The Reunion

It’s November 30th, 2019 at Kolkatta. I was excited to give my final round of interviews in ITC. I am a bit nervous, as it is my first time getting on a flight and exploring a city with which I am not familiar enough. I am travelling alone, and there were two other people who got shortlisted for this final round but were travelling on a different flight. I reached the city early in the morning and went straight to the hotel to get myself dressed up. I was fascinated to see the trams, beautiful clock towers, mini local buses, hand-pulled rickshaws, and many more… This city has a distinct vibe that will remind you of age-old stories from the past.

All three of us appeared for the interview, but unfortunately, we didn’t clear the final round. We left the place and came back to the hotel. We were all a little upset about not cracking the interview, as all three of us were freshers at that point in time, and if selected, we would have gotten paid a decent amount. After having our lunch, we all decided to roam around the place to make the most of the trip. So, we visited Howrah Bridge and Prinsep Ghat. It was a well-spent evening as we walked alongside the Hooghly River and explored the local food over there. We were back in our rooms after dinner and left the place early the next day.

During my teenage years, whenever I saw a plane flying, I dreamed of the day when someone would sponsor my flight, knowing my worth. On my way back to the airport, I had a smile on my face as my dream had been fulfilled, but at the same time, I was a little upset as I couldn’t clear my final round of interviews. I am back to Bangalore with good memories, but at the same time, it felt like I had an unfinished job to do in Kolkatta, and I am not sure whether I will visit again.

On February 13, 2023, I traveled back to Kolkatta to appear for my US VISA interview. Memories from the past hit me. I am not sure what Kolkatta is going to offer me this time, and I am just hoping for the best. We visited Kalighat, Dakshineswar temple, and walked along the Prinsep Ghat and Howrah Bridge, rewinding memories from the past. The judgment day is here, and I cleared my VISA interview. I checked one more box on my checklist by traveling outside India.

The entire thing felt like a reunion. As I walked through the lanes of the US Consulate office, I realized that the ITC office is just around the corner, and the hotel I stayed back in 2019 is in the same lane. After clearing my interview, it feels like the unfinished job is now done and the trip is finally complete. I never imagined that a place where I once felt left out would lay the foundation for new beginnings in my life. I returned to the hotel, recalling the memories from the past as I walked along those lanes again.

Initially, when people mention that life is unpredictable and full of surprises, I am not very inclined to the same, but when instances like this happen, it’s hard to deny the facts. We were back on our return flight. The flight started, and I got to see the beautiful view of Kolkatta from the top. Then my inner voice popped in, saying, “Now you get why it’s called the “City of Joy”.” Looking at the view from my mirror, I replied “gotcha”.