Trust me; I never knew that summers at VSNL Mumbai were going to be such eventful coupled with moments of joy, happiness and sorrow. Whatever they may be, deep in my heart I have cherished a lot.
It started with the ending of Term III, technically speaking the first year at GIM. I was to join VSNL, Mumbai on 2nd April and it was just 24th March. So, I thought of a small trip to my native. And the drama was waiting for me right from the time I left Goa. I was booked on an evening flight of Indian (the erstwhile Indian Airlines) from Goa to Mumbai and then onward to Kolkata on my favorite 9W late evening flight. Yes, I am talking about none other than Jet Airways. To give me sound company, I had Patel with me till Mumbai; he was booked on 9W late evening flight to Chennai. I am talking about Prashant Patel. Reached Goa Airport with loads of luggage and checked in with Indian. Patel had to pay for excess baggage. Poor Chap! But I guess his fetish for Air Deccan is all over now after the series of baggage mishaps he has had with them.
I got my favorite aisle seat on the Airbus A-320 of Indian and without bothering to glance through the boarding pass proceeded to Gate no 1. Believe me that is the terminal Indian and Kingfisher use for all their departures from Goa. Thanks to an Indian Airlines bound to Sharjah, the domestic flight was departing from Gate no 2. I realised it little late and had to rush through to the other side. People who have been to Goa Airport will understand the beating my legs took while charging to the terminal. I was the last person to board the flight and it seems all the passengers on board were cursing me. Little did they know that the flight was going to be delayed by another 40 minutes in Goa itself. My boarding pass read Seat 22 C. F@#K, that’s too far off and behind. I started walking on the aisle and saw a familiar face on 22 B. Kept churning my mind all over about him. I have no reasons why I could not paint him. I reached my seat, placed my laptop in the nearly filled baggage latch and it struck me. The guy was no one but the director of GIM, Mr. Peter D’ Lima. What an eventful flight that was? Finally reached Mumbai. Was not that bad a landing considering the fact that I was occupying the seat at the tail of the craft. Disembarked in a hurry and realised Patel’s flight was delayed by another hour. What to do? Took a bus provided by AAI for terminal transfers and checked in my baggage with Jet Airways. Saw a pile of stickers being slapped on my baggage including “HEAVY” and “PRIORITY”. Not to forget the one “FRAGILE – No Hooks.” Cooled myself at the Mumbai Jet Lounge for sometime. Finally Patel arrived and we got him also checked. Thankfully he did not have to pay any excess baggage fare here. And the fruit platter was waiting for him on board 9W – 2621. Guess, haven’t forgotten his flight number. We still had an hour or so to kill. We moved out of the airport and had tea. He had an idli as well. Finally, we bid bye to each other, series of hugs and I was off to 9W – 2301. My boarding read my favorite aisle seat 2 C. The aircraft was also one of the most stable and my favorites Boeing 737 – 800 with a capacity to accommodate 176 passengers.
25th March 2006
By the time the Jet landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Domestic terminal it was 0145 hrs. The carrier was taken to Gate No 7 and we used the state of the art Aerobridge. The huge baggage claim welcomed us at Kolkata as usual and my little bro was there. All charged up to meet me. Afterall, two years of our hostel life has been together. Then I and Gaurav (Guess the name needs no introduction, yes he is my brother; currently studying B Com at St Xavier’s College, Kolkata) boarded Darjeeling Mail the same day in the evening for Kishanganj, my native, a small town in the lower foothills of Darjeeling.
26th March 2006
Got up at 0600 hrs and it was still 80 odd km far from my place. Time for Tea! And I must talk about Krishna – the great Chaiwala, who hails from my place and has always offered me the best of the tea and never taken a single paise in return. Yes, he has never taken a paise in the last seven years from me for the tea. Who says Good People do not exist? And bang 0700 hrs by my watch and the naked damsel dancing on the iron tracks pulled inside Kishanganj BG. What a feeling? The smell of the land makes me go mad. Its been 7 years I left home but it has got me more and more close to my family. In the past 7 years, I must have been home more than 30 times and every time my dad picks me up. Be it 12 in the night or 12 in the afternoon, he stands at the same place at the platform. Looks like it’s the same brick on the platform where he stands waiting for his son. Just outside the Kishanganj GRP. Seven long years but the fact remains the same. Be it any occasion, any situation he has always stood there.
27th March – 31st March 2006
A small holiday came to an end. No words to express the feeling. I must say that they miss me and miss me a lot. Came 31st evening and I boarded Darjeeling Mail for Kolkata. Was scheduled on the afternoon 9W flight to Mumbai from Kolkata the following day.
1st April 2006
It was my day. Not because it was a fool’s day. All the credit goes to Patel and Air Deccan for manhandling his luggage. Lol ! I still laugh my heart out. Patel, I told ya Air Deccan is going to make you pay for all the cheaper fares it has offered. Lets not talk abt that anymore and move on… In the meantime Kolkata was hotter than expected. And the humidity taking the toll on me. Reached the airport bang on time, undoubtedly Kolkata is one of the best managed and most beautiful airports with huge arrival and departure galleries. Not to talk about the colorful lounges on the first floor. Reached Mumbai at 6 pm and settled myself at the Tata VSNL Colony. Had to report the next day at 0930 hrs.
2nd April – 9th June 2006
Yes, the period belongs to VSNL. My summers, Got a nice project – Costing and Budget Implementation with SAP FI CO Module. Liked the work and the culture. More importantly made quite a few good friends. Was admitted to Leelavati Hospital ICU for couple of days coz of Food Poisoning. Those were bad days. Not to talk about the locals of Mumbai. Every time I managed to board one or disembark from one, I told myself I deserve an Olympic Gold Medal. Not to mention the ones I left and Virar Fast. Finally, got a chance to present my summers to the CFO – Tata VSNL. Indeed a great opportunity. Seems I have cashed in enough from that.
10th June – 13th June 2006
Now that the summers had come to an end, I needed a break. In the meantime Rohan was pressing me hard for an Ahemdabad trip. I gave in and took Mumbai – Ahemdabad Shatabadi Express early in the morning to Ahemdabad. Lovely city, I must say and lively people. They (the Gujjus, no discrimination intended) appear closest to Marwaris. Amazing people to eat with. Have the sweetest tooth or teeth I must say and sport nice tummies. Thanks to Rohan & Nishil, they set up my summers with such a lovely break. Thanks a ton pals. Wish to frequent your place more often.
