Almost everyone reached on time. That was the first battle won given that folks in the US strictly follow IST (Indian Stretchable Time) and are quite adept at throwing traffic jams as the lame excuse for arriving late. Special kudos to Ajit who started his journey at 7AM from Boston and reached in time for the event along with his wife and two kids. In addition, cherubic faces of Sanjitpti and Srikant added excitement to the meet.

Susant Mallick, being the organizer of the event, was constantly on the cell phone making sure no one was lost in the traffic.

Once everyone reached the venue, it started with pleasantries being exchanged across the table. There were no formal introductions this time as everyone managed to talk to each other. Meanwhile, the aroma of the food was making everyone hungry.

Folks were crowded in the stall where golgappas and papdi chat was being served. It brought nostalgic memories to many, specifically to folks who used to gulp the golgappas near Ganganagar Chhaka.

During lunch, all of us shared our good times at CetB. Once finished, everybody got back to their seats trying to hide their bulging bellies. For some it was a sign of prosperity while for others (including yours truly), it was time to cover up.

The welcome kit with details of the alumni organization and plans for the upcoming year was then distributed. Then began the discussion on issues pertaining to our alma mater. Many suggestions were tabled on ways to help the institute and its current students to achieve their goals. Many members pledged to become paid-members of the alumni association. Thanks to Debi Rath for becoming a lifetime member of the association.

Time flew fast and before anyone could know, it was already 3:30 PM with the restaurant about to close. After leaving the restaurant, we had a brief photo session to capture the moment. As every good thing must come to an end, we had the official closure of the alumni meet. Everyone dispersed to their respective homes with the thought of having spent a good time with their fellow CETians and with the determination to make a difference.

On behalf of all the attendees, I would like to extend my thanks to Susant Mallick and Debasish Pradhan who pulled up a good show despite all the odds. Long live CetB tempo!

Synergy to Conquer!