What follows is my journey of four months; my transition from college life to corporate life.

It all started one fine June morning. I was destined to go to Vadodara for my formal induction into the organization that we all know as Larsen & Toubro.

What struck me first was that it was a predominantly Gujarati speaking state and vegetarian too. I finally landed up in Mega Gujarat from Mini Gujarat (my college – K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering; again a Gujarati Trust run college in Mumbai).

This place was just the first of many to come. And the experiences packaged with it too. I witnessed Garba in United  Way, one of the largest Garba grounds in Asia, hogged on the Gujarati Thali in a roadside restaurant, street side Gujju Chinese food  and the world famous Dhokla. And our outing to Barbeque Nation on two consecutive weekends busted the myth about Vadodara being a veg city.

Two months and 8 movies later we landed in Hazira, a manufacturing mammoth a jump away from Surat. Another week of taste bud-tingling variety included a non-veg buffet, a delicacy called Locha (pretty much does justice to its literal Hindi slang meaning), street side sandwiches, Kulfi, and the best milkshake I ever had.

But the highlight of the trip was a day we spent in the hospital over a friend’s broken toe bone. That was just Day 2 in Hazira by the way. We were surprised that we were not only let off easily by our faculty, but also commended for handling an accident well.

Only God knows why they call playing football an accident. A double decker AC Train brought us back to Vadodara. And before we knew it, we were all set to go to Punjab. It took us an overnight train journey in the Garib Rath, named on how extremely uncomfortable it was!

I slept like a baby through the night.  It is funny how you forget the purpose for your visit and make the most of the time roaming the state. Day 1 – Rajpura, Day 2 – Chandigarh, Day 3 – Patiala, Day 4 – Rajpura and Day 5 – Chandigarh once again. After five days and a shopping mall, The Rock Garden, a lake, sector 17, a Punjabi Dhaba, a Gurudwara, an epic non-veg restaurant and veg chaaps (that certainly weren’t veg), we were off to Faridabad, a city neighboring Delhi.

Behind the façade of having gone there for a 10-day training program, I visited Connaught Place, Palika Bazaar, Sarojini Bazaar, Kalkaji Temple, Lotus Temple, The Akshardham, India Gate, The Jantar Mantar, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, The Red Fort, Kutub Minar, and CyberHub – Gurgaon over just two weekends.

Travel partner – The Delhi Metro Corporation. And amidst this there was always time for sumptuous meals at the famous Kake da Dhaba, Nizam’s Kathi Roll and other places likewise. It was during my time in Faridabad that I realized the intensity of the phrase ‘Dilli ki Sardi’. There came a time I prayed to run away from the city. And lo and behold, I was on a flight to Chennai! It’s my fourth day and counting while I write about this adventure.

The climate has been a relief, and I know I’d have to take back my words as and when the scorching June will come along. Four days and I’ve already tried Idli, Sambhar, Pongal, Wada, Rasam (alien words?), Parotha, Salna, Biryani and stuff that I can’t pronounce correctly, let alone spell. And most of it I managed to get on my own, communicating with funny hand signal and strings of English words in a Tamil speaking city. And it is here that I came across true Dosa!

Any other destinations in your mind for me! Do drop them by! I’ve been pretty stagnant lately!!

By: Aamir Meyaji, Mechanical Engineer (L&T)