"First Steps: Navigating My Journey as a Lecturer in an Engineering College" Part II

 The other day, Mahesh called me in the morning to let me know that he had started his journey from Kolhapur to Lavel. Honestly, I felt incredibly happy that day, even though I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. This often happens to me—whenever I feel excited or joyful, it usually means I’m about to receive good news, meet someone who resonates with me, or accomplish something meaningful.

I knew it would take Mahesh at least six hours to arrive, especially since it was during the rainy season. I had a practical session scheduled from 10 to 12, which I was busy conducting. Yet, without realizing it, I kept checking the time, almost as if I were about to meet someone special. After finishing my practical session, I got involved in some other work. Meanwhile, I noticed someone unfamiliar passing by my window, trying to make a call. As I watched closely, I realized it was Mahesh! Anyone familiar with English literature, particularly those who have read Robinson Crusoe, would understand the connection. That day, I truly felt a glimpse of what Robinson Crusoe must have experienced after spending 28 years on a remote beach.

I had been staying at GIT for two months, surrounded by people who didn't share my field of expertise. I was the only one with a different background and domain, and now I was about to meet someone from my own field. I called Mahesh and asked him to meet me in the waiting room near the Principal's office. I headed there as well and greeted him warmly. It was only our second meeting, but in that unfamiliar place, it felt as if we had known each other for a long time. I informed the Principal's PA and requested him to notify the Principal, then I went on to conduct my lecture.

During my lecture, the office boy arrived with a message from the Principal, asking me to meet him urgently. I went to the Principal's cabin, where Dr. A. B. Marathe, the Principal of GIT, introduced me to Mahesh. He then said, "Madam, from tomorrow onwards, Mahesh will be sharing your workload." He also added, "Since both of you are interested in research, you will make an excellent team."Marathe Sir was genuinely pleased with both of us, as we were pursuing research at such an early stage in our careers. He then went on to discuss his plans and expectations for what we could achieve together.

When we stepped outside, the Principal's PA was already prepared with Mahesh's appointment letter. The moment Mahesh saw it, he couldn’t hide his happiness. He thanked me for the opportunity and mentioned that he hadn't brought his luggage, as he had initially planned to go to Pandharpur after the interview. He only had a few clothes with him and nothing else. 

When we informed Registrar Mr. S. G. Bhosale about the situation, he promptly made all the necessary arrangements for Mahesh's stay at GIT. The next day, Mahesh had a lecture to conduct. I provided him with the books and notes I had prepared, as he needed to teach technical report writing. That evening, we had a discussion where he asked about the engineering students—what they were like and what they expected from their English teachers. 

The next day, I introduced Mahesh to Ashwini and Anshu Sir, and we all had breakfast together. Mahesh seemed a bit tense, so I accompanied him to the classroom and introduced him to the students. He conducted his first lecture, and afterward, he was very happy with how the interaction with the students went.

We would often go outside the campus for dinner at the mess run by the Pawar family, which was popular among bachelor teachers and students staying off-campus. Our team, consisting of seven members, would dine together regularly. This included Ashwini and Anshu Sir from the CSE department, Tirupati Sir and Pantharkame Sir from the ENTC department, Mahesh and myself from the Basic Sciences and Humanities Department, and Patil Sir from the Mechanical department, who was always the source of laughter for us all.

We used to stay at college until 8 pm, and then we would gather at the language lab before heading out for dinner together. Most of us were pursuing higher studies, so we used that time for our research and studies. At 7:45, we would call each other to remind everyone about dinner.

I remember one day while I was typing my M.Phil. dissertation, Mahesh asked me to call Anshu Sir. Ashwini was helping me with the typing. Since Anshu Sir, being a Keralite, didn’t understand Marathi, I called him from my extension and, without thinking, said, “Anshu Sir, aa jao khali.” Meanwhile, everyone was in the language lab and overheard my mixed-language message. Hearing my mistake, everyone started laughing together.

Since most of us were around the same age, we’d often tease and joke with each other. Anshu Sir and Patil Sir, who were roommates, were known for being quite forgetful. They’d frequently misplace their mobiles, keys, and pen drives. They would search for these items together, but after a while, they’d forget what they were looking for, which added to the humor.

Patil Sir noticed that I seemed much more relaxed after Mahesh joined GIT. He would even do a mimicry of how busy I used to look with my schedule. We all had a close bond with each other. I remember when the Principal asked me to accompany our second-year students to a debate competition in Dadar, Mumbai, I had never been to Mumbai before. Since the students participating were girls, the Principal suggested my name. When the students approached me, I honestly admitted that I had never been to Mumbai, which made them laugh. Since most of them were from Mumbai, they reassured me, saying, "Madam, don’t worry. Just come with us, and we’ll take care of everything."

I applied for the necessary funds for the competition and got them sanctioned. The students handled the reservations and other arrangements on their own. It was decided that I would stay at Anushka's home, which was close to the venue of the competition. The next day, we traveled to Mumbai, boarding the train from Khed, the nearest railway station to Lavel. It was a really nice experience for me. Although I was going as a mentor for the competition, my students—Sunny Wadate, Pratik Piplani, Anushka Shrivastav, Janhavi Sathe, Kavita, and many others—took excellent care of me, especially since I was unfamiliar with the area.

My students performed exceptionally well in the first round and qualified for the second round. The environment where a person is born and raised has a significant impact. Since these students were born and brought up in the metropolitan city of Mumbai, they were incredibly confident. Their language was fluent, and their thoughts were clear.

In the second round, they defeated a team from a prestigious  college in Mumbai and advanced to the final round. Since the final round was scheduled for three days later, my students requested to stay with their parents, promising to return and complete the third round. The Principal agreed and permitted them to do so. When it was time for me to leave, all of them came to the railway station to see me off. To my surprise, they had booked my ticket and provided snacks and water for the journey. Within a month or two, we had developed such a close bond.

When I returned, I came down with a viral infection. Not being accustomed to Mumbai's atmosphere and the crowds at the railway station, I fell ill. I had a fever and was admitted to Gharda Hospital in Lote. The doctor there conducted some tests, which, fortunately, all came back normal. However, I was advised to rest and stay in the hospital for another day.

In the evening, I was greeted by a familiar voice, "How are you, madam?" To my surprise, it was Dr. Ghokhale Sir, the trustee of GIT. As an MD in Medicine, he checked on me and reiterated the need for rest. He even instructed the driver to drop me home after my discharge. I felt deeply emotional, seeing that the trustee of the institute took the time to personally visit and check on me. After Dr. Gokhale Sir's visit, all my colleagues came to the hospital to see me, bringing along plenty of fruits and other snacks. Ashwini stayed by my side to take care of me.

In that moment, I realized that it takes only a few seconds for others to recognize your honesty, dedication, and sincerity. When you give your full effort without expecting anything in return, those efforts are eventually rewarded.

To be Continued.....