June 30, 2002

It was a bright sunny day, cool breeze in the air, and bearing many expectations in mind, I alighted from Udyan Express. It was a first class journey that had come to an end (a II a/c ticket, sponsored by TI). It was not the first time that I had landed in this charming city, in fact I had done that twice earlier. Yet this time it was different. I had come here to stay! And stay, I did. It has been three years.

I always remember an incident that took place in Delhi. We were traveling to Pilani to participate in the sports meet, and we camped for the night in Delhi. In the evening I was bored of sitting in the stuffy hotel room and went for a walk. What I saw was a city completely unknown to me. The traffic plying already busy streets, and filling the air with black smoke. Auto-rikshaws trying to push their vehicles to skip the traffic jam, but ending up in creating one. I on the other hand, was all alone : I did not belong there, neither did my thoughts. In that city I was a stranger. And since my joining of TI was more or less certain (unless I cleared GATE, interviews etc.), I felt the same emotion about Bangalore. I tried to imagine people in Bangalore, people who had nothing to do with me at that moment, people who knew me not. And neither did I. To think of going there for a considerable period of life, and get used to it!

All this may seem out of place, for one is expected to adapt to the conditions, whether by his liking or otherwise. It certainly took a long period of time for me to settle down here. I was rescued by the Yuva Marathi Sangha, a youth organisation of the Maharashtrians in Bangalore, busy with nonsenses such as drama, treks, music and likes. I never have looked back since then. Better put, the conditions have always suited for me since then. I never really worked hard at the office, and the work did not enthuse me either. I knew I had to find a change. Some things are destined to happen, or at least we can speak of some things in such ways. My appearing for GATE 2003, (without much preparation, and hope), and then scoring a competitive percentile, and the CEDT test-interview procedure, all this fell in place. And I was made integral part of it. I don't remember if I have mentioned of all this as a miracle in any of the earlier posts, yet believe me even "miracle" would be an understatement for what I have seen. But then who said miracles don't happen!

I was a bit careless during that period of time I guess. I had almost lost my interest in the work (more so, the project on which I was working was scrapped for some reasons). I never did strive hard for what I have achieved ultimately. First it was GATE. I had gone on an "official" picnic with my colleagues in TI. I was confident enough of getting a good score, but then I was never confident that I would get a call from IISc. Same thing in case of the test-interviews. Two days before the test, I was enjoying a walk in the forests of Sakaleshpur, a trek I still remember in details, even this day. The test was reasonably easy and I guess I performed well on that day. In the interview I faced the same panel I had faced one year ago! I thought I had it. I could get the concepts but not nomenclature - My memory was too rusty for that. In the end I told them that I had tried the year before, and they insisted on the question of, why was I willing to leave TI (a good job) and join CEDT for post graduation. Perhaps they understood my eagerness (or maybe dumbness, but desire to study further), and tell you what, I was selected!

I cannot forget the morning when Vishal called up and congratulated me. My parents were in town during that period, and it was a happy ending of a short-corporate carrier and a beginning of a new chapter, or even better, a new book.

To describe what all has happened since then I do not have words powerful enough. Life-changing turns are taken at most unaware-of situations I guess.

It is very easy at this time to say that if I had not obtained the admission to IISc, even then I would be better off, for time does not wait for a man, and a man carries on with his life in return. Perhaps not. I can't imagine what I would be like if I had missed the turn.

Today, after three years in Bangalore, life has taught me wonderful lessons, and I hope I have changed for better. I have always loved Bangalore, for its weather, its youthfulness and the opportunities it has offered me. People may crib about the traffic problems, pollution and the likes, I have always successfully ignored them. I know very less of the changed Bangalore of the airport road-Indiranagar area after two years of calmness at the institute. But I am sure if I look at it with cheerfulness, it would return my smile and welcome me, again!