Vadodara

In ‘Indian Match making; Viral visits her would -be’s parents in Vadodara. Suddenly that brought in memories of the city. She is seen travelling with Seema aunty in a car. But I travelled with my daughter for her admission in MS Univ. in an overnight sleeper bus. The roads are good.

The ride isn’t. We do sleep but not rested & as we arrive at Kala Ghoda we have to get down. A friend had come to pick us up. Thank God. The rickshaw ride was brief. Studying in MS UNiv himself, he was staying close to the campus. In the wee hours of the morning, we arrived at his place with sleep in our eyes.

A hour or two of shut eye, had breakfast & quick tidying up. We were supposed to visit Sathe but arriving at the campus was our priority. The huge campus, age old building is grand. Having heard about it but witnessing it is an experience in itself.

Welcoming senior students ushered us to the hall. From where we were guided to the subject counters. Teachers manned it & took over the new students. Reaching the final counter brought us to realise that the voucher was not generated, no electricity, Computer dept couldn’t help. Form couldn’t be accepted.

Sathes rang up. I said we were stuck. As soon as the formalities are done we will come over. It took time but done. Then we came up with another glitch. In the admission form it was LC/ TC. We had LC but no TC. They needed it because of State change. They could wait for 15 days but we were in a hurry.

We decided to go back. Only in Nasik could we get the document from board office. The papers were returned back to us. Lunch at Sathes. Tea with snacks at a joint & we were back on our journey back.

The next trip brought us back to the office. The clerk was surprised that we had travelled back. ‘You could have faxed it’ But getting the document to the right person, fulfilling the formalities was a must. Then getting the hostel admission form.

My friend from college accompanied us. We travelled by rickshaw & generally had a long talk . She is an excellent cook. From dal bati to anything that you wish she makes it at home. After her marriage she is in Vadodara for more than 25 years. Well versed in Gujarati she even reads the newspaper now.

Later visiting Laxmi Vilas palace or the city sites at leisure after two years, was revisiting my childhood memories. Our school trip had included Baroda enroute Delhi. The garden is a delight & the kamathi bazar, a trip down memory lane.

Again visiting the city, staying in Ginger close to the University campus, visiting the museum brought in sheer admiration. How well organised it is! Not really knowing the history of the city it makes any visitor to fall for the grandeur.

From my childhood to the present whenever I have visited the city it has never failed to amaze me.