The Last Day of Camp

It was the last day of the camp. Everyone was excited and relieved, looking forward to a well‑deserved rest. However, the same was not true for me. I had to board a train that night, which would take me to the beautiful state of Kerala, more precisely, to Palakkad.

I had applied for a workshop on the Sieve Method and its applications, held at the Kerala School of Mathematics. Fortunately, the workshop was scheduled two days after the Math Biz camp, which itself had been both exhausting and enjoyable. This meant I would get at least one day of rest between these two mathematical adventures.

Valedictory Function and Farewells

After finishing our morning task of collecting student feedback, we all gathered for the valedictory function. The final day of such camps is always a blend of emotions and promises. The event concluded with motivational words, urging us to continue learning and to carry our knowledge forward.

The last day always makes us feel like celebrities; students line up for autographs and pictures. Many parents also approached us, inquiring about their child’s performance. With everything wrapped up, we went for our final lunch together. While many of my colleagues planned to leave by 4 p.m., my friend Ravi and I decided to stay back for dinner before beginning our journey.

Secunderabad Station

We took a rickshaw from campus to Secunderabad station. While waiting for it, I chatted briefly with the security guard, and then our ride began. On the way, I received a notification that my ticket had been upgraded to 3rd AC. I was delighted, since it meant I could read in peace.

Station Scenes and Colleagues’ Goodbyes

Secunderabad station, however, was under redevelopment; loose cement, half‑tiled floors, and exposed steel rods made the place look under construction. We sat in the general waiting area since our train was 90 minutes away.

A short while later, police personnel entered and began checking tickets, pushing out those who didn’t have any. Soon after, some colleagues who were traveling to Nagpur called us, and we met up with them. We chatted about camp memories, exchanged our final goodbyes, and then shifted to our platform.

The Water Bottle Incident

While waiting, I realized I didn’t have a water bottle — a necessity for such a long journey. At the water counter, however, the vendor charged more than the prescribed price. Sadly, this isn’t unusual with Indian Railways. Despite my warning that I would complain, the man didn’t relent. We had no choice but to buy at the inflated price.

The train finally arrived 20 minutes late. Ravi’s seat was three coaches away, which was disappointing since it meant I would be traveling without familiar company. I boarded, only to discover I had been assigned the middle berth. After stowing my bags and informing my parents, I pulled down the seat and drifted off to sleep.

The journey ahead, I knew, was going to be interesting…