The final few days zipped by in a daze. Its sad how the last few days in any academic phase pass by so fast. Mostly, its due to the end year examinations - everyone is busy saving their own case and hoping to end on a high. So was the case with me and my classmates - getting swallowed by the unending spiral of the majors. Well, not unending actually, just slightly prolonged this time. Usually, this institute believes in a halaal, this time it wanted to do it slow and easy. So we got time to eat and sleep between two hours of torture (did someone say redemption?). The majors were followed by that beautiful exercise of presenting and examining a year's sweat and toil. Bill Gates must have felt highly gratified by the end of it. Some were happy, some sad, some tried to hoodwink the elders and successfully so, one got caught and turned to her lachrymatory powers as a last ditch effort. Alas. To be fair, this one had a point. Anyway, the elders had a nice time munching peanuts and beating the crap out of the poor lambs.
Some firsts now... the first time I packed my bags to vacate what was home for two years, the first time I felt a tinge of sadness at leaving the mostrous place that has been much glorified in the annals of Indian academia, the first time I enjoyed a good dinner in the Insti - wonderful ambeience, a surprisingly well mannered crowd and decent food. The first time I was told that I am well mannered, decent, intelligent, etc etc. Also the first time I was warned to change my attitude else I could be heading towards disaster, the first time I was made to listen to a song in a prof's cabin, etc.
Time for some lasts... the last time I would sit at the top of the main building, overlooking a good chunk of South Delhi at 2 in the morning, the last time I would have to face the dreaded minor sna majors, the last time I would chase pigeons out of my room, the last time I would pile on with friends a day before the exams, only to meet a day before the next set of exams, also the last time I would have tea with an awesome set of labmates as one of them.
The last few days summed up, in some sense, the last two years that have just flown by. Most places seem better when they are behind you, and the insti has been no exception. I came in with no expectations, and I have surely been pleasantly surprised.
