We left home early in the morning. Me, mom and dad. The whole journey I was thinking that at least there was someone else in the bus who was going to Navodaya too, other than us. I had checked it a thousand times, but recalling wont hurt. They have asked us to bring-
1. A big iron trunk-done.
2. Two kurta-pajamas-done.
3. Few basic things like soap, toothpaste and all- done.
4. A bucket- damn! forgot that. Well actually it would have been hard to handle the whole way anyway.
Asked dad about bucket. He says as soon as we reach Mandaphia, he will buy one there. I am relieved. I don't want anything to go wrong.
It was a long long journey, but we finally reached Mandaphia. Navodaya is still a kilometer far from here, but the bus will go that way too. Dad bought the bucket and there is nothing which is troubling me as of now. And yes, I was right. There is a girl in the bus who is going to get admissioned in Navodaya too!
We entered the campus from the huge fromt gate. It looks big, really big. And its deserted too. Well...kind of..I mean. Its 22nd of July, so obviously students have returned from summer vacations.
Mom and I are carrying that trunk. Dad has gone to ask where the admissions are taking place.
In the main building. The building where I will study for next seven years. It seems eternity, it seems it will never come. It seems I will never be in 12th class. But actually...I am just too excited to think about leaving.
The admissions are actually taking place right in front of office in main building. The premise itself is huge. And I can see, other students are studying in there classes.
There are other students, who are about to get admisison in sixth standard. All selected through a competetive exam, 80 in total, from about 2000.
Its actually councelling. Teachers and prinicipal are telling parents and students about how it would be living here.
"We have heard that somtimes there are stones or insects in food? Is it true?" A parent asked.
"We make food for 400 students. Even when making for 50, it happens sometimes. You cant just sit there and watch it all the time." DC (Daya Chand) sir answered. People hummed in agreement.
After some little official procedures and checkup that we bought everything they asked for, they allow us to go to our houses, premises where we all will be living together.
Our house is named Pratap house. Its right behind the girls hostel, and near the boundary of campus. Actually, its in the right front corner of the campus, if seen from the front of main gate.
While we were coming toward hostel, we met another family. I didnt really hear the names of his parents, but his name was so distinct and different, that you just cant forget. Karnal singh (thats how he spells it) is his name. He seems kind of bright guy. He isnt that tall but his built is good. He has some funny hair. They are not curly all the way, but right in front, just above his forhead, they go straight up. Making a wall there, and then the wall splits in too a bit above. Funny, strange and a little cunning.
So he has become a friend, sort of. Actually he is the only, till now, whom I know.
The premise of our house is not very architectural, its more a building made for the sake of similarity. It has two floors, and a total of four rooms, two on each. Each room is a bit spiral, something like rectangularly spiral. In every room, 20 students will live. The beds are Bunk-beds, and I am excited as hell about sleeping on them. I wanted the upper birth, but my mom dad didnt allow me to have that, fearing I would fall down. But I dont remember I ever fell down from bad at home!
Each room will have two seniors, better called moderators. They are class 9th students, put here to, obviously, moderate us. In our room, these are Gopi lal and Gopal singh. Mom and dad asked them to take care of me, so they kind of know me now.
I am so excited that I am swirling around polls of beds. Mom asked me if I wanted something to eat. I want to eat buiscuits. I never got chance eat much of those at home. But the only place where buiscuits can be found, or at least the only place they know where those can be found, is Mandaphia town. And its about a km far. Mom has said that they will see what they can do.
Its about 4:30 and mom dad need to go, for they have to reach Pratapgarh again. After giving me myriad advices and hugs, they left.
I never liked Kurta-Pajamas, but Ali Sir (he is our senior warden) had asked us to go to dinner wearing those, so me and Karnal singh have wore those. About an hour is still remaining in dinner, so he and I started to explore here and there. We are not going far away from our house, cause the campus is so big that I am afraid of getting lost. It seems impossible that I would ever memorize whole of it.
After passing the girls hostel, just down the path, there is a little stream crossing it. Its monsoon season so water is flowing. There is a little bridge over it. It looks so beautiful! Karnal and I sat there for quite a while, till it was dinner time.
The mess is just ahead of the stream. We all are given a big plate, a little plate and a glass. The big plate will serve us while lunch and dinner and the little plate and glass are for breakfast. I have got a thin plate. Actually, all of us in the right room of first floor have got thin plates.
I will be honest, food was not particularly likable. Actually, it was quite bad. But I recalled DC sir's words and I understand why it is so.
I am back to the hostel. Its dark and most of the students have come. I have my things settled rightly and am talking to Karnal singh about comics, games and many other things. Lets see what the night brings. The excitement is still high.
