BEING A YIF 101

India has seen a record amount of rainfall this year. I would recount its benefits and pitfalls but my mind is preoccupied with the commotion outside my cab. Waterlogged Delhi roads crammed up with traffic have become regular sights as I make yet another desperate attempt to reach my swanky Hauz Khas office on time. “What to do, Ma’am? The MCD and system are to be blamed”, my Ola driver utters in a morbid attempt to calm me down. I regret missing breakfast as the sight of Sarvana Bhawan and the distinguished scent of its famous filter coffee fills me up. Suddenly food is the only thought on my mind.

*BEEP*

The electronic device lying dormant on my lap jumps to life. ‘Shivangi, here are your memories from 1 year ago’. “Thanks, Facebook!” I mutter under my breath, sarcastically. My thumb, however, knows the drill too well and like a dedicated archaeologist, plunges in to uncover History. After Phantom Limb Syndrome, they must test if Phantom Thumb Syndrome is becoming a thing. One look at my screen and a swarm of memories come bubbling to the surface. A sea of familiar friendly faces, laughing with no care in the world, drowned the commotion outside and inside. It is hard to believe how different my life was just a few months (and as pointed out by Facebook, a year) back.

10-09-2017

4 AM: Everything seems to be a blur. I take a big gulp of water and try to recount the events of last night. At 1 AM I promised myself to get a headstart on the assignment due in two days. Having found the motivation to visit the Library and securely attaching my rear end to my regular chair at my regular space, I felt at home. Half an hour and many random conversations later, I find myself surrounded by a pile of carefully chosen books and half a sentence on the title written on an untitled Word document. The blinking cursor seemed to mock my lack of concentration. I don’t remember when a stroll across the campus turned to a heated gossip session on who-is-dating-who in the Dhaba and ended up at SSP. It was then picked up by enthusiastic extroverts as one promised to “show us a good time” back in an empty dorm room. Many gleeful group pictures, Bollywood scene enactments, songs and dance later, the YIFs returned to their rooms. Now, I wish someone would make my room stop spinning as I try to fall asleep.

10 AM: The room has stopped spinning and dehydration has given way to hunger. I make a dash for my morning routine, fully aware of the 10:30 deadline of the Ashoka Mess for breakfast. Asking for food after that means inviting the wrath of our in-house deities of nutrition. Pulling out the first thing I see to wear and carelessly doing my hair, I reach the mess just five minutes before and see the long queue as they are, once again, out of food. The first thing I grab are a couple of bananas then some tea and bread. The breakfast is as quick as the process of getting ready. I quickly chat up a few of my YIF friends about any progress made on the assignment. “What assignment?”, is the most common response so far. “What did Rudy say he will talk about in today’s class?” A jolt of realization shook me and I realized I just have fifteen minutes to my next class of the aforementioned Professor. I quickly grab my extra banana and make a run for it, yet again. I wonder how I am always running late in this place when in all my previous academic institutions, I was known to be super early and organized to the point of being annoying for students and teachers alike?

1 PM: More assignments! Phew! WHY?! I want to cry, sleep and eat all at the same time as I come out of the class. Except the occasional salads and desserts, my visits to the mess during lunch hours go something like this: I came, I saw, I left. Dreading the rude people inside, I politely order a Veg Cheesy burger from Hazelnut. Forty-five minutes and my favorite Caramel shake from Fuel Zone later, I finally receive the coveted and overpriced burger and happily proceed to ponder ominously over the joke my life has seemingly become after joining YIF. My classmates share the feeling of dread, repent and remorse.

3 PM: I detested naps throughout my life. I used to feel nauseated after waking up. I recall this as I wipe off drool from my face and my desk. Waking up from the two hour nap, I ask myself if my days of youth are undeniably and irreversibly behind me. One look in the mirror is enough to prove that my fears are not unbased. By now, I am a ‘how to rock bed-hair in your regular college’ champ. If there were a fashion magazine for lazy people, I would definitely make the cover. I browse through numerous emails which seem to fill up my official Ashoka inbox at the speed of light. An attractive job opportunity gives me hope and a new dream- two things which are long dead in my YIF life. I make a mental note of applying to it later and star mark it. This also reminds me that I need to re-work my resume and I possibly can’t procrastinate any further. Another mental note, another task on my exponentially rising To-Do list, another shrug of the shoulder and I move on with my life.

6 PM: Exiting the second class of the day. Urvashi Butalia is inspiring. I love her body of work. I have a few complaints about the course but I will address it in the course feedback in a constructive manner. Heck! Who am I kidding? By the time I will be too lazy and up till my nose with term-end assignments to pay any attention to the feedback. It will be a mere formality, as always. Frisbees are flying around and Sonepat skies are wonderfully lit up with the setting Sun. I crave for some tea and snacks and realize, once again, that I am making a run for things as the mess timings are till 6:15 PM only. Why am I always running? For all my planning and Type A personality perfectionism, I never seem to be able to get anywhere before time on this campus. Oh! What has become of me - a straight A student! And despair once again takes over. Fortunately, I have Tea and Samosas to keep me company.

6:30 PM: Favorite place of my YIF summer days: swimming pool! What a wonderful delight albeit a bit crowded for my taste. Being an introvert in this space, adorably termed “bubble”, is a tad difficult. One is bound to get claustrophobic, finding people in all nooks and crannies. I immerse myself in the cold water and feel one with nature. Prof. Dwight Jaggard’s words of wisdom about flow come to mind. I found the one place on campus where I can never be late and where time stops still. I find uncanny peace and tranquility amidst the constant chatter of people playing an odd water ball game. My meditative mode did not last long as I realized there is a compulsory movie screening (attendance and everything) for the Law course starting 7 PM. In that moment, I could beat Michael Phelps in a bid to get out of the water.

7 PM: Yup! Late again. Surprise, Surprise. I had to make a quick run to the Tuck Shop for I could never watch a movie without munching on something. Some snacks, mints and mandatory daily quota of Coca-Cola later, I made it to the end of Mihir Shah classroom for signing the attendance sheet. I find my two best friends and settle in for the great academic experience that is watching a popular, mainstream Hollywood movie on the subject of pornographic websites.

8 PM: *Yawns* Could this movie get any worse? I sadly realize I have reached the end of the chips packet and my ration supply. I need to get more. It is also dinner time. I quickly check the e-menu which Sureet is kind enough to send each week. I see a few good items and proceed forgetting all about the movie, leaving my two best friends in the room to fill me in later. Half an hour and a full stomach later, I find my way back to my room and fall flat on the bed. I quickly realize I need to brush, change and wash my face. I am too lazy to get up. May be another nap would fix me up.

10 PM: Assignments. Deadlines. Class readings. I woke up with a start. I can not get proper sleep in this place. I get up, brush my teeth, change into clothes which may be repurposed as tomorrow’s day clothes, if need be, and carry my laptop to the library once more. Third time lucky, may be? I sit with a determination to finish the Essay tonight.

10:30 PM: Half way through with the assignment. Time to reward myself. I will watch one and only one episode of my favorite netflix series and no YouTube videos, snacks or other distractions.

1 AM: Progress Status -

Exited Library now luxuriously sprawled in my bed

Assignment: Half way done

Favorite Netflix Series: Half a Season watched

YouTube: At least hour an hour spent on make-up tutorials (knowledge which will never be used in real life - very much like YIF)

Snacks: Pizza, Chips, Popcorn, Chocolates and Coca-Cola finished

*sighs* Okay, then! Time to write a farewell note to the long dead ideal student in me.

2 AM: I need to get out of this maze. I should go for some physical activity. May be a long walk across the campus - the weather must be lovely right now.

4 AM: Everything is a blur.

10-09-2018

“It would be Rs. 220/-, Ma’am”

Yes! Reached on time. Actually, fifteen minutes early. Well, that’s me - the non-YIF and the recent YIF graduate me, anyway. To-Do lists managed, targets met, dealing with existential dread and quarter life crisis one life goal at a time. So, what did I learn in YIF? Nothing and a Lot. It can be summed up best in the words of Charles Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” What exactly does this mean? Go figure or ask a current YIF.