The CSE department of NIT Durgapur is a three storeyed building. The ground floor is partially encroached by the MCA department. The upper two floors contains the faculty cabins, classrooms and laboratories. Most of the faculties are found in the ground floor and first floor, with the exception of two. It is an open opinion among many, had the 1st floor not been there, CSE department would have surely been a better place. And arguably, the most whimsical among the residents of 1st floor is B's guide, a middle aged SMIEEE who had obtained his driving licence, that too by bribing, only a year back.
This guide instructed presentation of three papers in a conference in Ghaziabad, scheduled between 19-20 March, which required presence of the authors to publish the paper. Absentia presentation was available, though at a cost significantly higher. The phase of preparation of the papers also gather significant mention. Out of three, two papers were too similar, guided by the whimsical Mr. guide. It took several rounds of mails and cross mails to make the those steer past the blinds of self plagiarism. It was getting evident that B and M would have to travel to Ghaziabad, their first travel outside the state, and I took the opportunity to forward a paper on my own, to the same conference, on the very last date. Accepted or not, I was anyhow travelling with B, it was clear with me.
I timely booked the tickets, but made a blunder out of ignorance, booking the Poorva express via Patna, instead of opting for the Gaya route. The route I booked had not so good review upon the behavior of local passengers in the sleeper compartments, but we decided to keep the plan intact. Journey started as scheduled, though the fact that I was travelling with B and M was carefully kept a secret from many in Durgapur, specially their guide. The travel featured too many selfies shot, thanks to the lumia M owned. Sparing the few tense and dense hours through Bihar, the rest of the journey was smooth, funny with the co-passengers, teasing M all the way with her dressing, and blaming the worst IRCTC food. B had cut one of her jeans into a capri, only for this travel, and was too pleased being in it.
Poorva express doesn't officially halt at Ghaziabad, but stopped for a few seconds, which was enough for us to disembark hurriedly upon the tracks. The train journey was warm, but in the station we were greeted by a cool weather. To get to the hotel, avoiding the annoying autowallahs, was something I practiced well earlier. The ignorance of travelers new in a city is what these people count upon to misguide and cheat large. We walked up to our hotel, or better a cheap lodge, Ghanshyam Lodge, and got the rooms, one single and another double. Advises unasked for from Durgapur mentioned not to book hotels online for receipt problems, but we easily received hard receipt from the not so good lodge. We reached on 18th, and the day was casually spent, preparing for the day ahead. Few stray incidents, the monkeys disturbing through the night, and a cute little puppy in its not so cute actions, and eating out at a rajasthani bhojanalaya, marked the memories.
On early 19th we traveled to IMS. An auto to lal kuan, a steep rocky climb, and another auto through the highway brought us to the college. A spread out private engineering institute, with girls hostel just beside the entrance, greeted us. We were on the verge of missing our breakfast due to the registration formalities, unless the angry snap from B brought us in notice of the authorities and their subsequent earnest request to have breakfast. Attending few sessions, meeting the other participants from NIT, a veg lunch, and returning to the lodge to prepare for the day ahead. We knew better the next day to reach early and grab breakfast. B and M presented their session, at the auditorium, before the lunch itself, though there was hardly any audience, and neither the session chair. B was feeling a bit unwell, but still went through the day. I was nervous in my post lunch session, but luckily the session chair there took a easy go on me. Gathered the receipts and certificates, and the task at Ghaziabad was over.
We had extended our stay at Ghaziabad a night as we were uncertain reaching Delhi the same day. Accordingly early 21st morning saw our move to Delhi by the local EMU. After the dusty and dirty look of a small UP town, the polished look of the capital was a pleasant welcome. Easily got a room in Paharganj for the day, freshened up early, and got out to explore the capital. The morning spent at Lal Quila, and subsequently a shopping sprint at Sarojini Nagar. We missed a proper lunch and went on shopping till evening; M was the top buyer who just went crazy. The craze continued through the night, with B and M trying on all the clothes, I being the photographer all the way. Shopping continued post dinner, which was a super flop, marking the end of our travel. The return train, a bi-weekly one, was on early 22nd morning. This time the journey was without any trouble, save the incident where our compassion for an elderly lady made us lose some amount. Actually for a reason that railways promote not to get acquainted with co passengers. B occupied her side upper throughout, and calling me by her side whenever awake. Got down early next day at Asansol to take a local EMU back to Durgapur.
Penning down this more than a month after the travel, still the incidents are vivid in my eyes. A lot more happened in the trip, which will always be cherished by us. Might have missed many things while writing, will include those as we remember.
