CHAPTER 1
It was a larger-than-life situation for me. Stepping out of my small village for the first time and landing at Kempegowda International Airport was beyond anything I had ever imagined. The planes — big, small, and everything in between — seemed to be part of an entire industry unto themselves, buzzing with people and energy. I stood there, taking it all in, realizing how far I’d come from the quiet, simple streets of home.
Clutching the address of my college in one hand and pulling my bag with the other, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The first time flying was an exhilarating experience, but now I had to face the reality of navigating an entirely new world. I hailed a cab outside the airport, showed the driver the address, and asked for the fare. Without saying much, the cabbie nodded and drove through the wide roads of Bangalore, a city that felt so vast and unfamiliar.
The journey was a blur of busy streets, towering buildings, and endless crowds, until the cab pulled up in front of the massive gates of my college. Acharya Institute, the place that had been a name on my admission letter for so long, was now a reality in front of me. The campus was even bigger than I had imagined, sprawling with different blocks and buildings. I glanced around, feeling both anticipation and unease, knowing this would be my new home for the next few years.
Lost in the Maze
The hostel check-in would have to wait. First, I needed to find my classroom. With my bag slung over my shoulder, I started walking through the maze of college blocks. Every building looked alike, and despite the signs pointing to various departments, I was utterly lost.
For half an hour, I wandered aimlessly. My heart raced as the unfamiliar corridors and hallways seemed never-ending. The excitement I had initially felt was now slowly being replaced with a sense of frustration and fatigue. The heat didn’t help either; my shirt was sticking to my back, and my feet ached from all the walking.
I tried asking a few students along the way, but they were either new like me or had no idea where my class was. Some gave vague directions, which led me deeper into confusion. By now, my patience was wearing thin. The anxiety of being late for my first class was starting to gnaw at me.
Finally, as luck would have it, I stumbled upon a faculty member. She must have noticed the desperation on my face because, without hesitation, she stopped and asked, “Need help finding something?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, almost breathless. “I’m looking for my classroom… I’m in the first-year engineering batch.”
She smiled, clearly used to seeing lost freshmen like me. “It’s in Block C, third floor. I’ll walk you there.”
I followed her, feeling an immense sense of relief. As we walked, I silently thanked every god I knew. Soon enough, we reached my classroom. Through the glass panel on the door, I could see students already seated. Strange, unfamiliar faces — a mix of excitement, boredom, and nerves.
“Thank you, ma’am,” I whispered, before she left.
Inside the Classroom
I took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and stepped inside. The class immediately fell quiet as the teacher’s eyes locked on me. My nerves flared, but I quickly composed myself, focusing on the teacher.
“May I come in, sir?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
The teacher looked at me, a slight smile playing on his lips. “New, I see?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come in, take a seat,” he said, gesturing toward the back of the room. I nodded and walked to the nearest empty chair.
As I sat down, I could feel curious eyes on me from every direction. I tried not to meet anyone’s gaze, instead pretending to focus on the lesson that had just begun. But inside, my mind was racing. Everything about this was so new — the campus, the people, the entire world I had just stepped into.
Little did I know, this was just the beginning. The real journey had only just started.
Would Sujith find friends among these strange new faces? Would he adapt to the bustling, competitive life of college? The answers awaited in the days ahead, but for now, he was simply content with having made it to class on his first day.
Sandesh Ghimire 