Phase - 1: My Tryst with the b-school
I remember the first day when I met her- that dimple on her face with nervous & awkward smiles being shared to introduce each other (still remember her blue kurti). The nervous smiles, slowly & steadily, turned into free-flowing smiles which in turn paved way for some of the best laughter that I have had with this girl on campus. All those formal handshakes and introduction never made me realize that I will fall for this girl & that she will be the most indispensable part of my life in college.
My elephant’s memory makes me recall my first outing with her. The place which was dazzling with lights and filled with loud music couldn’t get my attention as I was struck by her beauty. While it was our initial outing, with an entire group, I remember talking to her continuously as I wanted to know about her. Somehow I felt that there was a kind of comfort level which I had attained with this girl in a short span of commencement of the session.
Phase 2: Stress, Fondness & Love
No b-school is complete without tensions & anxious moments around Summer Placements. Everyone going through the journey of b-school will tell you how important summer placements are.
Nevertheless, I shall not get into the details of Placements here.
After having hectic schedules of assignments & presentations, pre-placement talks were something that everyone used to dread. But I used to look forward to this. I used to sit with her in one of the corners of the class - literally, away from others - to chat with each other, hearing out company representatives and having fun in the process. Somehow, I used to share everything with her and she used to do the same. Somehow, "we found a shell within each other & that made us endure the pain & stress of summer placements".
Even after those hectic schedules & PPTs, we used to talk endlessly on call and in person. We never ran out of conversations because we somehow were attached to each other in this phase. Even when, nothing to talk, we were a part of the same club which made us bond with each other better.
Fast forward to summer placement; she got placed before me. As soon as I got placed, I remember her with her arms open & moist eyes to hug me and give me a pat on my back.
Those moist eyes signify several things - one among many things were the love for her that I had in my heart and vice- versa.
I remember telling her after placements:
‘Let’s go to South Bombay since I want to tell you something important, really important.’
The above phrase that I mentioned was probably the most ‘abused’ phase of the first semester since I used to tell her repeatedly that I wanted to tell her ‘important thing’.
She never used to take me seriously because she knew that I had immense love for South Bombay as a place and it was because of love for the place that made me force her every time to come out.
Anyway, the post-placement phrase was different than pre placements phrase, and I could understand this from the chuckle and shy smile she gave me back when I asked her to come out.
I knew it that this time I will tell her the actual important thing that I wanted to because I couldn’t keep it in my heart. I had replayed this moment since four months.
After ‘treating’ her for placements at one of the best places in South Bombay, I somehow gathered the courage and confessed my love for her. Her shy smile and an awkward silence made me feel maybe she loves me back.
Trust me, when I say, that it’s the most beautiful thing in the world when the person you love, loves you back. (I know it’s cliche, but love life in b-school is the nicest thing that happened to me)
Phase 3: Club, Trips, Fights
While academic load continued in this phase, it was the club work that dominated the time the most. We always strived to take the club forward by all means. Even when we had a hell of a schedule, we used to sneak out time for each other at every moment. Be it impromptu dinner plans, outings or trips, I did everything with her.
She was like my 2 AM friend, but a lazy one.
Not only did we spend time, we also fought as every couple does. When I look back after almost 17 months of my relationship with her, I feel we shouldn’t have fought, or perhaps we could have spent that unproductive time in a better manner.
Phase 4: Sense of Support
It was her presence that made me what I am today. Be it her support throughout my Final Placements or be it studying with me or making notes for me or sharing my pains or tolerating my insecurities or by just being there, she has been ‘a pillar of strength’ for me in my b-school days, and I have no qualms in saying that she is the most loved person in my life. Often I tell her that the amount of love I have for her is comparable to the love I have for my parents.
A natural question:
Why I chose this space to mention about her:
I want to thank Ms. Y (don’t wish to reveal the name) for all that you have been. You have been a strength for me and I can’t thank you enough. Lots of Love!
To all others: Life at a b-school is one of the most important phases of life. It is a life-changing experience that revolves around not only achievements that one looks forward to, but also those little things that revolve around emotional aspects that touch our hearts.
Signing off
Mr. X
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