Amit Kulkarni shares a poignant story about the power of inspiration and possibility of redemption set in an Indian engineering hostel which explores contemporary social realism.
A sharp, insistent knock woke me up. I sat up on the edge of my bed, the springs groaning under me like they were tired of holding up my weight. The room stank of stale smoke and apathy. I glanced at the watch, it was past noon. My head hurt from drinking the previous night. My beard itched and my hair stuck out in greasy clumps. I slipped on an oversized T-shirt and navigated the minefield of empty bottles and cigarette packs towards the door.
I yanked the door open, squinting at the kid on the other side. Fresh-faced, eyes wide with that stupid, unbreakable elation of a fresher. He looked like he’d run here from the admission office, tie still knotted perfectly, shirt tucked in. Who the hell was this kid who dared to knock on my door?
“Hi Sandeep, I am Anil,” The words tumbled out before I could ask or slam the door in his face. “You may not know me but I am from your junior college, Bharat Niketan. I have just secured admission in this college and it is all because of you. You have been my inspiration all through. Can I come in?”