Around half past seven in morning, August 2004 :
The trodden ways to lecturer blocks were still fresh after being washed out in last night strong winds and pouring rains. The nostalgic smell of fresh dew drops falling down through the pores of green leaves reminded me of my home. That morning was not an usual one in many unusual ways. Eyes were still creeping with the clear beams of sun penetrating into the eyes making it feel the uneasiness. Eyes were still numb after resting for whole night in a secluded room of hostel -C. Last night was my first, first in every term that I had spent away from home. Hostel C seemed no more less than a haunted place at its first look. Three storied building up the ladder encircling a rectangular park in each block (even the image had faded from my mind), but not the memories.
That night too was scary, water making the harrowed noises spattering over the window panes of my room, as if someone creeping under the door. Doors were banging hard with the strong gushes of wind making the creek noises, yet I was happy to be away from home. To enter this new world, to enter the professional phase of life, under the open sky no more under the umbrella of my loved ones protecting me from the harsh rays of life. The sky was flung open that day, with the limitless scope of exploring it, carrying the responsibilities on my own shoulders for my every deed done by me. The feelings of being on my own feet, of being a little bit stronger were sprouting in my inner self.
With all the fresh faces, i hurriedly made way to find my classroom. F 201 was the allotted class for Solid mechanics subject. We were four guys running from our hostel to find F block, all new to each other, yet the similarity of being new brought us a feeling of togetherness. Galloping through the cafeteria, B block, E block and then F block ( I wish all these pleasant routes had been known to me then). None of us knew each other's names, just shared that 2 km stretch from our hostel to the campus. I admit, admit it profusely it was scary, my heart stopped beating for an instant to see the lecture hall packed with 125 students. All faces were new, each having cleared the entrance test, felt as if i had made it here for the last seat in this college. It was heart rendering to see those intelligent brains fitting the spectacles over the nose, mind focusing on board while hands making the wise move on the copied notes. Heart said, " Life is going to be hard here pressing every limit for raising the performance by every inch ". Entered the Most notified professor of Civil Engineering department, Dr. Maneek Kumar, the Head of Dept for the course of Solid mechanics. He was an eminent personality, a young man in his early thirties known for his NASA's project. He didn't give us, or rather me a hard time as I had known the professors for doing so. The 1 hour lecture ended soon, much before the time i expected it, hence showing positive signs. Rest i can't recall much, just few fake instances of joy of being independent, of being more courageous, being able to strive forward facing all those forgone difficult phases, life seemed all tumbled up, a fresh lease of life, everlasting like the pearl floating over the bedrock of sea.
That day, life promised me to be more challenging, to be thought-provoking, living it on the edge, striving for every ounce of marks,
and mind you, life fulfilled all promises made in those four years of my life !!
