Veeru Uncle drops me off at the main entrance of the auditorium building. The weathered facade of the red brick building stands tall and proud just like the old times. There are bougainvillea shrubs with magenta blooms dotting either side of the main entrance and vibrant green vines going all the way up to the top of the building. Each year, as new batches of students enrol at the institute, it’s as if these creepers are filled with a renewed sense of vigour to grow. These vines are symbolic of the new life now, rising and falling with every passing year and breathing fresh energy into the timeless structure of this historic building.

‘Namaste!’ A beautiful young girl wearing a black business suit emerges out of nowhere, or so it seems.

‘Hey, hi!’ I say, snapping out of my thoughts.

‘Hi, Nirvaan! We’re thrilled to have you as one of the panellists today,’ she chimes.

‘Yes, I’m thrilled to be here too. I’m really looking forward to it. What’s your name?’ I find myself curious about her.

‘I’m Shubha. It’s my first semester here and I’m excited to be a volunteer at this event.’

‘Nice to meet you, Shubha. Tell me, what made you volunteer for the event?’ I ask.

‘Well, I wanted to get involved with the extracurricular activities here on campus and meet new people as well. I also have an interest in exploring the world of entrepreneurship. I don’t know if I want to start a company like you someday, but …’ she trails off.

I’m not at all surprised by her answer. She’s simply following the script that every new student follows. In fact, I used to talk exactly like her when I was in my first semester.

‘I also participated in such events when I was a student here. Now that I’m older, I always enjoy sharing my experiences and insights with young, aspiring entrepreneurs,’ I say, wanting to build a rapport with her.

‘Awesome! I’m really looking forward to hearing what you have to say during the panel discussion, and to seeing which ideas win!’

‘But you know, when you’re an entrepreneur, it’s not really about winning or losing. It’s about pursuing your idea relentlessly for as long as you can,’ I say.

‘Well, do you have any advice for someone like me who’s just starting out in college?’

‘Absolutely! Don’t hesitate to connect with people and learn from them. Don’t be afraid to take risks and learn from your failures. And most importantly, believe in yourself and in your ideas. Now that’s three pieces of advice!’ I laugh out loud.

We enter the auditorium as we talk, and she shows me the way to my seat. ‘Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind,’ she says. ‘I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from you and the other panellists today.’