The _______ tree outside my window has fresh new leaves now, tiny and translucent. Just a week ago it had pinkish buds and a week before that, it looked desolate with no leaves. We could see the building in front of Sameer hill clearly. I don't think the next occupant of this room will realise that there's a building there when he comes. The raintree which takes up much of the view from Ankita's side, is also leafing up. It had just pods hanging to the ends of its branches last week.
Last week. All we could talk about was The Mail. It was supposed to tell us when to shift. In fact, since the end of January, we were anticipating it. I first heard it from Swati and Rishita: they were asking the general secretary something about the shifting hostels. I was in my room and I could hear the conversation clearly. The answer was an affirmation with no details about when and where. When I reported this to Ankita that evening, she dismissed it and so did I and we both talked about how stupid this entire idea was.
Now, it is 0804 on the fourteenth of Feb and here we are, with cartons and suitcases piled up, clothes waiting to be packed and sticky notes and calendar waiting to be removed from the walls of C-515, H-15.
515, Wing C. When I got the room number after waiting in a long line outside the hall manager's office on 22 July 2025, Amma, Appa, Yaghavi and I all came upstairs to see my room. It was a landfill site. There was not only a thick layer of dust but delivery boxes, high heels, papers and all sorts of junk strewn all over. Two beds perpendicular to each other, two chairs: one blue and one red.
Amma immediately set about cleaning the room with the new broom. We spread the new mattress after that. Sayali came to enquire about something. There it was, by the next day, it was a nice room, my room, with 10 edges, two walls yellow and the opposite walls with windows rose orange.
It was only on the evening of the department orientation day that I met Ankita. I came to know earlier in the day that I have been allotted a roommate, Yaghavi saw the other side of the room neatly set up, then Prabhudatta also told that I've gotten a roommate and that her name is Ankita.
I had sat on the bed and collapsed sideways. Amma, Appa and Yaghavi had left in the afternoon. I got my photo clicked and the medical file work done. I felt a little alone all of a sudden. I scrolled through my gallery, looking at the tour photos. I was checking out the Jaipur pics specifically.
That was when the door opened, and there was a person who probably entered with a smile that widened with amusement on seeing me in that seemingly-doomed state. I got up, smiles, handshakes, names and native places were exchanged. We were Yazhini from Coimbatore and Ankita from Jaipur.
Time flew then I suppose. C-515 became home more than room. I have grown up so much into it, that I am sitting and typing out this blog exactly here without packing my stuff. What better place can I find to write about C-515 than C-515 itself?
I see monkeys and langurs from the window.
I spot a pair of Grey hornbills at 0730.
The hills sport tricolour flags on Independence Day and Republic Day.
I performed my first dance in front of a crowd after coming here.
I played cricket for the first time after coming here.
I working out more after coming here.
I made my first pC-pH graph and was so happy when it worked that I clapped my hands so hard on the table and shouted out, thankfully Ankita wasn't in the room.
I got an SPI of 10, which is what most people hope for while coming here, I suppose
I was taken in an ambulance too.
I felt so low so many times but always regained myself.
I spent my first birthday away from family, but with a whole bunch of friends.
A New Year too, 2026.
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Our room
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| Amma wouldn't let me step in before she cleaned everything. |
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| First look |
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| Pics I sent in SSYYSS |
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| Found my Waghyadoggy. But she disappeared in October |
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| Amma made me take the Gods with me |
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| S1 timetable |
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| I had a nice mat near the bed and table |
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| During the monsoon |
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| Ankita and I exploring |
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| My sleepy panda that helps me sleep |
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| Anki's birthday came in August |
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| AnkiMonkey ki cake was kept in the freezer |
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| Our initial mirror that I eventually broke |
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| Mehndi by Ankita the mehndi artist |
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| Janmashtmi |
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| Of course we have a group: Ankita, Prabhudatta, Rishita, Samarpita, Sayali, Swati and I - 5C wale! |
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| Mirror selfie vibes |
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| Anki's panda |
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| Steaming |
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| Mess |
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| VC with friends |
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| Saraswati Puja |
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| Diwali! |
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| Birthday, pc: Ani |
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| That was an episode, can't quit prawns though |
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| Packing and stuffing in almari |
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| Fungi light, cuz Anki observed me observing fungi |
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| My view when I collapse from the chair into the bed |
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| Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) |
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| Grey langurs (Semnopithecus) plucking lice out of fur |
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| Bad pic, nice view |
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| 2026 |
Uh I have a playlist too:
Damn I want to fully preserve this vibe and take it to 5036 in H-17. Thankfully Ankita and I are next-door neighbours and everyone else is pretty close by too.
Damn I have so many more details to add T_T
15 Feb 2026
I'm officially resident of H-17 now.
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| Peeling my notes |
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| Shifting |
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| It's so sad that we clicked pics in this garden only while leaving it. Gotta learn to appreciate beauty of a place before we are taken away from it. |
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