Day Thirty

The following are excerpts from an application to the Literary Arts department for Malhar that I never used. Being an emotional person, I ended up talking about my personal experiences instead of my ideas and goals. The application that I finally submitted didn't have any of these paragraphs to it, but I'd like to share them with you. I wonder if you'll understand much or any of it. Maybe you will.

" I sat there in the massive Xaviers Hall for the first time listening to Father Fraiser delivering his orientation speech to us starry-eyed FYs. He spoke of Malhar and of its brilliance. He called on the CP to say a few words about it. He spoke passionately yet calmly, exaggerating on how our experience as a Xavierite would be incomplete without Malhar.

On my third day of college, I laid eyes upon the Malhar boards. I stood there staring at the various department charts. I hadn’t realized until then that I had to ‘apply’ to get into a department. Literary Arts called out to me. Its application seemed the most intriguing. I’d have to write a series of mini-essays on topics like “Who’s your favourite literary character and why? Write a story as that character.” and “Beards. For or against?” I decided to write an application for LA simply because I really wanted to write THAT application.

A few days later, I walked into LR37 (Ah, LR 37, you wonderful LA workstation) to be greeted by Cynthia Lewis (OG Niche Quiz) who was busy finishing off a sandwich. Nandan Krishnaswamy (bear-hug-giving OC) and the others walked in soon afterward. Cynthia told me a little about each of their events. From there, they went on to conduct a supremely whacky and unexpected interview. I found myself doing extempore, solving cryptic clues, making up anagrams and talking about food.

Acceptance! I got a phone call from Nandan a few days later who said, in his characteristic deep-but-excited monotone, that I had made it into LA and I could start coming for meetings at 3:30 every day. Little did I know then that LA would soon become an integral part of my life. 

During the summer of ’13, I was in Ladakh working for Snow Leopard Conservancy. I had almost no contact with Mumbai owing to sporadic internet and a dysfunctional sim card. Around the 1^st of May, I was miraculously informed that OG applications needed to be submitted. After getting hold of a phone that worked, I made some calls and finally got through to Ishita Chaudhary, OC LA ’13. I was ecstatic to know that this brilliant woman had made OC and the prospect of working under her as OG was fantastic. She encouraged me to send in my application and agreed to conduct my interview over the phone. However, I had only one night to write my application. I decided to give it a shot. Not knowing exactly what was expected of me, I set out putting down my ideas and thoughts and frantically managed to send my application in by the midnight deadline. (God bless Leh’s cyber cafes.) I knew by then that working on Malhar from Leh wouldn’t be easy. Ishita conducted my interview the next day over the phone and said she’ll get back to me about who made the cut the following day. I wanted to be OG, I really did, especially since I’d get to work with Ishita. When she called to say I hadn’t got the position, I was disappointed. But when she enlisted those who did make it, I wasn’t anymore. Even if I was just a volunteer this year, I was going to be working under some of my best friends and all that mattered then was LAve. 

I filled in my volunteer application and dropped it into the box as soon as SY began. I started work two days later. I walked in for my first meeting in 2013 to find all the OGs sitting around and talking. After a warm welcome, I too settled down and before I knew it, I was brainstorming for Extempore. There was neither awkwardness nor the need for introductions. I was home. And it felt good.

  

I fell in love with LA within my first month of working for Malhar. Even before Malhar’12 kick started, I knew I would be coming back the following year. I feel radiant warmth, a feeling of home every time I walk through the doors of LR 37, slip out of my shoes and put on my thinking cap. LA has become my family. It is what defines me as a person and is nothing short of an obsession. "

  

Well, today, I received a phone call just before I sat down to lunch. It was Ishita, a close friend, who has both inspired and guided me through the past year. She yelled "Congratulations!!" into the phone and informed me of my selection as an Organiser for LA, Malhar'14. I was astounded and could barely get any words out of my mouth. She told me that she was proud and happy, that she knew I deserved it and that she was certain I'd do a good job. My mind was numb and yet, ecstatic. I hugged my whole family with utter joy.

Later that day, I received an email welcoming me to Malhar, to LA. The photo that I'm adding is an excerpt from that long email enlisting both the joys and trying times up ahead. I now brace myself for the days and months that lay in my wait. I'm going to be swamped with work, unreasonable deadlines and raised expectations, and I can't wait to be.