Gautami’s parents spoke to their daughter around 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday evening.
“She said she was sleeping in the room as her stomach was aching. She said she had eaten chapatti for dinner,” her father T. Ramesh recalled, before breaking down.
Nearly three hours later, they received a call from the college that brought the dreadful news of her death.
Gautami’s small family, comprising her father Ramesh and mother Lakshmi, is from Pavagada town in Tumakuru district. Eager to make their bright daughter study in the best of schools, she was enrolled in Anmol Public School at Davangere for classes 8, 9 and 10. After she scored over 80 per cent in Class 10, she was admitted to Pragathi Pre-University College.
“Gautami wanted to become a doctor. She stayed back (in the hostel) to study for CET,” her father, who owns a medical store, said between bouts of tears.
Her mother appeared to be in a state of shock.
She bore a stoic expression, while her husband and relatives spoke to mediapersons. Lakshmi, a family friend from Pavagada whose son is studying in the same college, said Gautami had not complained of any problem either to her parents or to her son.
Mr. Ramesh said, “She was a courageous girl. I have even spoken to Mahesh several times when I had to ask him to connect me to my daughter. He did not come across as someone who could do this.”
