If you want to read the story from the beginning, click here. (https://wp.me/p2b25R-fw)

Every high school kid looks at the April first deadline with trepidation. That’s the date when the acceptance letters from colleges start coming in the mail. The general belief is that if an envelope is thin, it is a rejection, so I am told. If the envelope is thick, it means you are accepted, and the college has sent a lot of forms for you to fill out and send back to them. I ask Dad how it was in India when he applied for college. He says it was different. You physically went to the college on the announced day and peered over the notice board to see if your name was listed.

Moreover, there wasn’t much choice for him because he was limited to two colleges in his town. In India, according to him, students stayed in town with their parents and attended local colleges. It was rare for them to go out of state. Besides the money required for out-of-state, it was just the tradition to stay at home with the parents.

I dread going to the mailbox on April 1st. I spend time at school. When I come home, Mom hands me the envelopes. They are all thin. Oh, Oh. Does that mean all the colleges have rejected me? What am I going to do?

I take all the envelopes to my room and open them one by one. I grin after I open each one. Is it happening? I got into all of them. What happened to the thick envelopes? Maybe I will get all the forms after I inform a university of my decision to join.

“Is Arjun home?” Dad asks as soon as he is home.

“Yes,” Mom responds. “He’s in his room upstairs.”

“Arjun,” Dad shouts. “How did it go? Aren’t you supposed to get the letters today?”

Instead of answering, I come down and hand him the letters. He puts his glasses on and reads them one by one.

“Way to go, Beta.” He’s all smiles. “So, which one would you select?”

“I don’t know yet,” I say. “William & Mary (W&M) is a liberal arts college, Virginia Tech (VT) is good for engineering, and the University of Virginia, well, it’s good for everyone.”

“If I were you, I would go to VT.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because it’s a technical school and they would have a better track for Engineers.”

“Dad. I don’t want to go through that discussion again. I have told you so many times. I don’t know if I am going for an engineering track.”

“Okay, Okay. I won’t say it anymore. After all, it’s your life.”

I end up selecting the University of Virginia. I will be with Krishna for however long he is going to be there. The summer will be filled with visits to the college and waiting to know who your roommate will be. I am open to my roommate being from any background, American, foreign. I think I will get along with anyone.

With Lakshmi’s graduation from college coming up in June and her wedding in August, I am looking forward to an enjoyable summer before joining the college.

To read chapter 22, click here. https://wp.me/p2b25R-jJ