We reached Bangalore at 6 a.m. Master Chowdappa woke me up. Last night, I kept thinking about my mother. I wondered how she would manage alone. Who would take care of her? That pain kept me awake. When the master tried to wake me, I thought I was dreaming. But once I opened my eyes, I realized it wasn’t a dream. I was in a sleeper coach bus, curtains drawn, and life had truly brought me here. From now on, my journey would begin here.
I pulled the curtain and looked out—metro lines, tall buildings, malls, and people waiting at bus stops. Master Chowdappa said, “Vinoth, come, we have to get down.” I grabbed my backpack and small bag and followed him. Almost everyone got down there. Everything was new to me. I didn’t know anything about this place. My co-passengers moved on quickly, but I was just observing everything, trying to keep up.
Within 4 minutes, the crowd disappeared. We were left alone. Master tried to get an auto, but the first few were busy. Finally, the fourth one stopped. He asked me to get in. Everything felt strange and exciting. I watched the city as we rode to the college. It took about 20 minutes.
When we entered the campus, I was stunned—it looked grand. This was the first engineering college in India. The campus was beautiful, and the students looked smart and confident. Everyone spoke English fluently, wore neat clothes, and looked wealthy. I felt scared. I’d never seen such a big place or these types of people.
The auto stopped at the administrative block. Master Chowdappa led me in. I gave them my seat confirmation letter and all my documents. After verification, they entered everything into the computer. Master paid the fees. The enrollment process was done, and we were asked to wait in a hall.
After an hour, we were called to a senior hall where a video about college rules and regulations was played. I was given a disciplinary form to sign. Meanwhile, they prepared my ID card and hostel details. Around 12:48 p.m., the process was completed.
We went to the hostel block with the slip. The warden guided us to my room. It was a two-person room, and I was the first one to arrive. Master and I hadn’t eaten anything, so we freshened up and went to the college canteen for food.
There, I noticed Master speaking Kannada. I asked him, “You know Kannada, Master?” He smiled and replied, “I was born in Karnataka. I live here with my wife after marriage.”
After lunch, Master called an old friend from the college. We waited in the canteen. A middle-aged man came—he was Krishnappa, the college librarian and Master’s schoolmate. They spoke in Kannada. Chowdappa Master asked him to help me out. Krishnappa Sir promised to take care of me and also helped me get a 50% scholarship.
Later, Master said, “Come, let me show you Bangalore.” He took me to a mall and bought clothes for me—jeans, cotton pants, shirts, and t-shirts. I told him I didn’t need anything as my mother had already bought them. But Master didn’t listen.
By evening, around 6 p.m., we sat in a park. I was holding the shopping bags. A tea vendor on a bicycle came by, and Master ordered two cups. He asked, “How old are you?” I replied, “Next month, I’ll be 19.”
He nodded and said, “My life started well. I studied in a matriculation school. But one day, an accident took away my entire family—my father, mother, elder brother, and sister. I survived. People said I was lucky. But from then on, life became a struggle. My uncle put me in YMCA P.E.T. college. I actually wanted to study physics, but they pushed me towards the army through National National Cadet Corps [NCC]. My uncle only wanted our small house. I gave him the house and left.
I struggled to find jobs. No one gave me a chance. A teacher told me to teach physical education instead of joining the army. I took his advice. Slowly, I started assisting in a school. I worked hard. We went to national sports meets. In one event in Chennai, I met my wife Revathi—also a PET teacher. She was from Sivagangai. She helped me get a job there, and we settled down in Sivagangai together.”
He paused, then looked at me. “Wherever life gets tough, someone always comes into our life to change something. Then they leave. Don’t keep thinking about Sivagangai and your family. Things will change. I’ll return to Sivagangai tonight. You must take care of yourself.”
My hands were cold, and I was shivering. “Master, can you leave tomorrow instead?” I asked.
He replied, “What will change in one day?”
We returned to the hostel and placed all the shopping bags in my room. Master picked up his bag and looked at me. I looked at him. If he had been my father, I might’ve argued, begged him to stay. But I had no words. He said, “Come with me.” We took an auto to Krishnappa’s house.
There, we ate homemade uppittu and masala dosa. Krishnappa’s family was warm. Master said his bus was at 9:15 p.m., and now it was 8:30. Krishnappa asked him to stay, but Master said, “Revathi is alone. I must go.”
Before leaving, Master told Krishnappa, “Please take care of Vinoth. Guide him.”
Then he turned to me. “Study well. Focus. This city can distract you easily. Be strong.”
I just nodded. As Master left, I kept watching him. But he didn’t turn back to look at me.
Back in the house, I stood near the sofa. Tears filled my eyes. I tried to hide it, but they flowed like water. Krishnappa Sir saw me and said, “Come, Vinoth, sit here.” His wife, Manjula Aunty, tried to comfort me. I cried like a baby.
After 10 minutes, I calmed down a little. Manjula Aunty asked me to sleep there. But I wanted to return to the hostel. I started crying again. She finally agreed and asked her husband to drop me. I requested an auto instead. Krishnappa called one for me.
As I left, I heard Manjula say, “I’ve never seen a boy cry like this.”
Krishnappa didn’t respond. She added, “He has gone through a lot at such a young age. God will give him strength.”
The auto dropped me at the hostel. It was a 20-minute ride. For the first time in my life, I was alone in a new place. It felt strange, exciting, and scary.
The warden asked for details. I explained in broken English. He asked, “Nee Tamizha?” I nodded. “Yes, sir.” He let me in.
In my room, I checked my phone. There were missed calls from Amma. I called her back.
“Amma, Master left me alone here. I’m scared. I don’t want to study here. I want to come back and work in a juice shop.”
“Vinoth,” she said, “You always say this. If you say it again, I won’t call you. Everything begins like this. Soon you’ll adjust. Master told me everything. Be strong. Good night.”
She hung up. I wanted to talk more, but I had nothing to say.
I tried to sleep.
Tomorrow is my first day of college.
To be continued…
Wounder writing