My first in Delhi

Chloee Konsam *

Delhi Airport new terminal-3 in 2010 :: Pix - Tarun Nongthombam

It was sometime in June of 2008, the peak of summer in Delhi was just taking its toll on us.

My father and I had just landed at the IGI airport. I was clearly excited about everything and we had a trolley packed with luggage and it was becoming nearly impossible for me to push it on the slant side walk.

But I did manage and we reached my uncle's apartment in Gurgaon. The main reason why I came to delhi was because I was not progressing efficiently in Kolkata in the past three years and my father decided it was time I saw delhi and its crowd.

And he did the right thing by making me pack my bags for the capital city. I had just passed my 8th grade with an average score and I was seeking admission in mount carmel school in Delhi for 9th grade.

Well my father wrote a letter seeking his youngest daughter's admission but the headmaster rejected it and till now I think it was on a positive purpose. It was almost mid July and I was getting late for admission in any other school and moreover with the kind of academic result I had scored everything seemed to dim out on me.

And out of desperation I was admitted with ease at C.S.K.M public school in southern part of Delhi. I hated that school but I could not complain because I was left with no other choice.

The first time I saw the India gate, the qutab minar, the big super colossal official buildings in Gurgaon, extraordinarily beautiful residential structures and the malls had a deep impact on me.

Driving with my father at shanti path in central Delhi, the pricking heat and the much hyped-out, most promoted sarojini market, all of these eased out my mind and I could move along.

The first few days in my new school were tormenting for me. I hated the uniform, I hated the toilets, the classrooms, the kids in the school playground and the hostel schedule but nevertheless with the experience of being in a hostel since 6th grade I gradually blended well with the new crowd. Being a native of the north eastern parts of india I was poor in Hindi.

All I knew was 'tumhara naam kya hai' and 'mera naam chloee konsam hai'. They made fun of me and teased me and went through a bunch of humiliation.

But despite of all the atrocities I did learn to speak hindi in few months and it was something of a miracle. Along with English I conversed in hindi and with all the criticism I took over and spoke hindi fluently.

That was when I realised my eloquentness and my expressivity with words. My new found friends were cool and fun to be with and I was delighted to find out that neither of them were selfish and mean as were in Kolkata.

I decided to change my old habits and work towards being an extrovert. I decided to focus on my studies and make more friends and improve my personality, I started taking part in the activities and it changed my outlook towards life.

Trust me, after few months I felt like a whole new person. The teachers treated me well and I started doing well in my exams and my performance took a commendable leap and once again I became proud of myself.

Throughout my 9th and 10th grade I worked hard and got out of that school with excellence in all my subjects in CBSE board exam and did proud to all my folks and friends.

It was then I migrated to one of the prestigious school in Delhi and now in Delhi University Everything I did for the first time was one of the most marvellous moments and I owe all of this to my inner goddess who opened up and welcomed the change in me.

And for the rest of the season till now I cherish how fascinating my firsts in Delhi were and I am pretty sure I'll carry on making my life stunningly exceptional while I am still in Delhi.