Mr. Sharma turned off his flashlight, turned around, and walked away. The next morning, a new rule appeared on the hostel notice board: “No luminous cooking after midnight. Warden has eyes everywhere.”
At 2 AM, the warden, Mr. Sharma, arrived with a flashlight. He found four engineering students in a circle, holding hands, humming the Baby Shark tune in three-part harmony, with a smoking stove between them. Gang Masti -2022- Xtramood Original
No one knew what “Xtramood Original” meant. It was Lucky’s code for a vibe that couldn’t be replicated. Tonight, that vibe was a rusted, single-plate electric stove, a kilo of raw paneer, and a bottle of something suspiciously labeled “Mystery Sauce – Handle with Fear.” Warden has eyes everywhere
By 11 PM, the terrace looked like a crime scene. Bittu was fanning smoke away from the warden’s side using a stolen hostel chappal. Chatur, the self-appointed safety officer, had wrapped his head in a towel like a turban and was whispering, “If we die, I want it on record that I objected.” No one knew what “Xtramood Original” meant
He stared. They stared back. Bittu offered him a piece of cold, glowing paneer.
The stove coughed. The paneer sizzled. Then came the Xtramood Original moment.
It was the summer of 2022, and the boys of Hostel 4, Block C, were about to break their tenth "No Masti After 10 PM" rule.