My Great Trip----- Day 1

PROLOGUE

My trip started off pretty early. With not more than a day to spare, well what the hell, I was already in a vacation mood. Landed in Hyderabad on a hot afternoon on 20th of April. Was as tired as a laboured donkey. But then nobody spares me. I was dragged to shopping along with my mom and sis. One piece of advice, NEVER GO SHOPPING WITH LADIES. Its daam boring and I almost lost my mind. My sis was asking my opinion of what to buy and what not… from a guy who was really tired and desparate for some sleep. Sleep and I don’t go well together. Had a few hours of sleep and off to the airport to catch the 0600 flight to DELHI. The 21st of April shall go down as a one of my big days.

DAY 1- DELHI

The flight took off by 0605. Slept off initially just to be woken up by a gorgeous airhostess who wanted to serve a box of goodies. (There are many more ways she could have served me but then I was with my family!) Landed in Delhi by 0800hrs.Went to the BHRAMOS guest house (thanks to my dad!) had breakfast and was all set for the big meet with Mr. PRESIDENT. We had an appointment for 1400hrs. It was to last for about 10 min. So, got dressed up for the big event and left for the Rastrapathi Bhavan.

We had to report at the main gate at 1345hrs. We were there by 1315. Told the security officer about our appointment and we were given a royal welcome. Cleared about 4 levels of security checks and finally reached the reception. We were directed to a grand room, and severed with some really good snacks. The guy who served us was just as if he came out of a movie from the mughal-e-asam. He looked royal.

The Rastrapathi Bhavan is truly a palace. It has got 360 rooms (I could sleep in new room for an entire year!!!!). I was amazed by the interiors. It’s just like walking into a movie showing a palace. Man…. My mouth was wide open. A red carpet, which leads right to the prez office. Man, I just couldn’t believe it.

Subedar Major Ramakrishna, Head president guard, a well-built guy in his early 40s met us at the waiting room. He enquired if we were carrying any gifts or cams or mobiles. Thanks to the prior info we didn’t carry any of those. He gave a green signal and we were taken to the office. The doors opened and I put my foot into his office.

There he was. Wearing a traditional suit, sitting in a corner of a magnanimous room. God, I thought the RB was great but then the best room is surely the prez study room aka his office. He greeted us with a “ hai buddy!!!” I was amazed just to realise that he was referring to my dad. We sat down. Before we started, he asked us if we wanted some tea, which we gracefully denied. He started off by explaining about his garden (I have no idea why he did that!). I was looking around his office. Found a number of books. Once he finished his explanation, he enquired about me and kavitha (my sis). I told him, I was doing my 2nd year in Thigarajar College of Engineering. He had actually come to my college about 2 months before he became the prez. He remembered that and said it was a nice college with a good campus. All except me had prepared questions, to ask the prez. Kavitha was the first to go. I was meanwhile thinking what to ask him.

Then it hit me as if it were a meteorite. Why not ask about the Indian educational system. There I went all out on the IES (to understand this, it is mandatory to have read my previous two blogs on IES) and the prez for the first time had no answer. I had bowled him out for once. But then this feeling was short-lived. He came back saying that we have to change only the primary system so as to induce creativity. That was end of my turn and my mom took over from me. I was looking through his stuff and found a book on NANOTECHNOLOGY. That’s all I wanted. The next one was from me with a techi question. Was asking him about the nanotechnology. He showed me a pic of a peacock saying that it resembles nano-powder. I went in with the re-buttle, putting out facts about nano-tech. (thanks to my RF-lab in my coll.) Was talking about the fabrication and stuff and he seemed to be very impressed with it.

This is where he asked my name again and what I was doing. He said I better contact IISc for this. He said he would gladly write the reference letter for me. I was on top of the world.

The 10 min appointment went on and I realised that I was there inside for about 45mn. We took a snap with him. Still waiting for the snap. Will post it once I get the pic. We asked him if we could roam around the RB and he gladly approved.

We went around the RB, seeing lots of things. Right from the Durbar hall (place where the PM is installed and other stuff), Ashoka hall (place where they give out the gallantry awards), the museums showing the gifts which delegated from other country have given to the president, the Mughal gardens, etc. Man, it was so daam good.

As always, good things always come to an end really soon. Even this came to an end really fast (we were there for about 3 hrs.).
We later went to the India gate and sorojini market for some shopping. Had fun. Had my dinner in Mc Donald’s and back to the guesthouse. Had to leave for chandhighar the next day.