It was 25 July 2009, I was standing outside of the newly built Kailash hostel for girls, IIT Delhi. All excited to start a new life of a PhD scholar, I was incognizant of the fact that I am going to meet two friends for life that day.
I was busy figuring out a way to deposit hostel fee when I saw a candid girl standing near the desk talking to the warden. I looked at her for a moment and I could say bye to my first day of college nervousness. I exactly do not remember what she was talking about but the conversation definitely brought a big smile on my face. After a short chit chat, I knew that she is Binu and we both are going to start our PhDs in mathematics department.
I then asked her 'do you mind telling me where is the bank to deposit hostel fee?' Guess what? instead of telling me the directions, she called another girl Mini and asked her to take me along to the bank. Mini was also going to start a PhD with us. She had this stern and thoughtful look, was thinking so much while filling the bank form. I was not able to relate to her at all.
This was the first day and then we spent five years together in that hostel. Became inseparable parts of each others' lives. Saw all the highs (late night hostel parties, shopping in Lajpat nagar, birthday celebrations, ginger tea at our favorite tea stalls, after dinner long walks in IIT campus and many more ) lows (crying after breakups, crying after research paper rejections, preparing together for the hard finance exam the next day, accompanying each other to hospital, and many more) of Ph.D. journey.
We parted our ways in 2014 and rarely met after that. However, the friendship is forever. The time spent was beautiful and memories are for a lifetime.
(11 January 2022)