I'm back again, but just for a second. It's been wild, guys, and I'm sorry I haven't been around. I've lost touch with so many people, it's devastating, but life gets in the way🤷😔

First of all, to everyone who left replies in the last, slightly depressing chapter, thank you SO much. This is why I love Wattpad, even though it's going to shit these days.

Next, to ladyliteral:

CATH, OH MY GOD. I SAW THE DEDICATION AND FLIPPED! I WAS SO HAPPY AND A TEENY BIT OVERWHELMED THANKS SO MUCH, BUT YOU DESERVE EVERY LAST DROP OF THE SPAM AND LOVE. I haven't had a chance to sit down and read your latest books yet, and I miss it SO SO much you word wizard. As soon as I'm done with these exams, I'm going to be pitching a tent in your comments section again. Just wait for me. And keep up the good work💕💕

Phew. Anywho, I've been busy. Successfully completed a semester in uni without any grevious injuries or urges to throw myself off a cliff and go butt first into a cactus field. Much. Kinda.

I did promise a chapter about my university, and I guess this is it. Although I really dunno what to say now because I've gotten so used to it. The campus is HUGE, my feet have six packs from walking around (SoxyPoxy CinderallaMan remember🌚?) and there are strategically placed Nescafe and juice shops to loot poor, thirsty students like me plodding through under the Vellore heat.

Doesn't help that all my clothes are winter clothes. And winter in Vellore is like a hundred degrees. I'm not exaggerating, no way.

But don't get me wrong. Weather here is more unpredictable than my mood swings during Red Alert week. It rains, it shines, it threatens to rain, it doesn't, it gets sticky as fuck, then back to being a furnace and never in that order. Also, if it rains for good here, it'll flood pretty quickly. I could die. Just saying🌚🤷

Apart from the 'cloudy with a chance of exams' climate, it's all good. Well, actually it's not. The food can suck a lot, the bathrooms too because people just don't have any sense, and there's always drama everywhere. Even in the elevators. But hey, that's college for ya. Half the time I have no clue what I'm doing and this semester is supposedly as chill as it gets.

I think I need a jar of nutella.

But you know, I don't like to complain because there are so many people with bigger problems and I'm happy with what I have, grateful infact. It's a good life if I look past the silly stuff, and I always try to do just that etc etc.

Now, what else? Hmm...oh yes, we have a railway track going through the campus which separates the boys hostel from the rest of the buildings, we have some really awesome labs and equipments, I have a bunch of amazing friends, and I've met some really cool people recently which is fantabulous. There are so many opportunities and options just waiting to be grabbed over here and being the coward I am, I'm always afraid I'll end up letting it all slip through my fingers even after 4 years BUT. But. It's barely been a semester. I have seven left. When the time comes I just have to close my eyes and do it.

Sometimes I wish I had as much faith in myself as I have in others. Why is that so hard😔

ANYWAY, exams are here and I'm hoping and praying I don't fail. The good thing is, girls can now go outside campus and―

WAIT A SECOND.

I DIDN'T TELL Y'ALL ABOUT HOW SEXIST THIS PLACE IS DID I? BAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH LEND ME YOUR EARS!

So here in hot hot Vellore in even hotter Tamil Nadu, sexism is the religion of the people. I am NOT joking. Even though my uni is pretty famous and reputed and shit, even the professors are sexist af. It's frustrating to deal with but I'll tell ya why it's so.

Once upon a time, around 6 years ago, VIT had such liberal idealisms that guys could even walk into the ladies hostel. Needless to say, birds and bees buzzed a lot and soon, it turned into a situation where the institution would've had to start a nursery and kindergarten to accomodate all the...trophies the students were collecting.
So as a remedy to curb this disease known as teenage hormones, they imposed certain ridiculously strict rules on―*drumroll*― the girls.

Why you ask? Oh because girls are apparently the reason things went out of hand. I mean, they're the ones with the uterus, so its obviously their fault they're getting knocked up. Simple science really.

NOT.

But anyway, they have a point somewhere. Vellore is a dangerous place for a girl to be roaming around at night, that IS true. So in a way, all these restrictions are for our own safety and that's good. Just because we know it's not our fault doesn't mean we shouldn't be careful or smart when the rest of the world doesn't get it. Revolution is cool and all, but um don't be dumb.

So, after all that, it now stands as a rule in my university that girls are not allowed out of the campus for the first semester that they are here. Once this is lifted, from the second semester onwards, we can go out of campus every weekday for two hours under the excuse of 'shopping', and on weekends, we need prior permission from the hostel warden to go out anywhere for either two or the special six hour weekend outing allowed 4 times a month.  Girls have to be back inside campus by 7 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends and inside the hostel by 8:30 pm on weekdays and 8:00 pm on weekends.

Honestly, it doesn't sound so bad until you're actually doing something important or having fun and you have to drop everything and run for your life to get in before time because otherwise they fine you.

Now let's get to the boys. They can do whatever the fuck they want.

Naw I'm just kidding, they have 'restrictions' too. Just get back here by 9 pm thats all. But they can go out anyday, any time, for as long as they want to, with no problems at all. And I understand why but it's really really frustrating when you're trying abolish this whole thing and have equality in the world but right in college, where you're supposed to be learning and nurturing your values and growing, they're doing the exact opposite to you.

But you know, I can't say anything. Nobody can speak up about anything because we'll immediately be threatened with expulsion for 'defamation of the institution'.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anywho, there's more to this. The only form of bodily contact allowed between boys and girls is a handshake. You get me? A handshake. Why? Because anything else causes unexpected pregnancies. Because in here, babies are made through exchange of saliva and pollination.

But but but. People still make out and do shit anyway. Teenage hormones isn't smallpox, it's not something you can eradicate. When it rains here, the students turn into frogs, all in heat and hormones out of control and it's awkward for anyone who's stuck under the shelters with them🤷

And that is why we have our heroes, our valiant knights patrolling the vast entirety of this campus, through rain or shine, through wind or hail, exams or fests: The Red Tag Annas.

*Wild cheering in the background*

Confused? Yes, all non-VITians are. Its okay, I'll explain. First the name. 'Red Tag' refers to the red identity cards that hang around their neck, a stark contrast to their blue uniform, helpful in spotting them from a mile away. 'Anna' literally means 'elder brother' in Tamil but um here we just...call any dude who's not a professor or a friend 'Anna'. Even if they're younger than you. Uh yeah, so that's the name explained. Now their duty: stop baby making.

As you all know, the process of baby making is kinda long, even though Paulo Coelho says it's just a matter of 11 minutes. Don't listen to him. So the pre requisite to this process amongst hormonal teenagers is what the Red Tag Annas aim to curb. Or you know, eradicate if they can. Basically they leap out from fucking nowhere to separate unsuspecting kids getting a little too close and cozy. Because like I said, only handshakes are allowed🤷

Now anyway, the problem is they kinda DON'T catch the couples, who are the real culprits around here, but instead, pounce on those guys and girls who are merely being friendly and sitting next to each other or laughing together or in a half hug or with their head on one's shoulder or SOME OTHER INNOCENT ACT OF FRIENDSHIP. The worst part is, a couple could be cozying up right next to this innocent pair of friends and the Anna would still go for the modest ones. It's happened one too many times around me. After much thought, I've come to a conclusion that confidence is key. If you walk around holding hands and flaunting your relationship confidently, they...probably find it very awkward to come and break you up. So instead, they attack the innocent people, who are just friends, but maybe thinking along the lines of 'prevention is better than cure' and 'nip it in the bud' or something idk.

ANYWAY, it's annoying as fuck. These people are so dedicated they scale walls and hang off sunshades to spy on boys and girls hanging out together . And they have these whistles that Physical Education Coaches always have hanging around their necks, and they blow into it for everything. Literally anything. So much that I'm pretty sure it's their own language now and they can communicate through whistles like some sort of deranged, very unappealing type of new Pokémon.

And that's how life is over here. Running between classes to get to the right buildings on time through this vast vast campus under the blazing sun, with your hair frizzier than ever thanks to the terrible water and humidity, with the RTAs whistling at you for no reason and exams always looming above your head like the blade of a bloodthirsty guillotine lying in wait to drop down.

Honestly though, I like it here. I've never been this happy even once this last year and coming to uni has been a blessing in so many ways. I've met wonderful people I feel lucky to have made friends with, I have a huge world of opportunities lying open and waiting. I feel good, and after all the shit in 2017-early 18, it feels good to feel good.

You know what I mean?

So anywho, I'm off to disappear again for a while and return later with another useless pointless rant/monologue. I can't call this a rant book anymore I guess. But do I care? Nope. I hope everyone's hanging in there, and if you aren't, well...

Sometimes holding on does more damage than letting go, so rethink your choices.

Ok bye🌚💕

~👻