June 16, 2018: The first day of the Induction program, I woke up homesick and apprehensive of what lay ahead. A babble of voices echoed in my head - "Surviving induction is tough", "It's an official ragging", "You will not get to sleep at all". Having no choice, I walked past the unfamiliar faces to join the queue of students waiting for the seniors to come and decide the fate of the day. After a brief introduction, we were taken on a bus to all the prime locations this city had to offer. From Spring City Mall, 'Breaking Bread' to Nucleus Mall and Dhoni's house. We were supposed to click an innovative picture at every spot. I was hesitant at first, conscious of the people looking at me, while I made some weird pose for the picture. But gradually the shyness withered away and by the end of the challenge, I was lying outside Dhoni's house, in front of the main road trying to make a "7" with my team. The picture might not have come as intended but the motive behind it had done its magic, I was beginning to feel comfortable in this alien world.
The days that followed went by like a bat out of hell but the memories would remain etched in my mind forever. Firstly, we had a movie making challenge on the title "IREMPEKTAME". Each person tried to come up with his own definition of the term until we realized that there was no right answer and we were free to portray whatever we wanted. I got a chance to act, something I had never tried in my life before but the experience was unparalleled. What followed were a series of challenges and preparatory sessions intended to make us accustomed to the "IIM Culture".
Our next challenge was to depict "Management in Everyday Life" through a kiosk. We all thought we had ample time to do so. My entire team was working in enthusiasm in anticipation of a good night's sleep we thought we would enjoy after we had done our work. But as its said life seldom turns out the way we expect it to. Our seniors had a different plan for us. They had organised a treasure hunt wherein we were supposed to identify the senior from the given clues, go to his/her room and get a selfie clicked with him. That was my first all-nighter. What began with me demurring to dance before the seniors ended with my team and I starting to dance as soon as we reached a room just so that we could get the clue faster. We even sang on top of our voices outside a room for several minutes only to realize that it was vacant!
This revelry was followed by doing "banana" dance in Khelgaon ground and several sports challenges wherein my team finally managed to win a box of Cadbury Celebrations! In the last challenge, we were to dance on the theme "Udaan". The last time I had danced was in my primary school's annual function and this revived all the memories of my childhood. Needless to say, I had a whale of a time even though I wasn't as good a dancer as my fellow teammates. But they were immensely supportive. I still laugh whenever I recall how polite they were trying to be when they said, "You shouldn't dance on this number. Save your energy for the remaining." I believed their innocent faces for a while until it dawned on me that it was the last song they were talking about! Nevertheless, they were kind enough to include me in that one too on the last day.
Before I even realized, the induction was over. But I learnt a lot from it. From coming out of my comfort zone to working in a team and making new friends, these ten days gave me a chance to try out things that I had not done in twenty-four years of my life. There was a time I waited for a company to go to the mess because I disrelished eating alone, but now as soon as I even enter the area, I am greeted by several smiling faces asking me to join them. In addition to my lovely batchmates are my ever so helpful seniors who are willing to help and guide me at any time of the day. All this makes me realize that in a matter of just a few days, this place has already begun to feel like home. The induction programme has geared me up well for what lies ahead and I am bubbling with enthusiasm and fervour to experience this roller coaster ride. Today, if someone asks me if I am ready to give up my two years sleep for such a stellar and unprecedented experience, I would say, "What a trivial price to pay!" because I'm completely convinced that two years down the line, as I would get up to throw that black graduation cap in the air, I would be filled with a vehement desire to experience all this all over again!
- Gazal Kaura