ROUND ONE

Pooja Sharma had more to her than her well toned curves and an attractive face. There was 'a lot between the ears', as one could say. Despite seeing Rahul in his full slumber Pooja shrugged it off, with serving him one reminder of caution. She was not a person to make unfounded judgments. Her role as a faculty was deeply respected and she had resolved to be a fair guide to everyone. That trait lended to her a personality that not many could refute. None, absolutely none, dared to mess with her. Her relaxed as well as sincere delivery, her level-headed handling of queries, her outright professional approach towards her work - got all eyes riveted on her.

Rahul’s pair of eyes was also fixed on this elegant lady, who had been taking the post lunch session, explaining corporate vision and the corporate plans ahead. Rahul sat blankly at the session, and everything seemed to fade into oblivion. He drew a parallel to the classes of his college life, where even the most interesting lectures by the most interesting people would seem to drag on and on. It also brought to his mind of his specially developed skill of dozing with eyes wide open, something which he thought would be much needed here in the coming days, more so in the context of his new found resolve of not falling asleep in any session.

But somehow Rahul wanted to make up for the first bad impression on the lady, so he starts to think of something which could daze the lady. It did not take long and he springs up with a question for the lady at the end of the session. Rahul asks "we all have now come to know about the company as an entity, its values, its work culture, its worldwide and Indian operations, but why is it that even after so many years the bank shall confine operation to the big metros alone, quite unlike others MNC banks and financial institutions who have spread to many B class cities too". Pooja raises an eyebrow, quite startled at the question, especially more so coming from a person she had least expected. With her cool poise Pooja replies "just as I explained, our company has big ambitious plans to expand its presence all through the country, and its is expected that this batch of new enthusiasts shall be spearheading the expansion plans, taking the reach not only in other cities of the country but also to remote parts as well ". Rahul had heard of the dreaded rural assignments in the PSU banks, and it immediately occurred to him whether, that would be the ordeal which his question would put him into. But to save the situation, he almost yells at top of his voice "yes...we all sure would propel the company to new avenues and new highs, and our branch would be present at every city and every town and even in rural India". In place of reciprocation, to his utter surprise Rahul could see all co-trainee eyes fixed on him, with varying degrees of hatred. But then this pair of the lovely eyes of the lady was also fixed on him, but with little elements of appreciation and admiration. Rahul was quick to notice that and his mind told him that he is at present the round one winner.

Despite the tiredness from the almost night out of ragging, there was a special air of excitement among all fresher’s for their first class in college. All fresher’s felt a little lost trying to locate their own respective class in the vast campus area. Only a small fraction of the fresher’s’ could actually decipher the time table which looked more like a complex algorithm. Nevertheless everyone could finally manage to reach their first class with help from the same seniors. It was hard for them to believe that the helping seniors were the same guys who had tormented them all through yesterday.

Rajiv and the other guys of his class made a dash through the stairs. Their first class was scheduled at the 5^th floor of the main building. While still running through the corridor, they faintly heard the professor taking the attendance. While the class attendance was still in progress, Rajiv and the others quietly moved inside. It shocked them to find out that they were the first group of fresher’s who had managed to locate their class and had come inside. Little did they know that the renowned professor Krishnan had this peculiar disciplinary trait of starting the attendance from the first step he himself landed up in the class, irrespective of whether there are any students or not. In another minute the attendance roll was completed and no more than 10 students had poured in. Everyone was aware of the consequences of short attendance, hence Rajeev could not help but ask the professor “Sir, mark my attendance, I am Rajiv”. A surprised professor Krishnan replies “you were not present when I called out your name”. “But Sir, we are the new batch, and it is our first day in campus, and besides it took a little time for us to locate the room”. Some other guys also joined in the plea. Professor Krishnan replies coolly “it should be clear that my class starts dot on time with the attendance, and if u really intend to be marked present, then come what you have to be present right on time”. “But Sir at least there can be some consideration for the first class” pleaded the studious Manoj, who felt it rather awful and ominous at being marked absent on his first class. “Dear students, I have not come here for giving a lecture on time management, so without any further discussion or delay we shall start the first lecture of applied mechanics”.

After little whispers of resentment, there was complete silence in the class, with the only voice of the professor delivering equations and mechanics. The first row students looked interested and seemed to follow and understand, and were busy taking notes. The second row students didn’t quite understand what was going on, but still looked interested and were taking notes. The third row students neither followed nor looked interested, but still were frantically taking note of all that the professor said or wrote on board. Rajiv and the others who were at the last row were neither interested nor made any effort to understand or take any notes. By a strange but impeccable way, like in perhaps any given sample class of students, the differentiation had set in their very first lecture about who would be ‘enlightened toppers’, the ‘forever fighters’, the ‘despondent mediocres’ and the rest who would always remain ‘comfortably numb’.

After a little while a thoroughly bored Rajiv starts looking for the lonesome girl of his class. He feels extremely surprised to find her seated in the far corner of the last row, much against the natural first row for girls. Some similarity at least, mused Rajiv to himself. Rajiv felt extremely happy that there would be something worthwhile to look at during classes in the next four years. The striking features of Sonia kept Rajiv’s eyes fixed on her for quite sometime, only to be disturbed by the equally striking throw by Professor Krishnan who had never ever missed his aim with a piece of chalk.

“Where is your attention you dumbass” frowned Professor Krishnan. Rajiv looks up, and finds the whole class staring at him. It makes any situation even graver when three row of students in any class turn their head backwards and look at someone. Rajiv felt edgy, as his first class and his first impression were all going down. Rajiv’s silence irked the professor even more, and with the intention to humiliate him and intimidate the whole class, he yells out “can u kindly repeat what I had last said in the class”. Rajiv froze at the question. No matter how much he tried he could not come up with anything of the lecture which the professor was delivering for the past forty five minutes. But his presence of mind got the better of him, and without applying any thought Rajiv blurts out “Sir, you had last said in the class that where is your attention….you dumbass”. The whole class erupted in a loud laughter, and even the first row students could not suppress their smile. “Get out of the class” shouts Professor Krishnan at the top of his voice. Rajiv realized that it would be futile to say anything at all, and quietly makes his move towards the door, but then the following stare of everyone told him that he has made his mark in the class in the first lecture itself.