The final hurdle...

Now that I had the admit, there was only one thing that stood between me and my dream... the visa. It's a well known saying that when you are destined for something then all the forces conspire to make that come true. And that's what happened in my case too...

Without much ado, I shall now launch into an account of how things proceeded during my visa interview...

Since my parents were acompanying me, I had taken the VFS lounge service. Morning went to that place at around 8.20 am for the scheduled interview at 9.30 am. Waited n waited n waited.. Finally at around 9.40 am the bus came to transport us to the consulate. Apparently the embassy was running behind schedule. Eventually we were allowed in at 10.30 am, after waiting in the light drizzle for sumtime.

After the usual stuff (read security check n collecting the DS forms et al), I stood in the queue for the finger printing part. One chap hurriedly came n told all of us... "keep your hdfc receipt etc in.. u don't need that now." Now clumsy as I am... I struggled to open the piano folder with 1 hand and just when i felt good about having achieved the superhuman feat... SRRRR.........CRASH!... Okay.. for those uninitiated that is the sound of my docs landing on the floor and finally the complete folder. I hurriedly bent down to pick everything up... in the process the sequence of docs to be placed inside the passport was messed up. Anyways, I finally entered the booth in front of counter number 3 to be greeted by an American lady and an Indian dude who was assisting her. That chap got a little irritated to see that the olive green (or yellow as they actually call it) envelope was below the passport and not inside it... (grrr!) and said "Had it not been for the long queue, i wud've sent u back"... I flashed a sheepish grin and mumbled "Actually my docs had fallen down"

Anyways, so I placed my left hand index finger on the scanner and after a few rounds of "Press a leeetle more" from the american lady, she concludes that my finger is too dry. The chap rapidly wiped my finger with wet tissue, dried it on a piece of brown paper and attempted it again.. this time no problemo. Next right hand index finger... no problems here too. Soon I settled down in the waiting area.

Within 5 minutes or so the fella at counter 7 hollers my token number. I went and stood in the queue... the 3rd person there. I craned my head and saw an American gentleman sitting out there. So I looked at my watch and practised to myself "Good morning Sir"... Anyways, the 1st chap is done within a few seconds and exited with a huge smile on his face. Then the 2nd met the same fate and now it was my turn and here's how it went (while the chap was furiously typing away at his terminal).

VO: Token please
Me: (i hand it over and then realise i haven't greeted him)
Me: Good Afternoon... (fumble as i look at my watch)...ooops I mean Good Morning Sir
VO: (smiles) Good Morning (i look around feeling like a complete idiot)
VO: (mumbles sumthing)
Me: I beg your pardon
VO: Which university?
Me: Carnegie Mellon University
VO: Why this university?
Me: Primarily because of my area of specialisation....
VO: What specialisation? (doesn't let me complete)
Me: Information security Sir. There are v few univs that offer that course and carnegie mellon is the best
VO: (looks ok with the answer) So, where else have you applied?
Me: (I launch into the list and barely get 3-4 names out and I get the next question)
VO: So where have you been working?
Me: IBM India Software Labs
VO: (Now he looks interested and happy) Where?
Me: Pune
VO: What are you doing there?
Me: I am working as a software engineer (pause... then realising that the VO wants more details I continue)... I have been working on a security product Tivoli Access Manager for Business Integration
VO: Ok.. so who's financing you?
Me: My father and my grandparents
VO: What does your father do?
Me: He's (post) in (company)
VO: (now the VO seems impressed) Where?
Me & VO in unison: Pune
VO: Have you been to US before?
Me: No
VO: (mumbles sumthing abt passport delivery that i didn't hear and then says the magic words) Enjoy your trip!

I trooped outta the room with a huge smile on my face and left the consulate... Wondering how simple it was in hindsight and how I wasted time preparing that folder that I didn't even open....

Wasted my time the entire afternoon and finally at around 4.30 went back to the VFS to collect my passport. Got it finally at 5.30 pm....

So with this I crossed the final hurdle and I came home at 12 am and the first thing I did was change my status message on different messengers to "CMU Here I come... nothing can stop me now"

So CMU Here I come!!!