My IISc days-Part 1

Sometimes you get these early morning dreams down the memory lane and yesterday morning I experienced such memories from my IISc days. I had spent two months during the summer of 2000 at IISc Bangalore as part of Young Engineering Fellows. In those two months, I learned so much about myself, my passions and my friends that I can write a book on what went inside my head.

The whole Bangalore trip started off on a setback note. My parents were really proud of the fact that I got selected for this fellowship but my brother who is very passionate about booking tickets forgot to check that my train was not going to take 24 hours from Kota but rather 48 hours to reach Bangalore. We learned this only after reaching the station and I still remember the concerned face of my mother. But I assured her that I would be fine and what started after that was probably the longest journey of my life. I bought my first Filmfare at Nagda junction and read it twice word to word during the trip. I learned the importance of having a good book (not Filmfare level) in your handbag for such long trips. I also learned that the electric engine shiffts to a diesel engine at Kazipet Junction which serves the world's best Mango juice. Just like at Kajrat people go crazy about the wada-pav, people go crazy at Kazipet to drink some of these fruit juices.

Having successfully completed around 28 hours on the train, by the next day I felt much better, less bored and came down from my side upper berth. I slept that night feeling strangely confused and wondered why I was going to Bangalore for two months?, when I could spend that time in Kota/Delhi chilling with family