Trip time

Continuing off from last time after filling up the registration, I had been accepted and I was going to be travelling to New Delhi (the hometown of my father) in the month of May.

Fast Forwarding...

The date is 26th of May 2024. I'm in my school summer vacations and I have something to look up to. ASHOKA UNIVERSITY. In the evening around 6 p.m. my Dad and I left for  Pune Airport (Mom was staying back home). We had a flight at 7:30 p.m. 

This was my first flight since October 2019 during Diwali. I was ready for it.

About 2 hours later my dad and I landed in Indira Gandhi Airport. On stepping out of the airport I was hit with a warm breeze, something my Maharashtra-adjusted body wasn't used to. We booked a taxi on Uber and were off to my Dadi's (Grandmother) home in the Lajpat Nagar area.

The major difference I realised when on the open road was the width and quality of the road. Here in Maharashtra we have narrow roads with several potholes (I guess it makes the journey more majestic or something) leading to severely excessive congestion. But here, it was the total opposite, smooth roads with great width. No congestion and absolutely no bumps in the ride. Also there were several government and army infrastructures (pretty obvious considering that it is under the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory)

But yeah, back to me. I reached my Dadi's house around 10 p.m. and I was famished. As soon as I reached I was welcomed in by my cousins, my Bhua (Dad's sister) and my Dadi. 

Seeing them after 5 years despite being in the same country brought back memories. My eldest cousin sister who is 21, saw me and couldn't comprehend how I had changed. I had grown almost a foot taller and was taller than her too. Also, I had evidently-growing facial hair.  

My other cousin brother, who is 17 also saw me and hugged me after we shook hands. After meeting them I rushed to touch the feet of my elders (Bhua and Dadi). With them both saying the same old Indian phrase to my Dad (Tere bete ki height acchi hui hai. Lamba hogaya hai.)

I had dinner after this (Toori ki sabzi (Ridge Gourd), Roti (Indian Flatbread), and a Cantaloupe). After dinner my cousin sister had offered me an ice cream and being my dessert-loving self had accepted it. It felt refreshing in the hot weather. 

Next Morning...

In Pune I was used to waking up at 5:30 a.m. due to school, but here I didn't rise till an hour later. Once awake I had chai (the best form of tea) with my Dad and Dadi while looking out of the balcony at the Delhi Sunrise. I spoke to my Mom over the phone for a while asking about her health and how she was. 

After this I took a shower and had breakfast (Aloo Parantha (Thick indian bread made of a potato, onion, masala and spices stuffing)) and had an online class. 

During the duration of my class my Dad's close friend had come to the house and they were waiting for my class to end. 

Once it did, we finished packing my bag and put it into his car. I said my goodbyes to my family (temporarily) 

It was a hot summer noon in Delhi and we were off in his blue Mercedes. We hit the highway in no time. A road colloquially called by my Dad as "Ring Road". We passed by several office buildings, malls, companies and residences, even educational institutions like Delhi University and Metro stations like Jehangirpuri. We finally reached a place called Rohini which according to my Dad's friend was an important milestone on our journey (I obviously didn't know the Geography of Delhi so well unlike Pune. So I trusted my Dad and Uncle). 

Soon we were in Haryana and then finally in Sonipat (The place ASHOKA is based). 

Fast Forwarding...

We parked the car and went into RH3 (Residence Hall 3- The hostel for Boys). The girls were staying in RH4. 

Once in RH3, I picked up my lanyard (ID Card), and some Ashoka Sponsored merchandise (bottle, tote bag, pen and book). Sooner or later the three of us were going up the elevator. Once on the 4th floor I went to collect my sharing room keys. I was placed in Room 432. 

The three of us went into the room. My Dad helped me unpack my clothes into the wardrobe and we went back down to attend a campus walkthrough. In the walkthrough they showed us around the campus and all of its amenities (Library, Sports block (Table Tennis Tables, Squash Courts, Badminton/Basketball Court, Football/Cricket/Basketball Turfs, Gymnasium, Classrooms, etc. )). After all of this, we went for some refreshments (Chai, Samosa). 

After a bit of forcing and help from my Uncle, my Dad was finally ready to leave his only son alone and go back home. 

I was free and started this freedom by devouring the bread pizza offered in the cafeteria. Additionally for the first time, my only child persona was able to prepare beaten coffee by myself without my parents and what a mighty-fine coffee it was (not trying to be self-obsessed).

I ended up walking back to the room while being closely observant of the beauty on campus, it's grass, and single-form constructions. In the elevator I met a future friend, Sifar. He had been going up to his floor and I had caught a glance of his parents. They asked me which city I came from and after I said Pune, they were surprised. As it turned out even they were from Pune. 

Soon I walked back to my room, Room 432 and as I entered, I met my roommate Dhruv. We talked for a few minutes and I found out he was from Bangalore. We left the room and met some of our floormates, there was a guy named Ahaan from Mumbai and another named Anant from Ahmedabad.