Chapter 01 Vicky

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Four years ago.

"Fine Ma, I'll eat something as soon as I get down from the train. You just go to sleep. I'll text you as soon as I reach the campus. Bye" I said and sighed as the call ended.

I looked out of the window and all I could see were the dark blur shapes of trees as the train raced. The cool night air felt so good as it hit my face. The passenger opposite me was an old man, already asleep and snoring lightly. The journey from Coimbatore to Bangalore was not a long one. Within another three hours I'll reach the campus.

The four years ahead of me felt like they were going to be the best. I'll get to discover myself. I had so many things to do and yet so little time. Thinking so many things all at once, I had lost track of time and realized hours had passed only as the train slowed. I took my luggage and stepped out of the train.

Bangalore. It felt like a daydream, yet here I am. It was 4.00 in the morning but the city was so alive. I booked a cab and went to have a hot cup of chai from the tea shop nearby. It almost took 20 minutes for the cab to arrive and I was already cold. I got in the cab and gave the driver the college address. Even this early in the morning, there were surprising number of people going or coming from work. After what seemed like a million years, we reached the campus. I paid the driver and went to the Boys Hostel on the east wing. I filled a few forms and the Warden gave me the key and directions to my room.

A392. The sticker on the door was peeling at the corners. And the door was already open. I knocked it twice but there was no response. So, I pushed the door open and went inside. The room reeked of cigarettes. I set my bags down on the floor and looked around. It was a mess and nobody was in sight. Out of the 4 beds, two were occupied from the looks of them. I moved to the third bed and sat down.

I felt drowsy and hungry and the cigarette smell was no good. I rubbed my face and pulled my phone out. It was almost six am. For the next one hour, I tried to clean my bed and arrange my things in the wall cupboard beside my bed. Then I texted mom and had a quick shower and got dressed up and was about to get to the canteen when two boys entered my room.

"Hey man! You must be Vicky. Just now checked the name list downstairs. I'm Tharun" said the boy in black T shirt.

"Jay" said the other one.

I shook their hands and we talked for a little while. My Roommates seemed to be quite nice guys. There would be no trouble getting along with them. I bid them bye and walked down to the corridor to get a look at the campus.

The campus was the best you could imagine. The trees covered the sidewalks and the smell of freshly trimmed grass filled my nostrils. The early morning chill with the soft heat of the sun felt like heaven. This is my home for the next four years.

That day went filling out forms, talking and arranging things for college. Our last room mate was a guy named Arjun. He was from Chennai and we got along quickly. I am a quiet person and the other three are the exact opposites. The day went away lazily and tomorrow will be the first day of college.

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