The Beginning of University Life

Date: July 10, 2009

Time: 9:00 AM

Location: Jadavpur University, Kolkata – Main Auditorium

The sun hung low over Jadavpur University, casting long shadows across the sprawling campus. The morning air was thick with the scent of damp earth from the previous night's rain, the pathways still glistening under the golden sunlight. The main auditorium stood at the heart of the campus, a grand structure that had witnessed decades of students stepping into a world far bigger than they had ever known. Today, it was Aritra's turn.

Stepping through the towering doors, he found himself in a sea of freshers, 120 students from the Mechanical Engineering department, all wearing expressions ranging from nervous excitement to quiet determination. The vast hall was filled with hundreds of students from different engineering branches, but Aritra barely paid attention to the others. His focus was on his own batch, the people who would share the next four years of his life.

The auditorium was buzzing with chatter as students settled into their seats. At the front of the hall stood a long table draped in white cloth, where the senior faculty members and representatives of the university were seated. Among them, Aritra immediately recognized the Dean of Engineering, an older man with a sharp gaze and an authoritative presence. Beside him sat the Vice Dean, followed by the Head of Placements, and finally, a senior student representative, who looked far too amused for someone tasked with welcoming new students.

Aritra took a seat toward the middle, casually observing his surroundings. A few seats away, he spotted Deep and Arnab, who had both managed to secure spots in Electronics Engineering. They gave him a brief nod before returning to their conversations.

The murmurs in the auditorium died down as the Dean stepped forward, his voice carrying effortlessly across the large hall.

"Welcome, students," he began, his hands resting on the podium. "Today marks the beginning of a journey that will challenge you, shape you, and—if you are persistent enough—reward you in ways you cannot yet imagine. You stand at the doorstep of one of India's most prestigious institutions, a place that has produced innovators, leaders, and pioneers in their respective fields. But make no mistake—this is not an easy road. You will struggle, you will fail, and you will question your abilities. And that, my dear students, is exactly what will make you great."

Aritra listened, his mind absorbing the words, but his gaze drifted across the hall. Some students looked terrified, others inspired. A few, like the boy seated in front of him, were already dozing off, completely unmoved by the grandeur of the speech.

The Vice Dean took the stage next, his speech far more practical and straightforward. He spoke about the university's expectations, the importance of discipline, and the opportunities that awaited those who put in the effort. The Placement Head followed, delivering a more calculated and data-driven speech, listing past recruitment figures, the highest salary packages, and the industries where Jadavpur graduates had left their mark.

But it was the Senior Representative, a fourth-year student named Sandeep, who truly captured everyone's attention.

He stepped up to the mic, clearing his throat dramatically. "So, first of all—congratulations. You've made it. You're in JU. Which means you're smart enough to survive WBJEE, but let me warn you—this place has a way of humbling even the brightest minds. And by 'humbling,' I mean you'll probably spend more time questioning your life choices than studying."

A ripple of laughter spread through the hall.

"Now, let's get a few things straight. The first-years are at the bottom of the food chain, and I say this with love. You will be confused. You will get lost. You will struggle with assignments, and you will probably end up in the wrong classroom at least once. It happens. But don't worry—your seniors are here to guide you, sometimes with kindness, sometimes with mockery, but always with the intention of making sure you don't ruin your life."

Another burst of laughter.

"Most importantly," Sandeep continued, "you'll hear a lot about JU's legendary labs. Let me tell you something. The labs? They will break you. But they will also make you realize that you know far less than you think you do. And that's a good thing."

Aritra smirked. He liked this guy already.

With the speeches over, students were divided into their respective departments. The Mechanical Engineering students were escorted to their department building, where they were welcomed by a group of seniors tasked with giving them a tour of the labs and facilities.

As they walked through the sprawling workshops and laboratories, Aritra felt something stir inside him. This was where things truly began.

Their first stop was the Machine Shop—Asia's largest university-owned workshop. The sight was nothing short of breathtaking. The vast hall housed towering lathes, CNC machines, milling stations, and cutting-edge automation setups. The smell of metal, oil, and burning material filled the air as machines roared to life in the hands of seniors working on real-world projects.

One of the seniors leading the tour clapped his hands together. "Alright, freshers, welcome to the place where you'll probably lose a few fingers if you're not careful."

A few students paled.

"Relax, relax," the senior chuckled. "Just don't mess with the machines if you don't know what you're doing, and you'll be fine. Now, this shop isn't just for show. You'll be working here. You'll build things. You'll make mistakes. And if you're smart, you'll learn from them."

They moved next to the Hydraulic Lab, where giant water flow models, turbines, and pressure testing machines lined the walls. The seniors demonstrated how water pressure could literally bend metal, much to the horror of a few students.

Deep, who had somehow sneaked in despite being in the Electronics department, muttered under his breath. "Dude, I think I chose the wrong branch. This stuff looks awesome."

Aritra smirked. "Too late for regrets."

The Heat Power Lab was next, where they saw massive combustion engines, thermodynamic testing rigs, and fuel efficiency models. Aritra's fingers itched to start working, to take apart a machine and see its components up close.

The final stop was the Advanced Mechanics Lab, where simulations of structural load testing, vibration analysis, and aerospace component studies took place.

One of the seniors looked over the first-years and grinned. "Remember when I said you'd question your life choices? This is one of those moments."

By the time the tour ended, Aritra had memorized the locations of every major lab and workshop, while others still looked completely lost.

Back in the department lecture hall, they were finally introduced to their subsections. The 120 students were split into smaller groups, and Aritra found himself in B2, with 19 others. A mixed bag of personalities—some nervous, some overconfident, a few completely uninterested.

One of his new classmates, a tall guy named Vikram, leaned over. "So, what do you think? Worth it?"

Aritra's smirk deepened. He looked around at the sprawling facilities, the gleaming machines, the air charged with the promise of creation.

"Oh yeah," he said. "This is going to be fun."