Exam Tour : Phase I :- Mumbai

This academic year was earmarked by me to give my best shot to the various entrances leading to a PhD. December 2009 was actually the beginning of the long season to come. IIA entrance was in Mumbai on 12th and INAT in Pune on 16th. So, I decided to give my other two entrances TIFR(13th) and NET(20th) in Pune as well.
As INAT was to pay to & fro fare, I chose Pune to be my base. I reached Pune on 10th morning. The journey was not quite exciting apart from the trouble caused by a family from Rajnandgaon who were travelling W/L. But at the Nagpur station, I had an unlikely interaction with a group of grandpas and grandmas going to Shegaon. They immediately recognized my TIFR T-shirt. They asked me whether I worked there. When I replied in negative, they immediately said that then the shirt comes from my wife who works there!
I was to stay in Pune at my friend Aniket’s room. The room is not only a spacious 2B but also is endowed with nice surroundings and a broadband connection with a 24-hour free download. To add to it, his roommates Tarang and Yatin are friendly as well as accommodating. I was left to myself most of the time and I enjoyed my time quite well mixing Internet, Studies and Big Bang Theory (Serial not the Astro one!!!) into a potent mixture.
This trip was not only to be an exam tour but a reunion with my friends as well. Apart from Pune Mumbai and Sangli were also in the schedule. The 14 days were to be of exams, interviews and sightseeing. Thus, it was a trip where pleasure was intertwined with business. So let’s start without delay. First stop would be Mumbai.
On 11th, I left for Mumbai. But before that I went to the university to meet my friends. I started with my sweetest she-friend Aradhana. After boring her for about half an hour, I had to leave her to her studies. I went to the department to meet Anustuv and to give my bag to him. There I met others as well and after having a gala time, I started for the station. Although I studied there for two long years, it seemed equally thrilling as I felt on the first day. This was the place where I had two best years of my academics and made friends with whom I shared moments of both joys and sorrows.
The journey to Mumbai in Deccan express was quite insipid apart from the mesmerizing downhill trip from Lonavala to Karjat. The slow descent of the train helped me to see the surroundings as well as allowed to click some photographs.
My friend, Iman, came to receive me at Dadar. I went to live in his room. I had brought clothing to prevent me from the cold but it seemed completely out of place in Mumbai. I slept in my minimals after many months (Nagpur has been cold for the last few months). My examination centre was in University Department of Phyiscs, Mumbai University. Apart from the fact that it’s somewhere near Santa Cruz I had no idea. Iman was no better. So, I started at about 0730 and reached the centre at about 0800 to find that I was the only living being to turn up there. The next entrants were my juniors from Pune. They had come even before only to find the dogs and had gone for a stroll! The authorities turned up at just about time. The exam went fine. (I can say that as I actually have an interview call from there. Though I applied for PhD, my marks have relegated my chance to an MTech-PhD.) The department is not what you expect from Mumbai. And after studying in Pune, it seemed like a disaster. Way to go Mumbai. You have the money. We have the knowledge.
My next stop was Bandra to see the newest attraction of Mumbai, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. But before that I was squeezed in the local train between Santa Cruz and Bandra. I have been squeezed before but this time the squeeze yielded liquid as well (The pressure opened my water bottle).
I had first thought that I would only see the sea link and come back. But after getting down at Lilavati, it seemed a crime not to go across it. So, I hired a taxi to cross it. The driver was a good-natured Jaunpuri and on his suggestion, I extended my journey to Currey road. I conceded as I was afraid to get into a Western Railway local again and I had to meet my friend Kaustubh at CST as well. I reached CST by 1415 (It can be five minutes here and there. An ardent Mumbaikar would have given you the correct time).
Kaustubh came within half an hour and we marched outside. I was meeting him after a long gap of three and a half years. The reunion was celebrated by a treat at McD (By him of course!!!). Then we went for a walk down D.N. Road. Those who have been to Mumbai know about its charm. Especially South Mumbai is just next to a wizard. So, we were lured by the charm and forgot about the 1710 train I had to catch. When we saw our watches (maybe because of a distraction), we were already at the fountain. We hurried back in time to catch our trains. He his local and me my DECCAN QUEEN.
Deccan Queen is THE train. It’s a heritage train with ISO 9001:200 certification and is the only train to have a dining car. It was on my wish-list for long. Last time I missed travelling in it because of Barrel. This time I had already pre-planned. The train stood upto its reputation and didn’t disappoint me. The chairs in the dining car chairs were a let-down though. I had expected plush and comfortable chairs but was disappointed to find plastic chairs. It maintained a great speed even when it climbed uphill from Karjat to Lonavala. I purposefully went to eat at that time and it was really fun. The speed was such that I couldn’t take a steady photograph! Although the train is great, Indian Railways might spruce it up a little more to give an even more elegant look.
It reached Shivajinagar in 3 hours while it takes nearly 4 hours and more by other trains (excluding Pragati). My sojourn to Mumbai came to an end and I retired for the night at Anustuv’s room.
The journey was a success as I gave a good exam and fulfilled my two dreams of going across the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and a journey on the Deccan Queen. More fascinating was that I did all of them on a single day within the space of few hours. Not to forget the bonus walk through South Mumbai.
12th December, 2009 is going to be etched in my mind for years to come.