Aditya had a confused look as he observed her.
She looked at him after going through the papers and when she noticed his gaze she asked.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“It’s nothing. I am just a bit confused.”
“Confused? About what?”
“Its just..” Aditya was about to answer, but to his dismay he was not able to speak as she interrupted him.
“Is it because, I am a girl? Can I not like the cars?”
“No. that’s not it.”
“Then is it because how I could interview you? Or how am I good enough to interview you?”
“It is along those lines.” Aditya replied and her face changed. She gritted her teeth and his test paper crumbled. Aditya understood how she might have misunderstood him and explained.
“It has nothing to do with you being a girl, don’t misunderstand. I am just curious how a sophomore is interviewing me, I thought Junior year students are responsible for that.”
She suddenly had a look of realization on her face and she released her grip on the test papers.
“I am different from the rest of the sophomores, there is always an exception in everything and I am that exception in this year’s sophomores.”
“That’s great.”
“Do you know your score in the written test yesterday?”
“I don’t know, but I think it is a good score.”
“Actually, this is the best score we had this year. In fact, the Club President wanted to recruit you directly without interview. But we figured it wouldn’t look fair to others.”
“So, is this just a formality?”
“Not really. This is to see if you are just a bookworm or if you are a real deal.”
“Please do.”
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And with that the questions started pouring in. Manasa started covering various topic and since Aditya’s focus is mostly on the Automotive transmission, she stayed close to that one. She asked him about how the power is transmitted from the engine shaft to the wheels of the vehicle.
The different parts involved in this transmission system like, the gear box, the dog clutches inside the gear box, the propellor shaft, the differential, different types of wheel drives and she went on and on for a long time.
“I thought you wanted to see if I am a real deal, but all the questions you asked could have been answered by any bookworm who spent a few nights with the related books.”
“That is the point, you might not have realized, half of the questions I asked didn’t cover the syllabus ofour current exam and they are nowhere near any of the current syllabus.”
Aditya was a bit surprised and then he realized that the questions are indeed way off topic.
“A regular bookworm, or at least a bookworm who only aims for scores and marks wouldn’t go above and beyond like this. You really studied instead of just reading it and memorizing it. It seems like the president’s hunch is true once again.
You are in.”
“Thank you so much.” Aditya said with a smile and continued to ask.
“What group would I be assigned to?”
“First years are not really assigned to a particular group, unless you are really special and distinguished yourself. If you are not like that, you would be working with several groups. But I am sure, if you can put that body of yours to work and managed to excel in some skills like welding, bending or some other machine working, you would be able to make it into a team.”
“What team are you in?”
“Me? Of course, I am in the primary team of our club, the team for M-baja competition. Even in that, I am in the transmission group.”
“You must be really good then.”
“You will see.” She replied with a smile. Her attitude is a lot warmer than it was at the beginning. He shook her hands and got ready to leave.
“Anyway, the next Wednesday, there would be a freshmen welcome party in the department building organized by Sophomores, there would be some ragging and hazing, so be prepared.”
“Ragging? Really? But the principal and the college rules..”
“Yeah, I know. But it is just for that one day. After all, the freshmen need to be put in their place a bit. You guys just came to college and you would feel like you are at the top of the world, as if you are invincible, so a little ragging is good for you.”
“Thanks for the headsup.”
“No problem. If some sophomores or even Junior year students catch you and it goes too far, you can say my name. Most of them will cut you some slack if you are lucky.”
“What if I am unlucky?” Manasa was a bit surprised by that question, after all nobody would want to know what happens if they are unlucky in most cases. The bad news is mostly better left unknown.
“Why? Are you really that pessimistic about your luck?”
Aditya remembered the mosquitoes, bed bugs, ants, termites and the spiders that almost killed him and nodded.
“Well, if you are unlucky, you would be in for a day of suffering. Anyway, they wouldn’t come after you, you are not their type.”
Aditya just shrugged and left.
Venkat is already waiting for him and he is pretty excited.
“You got in?” Aditya asked.
“Yes. You?”
“Of course, I did. Let’s go celebrate.”
With that they went to treat themselves with some noodles outside the campus. They returned to the dorms and Aditya rested a bit before using the Physical AIP once again.