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 | | ully understand his question. I kept quiet. 'Do you?' he a 4md8r6 sked again. 'Yes, yes,' I said, my voice like a convict's. 'So...why do you want to study at S 4md8r6 t. Stephen's?' A few se 4md8r6 conds of silence followed. The four men in the room lpoked at me.The pr 4md8r6 ofessor had asked me a standard question. 'I want good college,' I said, after constructing the sentence in my head. Prof. Gupta smi 4md8r6 rked. 'That is some respo 4md8r6 nse. And why is St. Stephen's a good college?' I switched to H 4md8r6 indi. Answering in English would require pauses and make me come across as stupid. Maybe I was stupid, but I did not want them to know that. 'Your college has a big name. It 4md8r6 is famous in Bihar also,' I said. 'Can you please answer in English?' Prof. Gupta said. 'Why? You don 4md8r6 't know Hindi?' I said in reflex, and in Hindi. I saw my blunder in their horrified f 4md8r6 aces. I had not said it in defiance; I rea 4md8r6 lly wanted to know why they had to interview me in English when I was more comfortable in Hindi. Of course, I didn' 4md8r6 t kno 4md8r6 w then that Stephen' 4md8r6 s professors didn't like being asked to speak in Hindi. 'Professor Pereira, how did this candidate get 4md8r6 an interview'?' Prof. Gupta sai 4md8r6 d. Prof. Pereira seemed to be the kindest of the l 4md8r6 ot. He turned to me. 'We prefer Engli 4md8r6 sh as the medium 4md8r6 of instruction in our college, that's all.' Without English, I felt naked. I started thinking about my return trip to 4md8r6 Bihar. I didn't belong hereâ€"these English-s 4md8r6 peaking monsters would eat me alive. I was wondering what would be the best way to take their leave when Piyush Yadav 4md8r6 broke my chain of thought. 'Bihar se ho? Are 4md8r6 you from Bihar?' he said. The few words in Hindi felt like cold drops of rain on a scorching summer's day. I lo 4md8r6 ved Piyush Yadav in that instant. 'Yes, sir. Dumraon.' 'I know. 4md8r6 Three hours from Patn 4md8r6 a, right?' he said. 'You know Dumraon?' I said. I could have k 4md8r6 issed his feet. The three English-speaking monsters continued to stare. 'I'm from Patna. Any 4md8r6 way, tell them about your achievements in basketball,' Piyush said. I nodded. He se 4md8r6 nsed my nervousness a 4md8r6 nd spoke again.'Take your time. I am Hindi-medium, too. I know t 4md8r6 he feeling.' The three professors looked at Piyush as if wondering how he had ever managed to 4md8r6 get a job at the college. I composed myself and spoke my rehearsed lines. 'Sir 4md8r6 , I have played s 4md8r6 ate-level basketball for six years. Last year, I was in the waiting list for the BFI nationa 4md8r6 l team.' 'BFI?' said Prof. Gupta. 'Basketball Federa 4md8r6 tion of India,' Piyush answered for me, even though I knew the answer. 'And you want 4md8r6 to do sociology. 4md8r6 Why?' Prof. Fernandez said. 'It's an easy course, No need to study. Is that it?' Prof. Gupta remarked. 4md8r6 I didn't, know whether Gupta had something a 4md8r6 gainst me, was 4md8r6 | |
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