spending ‘rare cash’ on drama (they called it 'nautanki', sadly!!), though I was strongly in favour of it. Majority won and we had to drop the dramatic idea of drama.
Someone came out with compromise formula "let us go for movie, it is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie and must be good". Interestingly, that was the day when 'Devdas' was released. Those days Bhansali used to make good movies - of course later he made ‘Sawariya’ and rest is history – we agreed that movie would be good.
Skeptics like me argued 'Today is Friday and we are not going to get tickets!’
'Let us try at least, trying does not harm', one Devdas guy of our group made me to shut up. Those days he was into ups and downs of complex, complicated and on-the-edge-of-break love story. He persuaded all of us by emotional blackmail and sympathy! Soon we were in tune that drama is bad idea and best thing to do now is to go and try for movie tickets. What a sudden surprise turn!
Well, we skipped the 'Tajmahal ka Tender' and directly went to 'Raj Mandir' cinema, one of the best cinema halls of India before these multiplexes came to life. As expected, there were big queues on ticket counters and it was almost impossible to get the tickets unless some miracle happens. A big disappointment! But then, Sanjeev had some top-secret weapon to save us. He straight went to manager's cabin and happily came with 7 tickets.
Surprised we were, asked with curiosity how he made the wonder happen. Sanjeev was hesitant to tell us, he would just smile and would not reply. Some got the fake impression that his smile did wonder ;-). Later we found out (with all our spying abilities), he was having a journalist I-card with him to use in these sorts of situations! All journalist out there, execuse him. Some I-cards can do big things, that day we came to know.
The movie was finished 12.30 or so in night, we decide to walk back to university hostel, a straight 6-7 km walk. The mid summer night walk was fun - a great many things are really discussed over walk only. We sang the songs on the way, discussed philosophies, life and big dreams of future on the way. At 2 p.m or so, reached to campus back and sit on the green lawn in from of VC office!! Here came the twist in story, someone (Sanjeev if my memory is any good and effect of almonds is still there), thrown the idea to go into university swimming pool. In hot summer night of Rajasthan, that was very tempting thought- but was risky also. The swimming pool walls were 16 feet high and then there were chances of getting caught by ‘chaukidar’ (the guard). There was also thought by someone that police roaming is also there in and around university at night-time.
A big debate again with pulls and pressures. Opponents of lovely idea compared the walls of pool with big wall of China, thrown impossibility of practical execution of idea. 4-5 of us liked the idea and thrill; we decided to give this a try. With full enthusiasm, reached the swimming pool and chalked out strategy on how and in which order to climb the high wall. All minor details were planned, like who would support from down, how not to fall of the wall etc. etc. There was a big tall guy among us, now an officer in paramilitary, who pushed most of us and using some support from wall (it was rough wall and bit broken also, so was easy to put the toe in and get above), we reached on top and pulled the tall buddy also. It was big swimming pool and coincidently none of us knew swimming. We reached to the less deep end of pool and dipped ourselves into it. Those were happy movement, going into pool at midnight with some kind of adventure and a bit of fear. Bathing never gave so much pleasure before. We stayed in pool for around an hour and came out as if have done some great thing.
That day was and is discussed many times, an experience that we cherish till now. By the way, none of us liked the thought to do that crazy mid-night gate crashing again, we never repeated.
