2005, the year that marked my transition from carefree schoolgirl to a nerdy college girl.
2005 was also the year when Harry Potter entered my life. I know I was eight years behind the rest of the world but it just concentrated my love for this series.
Adventure of my Adulthood started when I boarded a train that took me from my hometown to a big city where I spent the next eight years of my life. And right before I boarded that train, I bought two books from a bookstore on the train station – just to have something to read during my 40 hours long journey.
Little did I know that I was about to begin another adventure.
I did not meet my best friends on that train (Like Harry met Ron and Hermione). But I had just stepped into a magical world. I finished ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ before reaching my destination.
As soon as I unpacked in my hostel room, I was desperate to locate the closest bookstore and acquire the rest of the series. And as if on cue, my roommate made her entry. She had ALL the Harry Potter Books. And she was generous enough to share them with me.
This alone was enough to make her my favourite person in the world!
Over the next few months, as I made time for my college in between reading the Harry Potter book, my roommate and I formed a bond stronger than any hardcover book.
We would stay up late and discuss spells and characters and possible ending of the series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was yet to be released, so there was a lot of speculation. I mean we came up with at least a thousand different endings. Alas, none of them was even close to J.K.Rowling’s idea.
After my first year, I was moved to a different campus and a new hostel with new roommates. To my disappointment, none of them was Harry Potter fans.
In 2007, the wait was finally over. As soon as the book was in the market, one copy found its way into my hands.
I was in the third year and my mid-term exams were going on. So the solution was simple for me – read Harry Potter instead of preparing for exams. Unfortunately, I could not finish the book before my exam was supposed to start. I was fully prepared to miss my exam altogether and stay in my room and finish my beloved book. After all, knowing what happened next was way more important than some silly exam.
My new roommate did not agree with me. She snatched away my book and locked it in her cupboard. She declared that I would not get my book back if I miss my exam. She was much taller and stronger than me and I don’t think I could have won in a duel. So reluctantly, I had to waste three hours in the exam room before I was reunited with my book.
That day I really missed my first roommate. My new roommate did not share my love for books and hence could not understand my priorities. But I am proud to say that within a year I introduced her to a book that changed everything. But that’s a story for next time.