U Know U R in AIT when..

* You see freshers in formals with collars buttoned, heads shaved, walking with their eyes on the ground, resembling army cadets (supposedly).

* The fresher girls at the same time are disconsolate, for they are seen sporting mismatched salwar-kameez with a sweater and long, oily pigtails.

* Words like 'fight', 'bakar', 'bhasad', 'vella', 'senti' et al are used with such regularity and versatility, that sometimes you forget your Mom doesn't understand AIT lingo.

* All treats (asked in all seasons, just need reasons) planned by the guys culminate in dinner at Sher-e-Punjab, on the Pune-Mumbai highway.

* Those planned by the girls are invariably in a 5-km radius of Koregaon Park. Reason : close access to Adlabs, Pune Central and all major shopping points.

* Any time you visit the fruit shop on campus, you'll notice at least one guy with bananas and a milk packet (complete with straw) in hand.

* At 10 pm every night, hordes of girls are seen emerging from hitherto invisibly dark areas and rushing towards their hostels, in various states of dishevelment. *wink, wink*

* Almost every other day, every other guy gets 'senti' over every other girl.

* All birthdays (and other occassions) are heralded in with the barbaric ritual of a midnight 'belt party'. (I hold the distinction of receiving 300 rapid-fire lashes on my 19th)

* Girls celebrate their own bundles of joy (pun?) with a ceremonious filthy-water (smelly socks' essence generally) bucket shower.

* Basketball is highly popular - for the guys to showcase themselves as hot, and for the girls to check out eye candy.

* You can't put a toe out of line, without paying a fine - the management proudly decrees that we're self-sufficient with no need for any funds from the Army (now you know why!)

* The classes are empty most of the time - thanks to mass bunks.

As everyone says, AIT is a 'fine' college, indeed.