“Hi! I will be your roommate.”

I don’t know why I am thinking about that day tonight. Maybe a chain of thoughts, jumping from one memory to the other; or maybe a strong impact of so many TAPMI nostalgia posts on Facebook: it’s that time of the year already – when one batch bids goodbye to the Institute which gives everyone a basket full of moments to cherish for a long long time!

It was not an ordinary day for me – I was stepping out of home for the first time. I had reached this complete alien city, and was so unsure of what lies ahead. I had my mother and sister by my side, but I knew they would soon be going back home, and I would be facing life on my own, just like I had always wanted it to be.

Thick clouds in the sky, strong breeze piercing through my face, and butterflies in my stomach – my first day in Manipal.

Manipal. Oh! Manipal. A place so less valued then. A place dearly craved for now!

I still remember when I saw the campus for the very first time – beautiful weather, and our huge campus, as seen from TAPMI point – breath taking, of course! I was excited. I was proud. I was beaming with happiness.

I almost had a feeling that the next two years are going to be spectacular.

I was right.

Today, I cannot believe that I knew it so early. How?

Once I entered the campus, I headed straight to the Academic block, and realized I was the first one to report there for completing the initial formalities – more importantly, I wanted to reach early to get a good AC room of my choice.

Next, I saw him. A very ordinary looking man, having the aura of an extra ordinary human being, walking as if he owned the place. He told me to wait for the room distribution to start, in as nonchalant a tone as there can ever be! I was almost sure he is one of those jackasses who tries to be over smart, but sadly is not half as smart as he thinks himself to be!

I was right.

Today, I cannot believe that I knew it so early. How?

Once the hostel care taker entered her room, I was the first one who was called inside. My mom entered with me: the protective lady that she is! It wasn’t easy for her to let her girl be on her own. Not as yet. After the initial chit chat, she offered me to pick my room – gave me the sheet with the room numbers. I was so nervous – as if I had to make a life changing decision.

I studied the sheet – out of the four floors in the hostel, mom and I discussed that first floor will be the ideal one – I don’t know how we concluded that – some crude mathematics perhaps! After the floor, which room? All were empty then but one. I could have chosen any empty one – that’s what most people would do. That’s what I did not do.

I saw a girl’s name written for room 213, and I tried to study the name. Yes! I read it as if I could know who the person is – something clicked, I still don’t know what. I wrote my name next to hers. I chose 213.

I had a strong feeling that this decision was one of the coolest things I had done that day.

I was right.

Today, I cannot believe that I knew it so early. How?

As we started walking towards the hostel, with all my luggage, I could feel rain drops on my face – first not very strongly, in a minute …very fiercely. We were walking down that TAPMIan slope, and it began raining hard...harder...And we were drenched within minutes. That was TAPMI welcoming me perhaps – preparing me for the tough times ahead, in a not very subtle way.

We ran. Reached Room 213 – My mom, sister and me. I knocked on the door. She opened with disbelief. She was taken aback to see us – not as surprised as she was shocked. Three unknown ladies, drenched in rain, knocking at her door, on the first day of college. Quite a puzzle eh?

“Hi! I will be your roommate”, I said.

For a minute I thought she would say No to me.

She was polite enough to say a Hi! … And let us all in.

I didn’t really give her a fair chance to accept me. The next question that my mom asked her – which side of the room have you taken beta?

She pointed to her chosen side, and sat down on her bed, still unsure of what was happening.

I had second thoughts. But just then, she smiled at me.

I somehow felt it is going to work out in the best possible way.

I was right.

Today, I cannot believe that I knew it so early. How?

I unpacked. My mom set up the room for me – yes! She did it. As I have mentioned already – letting me go was difficult for her. We changed. We talked. I thought to myself – My roommate is cool after all!

That was just the beginning.

I spent that night with my family in their hotel room, for they were leaving the next day. And as I sat there, thinking about how eventful the day had been, I felt good. I felt positive. More importantly, I felt at ease with the newness.

Today, I still cannot believe how everything worked out the way it has – but I know for sure that some things are simply meant to be. You just know it when you are making the right choices, not so much for the wrong ones. More often than not!

I don’t know why I chose her over those empty hostel rooms, I just know that nothing would have been the same, had I tried to fight the natural flow of things.

And so I say, listen to what your heart says, take risks, do what others won’t – choose someone over something! :)