Qualms: The Intrusive Thoughts

Chapter-1

"I understand, sir" at my reply, he hung up the phone.
I stared at the screen, losing all hope. Oh God, at this very moment, I could've punched someone. 

Suddenly my dorm door swung open and my roommate Aadi walked in.

"Hey, Baba! I didn't know you'd be back soon. How did it go?" she sat on her bed stretching her limbs. Wanting to answer her, but not being able to see past my sadness, I chose to stay silent.
"Baba? Dude... dude?" she sat beside me and kept nudging me. I looked at her with gloomy eyes.

"Baba. What's with the sad face? What's wrong?" she hugged me attempting to soothe me. I cleared my throat and took a few deep breaths, trying to simmer down my sadness.

"I didn't even get the chance to explain my proposal. Straight away rejection!" I huffed. 

"What! But you were the first person to be interviewed this time, then what...?" I could feel her getting a little agitated.

"Yeah, but he selected a student he had worked with earlier. First, they said the interviews were postponed. Then they called me saying that the seats are full." It seemed like bad luck was seeping back into my life. "Aadi, I'm never getting my Ph.D. done!" I put my head in my hands in hopes to soothe my nerves. 

"I still don't understand why! I mean the professor is shit. Of course, but why?" She questioned. 

"Well at first I couldn't find anyone to mentor me. And then I finally found a professor, he was a new faculty and everything was going well—until there was some major emergency and he had to leave." 

"I went to the authorities first. They, apparently, have messed up somehow. And I have only a month left to find a suitable mentor! If I can't, I will be thrown out as my grant hasn't been transferred yet. I'll have to wait for next year admissions. At least they gave me this list of mentors, the last few seats left." 

Aadi threw her arms around in a warm embrace and tried her best to console me. She did not let go of me until my eyelids felt heavy. Since the wedding, my luck has taken a long vacation. Nothing seems to be moving ahead, and when things do, they are usually for the worse. I dwelled on the thought as a grunt escaped my throat.

"Ughhh!"

"Forget all of this. Get some sleep, you'll feel better!" she patted my head as I slowly drifted into another nightmare.

"Nitih... wake up!" I turned to the other side and put a pillow on my ear. "You need to take this call. It could be from one of your professors... wake up!" Aadi yelled at me snatching away the pillow on my head.

"WHAT?" I sprang up and our heads crashed. 

"Ow! Watch it, dude!" she said as she rubbed her head and handed me the phone. 

I cleared my throat "Hello?" rubbing my forehead I answered.

"Hello, Miss Nitih Acharya?" a sweet voice from the other side left me perplexed.

"Ye... uh..." I cleared my throat "Yes, this is her. How may I help you?"

"Good evening, Miss Acharya, my name is Tejas Kapoor. I am Professor Mritunjay's assistant. Your application has been approved. Your interview with Prof. Mritunjay is arranged for the 24 this month at 9 am," he said. 

I gave myself the liberty to jump with joy before answering "Thank you so much! I'll be on time."

"You'll receive an email with the address and other details. Please bring all the documents mentioned in the mail," he said sternly.

"Yes sir, anything else?" 

"Make sure you're on time. That's all. We'll see you on the 24th." With that, he disconnected the call.