VIKRAM MEHTA ( DEV PATEL ) is a THIRTY year-old RESEARCH FELLOW in CAMBRIDGESHIRE, ENGLAND. They were brought under Richardâs care when they were only THIRTEEN. They are known as THE SCHOLAR because they are ASTUTE but also DOGMATIC.
BASIC INFORMATION
Full Name: Vikram Ajay Mehta
Nickname(s): He isnât the biggest fan of nicknames, especially from people heâs not close to. Though, Mrs. Tristan does use pet names sometimes.
Date of Birth: January 9, 1975
Age: 30
Occupation: Research Fellow at University of Cambridge
Current Residence: A studio flat in Cambridge, with barely enough space to fit him. It suits him just fine considering he almost never has guests over.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Hair: Black, curly and longish. Doesnât cut it until it bothers him.
Eyes: Brown
Height: 6â2â
Notable Features: Rarely seen without his glasses. Always wears a ring on his left pinky ever since he found out itâs much more comfortable to write with it. Has a scar under the side of his right eye the length of a fingernail.
PERSONALITY & BEHAVIOR
Strengths: Genuine, conscientious, well-read
Weaknesses: Disorganized, single-minded, opinionated
Quirks: Likes to jot down on his notebook with a ballpoint pen (the superior pen), which he always has with him. Only goes to the gym when heâs stressed. Always up to try things out at least once.
Vices: Practically inhales sweets like theyâre nothing; theyâre a quick way for him to gain energy and help him stay awake. Prefers hard candy over chewy ones, hates when they get stuck in his teeth. Did try smoking at one point but quickly gave up because he canât smoke and write at the same time. Also has a thing for caffeine in all forms, which is always useful for those all-nighters. Guilty of barely sleeping then knocking out for days when he was a student. Sometimes he still does it. Forgets to eat at times.
HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER EMBODY THEIR LABEL?
Vikram is always passionate about pursuing knowledge, having once described it as an ever constant hunger; wanting to know the why and how of things. He enjoys the thrill of finding the answers to his questions. For him, the learningâs always in the journey rather than the destination; heâs truly embraced the art of learning from what went wrong. He has gone on to be a research fellow after getting his doctorate just so he could continue to satisfy that curiosity of his. Vikram's desire to learn is not limited to his field of study; he always keeps a notebook and pen on his person just so he can jot down whatever heâs learned â even if itâs just a housewifeâs tip on how to really get the wrinkles out of his favorite shirt.
INTEREST & HOBBIES
Interests: Currently theyâre world history (specifically early agriculture and how it shaped civilizations), the deep sea, poetry, lemons, the evolution theory versus religion
Hobbies: Reading, studying, origami, taking random classes/courses, crossword puzzles, primarily Go but chess if heâs in a bind
Special Skills/Talents: Can recite the first 100 digits of pi, surprisingly a good conversationalist, throwing darts blindfolded
BECOMING A WARD
While he was never a prodigy in the truest sense, heâs whip-smart and takes in information almost voraciously. Itâs what got him adopted from India in the first place: he was the only orphan who could speak and understand any English. Adjusting to life in the United States was difficult and it was even harder when his adoptive parents eventually lost interest in him with the news of a baby on the way. One too many questions later added onto societal pressure, they eventually gave him up. They placed him into another orphanage, where Vikram never really settled in all that well.
Being bullied became a daily routine at the orphanage and at school. He was an easy target because of his small stature and was deemed too weird by the other kids. Name-calling and insults eventually escalated to physical violence. While he had no qualms telling an adult at first, that quickly stopped once he realized that it would just get worse. Vikram gritted his teeth and endured. His solace had been â and always will be â learning. He thrived in school in spite of the bullying and prejudice he faced, where the teachers fought to get him into various competitions. What was once an average no-name school, their name started becoming recognized because of Vikram. He managed to clinch the coveted first in competitions such as spelling bees, scrabble, and math olympiads.
All it took was for a nosy journalist and an orphanage staff looking to make a quick buck for his name to be printed in newspapers. It was a sensational and inspiring story, evoking sympathy among those who read it â Richard Woodrow, no less. Vikram was taken in a week after the story dropped.
LIFE AS A WARD
Completely withdrawn at first, even with the adults, due to his previous experiences. Spent most of his first week at Woodrow by himself before eventually warming up to Richard and Mrs. Tristan. Vikram absolutely loved talking to Richard whenever the older man had the time to entertain his myriad of questions and the little tangents he would go on, which slowly cemented his position in the house as one of the Four Favorites. His conversations with Mrs. Tristan were a little different, not so rooted in academics, but he enjoyed them just the same.
With the other wards, it was a little bit more of a mixed bag. He never quite bothered to endear himself to them or spend any unnecessary time with them, much preferring to stick his nose in a book and find the answers to whatever questions have been on his mind. It wasnât so much that he disliked them as it was a preference to spend time by himself. That being said, he never rejected anyone who came for help or approached him just to spend time together.
AESTHETIC
Functionality over style â ALWAYS. Thankfully, it seems that being around Mrs. Tristan and Richard have rubbed off him so his style is less slovenly slob and more nice young gentleman next door. He does favor the simple combination of T-shirts and trousers in more informal settings, though he does have dress shirts and ties in the closet if the occasion calls for it. His hair is, at best, brushed before he goes out but he does make attempts to style it for more formal/serious events.
EDUCATION
Due to his experience in public school and the orphanage, Vikram much preferred receiving education on Woodrow grounds where he was able to learn at his own pace without anyone bothering him. Often stayed back after class ended just to ask any questions he had or to clarify any mistakes he made in tests and exams. Witnessing his enthusiasm, some of the teachers responded in kind and paid more attention to Vikram. If it was any other school, he absolutely would have graduated as valedictorian.
Although he considered Kingsbury College when choosing universities, Vikram ultimately chose to attend ETH Zurich in Switzerland where he double majored in Applied Physics and Quantum Mechanics with a minor in English. He then went on to complete his doctorate in Physics at the University of Cambridge in England, choosing to stay on after graduating to participate in research.
EXTRACURRICULARS
No doubt Debate Club solely because the guy can yap if given the opportunity, also after some encouragement on Richardâs part. Heâs also taken part in Ceramics, Robotics, and Literature. Although he was asked if he wanted to start participating in competitions again, Vikram never found the need nor the interest now that he could spend his time freely without constantly looking over his shoulder.
THEIR LIFE NOW
Heâs absolutely thriving in his own way. Work is good, heâs currently in a research team with likeminded people. He doesnât regularly teach undergraduates but occasionally drops by lecture theaters when his colleagues ask him to speak on a topic. Any class Vikram teaches is popular due to his straightforward and succinct explanations, which help break down more difficult concepts for the students. When he goes back for the night, he greets a few of his neighbors with a simple nod. The mother of three on the floor above keeps trying to set him up with her youngest sister, to which heâs just laughed off and refused but she hasnât given up yet.
What hasnât changed is his preference for solitude, though heâs said yes to a few dinners here and there. The market is full of familiar faces since heâs been here a few years and some of the vendors greet him by name, excitedly telling him about a new trick theyâve picked up from their lifestyle magazines. Vikram listens patiently and responds in kind. Occasionally, Richard calls or emails him to come back to Woodrow, and he complies. The last time had been this May to celebrate his birthday.
His lifeâs nice now. The thing Vikram likes most is how easygoing it all is, with his difficult past so far behind him.
