Date: March 15, 1982

Dear Diary

Date: March 15, 1982

So, today was the big day—my interview at La Martiniere College! Honestly, the whole process wasn't that complicated. Most of it depended on how well the parents did in their interview, so my fate was basically in their hands. Luckily for me, Dad being an alumnus is like having a VIP pass—it's almost a guaranteed admission. I mean, how could they say no to one of their own?

When we arrived, the place was buzzing with nervous parents and kids. Some were pacing back and forth like they were going into a courtroom, while others sat quietly, probably rehearsing answers in their heads. Me? I was chill. I figured—how hard could a nursery interview be?

While sitting in the lobby waiting for my turn, I thought, Why not ask ChatGPT what kind of questions they might ask me? I mean, it's always good to be prepared, right?

In no time, ChatGPT gave me a quick rundown of possible questions:

"What are your hobbies?""Can you tell us about a story you like?""Have you traveled somewhere recently? Tell us about it.""Why do you want to join La Martiniere College?"

What else was I expecting? It's a nursery interview—they're not exactly going to hit me with quantum physics or the theory of relativity. Most likely, it would be things like, "What's your name?", "What's your favorite color?", and "How high can you count?" Maybe even something like, "What sound does a dog make?" so they could see if I could bark on command.

When my name was called, I went in, and there were three teachers sitting across the table. The one in the middle was clearly the principal. He wasn't ancient, but you could tell he was past his glory days. He gave me a look, the kind that said, "Let's see what this kid's got."

The interview itself was a breeze. They asked about my hobbies, some stories I liked, and places I'd visited. It felt like they were just checking if I had a little personality or if I was one of those kids who stares into space all day and wasn't a total knucklehead. I handled it smoothly, answering every question like it was no big deal. Piece of cake.

After my interview, they called in my parents. That's when things took an interesting turn. The moment the principal saw my dad, it was like a wave of memories hit him. He gave this heavy sigh, then looked at me with a playful grin and said, "Don't be like your father—focus more on your studies."

I couldn't help but chuckle. So Dad was a troublemaker back in his day, huh? Dad just stood there, smiling like a kid who'd been caught sneaking cookies but didn't care. Now I really want to know what kind of chaos he caused in his school days!

Their interview went just as smoothly as mine. I think the principal already had his mind made up—Dad's alumni status probably sealed the deal. After everything was done, they told us to wait for the final admission list. But come on, we all knew how that was going to turn out.

As we were leaving, one of the teachers offered me some candy. I glanced at Mom for permission, and when she gave me the nod, I grabbed a handful—just enough to make them laugh. What can I say? Why settle for one when you can take five? (Speaking of five... should the protagonist have a harem? Thoughts, readers?)

After that, Dad decided to show me around the campus. And wow, La Martiniere is huge! They even have their own farms for hostel students—yeah, actual farms! This place could take a whole day to explore.

By the time we finished the tour, my tiny legs were done for. Trying to keep up with Dad's long strides in this little body was no joke. I was practically dragging my feet by the end of it.

After we left the school, we headed to Hazratganj—it's this fancy shopping street. And let me tell you, even in the 1980s, it has that same royal vibe. We stopped by Marksmen for lunch, and after a hearty meal, we finally made our way home.

The moment I stepped inside, my grandparents swarmed me with questions about how the interview went. (Oh, by the way—wish me luck! I've got my actual job interview today.)