The Result Day

IIT felt like a distant dream now—a dream I’d first seen in my 9th grade, seemed like it would remain just that, a dream, for the rest of my life. BITS Pilani seemed like a safe bet—375 out of 350 (Attempted Bonus Questions), I thought. Surely that would land me in Pilani for CSE. And if not, Jadavpur CSE was within reach, with an AIR of 49.

We packed our bags, left FIITJEE behind, and returned to Agartala. There was no point in waiting for the results anymore. The four-year journey had come to an end—not on the note I imagined, but it had shaped me into someone better.

As I checked my friends' marks, I realized that 172 wasn’t as bad as I thought, considering how tough the 2018 paper had been. The 2017 paper had been much easier, leading to an inflation of scores.

Still, I knew 172 wouldn’t get me a rank under 5000. The idea of "500 te eshe porte pare" felt like a joke I had made of myself.

June 10 at 10 AM, the result was set to be announced.

Even though I didn’t expect much, I opened the site at 9 AM, just out of curiosity, and entered my roll number in sleepy eyes. And to my surprise, the page opened.

“Maa, IIT hoye geche” (Maa, I have made it) I whispered.

Tears welled up as I read aloud, “All India Rank 3466”

Though I had always dreamed of a rank under 500, 3000+ wasn’t what I had hoped for. Yet, after that exam day, I never once imagined my rank could be under 5000.

Baba was busy with household chores when I simply said, “Baba, hoye geche”

And that’s all.

Goosebumps are still rising as I write this, as I can still vividly recall that moment. That day felt different. Not because I made it to IIT, but because this was the one goal I had set for myself, the one thing I took full responsibility for—and I made it. 

I saw happiness in my parents’ eyes—eyes that clearly said, “Yes, we are proud of you”

Baba immediately started calling every friend, every relative. Calls started coming in from FIITJEE, teachers, and newspapers.

It was a huge moment—for a 17 year old who had dreamt of this for four years, for his parents who had supported him through every step, for his mother who stayed in Delhi with him, leaving his father behind, for a middle-class Indian family that dreams every day of their child making it to IIT.

And then it suddenly hit me: "You’re about to live the place that 1.3 million people across the country dream of".

First click at IITKGP campus, July 2018