On Our 34th Marriage Anniversary

It all started yesterday when  Sona  and Rakesh announced to celebrate our marriage day at Phoenix. We were kept awake till midnight when both as well as Mona accosted on arrival of the day. From the morning hours everyone wishing us. Abhinav and Mona too had joined for this occasion. In the evening a delicious cake and a nice flower pot were brought. We all made this evening quite special with a number of photoshoots etc. We then went to worship at Ekta Mandir. There we joined Aarti etc and after it ended returned home. Again Rakesh as per their plan went to a local hotel to fetch the desirable menu of eatables for our dinner.
This day will be remembered also because they showed a tremendous degree of enthusiasm to commemorate what we never would do without them in Purnea home. Mona and Abhinav have similar feelings as she had already declared to celebrate  our 40th anniversary whereas her sister's turn would be to do the same on 50th anniversary. Indeed this is they who instill vigour and confidence into our life.

Lake Pleasant of Phoenix

Yesterday afternoon, we were discussing to visit another tourist place in Phoenix and  they all took the name, Lake Phoenix. Thus it was decided that we must see this important picnic spot where a whole day would not be enough.
Since Sunday morning hours our afternoon programme was being contemplated. At 3.20 our Altima 250 Nissan was running towards the destination. In the way we saw several ups and downs of hilly terrain after which we were at the highest point of 'Discovery Centre' which by chance had just closed as this was just 4 p.m. We had however at our disposal a wonderful view of the entire blue water lake having small looking boats here and there. There were other visitors like us who were not aware of the time of its closure. Some children were drawing on paper sheets and others like us were taking photo snaps. We then moved downwards towards the lake water and finally walked upto the water edge attached to which were jetties mostly above the water level. Several water-born boats and a scooter driven  by men, women and children were roaming in and around. Nearby cars with attachment wheelers were ready to pick up these boats sailing across the lake to be taken back by their owners. We had snaps at this place also.
We returned from there an hour later. At home, Sona posted my facebook with a latest photograph snapped near the lake Pleasant. This was appreciated by friends in India almost instantly. 

Magic of Sound and Vision in 1074, My Present Abode

Once I return to 1074, from outside specially after a morning walk, the Hindi songs of the old golden era charms and heals both ,the  mind and the heart. The electronic tools like He Google takes command for whatever you wish to hear and the large size tv screen displays flawlessly at your command- be it a news material, a serial from Sony tv channel or an old film on u-tube. This is all so magical for a person like me. Well, I had similar influences whenever I visited  my 2nd daughter's abode  in  Mumbai. The distances between these two cities like Phoenix and Mumbai often shrink with the help of scientific facilities and send me in the same transe and tranquility which I so much enjoy.

Baby Pratyush in The Family

According to the U.S. hospital certificate, the new-born baby's name is Pratyush Singh Thakur, his DOB 22-01-2018 and 3.05. p.m. as the exact time of birth. The baby occupies a special place in the hospital new-born babies records and soon to become a U.S. citizen.
No sooner the baby reached his Phoenix home, a warm welcome was felicitated to him and his parents, sister Pihu and last not least his maternal grand parents as well. His father and sister had arranged so painstakingly to make this day i.e. 27.1.18. so grand which made all of us feel proud. His paternal grand parents had been overjoyed ever since this great moment had arisen on 22nd when Goddess Saraswati had been worshipped all over the world. Sweets specially brought for this great occasion were also distributed among the family friends in Phoenix.

The Good News From Phoenix

On 21st January,2018 we were visited by our friends, students and relatives. Besides we had to attend many phone calls from relatives living in Bihar and outside. This was mainly as the news of our US trip was well spread among them. At around 3 p m I received a call from Rakesh who was speaking from the Phoenix hospital in very late night hours. Then suddenly we knew that Sona was hospitalized- expecting delivery any time. We had a mixed reaction of anxiety for them and the like. Our journey was a bit ahead whereas the arrival of the baby a bit earlier, but the thought lied on a single fact that how difficult it might be to care for Pihu, the first child whose both the parents would become engaged otherwise. Somehow Pihu had to be in the care of a family-friend.
Next day and night passed without any news except that  in U S , normal delivery was attempted for a maximal duration. Any way at around 3 am, we had a call  from Rakesh with a real good news telling that Pihu had gotton a little brother. We had a real joyous moment of life. By next early morning hours almost all the near and dear ones were acquainted with the news
Mona gave a name of the baby, Yuvi for Yuvraj. Later Sona talked to us from hospital. The baby was kept in a child special care unit for the following days. Since Pihu had caught cold, she had not to meet them in the hospital. In fact both mother and the baby had to spend much time in hospital but they spent  their time joyfully as a photography session had been arranged as a usual affair in such a case in U. S. Later they got an album full of memorable photoes with matching notes as well.
Both of them had arrived at home on 27th afternoon hours, just a few hours earlier than ours over there. A strange coincidence that we were welcomed in the USA not by three but an exact four members of this family of ours.

How My Foreign Trip Appeared Pre-empted

In 2016, we were thinking to try for getting passport papers and had a talk with Jaiprakashji, the then pro-vice chancellor of our university, who instantly agreed specially because he too had a wish for himself to get it. Thus we both had applied in the university for NOC sometimes in September,2016. Again, a long delay was caused on account of faults in the spelling of 'Chaudhuri' as well as my designation. This delay was partly due to my own apathetic attitude since I never felt any such urgency to hasten the work of getting an passport. I felt that it might be a distant possibility to really go abroad. Besides since Jaiprakashji had been in office of the pro-vc as such I had taken it for granted. As time passed the same work slowly advanced and around six months later , I got my paper from the university. My wife's NOC was not required thus no sooner my NOC was in hand I approached for our passport through a local agency which instantly eased for a final application at Purnea PassPort Office in the local Head Post Office. In June,2018 we had our PPs from the Govt. It was perhaps in the month of July,18 when we had the good news from Sona and Rakesh who were quite eager so that we would get the Visa in due time so as to book flight tickets for Phoenix. By September, they sent as many papers as required under the USvisa rules for clearance from US Consulate at Kolkata. An interview for our visa was fixed on October 30 and 31. Meanwhile I talked to my college principal for further permission at which he suggested to apply for permission to go abroad in the university. I followed the suit. During our Kolkata trip in October end, we got a sad news about Jayant Bhai's death while travelling  in the train. Anyway we completed that trip and were assured there to get our visa papers sometimes ahead at Patna. In between we had visited home and then met Jassu Bhai and others at Durgaganj. By the time we might join his last days rituals of Ekadasa etc in Durgaganj another urgent call came for us to immediately rush for Patna to collect our visa papers which would be sent back if delayed anymore. Thus we made a quick Patna journey and finished the collection work in November,17. Soon we also got our flight tickets. The rest of the works remained mainly to get things finally arranged for our foreign trip ahead from January 25,18.
My NOBA friend, Pannag Bhushan, meanwhile was in contact and when I wished to know if I had any chance to get a medical facility like one in India, he gave me the no. of Arun Singh, a working physician in USA, who might be consulted. I then phoned Arun in this regard who responded so well that I made up my mind to take medical leave for this foreign trip.My college principal gave me a firm support to go on the same so as to avoid earn leave for such a long durational leave.
My mother is used to phone and talk many times a day. She was unnerved with this programme but only for Sona she kept mum and slowly normalized to make me travel this far and for this long period of time. Mona and Abhinav leaving behind, I did not feel a charm ahead of the journey though both of them wished me for the same   till we met last at Bombay airport just for some time face to face, while rest of the while behind a glass divider-talking on phone. Thus was this trip - substantiated.