They said that a calm comes before a storm.

But they never said that a calm also comes after the storm.

Yeah it makes sense. Considering the fact that good and bad comes in a cyclical manner, we get the proof to the attributed fact.

Why am I alluding to this, you may ask. The answer is simple. Very simple.

Because that is exactly what happened.

Let me make it clear.

March 16, 2018. Our Annual exams for Class 11 ended. Boy, it was a tough ride, with people struggling to score good marks. Like many others, I too was personally glad that it had ended and we could heave a sigh of relief. I had already made plans to visit my grandparents' house and spend some time there, as I usually do. But not this time. This time it was different. And it all started with one simple phone call.

"Soumyadeep, this is Tanushmita Ma'am from the Games Department of your school. As you may know, the school is organizing a camping trip to the Sunderbans from 29/03/18-31/03/18. We would like you to join the group as it will help in your physical skills as well as broaden your learning. Please report to the school for further details."

To say I was elated would be an understatement. I'd always dreamt of visiting the Sunderbans after reading about it. It had always fascinated me, both from a natural and a geographical point of view. I eagerly acquired the details. Turned out that our school was collaborating with an organization called CNest to organize this trip. We would stay in the CNest Resort on Bali Island. We were given a list of things necessary to be brought, like a torch, rope, an airpillow, a plastic sheet etc. Reaching the school at 6 in the morning, we would board the bus which would take us till Gondkhali( yeah I know it sounds weird but the 'n' is silent.) and then to Bali Island via ferry. We were warned that no electricity had reached those areas and we might also not get cell phone coverage. So much for a mood dampener.

It didn't take long to arrange for the things. Since no suitcases were allowed, I had to fit all of them in two backpacks. They were as heavy as hell. I was so excited about the trip that my mother remarked laughing,"Eto agroho porashona te to dekhi na." ( I never see you this excited regarding studies.)

Slowly, the days crept by. My mind was full of unanswered questions. What would the place be like? How many of us would go? How big is the place? Can we see crocodiles? Will we be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Royal Bengal Tiger? 

All of these questions swirled in my head as I dropped off to sleep on the night of 28th March, eagerly waiting for the next day.