Those were the best days of my life....

Had my friend told me that she misses someone very badly, whom she had known for just two months, I would have laughed at her. How much of a person can we know in just two months?? But, I might sound more ludicrous if I say, I cried while bidding adieu to some guys, I had known for just two months. Funny isn’t it??? Okay!!! Lemme start from when it all started…..

In the final semester I attended the campus interview for TCS. I was impressed by the pre placement talk given by a lady who had served TCS for more than two decades. There I was, traveling ahead of time and visualizing me in such a position. I cleared the written test and attended the interview. I got back home even without knowing the results as it was too late in the evening. My friend, whom I had asked to check my mail later that day, called me at two in the morning to convey the news that I got through the interview. I was overwhelmed and the world seemed to be a better place (typical of me!!!).

Then, there was a really long wait before I joined TCS and I was too complacent to look for another company. Meanwhile, I got acquainted with some guys who were to join with me. I was informed that my training would be in Calcutta. I was excited about staying out alone (I had never been away from family for more than a week) but I knew I would miss my family and friends terribly. I got loads of advices from every person I knew. I hate advices!!! But then, had to listen. Then came ‘The Day’. I got into the Howrah express knowing that I won’t be able to see my dear ones for two months (or more!!!! What if I get posting elsewhere?? But I didn’t want to think about it).

The journey to Calcutta was a long and joyful one. It was good that I made friends with those joining with me. So, we were no more strangers and had a fun-time teasing and pulling each others legs. As we crossed different states, I watched people of different cultures. There was an Orria family who were singing all the time and a Bengali family who were sleeping and eating most of the time. After 28 hours we reached Calcutta. All the excitement vanished into thin air when I had the first glimpse of the city. It looked ‘deprived of all resources’. Am I to live here??? No way!!! Finally, we reached Howrah and took a taxi to M.G.Road. I really hoped that TCS would provide accommodation in a habitable place. The taxiwalla took us over the Howrah bridge which contributed nothing towards raising my hopes. There were people everywhere – on the roads, footpaths – eating, sleeping, bathing - what not!!! Atlast, when he took a narrow road which looked no better, with old buildings raising on both the sides and little space to even walk around, I said sarcastically to the friend next to me, ‘Guess our guest house is somewhere here!!’. Alas!! There stood a building that looked like empty matchboxes stacked together bearing the name ‘Raja Guest House’. Now, I could feel all the enthusiasm drain out of me. The ‘City of Joy’ had turned out to be ‘City of Sorrows’.

The next day I got dressed up and started well before time for the Induction Program. We took a taxi to Gorky Sadan where the function was to be held. I was relieved to find that this part of the city looked developed. Of course every city has its best and worst territories. I found a large crowd of young people standing outside Gorky. But somehow the faces looked unfriendly. The inaugural function was a long and boring one. On the first day of training I reached CMC just in time to find that the class was already full. We were asked to introduce ourselves. I noticed that none of us wanted to come out of our comfort zones, because many small groups were already formed consisting of people belonging to a particular state. There was a Bengali gang, Orrisa gang, Delhi gang, Central India gang and ofcourse the Chennai gang.
Within days I got used to the city, its roads, the metro, food and its people. As days went on I got more friends and felt that living outside home is much easier than what I thought. I developed a sense of responsibility as I had to do things on my own. I started exploring places in the weekends and found out that this age old city has lots in store. Meanwhile a technical team of 6 was formed and we had to submit a project by the end of term. It was in those late night project discussions I found out that we were no more strangers. Days just flew and it was time for Mid-Term. I could see only studious faces everywhere. I don’t remember when I became close with the people there. But all of a sudden everything turned out to be so good. We started visiting others rooms and chit-chatting with them. Since my room was the biggest, many of my friends used to come for some leisure talk. Even the natives of Calcutta, who used to visit their homes in weekends, started staying back.

Slowly the group started expanding and so did the duration of our chit-chatting. Every day we used to stay awake till 2 or 3 in the mornings and sleep in the classes. The birthdays were the highlight of Raja Guest House, with lots of pastries, loud music, dancing and water splashing. The manager of the guest house had a terrible time and once he even threatened us that he would call the cops. Is shouting a criminal offence??? The life at CMC was totally different. In between the boring sessions we used to have Life Skills where we were taught everything from dining to dressing up (are we that uncivilized???). The German classes were fun, with our great German Nanni(granny), putting her heart and soul in teaching us the simple alphabets. In breaks (café pausé) we used to play the tapping game, taught by the Delhi guys. In the nights we used to go for dinner in big gangs. There was one guy who used to keep his hotel open even after 12, just for us (mind u… Calcutta is a city that winds up at 8).

Calcutta had become a part of life. I was happy to get posting in Chennai but then the feeling of leaving everyone started sinking in. The last two days were terrible. It was as though life had come to a sudden halt. On the last day, it was very painful to see my friends leave one by one. I went to the station to send them off as my flight was not until early morning. A sense of loss was creeping in when we shared a few last minute hugs, tears and goodbyes. When I returned, the guest house which used to be buzzing with people, was lifeless. I packed my stuff and started to leave with a heavy heart. Through the open windows of the taxi, I found a great city, every bit of it now looking familiar.

I reached Chennai in the morning and was happy to be back with my loved ones (after two long months). I had lots of memories to share with them. But certain feelings are beyond words and one should experience it to get the real flavor of it. Though the days I spent in Calcutta were very few I’m still missing it. The friends I made there have now become a part of my life.
I’m happy to be back, but a part of my soul is still lurking somewhere in the ‘corner streets – CMC class rooms – Raja Guest House (R.No.107) – Mini hotel – metro – Chai ki Dhukan – Mongini’s cake shop – Nicco Park – yellow taxis – Dhiga beach’. Calcutta is indeed a ‘City of Joy’.