Wednesday was much different from normal mid-weeks. It felt like Friday… No, It felt better than Friday. And I left the office before 1800 
Everybody is either leaving for somewhere or expecting someone to come. All you can hear is planning the thanksgiving and weekend. Even in our desi team, Nitin is already gone and Muks leaving in morning. While leaving the office, had a small conversation with Christina and as expected, she’s also leaving. She asked me about my plans and then I realized that I still have no plans finalized… Wow, what a preparation for 4 days:)
Its Wednesday evening and me still thinking to finalizing something. Then time shifted my focus when I realized that I have to make something for dinner. Hmmmm, back to cooking and its time for “more” experiments. Lets try cooking the rice traditional way… but hey, no onions at home… OK, lets try without onions. Took almost an hour, but it was fine. After eating the dinner, browsing the Internet, I saw something of my interest. I didn’t know that Thanksgiving comes with a season of sales and bargains…. And some of them are tooo good. I also decided to spend some of my hard-earned cash What I purchased??? Will blog about that later, after I get the item.
Its around midnight. Thursday is coming and I have no plans and still can’t sleep. Again, lets try something more with cooking. Go downstairs, cross the street, get to Giant and bring onion and potatoes. That’s what I did. Cuz If I have these two things, I can try a lot It was almost morning when I was making “chakli aaloo”. And it was also very tasty.
Talked to my wife in morning, then made aaloo andey and finally managed to sleep around 0900. And then I was sleeping till evening:)
Its Thursday evening and I suddenly say, WTF, I have to get out. I can’t stay like this for 4 days. Called Akif and Kamran. Finalized the plan and I am all set for coming day.
Friday, after Friday prayer, went to silver spoon (my closest and favorite eating place), had a delicious aaloo paratha and packed one for coming time. Had 57 to Shady Grove, RedLine to Washington DC, Chinese Bus to NY, NJT to Edison NJ and finally a taxi to guest house. At 2130, I was at the guest house.
After a tiresome journey, Night was calm and fun. Had some discussions with Akif and Abdul. Some chit chat with other mates too. It looks like almost every body has an idea about my current status. There were no clear discussions though.
Saturday morning was a pleasant one. I walked for more than an hour on streets around guest house only because it felt so good. Some how, That place feels like home. After all, I’ve spent two very good weeks there and found the best of people at that place.
As per plan, Kamran was there finally and me, him, Akif and Abdul went for lunch. It was a party from my side for my current status. It was also the first transaction on my credit card in US
Me and Akif had to leave for Maryland. Akif actually decided to accompany me till Baltimore on same bus as he also had to visit relatives. We had to rush towards Jersey to be on PATH for 33rd street.
Before getting on PATH, in Jersey City, We offered our Asar prayer. There was a Masjid and we rushed to join the prayer. I don’t know the reason but this prayer felt real good. I felt very calm and satisfied after the prayer.
Getting on PATH, getting out at 33rd street and then walk (or I should say run?) towards Penn Station was all a rush. It was really hard to catch that chinese bus but we did it. Finally we left on the bus from famous Fashin Street of New York for Maryland.
Saturday Night was not a very good start on the roads. NJ TurnPike and 95 were all jam packed. Initially we expected that after Delaware, it may lighten up a little but It remained the same till Baltimore when we reached there around 2200. After that, roads were not that much crowded.
Every time I travel with these chinese buses, especially on way back to Maryland, something “not good” is to happen. This time, After all the traffic, when we finally reached DC, Driver lost his way to get out of DC. For some time, He was going in circles. Once he figured out, how to actually set for Rockville, there was one more thing. Another chinese guy was kind enough to tell that he has missed his DC stop. And then, driver was kind enough to go back to DC to drop him. A couple also dropped there out of frustration caused by this whole scenario. And when we reached Rockville, it was almost 0000.
Sunday, I slept all day and then could not sleep at night. I knew that its a call on early morning but still could not sleep till 0400.
Monday morning: Just finished the call and this long story of long weekend is also complete. Posting it right away.
Tags: Chinese Busses, cooking, Maryland, new Jersey, New York, Thanksgiving, US
