(Shray's POV )
After exiting the Lecture hall, he quickly made his way to cafeteria, at the back of main building.
*huff* ' Close one over there, thankfully the professor was not a stuck up old man or I would have been in deep trouble on my first day of college. I really need to tone down my adventurous self. Otherwise this can be a big of a problem in future' reassessing and reminding himself, Shray approached the cafeteria.
Near the end of corridor he saw pair of red wooden doors leading into cafeteria. At the side of hallway were exits of park complex. He then entered cafeteria to get a good lunch to last himself this afternoon.
[ Cafeteria, 3rd person POV ]
Entering the Cafeteria, one can see a large temporary counter with plates stacked upon each other vertically. A small hollow, cylinder wooden container with spoons and forks.
Workers/servers who were taking each plate pouring food into portions accordingly to students or set standards. Chairs and tables arranged with different sets of pairs. Huge glass panes. And below these panes were clear glass doors for entering into park complex.
Going to counter which was located left side of the entry door, he picked a steel plate and spoon. Heading forward he joined others in a line to get food. When his turn came, he handed the plate to a middle aged lady and told her that he would need less rice and more rotis. The middle aged lady smilingly nodded and then went to back of the counter where the food was stored in containers. When she came back, she handed him his portions. He took it hurriedly went out to get a table. Upon seeing am empty one he sat oj it. It was a huge table with 8 chairs. He sat at the last corner chair, but then he looked at his portions and his mood fell.
' Ugh! I should have told her to give veg selection, now how should I eat this', Shray thought anxiously. He wasn't a meat eater. He was in a big dilemma because he was served chicken in one of his portion.
In total, he had 5 chapati, 1 laddle rice and dal, small portion of mix veg (which apparently consisted of sauted carrots, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflowers and chili's with mixture of Indian masalas), chicken masala and spicy-tangy mango pickles.
Ultimately and reluctantly, he started eating his portions, avoiding the chicken portion and when he was done, he got up and went to the water cooler and hand wsshing area.
There he washed his plate and utensils along with 1 or 2 students. This was a common practice back in his home, where his mom taught him to always wash dishes the instant the food was finished. Not many students were washing their dishes and were just stacking them near the hand wash area.
After washing dishes and utensil, he headed back to counter and placed them in a separate stack. Then he went to fill his water bottle. He checked and found out that there was no classes held today other than the one, he had went to.
Deciding it would be better to go to his dormitory and then think out the schedule. He put water bottle back in bag and then took out his small phone. It was a old model mobile phone. Instead of touch screen, it had buttons to operate.
He then dialed his mother's phone number.
" The number you have dialed is currently unreachable, pls try again later..." came voice from other side. Frowning, he dialed his father's phone number. After 7 secs, it connected, much to his relief.
"Hello brother !?" Came a childish voice.
Recognizing its his small brother, a warm smile came on his face as he spoke:-
Shray- Hello little Divij! how are you?
Divij- Hello big bro!! Namaste!
Shray- *Chuckles* Namaste Dear! How are you doing!?
Divij- I am doing just fine big bro. But sis jenika always troubles me. She cheats in the game I play in. She also teases me a lot brother! Help me defend against her!
Shray- *giggles* Is that so!? When I will come we will bully her together! No one messes with my brother! *Hmph*
Divij- Damn right big bro!! You are the best!
Shray- HEY! What did I tell you? Never use 'damn'. I will get in trouble otherwise!
Divij- Okay! I will remember it.
Shray- Anyways, where are mother and father!? And why do you have father's phone?
Divij- brother we are on the way to go to himachal pradesh, back to Big sis's home!
Shray- Okay, be careful then. When you handover this phone, tell everyone I have safely reached college and my first day was good. I will call back tommorow as I would be busy today.
Divij- Okay brother, take care of yourself. When you come back, bring me a remote controlled car.
Shray- *chuckles* Okay I will remeber. Bye dear, take care.
Divij- *grining* Love you brother.
Shray smiled hearing his brother's last sweet words. He then cut off the phone call and put his phone back in backpack. Taking out a cap, he wore it to protect his head from direct hot sunlight. As the weather in Delhi in July is pretty hot and humid, especially in afternoon, where one can even bath in his own sweat.
Then he headed out from cafeteria and main building from back exit into park, and then traversed through park until he came onto paved pathway that lead through the park.
[ 3rd person POV ]
He walked down the path for a while then stopped near a big map board which showed the area around the park including DCRT main building, park complex area, Administrative block, Teacher's and staff's residential area, Sports block, Boys dormitory and Girls dormitory which ironically, bothe were separated by Dormitory Mess in between. All In all, This college campus area had everything im need.
After spotting Boys dormitory, he headed towards the pointed directions, also not forgetting to click a picture with his Tablet to remember it. After traversing through Administrative block, Teacher's and staff's residential area. He arrived at Sports block which by looks had a huge sports gym built which would have housed all the equipments and indoor sports like, basketball court, TT room, chess room, etc. It was indeed very humongous with 4 floors leaving the area of basketball court. Then outside were football field, cricket net area, Badminton court.
Exiting sports block via big steel gates which separated it from back side, where there where only student dormitories and mess.
Entering the courtyard of Common Dormitory Mess, he walked down the curved paved path going around the building. After coming in front of dormitory Mess, Shray saw the paved paths diverging left and right with forest boundary in front of him. He saw left path had crossboard sign of Boys and right side had sign of Girls. So of course, he chose right side!!
*cough* *cough*
He followed the left divergent pathway and soon arrived at gates that allowed entry in Boys dormitory. He saw a small guard post near gate. Approaching it, he saw a guard sleeping in the chair, knocking on the window twice, the guard woke up with a grunt. Seeing a student in front of gate, he asked for ID card for registeration and then allowed him to enter the gates.
Entering the premises of the dormitory he saw a small groups of buidlings each with 3 floors, with various windows and steel gates at the the building entrance. Around the building with some distance were small courtyards/gardens with bushes and trees and he also saw a small glimpse of a pond.
' Wow, this is extravaganza, if I had studied more and achieved one of those top colleges, what extravagent facilities would i be able to see by then?' Shray thought, being mesmerized by the environment in the whole campus.
After all DCRT is only considered a high their college. Not a top class college. Especially the security feature at DCRT is one of top In all colleges.
During ID registry, the guard told him to go in building number 2nd and choose any floor and any room which isn't occupied.
So he went down the path way to courtyard of 2nd buidling which was on the left side and had direct path to dormitory Mess. Walking on pathway, in the shades of avenue of trees was both cooling and refreshing.
After arriving on the entry gate of building no.2, he went in and saw that first room upon entrance was labeled as Warden's room, which was closed right now. Going inside he found water coolers to left and stairs leading to upper floors on right. As well as the far back of building was back entrance/exit gate of building and two rooms marked 1 and 2.
Then he began making his way upto the 2nd Floor, which he considered the best for living. Then went to last room which overlooked dormitory Mess and had a huge window. Luckily this room was empty as first Years were still exploring Campus, making friends or just hanging out.
Setting his backpack down on the bed, he looked around in his room. One bed top left side of room, with a table at left of bed with a flower Vass. A huge window with overhead closer and curtains.
This set up was good as it provided direct sunlight, waking a person up when sun rose to a height in the morning. A bathroom on the left side of window. In which one can bath and also use as a toilet with a sink also at entry door of bathroom with a mirror mounted above it. A wardrobe in front of bathroom near left side entry door of the room. And a study table right next to it near the entry door.
He switched on the led lights which were mounted top of his headside of Bedwall and turned on the ceiling fan to cool down the hot room. Sweating as he was, he decided to bath. Took out towel from his bagpack and a change of home wear with underwear. Then went to bathroom, chose to open water tap to fill the given bucket instead of turning on the shower. Checking water quality, he started pouring water and bathing.
After 3 mins, he came out in towel, stood in front of the window looking outside. Sun rays falling down on him, still hot and humid weather. It was currently 2:48 pm. Looking out of window, he saw many first years heading towards the dormitory, many and their parents or guardians with them, carrying a duffle bag or 2 with luggage filled in them. He even saw 2 or 3 girls who were checking out the 2nd building spot him at window and then averting their face in embarrassment or with a blush.
Thinking of a proper schedule, he dressed up in simple check patterned, blue-white shirt with black knee length shorts. Then he took out his tablet and two no ruler lined notebooks. He took his study material sat on chair and began to study. The Mess would distribute dinner at 7:30. He then fully absorbed himself in studies, determined to complete today's work and do some extra research on topics to be taught in class.
But something didn't feel right in back of the mind...