Once Upon a University Campus

Iron Lady

Annika was ecstatic to learn that the paper has been accepted. But at the same time she was puzzled that Prof Phatak had decided to send her, instead of going himself. Only later did she learn that the conference was clashing with his daughter's engagement and he had chosen his daughter's engagement over the conference. It was a curious case of serendipity and Annika had to make the most of it. This conference was bringing many a firsts in her life. It was her first international conference, her first time out of the country, her first time flying ever. Two weeks was all she had to prepare for the conference. She had rehearsed enough of the presentation to be thorough with it. But putting together the paperwork for visa turned out to be a headache, running from administrative block to her center to the visa processing place. In this running around she could not focus on packing and it was only in the last minute did she realize that the the conference started with a reception. 'What to pack and what to wear' at the conference became a challenge.

Annika and Sumo went through her wardrobe to pick out suitable pieces. She had that new formal outfit she had worn for the presentation with senior Mr Oberoi. That outfit they decided would be appropriate for the day she did be presenting. She still needed a formal outfit for the reception on the first day and a pair of casuals for the round table on the last day. Casuals she had a few options. But formals for the reception, she had none. After much consideration, Sumo offered her light blue cotton saree. Annika could easily pair it with her white blouse. The last day she would have most of the day since the conference would wrap up midday but her flight back was early the following morning. So she would have to pack an extra pair as well. The packing, procuring foreign exchange, prepping conference slides all in a matter of few days was overwhelming. She had to meet Saahil before leaving too. Saahil was on the top of the world that his sister was going to Paris for a conference. He asked her bring him a box of chocolates from Paris.

The day of departure, a fully recovered Om and Sumo saw her off at the airport. A nervous Annika clutching her passport, her laptop bag and all her things had unsurely stepped into the yet unfamiliar world of airplanes and airports.

It was past noon local time that she landed at Charles de Gaulle. She followed the instructions provided to her, took the train out of airport and checked into the hotel where her accomodation was arranged by the conference organizers. An unexpected flight delay had left her with just enough time to freshen up before the conference kicked off that evening with a reception.

She quickly draped the sari as planned, securing it with numerous safety pins. She missed having Sumo to help her with the Sari and generally around her. Just that she was so used to Sumo around her these days. It was only after she stepped out that evening that she realized how cold Paris was during early spring and found herself underprepared. Thankfully, the conference venue was at a walkable distance from her hotel and she reached the venue in no time.

Unfortunately for her, the conference was full of people in western formals. She was the only one in a Sari and she knew no one there. Feeling out of place, she settled down on the farthest table. Soon people trickled in and the place filled up. There were some speeches, a few in French and a few in English. She was already feeling sleepy thanks to the jet lag and the speeches in French was not helping her either.

Most of the tables in the front was occupied by well known professors, they seemed to know each other and were generally having a nice time. She was joined at the table by other students like herself, awkward and awestruck by the rock star professors at a distance who could make or break their career. Most of the students were from the university hosting the conference and were French. One of the them, a bespectacled girl seemed to speak a smattering of English. But the rest were all French. After a brief introduction one another girl complimented Annika on her sari in French which the English speaking girl translated for Annika. 'Ah the drama of sari begins here as well?' Annika received the compliment uncomfortably.