C U 2MROW @ 9 (August 1, 2016)

Keeping the luggage in a store room the fresher’s were lined up to board the bus. There was chatter, giggle and sudden silence in the queue on the order of seniors. Every bus was under the command of a senior and this restricted the exchange of greetings among the new comers to short, but prompt hi and hello. The dispensary was on the same route that Mannu had travelled to reach the college. Barren mountains surrounded the national highway and the young hopeful faces.

“Step down one by one and maintain silence.” The senior spoke aloud. He was a short guy with an unusual dressing in front of the fresher’s who were looking suave in formals. But his command was duly respected and a queue, separate for girls and boys was formed outside the dispensary. It was the same place where Mannu had made the flower purchase. Next to it a glimpse of the grand Amber palace could be stolen. The senior went in to meet the doctor. Immediately the anxiety in the young students gave way.

“Hey...I’m Dev from Chandigarh.”

“Mannu from lucknow. Hi”

“Shubh from Kota, Hi. How do you find Rajasthan?”

“Not so hot as I had expected and not so barren as I have seen in posters.” Mannu replied, wiping the sweat and keeping an alert eye on the entrance of the dispensary.

“Ohh..that’s the western part. Here it is easy and...”Shubh had to stop suddenly as the senior had arrived. He called the names one by one and the formality was completed within an hour. The journey back to the college was dull. Mannu again found a backseat and nostalgia over gripped him. Vivi was missing, the streets of Lucknow,the jalebi’s of Chotelal had been replaced by age old mountains and ghevar. But the thought of Pia gave him strength to befriend the place. Just the thought that Pia had a connection with this place made him comfortable, made him miss Lucknow, a little less.

After collecting the baggage the fresher’s were directed to respective hostels. Shubh had been called to Hostel number 3 and Mannu was allotted hostel number 2, just in front of the third year students. Mannu went in the three storey building. His room was on the first floor. Room number 510. The rooms were for twin occupancy. As he entered he saw that one side had already been occupied, mattress laid and a few books lay on the study table. Almirah was tightly locked. But it gave him no idea about who was his room partner. He missed Channu, thought about the playfulness they had in their room as he unloaded the luggage with a heavy heart. There was an almirah, a cot, a pair of table and chair. That’s it. Mannu was lucky to have a attached bathroom. He was tired. He opened the window which was on the side of the yet unknown room partner and sat there for a while, sipping water. The building of another hostel was visible, only walls.