Finally, in 2003, I stepped into the hallowed halls of Gujarat's most prestigious engineering institute. Excitement crackled in the air, and my internal pretty face scanner went into overdrive. It filtered out a sea of hopeful candidates, but Bijal stood out from the crowd. She had warmth and kindness that shone through her eyes. She has irresistible charisma, despite her lack of traditional beauty. Her own brand of brazenness and carefree enthusiasm radiated through her attitude. There were certainly more attractive faces, but none had the irresistible appeal that hers did. The way she carried herself with confidence and grace made her truly captivating. My first few years