Sameer hit the snooze button when the wake-up alarm on the mobile phone went off a second time. It was 6am. In two hours he was required to be at the business school in his chosen University in Houston. It was 12th of September 2011, the first day of a week-long orientation program before the classes for MBA (class of 2012) started from 22nd. With eyes wide open and his gaze fixed on the ceiling, Sameer lay on the airbed for a while. His thoughts seemed numb to envisage the days proceedings. Starting the day with a shower was a usual practice even back in Hyderabad. He quickly helped himself to two slices of toast and a cup of tea. In the next 45 minutes, dressed in formal shirt and trousers with black shoes, Sameer was trotting across Proshop Av. and Martin Luther King Dr.
By 7.25am, Sameer was at the main lobby of the C.H.L. College of Business. It was only a 7-minute walk from his residence. Students thronged the main passageway. There were a few grown-ups (than usual) in the multitude, like him. His eyes were eagerly searching for the first approachable person to start a conversation. Being a face in the crowd, for once, seemed to be an uninteresting proposition. Suddenly, he saw a girl closing in on him. She soon stopped short and seated herself at the wooden bench nearby. Her smile was more than a welcome respite for Sameer to approach her and introduce himself. She identified herself as Sonali and coincidentally from Hyderabad, the same place as where Sameer belonged. They soon started a converstaion and headed together to room 112, the beautifully done auditorium at the business school. Sameer was dazed by what he saw inside. A large room with scores of neatly arranged seats overlooking the well, large visual monitors hung from above with speakers to aid the back row audience, state-of-the-art LEDs lit the stairway and two huge screens dangled at the front to relay AV presentations. Swarm of students seemed to make headway to the seats farthest from the dias. Sameer and Sonali too joined the melee and were ushered into the middle on the 3rd row from the rear. The file of faculty members standing in front made for an interesting spectacle. Sameer was sitting like a jitterbug amongst 80odd students, caught up more in trying to identify the Indian students in the various rows. However, all he could pick were arrays of heads with black or blonde hair.
The dean, David Zerkowsky initiated the program with a customary welcome speech and announced how the ensuing days would unfold. This was followed by a detailed address by Dr.Videsh Chari, the Associate Dean. All along, the program director, Dr. Dheeler seemed busy trying to fix audio problems with the mic or co-ordinating with support staff on the catering arrangements. He was actively involved in one-on-one interactions with students too. Each student was also handed over a folder with details of each days schedule for the next 7 days. Sameer was impressed to note they would have free lunch, each of the 7days.
After lunch, Sameer had to make do with a different place to sit. He was cursing himself on having turned up late and losing the place he was seated on, prior to lunch. As speakers changed places on the dias, Sameer's roving eyes suddenly stopped at a girl seated just in front of him. Seemingly jovial and mingling with others with a studied silence, she seemed to be the only student in the program from Turkey. After grappling with 'yes' or 'no' for sometime, to say hi to her, Sameer mustered enough courage to call out, at the behest of curiosity. "Hi, I am Sameer". To ensure a generous measure on the 1st impression he would have made, Sameer added, "I am in the MBA program and come with a work experience of 15years in MNCs". Startled a bit, she turned back and replied, "Oh hi! I am Riya from Mumbai but in Houston with my husband for more than 4years now". She returned back to listening to the speaker again and Sameer was disgusted at the cold shoulder she imparted on the start of conversation he had provided to latch on to. A little later, however, she again turned back and asked, "So, what made you choose Houston". Not to be outdone, the 'smart' reply that Sameer could gather himself to provide her was, "Well the college website mentioned, it was amongst the top 10 in USA in terms of ROI". On this reply, the grimace on her face made Sameer squirm. He could sense something was amiss. The brief interaction was enough for Sameer to vow to stay clear of Riya, if he was to ensure himself of not being outdone, in future. Yes, she had all the elements of proving to be more than a handful to deal with.
The day was finally over with Dr. Dheeler dividing the entire batch into 8 teams of 9 students each.They were called Posse teams and Sameer was part of team 8. He was thrilled to see an Indian name among the team members. She was Pakhi. With a sullen silence and serious facial expressions, she seemed least approachable. On his way back home, Sameer tried hard to recollect atleast one thing about the day's proceedings, which would inspire him to go back the next day. With heavy steps, pangs of distress and infinite discomfort, he re-assured and convinced himself to wait for day 2, atleast for another free lunch, if not for anything else.
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