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We left Bhubaneshwar around 7:30 AM. It takes time for us to get ready – in a way it is good, because I get time to do Shambhavi – it keeps me alert throughout the day.
I was excited crossing Mahanadhi – during my college days, once the train has left Bhubaneshwar I will take the suitcase and go stand at the train door. Cuttack was some 30 minutes from Bhubaneshwar.
It was an anti climax. I could only see little bit of water – cars do not give great view for the river. Trains are the best. I got reminded of the last meeting with my father – on the train platform. Reminded of the last journey with him – I was entering my 3rd year. He was doing his Dad duty – do not stop after graduating. Get an MBA degree – he said. I was quietly nodding. Doing my duty as my son. Was reminiscing it with San.
We crossed Cuttack and got into a boring stretch. It was almost touching 39 degrees, and there were lot of diversions. We will be driving on the wrong side of the road at times.
Then we crossed into West Bengal. Just a small board which said welcome to West Bengal. There were lot of green paddy fields and we stopped at one of them, drank it all in and had the food we packed from the hotel – Aaloo Paratha and Veg Sandwich. It was really good.
We left NH16 and got into single roads. Lot of oncoming traffic but roads were quite good. Went through couple of foresty areas and villages. Reached Durgapur around 6ish, and decided to drive further and stay at Asansol – apparently the 2nd largest city in West Bengal.
Checked into Asansol International. San and I stepped out to get Mishti – Kheer Kodombo is my all time favourite, and an Egg roll for myself, Chicken Noodles for Puttu and Mutton Biryani for San. And Mountain Dew – Prithvi was on top of the world.
We switched off the light and were trying to sleep, and suddenly a light flashed near the Bathroom. Prithvi gave a shriek. I went to examine and it was all dark. I thought perhaps the bathroom switch had a loose connection.
Then when I was turning back saw the light turn on – it was from the closet. Apparently coco was running around and had triggered the light. I closed the closet room and we all had a laugh.
Next : Day 4 Asansol to Siliguri
