Chapter 1 : The First Day

               

       Chapter 1 : The First Day            

I was quite surprised when the gate didn't open automatically when my car was near it. It doesn't have motion sensors, perhaps the very first disappointment I had in college. Finally, someone sees me from inside, or my car at least. So, a man in a guard dress comes and opens the gate for me.

I drive inside and park in the parking lot, which was totally empty. I realize I'm the first student to enter college. I take that as an advantage. I search for my class, and there it is—a separate section for my stream, which is science. I move towards it; it's on the 2nd floor. I go inside to put my bag on the front desk, but unfortunately, there is a girl already in the classroom, sitting at the last desk of the next row where I put my bag.

I couldn't see her face. She was sitting on her chair with her head faced down on the desk. Probably she was sleeping or having a nap. I just exit the class without even her noticing me.

I am now facing towards the gate, standing in front of my class. I can get a clear view of it. I can see the gate is open. Finally, after a few minutes, the students and teachers start entering the school. This was exactly the reason to reach the school at first—to watch the girls. Actually, I was here second. But I take that as first because the girl doesn't seem to care.

There she is—the second, actually the third student to enter the school. I could say she is a girl by her dress, but she is too far to have a look at her face. She stops near the office. She is looking at the notice board, probably finding out what her class number is. She turns at me and walks towards it. I get a glance of her. I see her, so does she. She is coming upstairs. I lose the view of her. She isn't coming upstairs yet. I assume that she is the student of the class just beside those stairs.

Suddenly, my eye catches two girls entering the school premises, and behind them, a group of four boys. I watch them carefully. The two girls seem to know their class. They didn't stop to check their class near the office, but those boys behind are checking. While they were going to F block (which is the farthest block from mine), other students are entering the college. I check my watch; it's time. Many students start coming. I lose count. My eyes are still looking here and there for the perfect girl. I cannot see anyone clearly because of so much crowd. All I get is a very fast glance of them and then disappearing somewhere in the crowd. So, I decide, maybe not today, and I go to my classroom. I'm surprised to see it crowded too. I was so busy checking out girls on the college ground. I didn't even notice students passing right through me and entering my class. I notice my bag being displaced with someone else's bag. Probably the girl's bag who is sitting on that bench. I look for my bag, and it hasn't gone far. It's just on the second desk. I don't get a clear view of the girl since she was bending down, writing something in her notebook.