I entered the college with heavy heart. First time I am going to stay in hostel.

A constant fear was slowing crawling inside me regarding my roommates. I am basically introvert, how am I going to get along with them?

I entered the empty room which was allocated for me.

I looked around and saw there were two bunker cots, four shelves, four study tables and table lamp attached to each table. Room seems to be good. I chose lower bed of the bunker; because I am more of rolling type which I know that I will fall and break my bones for sure.

As I was arranging my things my roommates entered the room. We introduced ourselves. Renuka chose lower bed like me, Kavitha and Tamil Shelvi chose upper cot. To our amusement we came to know that all four of us chose Biotechnology.

Finally in the evening we went together to have dinner in the college hostel. As it was first day, all of us decided to talk and know each other. So we stayed awake till late night. All my fears about my roommates vanished as they seemed to be so friendly.

Next day morning I woke up at 4 am and took bath as it won't be much crowded. After taking bath I slept again. Weird isn't it? What to do! In our floor we have 20 bathroom for 200 students. Class starts at 8:30 a.m., if I get up late then have to stand in que so better to wake up early and take bath and sleep.

Then again I woke up at 7 to have breakfast and started to get ready.

By 7:45 I got ready and started to leave.

"Going for breakfast?" Kavitha asked, as she was about to leave for brushing her teeth

"Going for college da." I replied.

"Why so soon? Class starts at 8:30 right?"

"I will go to temple then I have to pick a seat in class room right? What if someone else pick my favorite seat?" I pouted.

"Yes yes. Getting back bench is very difficult, book for me next to your seat."

"What? No no. I am going soon to book for first bench, that too at the center so that I can have better view of the classboa..." before even I could complete, she started to cough.

"What! First bench?"

I nodded.

"Aaru Aaru, even if you go to class as late comer, then also first bench will be free only. No one will pick first bench. This is college and not school! Fine, you go to temple, will meet you in the class," saying that she left.

After going to temple and reached first year block. College management decided to have all the first year students to have classrooms separately to avoid ragging as much as possible. In first year we don't have much of our department classes, so they decided to handle first year students separately.

Soon I reached my class; it was empty so I happily chose the first bench and the center one so that I will be able to see the board much better without any disturbance.

I looked at the time, it was 8:10, and still 20 more minutes was there for the class to start.

Slowly one by one started to come, most of them chose last bench as Kavi said. I frowned as no one picked first bench.

Tall ones picking last bench is fine, even short ones were also taking seats at back, how will they be able to see the board? Maybe they will take notes as professors speak? Could be! I shook my head and waited for my roommates to come.

Then before five minutes for 8:30, all three of them came, they searched for me and waved their hands.

Kavi came to my place and looked at all five first benches among which four were empty.

"I said you so." She said.

"You can sit here?" I patted the place beside me. All the benches were two sitting ones. So I asked her.

"Eww no way I am sitting in first bench," saying that she also went back.

I sighed at the same time I was very happy that no one sat beside me. What if they are talking while in class? Then it would be very disturbing to me. Better to be alone in a bench.

Days passed. To be honest I did realize that college is not like school. It seemed to be fun. Later I got a bench mate finally. Much to my dismay, she was very talkative during the class also, but I somehow managed to listen to class and to her.

One day, some group of students which I assume seniors came to class. They asked permission from the professor and then spoke.

"Hi guys, we are third year biotech students. We are having a national level symposium on coming Friday in our college. We want to invite you all to participate as this would give a brief introduction to our department in research field." A senior among the group spoke to us.

Suddenly he stopped when he looked at me. He looked bit shocked.

Then another senior started to continue, "We will be providing full day on duty if you attend the symposium and conference that is to be held in the afternoon, if attend conference, you will be getting participation certificate. Since this is taking place in our college, there is no entry fee for our college."

Meanwhile the first senior broke our gaze and suddenly a small smile crept on his lips.

Then he spoke, "Do attend both presentation and conference. It will be very informative for you guys," after saying that the group left.

Why do I have a feeling that I have seen him somewhere? I tried to think but nothing came to mind. I have very poor memory. I easily forget people's face. I shook my head. He is also in same college; maybe I would have seen him back in canteen, whatever it is I started to listen to the class.

On Thursday evening most of us decided to attend the biotech symposium, so next day we all left to the conference room straight away. Many students from different college were representing their research purpose, even though it was like Greek and Latin to me, I tried to grasp as much as possible.

Some decided to stay in the class itself as they were not interested to attend symposium.

Suddenly one hour before lunch we got a text in WhatsApp group from one of our classmate asking us to come to first year block immediately.

All 30 of us who attended symposium rushed to the class to get shock of our life. First year HOD was glaring at us.

"Who gave the permission to bunk the class?" he shouted at us.

I came forward and said, "Sir we went to attend biotech symposium, we didn't bunk our class."

"Whenever whole class or half of the class doesn't turn up to the lecture without prior information, then it is called bunking. If you wanted to go to symposium, then you should have asked my permission before going!"

What the hell is going on? We didn't bunk the class as most of the other department student do, as obedient students we went to attend symposium then what is his problem?

"They said, it is on du..." HOD cut off me.

"Who said like that? Your so called biotech HOD? Till you are in first year, I am your HOD. You should listen to me before doing anything. You all are suspended. Leave the building. Go to your so called HOD and attend his classes. LEAVE." He shouted.

Next thing we did was to run for our so called biotech HOD, but seems like he was busy, so the only person we turned to was the group of students who invited us.

I didn't remember much of other students except the person who looked at me in the class three days back.

He was sitting outside the conference room, checking for the student's details.

Me and the class representative Adarsh went towards him and stood. He turned up and asked, "What you guys doing outside? Go in and attend the paper presentation."

"Bro, our HOD dismissed us." Adarsh said.

"What? Why" he asked to which we explained everything.

"So you guys didn't inform him before coming here." We shook our heads.

We didn't know there is such procedure. Seriously this is worse than school. I though college was fun but it isn't. For everything we need to ask permission.

"I get it; this is first time for you. Wait here I will speak to our HOD and ask him to speak to your first year HOD. But next time inform your class advisor and HOD before attending anything okay?" he asked.

On seeing sad face, "Don't worry. It is not a problem. First year HOD is very strict. Even we have faced many problems like this. It is like some internal politics going on." He whispered the last part.

Then later we talked with our HOD. He also said the same thing senior said.

He asked the senior to speak to the first year HOD on our behalf. Later we all stood outside while the senior spoke to HOD.

It had been more than 15 minutes since the senior went to talk. As each minute passed it brought unknown fear inside me.

What if they don't take back the suspension?

What if this behavior falls as a black mark in our discipline record? Oh no!!! My whole life is close! I won't get a seat in masters, and then I will not become a scientist. Then my dream of studying this newly found disease Ebola? That's it! Many people are going to die and I will not be able to save them.

On thinking all these tears started to flow from my eyes.

"Aaru, you are crying?" Kavi asked.

"Look here, nothing is going to happen. Our senior will speak to our HOD; if he couldn't then our HOD will speak for us. Don't worry. Okay?" she tried to console me but tears were not stopping.

I am doomed!

"Guys come on let's celebrate our so called bunking." Adarsh called us. Kavi dragged me to the group.

He suddenly took his phone and asked us to stand back.

Ah Selfie!

After taking photos, all the posted picture in Facebook with hash tags, #biotech_bunkies #First_bunk #Enjoying_college #collegeLife

I rolled my eyes at the hash tags, suddenly we saw the senior coming towards us, I wiped my tears and we all stood in front of him.

He said that he spoke our HOD and he agreed to take back the suspension seems. After which I sighed in relief. Yayy no black marks!

He also said that he got permission for afternoon conference also, interested people can attend it seems.

No way I am going to take risk! Better I attend the class.

"So will see you in afternoon," saying that he left.

All left for lunch and I ran towards the senior.

"Bro" I called him.

He turned back and frowned at me.

"Umm, Thanks for speaking to the HOD." I said to which he chuckled.

"No issues. You cried?" he asked to which I nodded my head.

"Thought so." He muttered.

"Pardon?"

"No nothing. Don't cry for this. It happens in college. You will laugh at this incident after leaving college. These are beautiful memories. So enjoy till you are studying here. Okay?" he asked.

Memories! My foot! It brought me a mini heart-attack!

"Umm okay bro."

"Huh? Don't call me bro. If you want to give respect you can call me as senior. No bro please. I...I don't like that term." He said.

I hummed and said, "Okay senior."

"Sounds better." He muttered.

"Huh?"

"No I was asking whether you are coming afternoon for conference."

"No senior. I better attend class."

"Aaradhana! What did I say before? I got permission from your HOD. If he asks, then I can speak to him again. It is not a problem."

I was about to refuse, but he cut off me, "Famous hematologist is giving lecture. It will be very interesting. This is a golden opportunity and you are getting certificate just by listening to the lecture. That too at free of cost, isn't good? Do attend." He stressed.

Before I could nod my head he spoke, "Or are you scared of blood and will start crying like you did in counseling?"

I looked up and saw him smirking at me.

"Huh? How you kn..." he cut off me.

"You forgot me? Anyways I didn't forget you. But I didn't expect you to be here. Anyways do come to the conference, there is no blood test going to be held, just speaking about blood related disease. Will see you in the afternoon Aaradhana." He said

The guy who pricked my hand for blood test! How did I forget him?

It is really difficult to see the person with tears in eyes. My subconsciousness mocked at me. 

By the way, what was his name? Ha Adi!

How dare he tease me like that? That senior jerk who pricks everyone!

Before even I could give a counter, he left and I heard Kavi and Renu calling me for lunch.

"How could you bunk the class Aaradhana?" asked my HOD

"I am sorry sir. I will not bunk the class. Never ever in my life!"

"No, you need to be punished for this! Adi come here."

Out of nowhere he come into the picture with a syringe in his hands

"No no! I swear I will never bunk again."

"Take her blood." My HOD held arm as Adi came with syringe.

"Appa" I shouted.

"Amma" suddenly my hands and knee started to pain.

Why my hands and knees are paining suddenly?

I opened my eyes to see everything dark, only moon light was entering the room.

I looked around and saw I was lying on the ground.

Oh I fell down from my bed.

Wait! Did I wake up others by shouting; I looked up and saw both Tamil and Kavi were sleeping.

I looked behind to check for Renu, she was busily speaking with her boyfriend.

I sighed, "Adipavi, here I fell down, and there you are busily chatting with your boyfriend!" I shook my head.

Damn! It was really scary!!!

**************************

Hi Guys!!!!

I know this might be boring. I was speaking with my friends, when I said I am writing biotechnology love, they started to laugh. Then they asked who is going to love fall in love in the story. I said Aaru is going to fall in love, for which they asked how come readers are reading this so called love story written by me, the one who doesn't know anything about love. After that only I realized how childish the book is. But I wanted it to fun filled one so I am publishing, even though I am having second thoughts.

Hope this wasn't that boring. But do share your college bunking experience. Did you get scolding like this? I know many other departments from our batch bunked the class, but biotech has been always been strict. Not only in my college, heard this from many of my biotech friends from other college, all they used to say only biotech and biology related departments were strict, but other departments were enjoying.