Am back with a new part
Enjoy..!
Part 11 - The Orientation Program
As the morning dawned, a soft glow filled the room
through gaps from the windows signaling the beginning of a new day.
Shutting the alarm, Kalpana opened her eyes and got up with a contented sigh. Today she'll get to know about various challenges she'll be going to face in her four years here and learn whatever she can learn in making her dream possible. In short, today was the day, where her new journey of life will begin and she was going to make everything of it.
After finishing her morning prayer, she checked the
time from her mobile kept on her side table. It was 5:30 am, they has four hours till they meet the twins outside the gate. It was also wonderful that the twins were also in mechanical engineering which allowed them to spend even more time together. She looked at the side to see Anjali still sleeping. Getting up from her bed Kalpana decided to let her sleep for a while as Anjali was not an early riser and instead finish with her morning chores.
Both Kalpana and Anjali were surprised to know that they have separate bathroom in their room and were glad having to not share with the other girls. The
bathroom was very modestly designed, separate washing and bathing area with a big mirror on the side and a vast tub.
"What more could a girl want" thought Kalpana stepping inside the tub filled with warm water after stripping her off clothes. With a content sigh, she relaxed herself against the tub, playing with the bubbles simultaneously. This was the thing she never got to do in her home, if she could call one, but shrugged it off enjoying the warm sensation of the water.
After taking the bath, she dried herself with a towel and
stood in it in front of her cupboard, deciding what to wear on her first day. Once dressed in a maroon colored kurti and white leggings she decided to wake Anjali up as she'd also take time in enjoying the amazing bath.
Soon the time passed and both the girls were ready
finishing their last of the breakfast in their hostel canteen. Disposing off their plates they marched off towards the gates.
"Hey Kalpi Anjali "
They turned rightwards to see the twins Anya and Tanvi coming towards them with a wide smile on their
faces.
"Hi Anya... Hi Tanvi good morning" greeted Kalpana and Anjali.
"Morning"
"So, how was the night?" asked Kalpana
"It was fine, will take some time to settle as usual"
answered Tanvi.
All four of them reached the place where the bus will
come. The place was crowded with students coming in and out of the campus. Some of them were international students who had arrived that day, some of the students stood with their families and some third or fourth year candidates were hanging around with their groups.
After waiting for a few minutes the bus arrived, making
students to rush in grabbing the seat. Kalpana, Anjali and the twins were the last who entered. Founding one in the corner, the four moved and grab their seats. Sitting against the window side, Kalpana enjoy the view as the bus sped passes through the gates.
Throughout the small journey from the Bluebell to college, Kalpana mostly looked outside the window
while the twins and Anjali chatted continuously about the program. From the small journey, Kalpana could only make out some shops on either side of the road,one cafe and entrance of the market which she couldn't see further.
"I'll have to do some sight-seeing soon" Kalpana thought to herself.
As the bus stopped outside the building, all the students filed outside of the bus and were awed at the massive size of their college building and its brilliant architecture. Kalpana and others follow other students through the college building towards the halls where the orientation was being held.
In the halls, there were many seats some of them which were already occupied by half of the students.
In a sudden rush of students for seats, Kalpana got separated from the other three and due to lack of time
got slammed into another person almost losing her balance.
Balancing herself, Kalpana turned towards the person who she bumped into to say sorry, but before she could open her mouth, a loud shriek cut her off
"How dare you. . Can't you see and walk?" shouted a
girl rubbing dust partials off her dress.
"I'm really sorry I didn't see you and with sudden rush..."
"Oh, I know girls like you okay...you middle class girls don't have these type of luxury to enjoy and those who have, you just can't tolerate and because of your jealousy, you pulled this cheap trick on me...you cheapo"
The girl shouted, making everyone's attention turned towards them and a crowd was beginning to form around them because of the drama.
The girl was still blabbering without realizing that she
was making a scene
"I don't know what type of parents they are obviously middle class people who just thought sending their
loads to such high class college will make them supreme"
All the while Kalpana was too shocked to react as this
girl was making a mountain out of nothing, but when she made a comment about her parents something snap inside her, if someone say something to her, she'll handle but she couldn't tolerate if someone say something about her real parents if not the Jhadavs.
"Stop it" said Kalpana but the girl ignored it and keep
continuing her blabber.
"I said STOP IT" said Kalpana a little louder, this startled the girl but she did shut up this time.
The girl was terrified seeing the anger on Kalpana's face as she came closer but didn't back down.
"I don't like repeating myself so listen clearly, never ever talk about my parents like that, coz next time I won't be able to hear with this much dignity" said
Kalpana through clenched teeth.
Though the tone was calm, the girl can easily understand the threat mix with it.
"Did you understand?" asked Kalpana. The girl timidly nodded her head still keeping bit of her reputation. Kalpana was satisfied seeing a hint of fear in the girl's eyes but she quickly covered it.
Kalpana has never talked back to anyone be the Jhadavs who continuously tortured her both mentally and physically but she just couldn't tolerate someone
badmouthing her parents those whom she love more than her life.
Kalpana was about to turn from there but stopped as a
thought came to her
"And don't even talk about class to me coz clearly, you don't have one" with that Kalpana walked off to her friends who were standing there shocked but with proud smile on their faces.
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As Raghav has already worked everything about the
college he has no problem in making his way to college plus the fact that he has own car as transportation only made things easier.
Soon after parking the car Raghav and Samar made
their way inside the halls and seated themselves in fourth row waiting for the program to begin. While waiting Raghav roamed his head around the hall
examining its structure and atmosphere. The halls were a vast area where almost 200 students can be seated. The seating arrangements were made in a semi-circle mode covering almost half of the hall. Then there is a big stage in facing the seats with a big logo of F.I.T.E stuck in the center of the wall gleaming under the light.
On the side a large speaking podium is there for instructing students. Various staff members were
there some cleaning already clean spots and some directing students to the seats.
"Sammy you..."
Suddenly a loud shriek interrupted him and he turned his head to see what commotion is going on. He could see a lot of people gathering around a particular spot.
"Raghav, com'on let's see what happened" said Sammy from the side.
Raghav nodded his head and both he and Sammy both stood up and made their way towards the increasing crowd. Once they reached, he could two girls (He rolled his eyes...Oh he should've thought- attention seekers) arguing, no infact one girl was shrieking in an irritating voice and the other girl with her back towards him was saving herself from falling, as soon as she turned around to say something he froze, the girl has those same almond shape eyes which were haunting him whenever he closes his eyes since the time he bumped into her.
How can he forget those eyes which made him feel
strangest feelings yet comfort him, a weird combination right! How he wished he could comfort her the same way as she do to him indirectly by seeing so much pain hidden in her eyes. But this girl with her eyes...could SHE be the same..!!
Raghav stared at her intently, he did not listen what the other girl was saying nor did he care what mattered was the girl in front of him. He could see various
emotions going through her eyes from sad to confusion to shock to incredulity to anger or rather furious. Raghav was confused as to what made her so angry and soon he got to know.
Raghav was impressed and proud despite himself as
how she handled the situation with so much maturity. A small smirk spread out on his face at her last comment. His eyes followed her as she turned around and got seated in the third row from his
right. But as the crowd began to clear he snapped back to reality and began cursing himself.
"What the hell happened to you Raghav? Why were you staring at her like this? She is nothing but a girl and remember you hate girls...oh how can I forgot I have to find out who that Kalpana Jhadav is?"
His anger returned with full force and he told himself again n again to forget about that almond eye girl.
After few minutes of settling the crowd all were seated and were waiting for the Dean and other members of the college to arrive. It wasn't long before Dean arrived
followed by a group of teachers. After settling the Dean stood behind up a podium and began addressing the students.
"Good morning, my name is Dr. Sumit Saxena. I would
like to start off by welcoming every single one of you to the Founders Institute of Technology and Engineering also popularly known as F.I.T.E College of India. When the College opened up its admission for this academic year we had over a thousand young hopefuls who applied not only nationally but also internationally. A thousand applications and only 70 places, you are the lucky 70 that managed to get through that door. F.I.T.E as the name sounds encourage students to fight there insecurities and overcome them to achieve their respective goals. This is an engineering college in which it is very necessary that you are present with an open mind and can fully immerse them into their task rather than doing it
disinterestedly..."
Not able to help himself Raghav's eyes once again swept to his right side where Kalpana was sitting, observing her, although subconsciously making sure if
she's okay.
"Raghav what are you seeing there, look dean is introducing teachers and other staff members now" said Sammy making Raghav move his eyes from right to on stage.
"I will shortly introduce you to our grand teaching faculty; Mr. Vardhan Suryavanshi, Mrs. Maya
Suryavanshi, Mr. Prem Kumar Chowdhary, Miss Anita Garg and last but not least Mr. Manoj Tiwari. These are the best teachers and specialist you will ever come
across in their respective fields and disciplines. Without any further delay I would like to call upon the
teachers whom you all relate to.Thank you for listening and once again welcome to F.I.T.E good luck and god bless"
Mr. Vardhan Suryavanshi a handsome but strict looking man came up to the podium and stood there studying everyone with his intense eyes stopping on few people and lastly on Raghav.
Raghav who by now was paying full attention to the
teacher in front of him as he could see the professor was not likely to be deceived. Once Vardhan was sure he got everyone's attention he started
"Good morning and welcome. First of all I would like to
know that the students who are sitting here know what they getting into, they know what they want to do in
their future, know how they are going to achieve it...DO YOU ALL KNOW??" asked Vardhan his voice rising with every syllable.
"Yes, we know" various voices said
"louder people...Do You KNOW??" Vardhan asked again.
"YES, WE KNOW" shouted students from all angle.
"This...This is what I want in you all Passion. Passion in what you think, passion in what on you learn, passion in what you believe and passion in what you become...remember one thing I despise students who are in the college just for a job and not for what they learn or gained but yes I will applaud for those with a genius mind and the passion to do much more than what is 'mediocre'. There are many fields in engineering which you all will be working upon as per your choice like mechanical, electrical etc. and we will help you in guiding you to the right direction and I myself will be doing the same for the students who opted mechanical engineering and will do for others
also. I wish you all the best." Vardhan concludes as he step down the podium.
The other teachers addressed the students reiterating some of the main points the Dean and professor Vardhan had covered earlier. At the end of the program, the students were provided each with class time- table and map leaflet to help newly first years with the surroundings.
When Raghav was about to exit the hall he saw almond eye girl with her friends waiting for the crowd to disperse.
"Kalpi com'on cheer up yaar, you are rank no. 2..lets
enjoy this day as classes will start from tomorrow and you also have to treat us..Come" said one of girl
standing with her.
But Raghav heard no more after Rank no. 2 and
Kalpi, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the girl he'd been so eager to find out would be the same girl
whom he was trying to ignore.
So this is it...please do like and comment...
Much love Khushi <3
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
