Stepping Out Of Home

"Come Simi, we have a train at sharp 10.30 pm. Don't be late". For the first time, Simi was stepping out of her home, for a job opportunity in another city. Her father was escorting her and her mother helped her to pack her belongings. Her father wanted to ensure that Simi is taking all needful documents and other belongings with her. She was from Bhubaneswar and was posted for a training in Kolkata for an MNC. Bhubaneswar is a very well planned city and is called as the temple city of Odisha. Both Simi and her parents were excited and nervous as she was stepping out of her home for the first time. 

Both father and daughter started from home. They reached the station on time and waited for their train. After waiting for a few minutes, the father said, "here comes our puri-howrah express". People ran towards the bogies in a hurried manner. "It is going to depart at right time, it seems. We are on time." The father was in more hurry than that of the daughter. They got into the train and reached their allotted berths. Simi asked, "Papa, how long it will take us to reach Howrah?" "Normally it is of eight hours journey, if the train is at right time", replied father. The coach was an AC one. "Take your blanket and bedsheets. Sleep peacefully without thinking much otherwise you will get tired for tomorrow. We have to look out for a PG (Paying Guest accommodation) as well", father told to Simi. Both of them slept well and woke up in the morning at Howrah station.

They got down from the train with their luggages. The morning view of the station was very interesting. It was the month of February. The weather was very pleasant and cool. Though it was early morning, but the station was very busy like a normal day hour. It was crowded with vendors, coolies and passengers. Simi was very surprised to see such a big station for the first time. It was consisting of twenty-nine platforms. Both of them took a prepaid taxi and left from there. Father told to the driver, "Sir, please take to the place Karunamoyee, of saltlake city. The Saltlake city was the less crowded area in Kolkata and more spacious in comparison to the other places. Simi asked curiously, "where are we going to stay papa?". "There is a government guest house from our department, we are going there. It's a nice place, you will like it. I have already talked to the officials for our pleasant stay." Simi's father was a government employee and was in a respectable position. They reached the guest house and had their breakfast there. The guest house was a good one with all necessary amenities. After taking rest for two hours, Simi and her father came out of the guest house. They started looking out for a good PG, although they had already booked a PG nearby before coming to Kolkata, with the help of some of Simi's college friends. After visiting so many PGs, Simi decided to stay in the same PG which they have booked earlier as it was near to her office. After a hectic day, they came back to the guest house, had their dinner and took rest.

The next day, both woke up afresh. The day was the joining day of Simi. "Have you kept all your documents properly inside the folder? Make sure that nothing is missed out." asked Simi's father. "Yes papa, everything is done", replied Simi. "We will go by an autorickshaw to your office," said Simi's father. Both headed towards her office and reached there on time. Other friends of Simi also arrived at the same time, who had the same joining date as hers. Simi went inside the office, while her father waited near the gate. The documents submission and other formalities were completed by the HR of the MNC and the process took their whole day. There were huge number of candidates, having the same joining dates as that of Simi's. Both Simi and her father were very tired after the hectic day. They returned to their guest house in the evening.

"By god's grace everything completed as scheduled", said the relaxed father. "Yes, that's right. So, when I am going to my PG?" asked Simi. Her father was little bit emotional and replied, "tomorrow your training is going to start and I am also leaving for Bhubaneswar in the evening, so you can go to your PG tomorrow after your office. You just keep in touch with your PG friends and go to the PG along with them. I will move your luggage to the PG". It was the first time Simi was getting separated from her father.

The next day Simi got ready for her office and packed her luggage. Her father escorted her to the office. Both were standing near the office gate. It was totally emotional moment for both of them. "Don't feel shy regarding getting any help from your friends and colleagues. Be confident and socialize with others. Be careful from any fraud", advised the father. Simi noded her head and headed towards the entrance with her friends.

She couldn't able to control her emotions and tears rolled down from her eyes. Neither she looked back to her father nor her father dared to say her goodbye. Both wept silently and moved away from there.