The very next day i.e. 16th may, we started our VSRP programme. After almost 7 years I boarded a school bus although for a small trip of 5-7 minutes. We were assembled in AG-66 and given a brief intro and then our TA forms were accepted and we were allowed to meet our respective guides. I met many of my co-researchers there whom I would describe in the due course. Before coming to TIFR, I knew only two people Barrel and Aarti (IIT Madras). Well I knew her only by photos and as my friend Barrel and Avadhoot’s friend.
My guide was in CM-32 and hence I had to go there. I knew Prof. J. S. Yadav only by his photograph (Thanks TIFR website). He talked with me for about 30 minutes and made himself pretty clear that he is neither going to burden me nor allow me to have a free relaxing time. Very first day he gave me two papers to read on black holes and introduced to Amish and Suprabha who were to help me during my summer project. Well we had a gala time together for the next 56 days in D-314.
With the papers in my bag, we went to Colaba market for shopping. After buying, Sooraj, Arun and me came back to our hostels. It’s a paradigm of humankind that people absolutely unknown to each other come together when fate brings them near. So was the case with us. In the evening, we went back to TIFR to have our dinner (It was the nearest and the cheapest). On the way, I experienced the very first of Mammootty - Mohanlal tussle which was to continue for the next two months. Sooraj (Mammootty) and Arun (Mohanlal) were debating making me as a moderator for whom they were nothing more than names. I explained my ignorance on this matter but the tussle continued and the results are still awaited.
The next day me and Arun had the experience of Mumbai in an unexpected way. Avadhoot was in town and hence I went to meet him. Arun accompanied me as he wanted to feel Mumbai and buy some books. We met him near Regal cinema. He had also come for books and we were unable to find any of the books under the constraint of our prices and liking. I phoned my friend Maulik, a mumbaikar, for guiding us to bookstores. His father guided us and we started our “Padyatra”. We first went to a book store near Metro but couldn’t find the book. We were travelling without knowing anything about Mumbai beyond the fact that we were to walk North bound. We reached the book-store “Lakhani” near Girgaun church only to find it closed. But luckily, we found the book in the adjoining bookstore who promised to bring it to TIFR. Thus, ended our travels of almost 4 hours and cleanliness freak Arun had to sit beside me on the dirty Mumbai footpath. The next day, Sunday was spent mostly in knowing other fellows all around us. Well one thing was also experienced, the TIFR seashore, which was to play an important role in our stay in TIFR. Well rest for the next post…………
No comments:
Post a Comment