"Oh, Hi! Do you know when the orientation starts? My dad is still on the way." Padma asked as she settled down on her seat.
"Well, I suppose it should be any minute."
"Yeah, any minute." Just as we replied, the lights turned dim, and a light, soulful sound of sitar and flute filled the room.
"Looks like the orientation has started," I said.
The orientation was the most usual orientation that any university holds. The host introduced every department head, introduced about every club and explained the rules and regulations. Then, she explained about the examination pattern, syllabus and how academically things will go forward.
But the highlight of the orientation was the principal's reading of the script. The man was so nervous seeing a hundred students looking intensely at him; he ended up jumbling up so many words that I genuinely started to question his English-speaking ability.
Then, the host individually called us on the stage to give us our white coats, and then, once everyone got their coats, they asked to stand up and take a medical pledge. The entire auditorium complained about standing up and taking the pledge stand after being seated for an hour. Especially taking the salute by raising the right arm.
"Oh my god, my legs fell asleep." Someone said while hitting their leg.
"Mine too," someone agreed.
"God, my back!" Another said from the back.
"Everyone, please stand as soon as possible and take the pledge position." The principal spoke through the mic again.
We stood up and he said, "Repeat after me."
"I solemnly pledge myself to dedicate my life to the service of humanity; the health and well-being of my patient will be my first consideration."
"Damn, my feet are still asleep." Someone whispered aloud.
"It's been so long since we have made a pledge like this." Someone said, while stretching their arm.
"I will respect the autonomy and dignity of human life. I will maintain the utmost respect for human life."
"As if we won't," someone whispered.
"I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing, or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient."
"It's the twenty-first century. Nobody cares about this stuff anymore." Someone whispered from the back.
"I will respect the secrets that are confided in me even after the patient has died. I will foster the honour and noble traditions of the medical professions."
"Isn't this obvious?" Someone said from the front.
"I will give to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due. I will share my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare."
"Yeah, yeah, alright," someone said.
"I will attend to my own health, well-being and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard. I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties even under threat. I make these promises solemnly, freely, and upon my honour."
"God, it's finally over." The auditorium sighed in relief. Everyone's hands were in extreme pain.
The host took over the mic and said, "Thank you so much for staying with us for this long. The lunch has been served. Please enjoy our local cuisine, and then, at 3:30 pm, we shall commence the university tour."
As soon as the doors opened, people ran out of the auditorium as hungry ants running towards sugar.
"So, how old are you guys?" Padma asked, taking a plate while standing in the line.
"I am nineteen. How about you, Sandy?" I asked.
"Don't judge, ok? Twenty", Sandy answered, embarrassed.
"You are twenty too!" Padma said, with pure joy.
"Yeah. Me too," Sandy said with happiness.
"So I am the youngest one?" I said.
"Also the cutest," Sandy said.
"No wonder why she is so adorable," Padma said.
"I am not a child," I said, avoiding the teasing.
"So, why did you take two years?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Well, I worked at the press publishing shop to earn some living expenses money to sustain me." Sandy said as she took a large bite at the papad.
"And I was ill." Padma said as she took a spoonful of rice.
"Hmm, that's so interesting," I said as I looked at this one girl who was standing awkwardly with her plate of food and was staring at us.
"Who is she?" Padma asked. "Do you know her?"
"No, not really. I just find her very familiar. She resembles eerily my ex-classmate's friend." I replied
"She looks lonely," Sandy said. "Should we call her and invite her to eat with us?"
"Ok, I guess. I mean, we have to talk anytime soon. We have five years together. "I said, as I bit my pickled mango bite.
"I wouldn't talk to her if I were you." Suddenly a masculine voice spoke.
We all turned around and saw a guy with a finished plate. He continued, "She gives off bad vibes."
"Well, how do you know she gives off bad vibes? Have you talked to her? Have you met her before?" Padma charged back at him.
"Yes, I did meet her before. She was standing in front of me during the registration process and gave the most crooked smile ever. Even now I feel weird about her," the guy replied.
"You men always judge women based on looks. So what if she has a crooked smile? Do you know her personally? Just meeting her once can't make you an expert about them." Padma replied.
"Now, I really want to become friends with her." Padma said and walked up to the lonely girl.
Sandy and I stayed back and introduced ourselves to the guy. The guy in question was the highest-ranking admitted student of our batch, Ryan. He was a bit tall, wide-framed and reserved. He politely spoke to us the entire time.
"I don't feel good around her. She is a bit overwhelming," Ryan said.
"Well, I can't say anything about her, so I don't know whether you are right or not." I said, "However, I'll keep it in mind. What's her name though?"
"Monica. What irony! She is not even a fraction of what people would call 'darling'[1]," Ryan said as he threw the plate into the dustbin.
"Why so much bitterness?" Sandy said, "Is there a reason behind it?"
"No, just pure intuition. I can feel something is wrong with her. Anyways, are you guys from here?" Ryan tried to change the topic.
"No, I am from the capital, and she is from the coastal areas." I said and threw the finished plate of food into the dustbin.
"Oh, are you guys friends?" Ryan asked.
"No, we just met," Sandy said and threw her plate too.
"Oh, interesting," Ryan said.
"What's interesting?" I asked.
"Nothing. I can sense you two will be good friends; however, you will be even better friends with that girl," Ryan said, pointing at Padma.
"How do you know? Are you a seer?" Sandy asked carefully and secretly.
"I am. I do see things of the future," Ryan said.
"I don't believe those things, so keep me out of it. You can believe whatever you want, though; no judgement." I said and raised my hands.
[1] It's a reference to an old Hindi superhit song – Monica, O My Darling Piya Tu Ab To Aaja.