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.
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