Play this like a movie.

"So you're from Bangalore, eh? I'm from Kolkatta." Next thing I knew, she had made me shift all my luggage to her room and we were walking towards the dining hall. After a quick meal, we got back to the room and started arranging our stuff. I noticed that she had two packets of Pure Magic (Chocolate) biscuits and I decided that I liked her already. Slowly revealing that she was a fan of The Beatles, Dylan and that she played the piano only helped swing the case in her favour. This was going to be a very enjoyable stay.

The next day was packed with lectures, presentations and lots of learning. I was dealing with certain concepts for the first time. They were complex albeit interesting. They pushed me to think. Sitting in a class filled with people who owned multiple degrees and several years of experience left me a little lost but I knew I'd last. The first set of classes whizzed past and before I realised it, it was time to go home and gear myself up for the work that followed.

Meeting deadlines. Studying. Studying some more. Writing. Receiving feedback. Dunno when the first semester ended and it was time to go back. By then I had new things to distract me. The next few months didn't turn out the way I would've liked them to but I survived.

Third Semester - A mind blowing class on language, an extension of Child Psychology and finally Sociology became like-able. Apart from that, there were trips to Town, movies, conversations over meals, loads of music and everyday I discovered something new. Ah, and thank heavens for the friendships that got redefined.

Back home and it felt like I was on a high... perpetually. The field work just increased the levels. I was blown! I knew that work would never be mundane and mechanical. There was so much to think, do, create and pass on... and having Padmini as a mentor was the biggest blessing.

The last trip. Every class was a fulfilling experience. Juggling language, history, civics, geography and policies was one helluva task. Then came the "scary" presentation and 10000 word report. Well, I got to see the days beyond them. The last semester bound everything for me - Learning, relationships, passion, and of course, my To Do lists.

Monday night, our results were declared. When I look back now, amidst all the whining, cribbing and moments of zero motivation, there were times where I've felt thankful for all that I have. The expansive pool of knowledge we were introduced to, the lighter side of the serious academicians we were exposed to, the late night confessions and admissions in the four walls of the hostel room, tying everyone with the thread of music, getting Jenny to not think of certain things, embarrassing ourselves in the dining hall, fun in Ambrosia with chocolate cake being massacred, "Rani bar", exploring the city by the sea, realising how little we actually know and how eager we are to learn, graduating from one of the finest institutions in the country, feeling powerful and alive..... It was so worth it!

The journey always is the destination.

Let's give it up for the MAEE batch of 2008-2010. Big hug to all of you!