I completed my first post-doc term at IGC, Penn State in the summer. So it was time again for me to move. I really enjoyed Penn State and learned a lot about not just doing science but also different aspects of life in general. Meanwhile, I had accepted an offer to join the Gravity group at Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Brunswick for my second post-doc term. Consequently, me and Nadira had to move from USA to Canada.
In between however, we visited India for a month and half. We were away from home for more than an year. It was the longest ‘away from home’ period for both of us. So we were looking forward to this visit very eagerly.
We had tickets on Lufthansa airlines to Kolkata via Philadelphia and Frankfurt. Our flights were mostly uneventful until we boarded our final flight to Kolkata. Due to a ground staff strike at Frankfurt (yeah, it happened there too 
) we were asked to go on ‘fast unto destination’ (sort of) as there were not enough food on-board. Nevertheless, we were lucky in a sense that our flight at least took off from Frankfurt instead of getting cancelled. Our joy ride continued even at Kolkata. We were the last passengers of the Lufthansa flight to leave the terminal. We waited till the end to confirm, yes, for the first time, my baggage didn’t arrive with me. Of course there are more to this story but here I decided not to stray.
For first few days I stayed in my in-laws house at Haldia before I left for Chennai. The reason was to deliver my PhD viva voce at IMSc. I was about to join for my second post-doc term, but ironically my PhD formality wasn’t complete. After the formal viva and along with a ’sweet-party’ at IMSc, my name officially got two more letter in it. I also gave a technical talk on the quantum gravity stuffs that I have been working on in the recent past.
After another three consecutive but brief professional visits and talks at CTP Jamia, Delhi, SN Bose Center, Kolkata and Saha Institute, Kolkata , finally I was on-board Kanchanjangha express for Malda. Nadira also joined me back at Kolkata. After seven hours of train journey, we got-off at New Farakka junction where my sister and her son were waiting to receive us.
During our stay there, I was on the move for most of the time. There were so many places to visit but so little time I had! All of a sudden, I realized: the time is up. For some unknown reasons, every time I have to leave home, I go through a fight with my inner self. It’s strange kind of emotional dilemma. It has been going on for last sixteen years, ever since I left home to stay in school hostel. Finally, the dreaded moment arrived. The train started to move and I couldn’t pull up my head. Emotions were running high all around and it appeared difficult for me to even glance on the faces of near ones. I felt like crying myself but couldn’t. It reminded me the question again: why does one leave home?
By now, we are slowly settling down in the capital city of New Brunswick province, Fredericton and I am gradually getting back to my full working schedule. Nevertheless, those moments of emotional turbulence often linger in my mind. What lies ahead? Only time will tell.
