October: Of lights, camera, action
My first open quiz at the national capital, my first foreign trip, a crazy month.
You might think this is about the making of that Shoojit Sircar film. I wish it were. I loved how gentle and thoughtful the film was, almost like the month itself. October brings with it the first hint of chill, the scent of shorter days, and an unspecified sense of waiting. As the month comes to an end, even though I am neck-deep in deadline debt, I can’t help but reflect on how vastly different it began for me. Smiling, I nod as I write, replaying the entire experience in my mind.
Allow me to bring you into the chaos with a bit of context. Back in August, I received an invitation to host an open-to-all India Quiz at Rendezvous, the flagship fest of IIT Delhi. Until then, I’d only visited our national capital as a tourist. I had hosted some school quizzes in and around the NCR, but those were during the pandemic, all confined to my laptop screen. Needless to say, this was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Once the logistics were settled, I sat down to plan the trip. Then it struck me—what if I didn’t return right after the event? October is Durga Puja season in Kolkata, and—with apologies to any fellow Bengalis reading this—growing up along the Grand Trunk Road has made me somewhat of a cynic toward the Pujo hustle-bustle. In simpler terms, I needed an escape plan. That’s how I ended up on a two-week solo trip to Vietnam.
So here’s what my October looked like:
October 3rd: Train from Kolkata.
October 4th: Arrive in Delhi and do some sightseeing.
October 5th–6th: Rendezvous at IIT Delhi.
October 6th night: Flight to Hanoi.
October 23rd: Return flight from Ho Chi Minh City.
In typical, overly cautious Indian tourist style, I had all this planned by August. My visa and both flights were ready, giving me plenty of time to meticulously organize the Vietnam trip. But with events, workshops, and other deadlines, September flew by, and before I knew it, October was already here.
October 3rd: It’s time for action. I had a day-long workshop to host. I took an e-rickshaw to the stand to catch my shuttle, only to realize I’d forgotten an important belonging—wait-for-it, my laptop. I rushed back home, grabbed it, and barely made it to the shuttle in time. So much for a smooth start to that day when you are leaving home for 20 days! I finished at the school around 2:45 p.m., with my train scheduled for 4:50. Then, it started to pour, and all the cabs vanished into thin air. After a 45-minute wait, I finally got a cab, reaching Howrah Station at exactly 4:49 p.m. If I ever lack an adrenaline rush, I hope this write-up stays with me, even if my memory, like a sly conspirator, starts to betray.
Delhi was wonderfully fulfilling. IIT was kind. Given the city's general reputation, I did not find any MC/BCs hurled at me during and after the quiz, so I guess I passed. Thanks to my partners, we even won a CHASE quiz at IITD, as well as a very enjoyable para quiz at CR Park on the 6th evening, right before I headed to the airport.
Vietnam was unbelievable. The people were embarrassingly helpful, the food was incredible, the views even better. I mostly stayed in hostels and came across people from US, Canada to UK, Spain to Israel to even Australia/NZ. I finished reading most of Madeline Miller’s Circe on my trip to Halong Bay and finished the rest on those mornings that began with a gentle drizzle. I traveled from North to South, loved the North more, and, given a chance, would go back in a heartbeat.
It has been a wild month. And to think I almost missed the Rajdhani Express on the 3rd. Happy Diwali!
