The big C word

It is that phase of life where all my college mates are talking of the big C word. You know, the thing you hope precedes the big M word and lives through it, if not beyond. (The doubt arising from conflicting views on life after death, giving inconclusive evidence to either a 7 life long itch or separation via death.)

And by college mates, I mean all and sundry. If they are not C-ing, they are un-C-ing or E-ing or M-ing. If unsuccessful in all prusuits, they are gossiping about somebody else C-ing or un-C-ing, E-ing or M-ing. Should everyone be grateful nobody is un-E-ing or un-M-ing? I'm not sure any more, especially with the relative shortlivedness of the big C. (I mean come on, we were talking about death doing us apart or 7 lives, weren't we?) Though the demise of an E or M is more official, we don't do ourselves much credit through the demise of a C.

And as much as I am trying to absorb the peer pressure and feel left out at being unsuccessful in all the above mentioned pursuits (even the gossiping, honest!), I can't help but feel my sides in stitches when I think of everyone I shared bogs with C-ing. And quadrupling up with laughter when I hear the joke that has become of the big C word.

I'm guessing the next stage of all the unsuccessfuls is cynicism. Well, at least I beat everyone else to it. To the others who C-ed or E-ed or M-ed, I wish you nothing but the best, as much as I love not having to fake smile at some of you in the corridors. (face it, the best part of graduating is you don't have to be nice to people you never wanted to be nice to in the first place) Maybe it's cynicism driving me to mock but it is the mush inspired romantic pleading a life term (or 7, we do want to be politically correct at all times, don't we?) instead of the chair for the big C word.