Introduction 101

As I found him luring for an introduction, my first meeting with Badalal was painfully accidental, but it was the unwelcoming grim face that he carried which pissed me to my very core - as if all my hard work of two painful years to enter this prestigious university was being rewarded by this disgraceful welcome from an ungrateful son of a bitch! 

To add on to my frustration, the allotted room was tiny in the sense that even a toddler would find congesting (forget an average-sized human) to stretch its legs on the single bed compressed into one-half of the floor, more so as my luggage carelessly occupied the other half.

As I barely managed to enter, the sight further revealed that several coatings were peeled off the walls which screamed for a paint job whilst the odour signalled an inhospitable living environment discouraging me further from any introductory engagement especially with a stranger carrying such unfriendly attitude. 

“Oh my lord!” were the first few words Mr Chauhan, our family driver proclaimed, as he accompanied me into the room, declaring that by any gritty standards whatsoever, his servant quarter carried high value both in providing quality living and prestige. 

Momentarily after, Badalal entered the room, of course without my permission, to occupy the only empty corner of the room and introduced himself as the occupant of the room next to mine. As I pretended to ignore him, he took his own sweet time to examine my haphazardly arranged belongings, and within a snap of a second, swallowed something quickly down his neck forcing me to gather all my entire attention.  The center piece from the box of chocolate that I carried as a gift to win over the warden, exquisitely packed in an expensive box, was now evidently missing. 

“Welcome to H8, I am Badalal”, confidently spoke my new neighbour, without a hint of shame. 

“I am All India Rank 480! What’s your?” demanding and at the same time cautioning me of his outspoken intellect. 

“Nice Denim! Although, it might just fit me better” suggested Badalal as he looked attentively at my clothes and leisurely walked away after not being spoken to after multiple attempts.

After the long day of unpacking and reorganizing, I laid tirelessly on the bed filling my minuscule sized room with thoughts that triggered blues - about the choice of university and about my survival for the next four years, about making new friends - slowing drifting into figures and equations I studied relentlessly over the years and a promise I made to Papa that I will continue my scientific journey with similar dedication.

Unable to find sleep, I caught the second’s hand of my clock ticking unapologetically into the night, reminding me second-by-second how much I missed home. Gathering courage, I stepped out and knocked gently on Badalal’s door, not to bother him if he were asleep but wishing that he rather not be, as I longed to find company in a stranger at his late hour of this never-ending night. I gently walked back into my room realizing the absence of any movement from my neighbour, Badalal followed me, taking me completely off guard, as he appeared in my room out of no-where. 

“All India Rank 451!” I exclaimed with a hint of joy, offering him the box of sweets as we shook hands for the first time not realizing that this was a beginning to a rather beautiful friendship. And to my surprise, Badalal cheerfully gulped down a handful of chocolates at once, instantly rewarding me with great regret.