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I reached Pune on the evening of 13^th July, 1999 (One of the few dates that I remember). A new city, where I was accompnaied by my another mate, Kamal Tuteja. CBI was there to receive me who was experiencing the city for the past fortnight. We were to join the company from 15^th. The company has made arrangements for us to stay. The first person I met there was Vishal Singla (a guy from IIT-D & later found out to be my schoolmate's brother). Thereafter came the gang from Roorkee: Pranav Singh, Rupam Yadav and Pritesh Jain and we all ended up being Harmonietes, the place where we inhabit.

Well to say, Pune lies close to the Western Ghat Mountains (also known as the Sahyadri Hills), on the edge of the Deccan plains as they stretch away to the east. Pune city flowered on the banks of the Mutha river originating from the Sahyadri range of mountains. The Pune Gazetteer explains the term Pune as Punya - a holy place.

My first excursion from Pune was on a Picnic with the IBM guys to Lonavala. Lonavala was situated on the Pune- Mumbai highway at an altitude of 625m. The spots worth mentioning there are the Mushi Dam and    Point. The place is famous for its Chikkis.

After that I bought my Bike, and my first expedition on it was Singhgad around 25 km from Pune. The fort is the most impregnable fort in western India. The drive towards the destination was awesome filled with all fun and adventure. Though the fort is largely ruined, there are a number of old bungalows up there and the spot where Tanaji died. Worth a visit.

The other place worth mentioning is the Khadakwasla lake on the way to Singhgad only. The lake provides water to the entire Pune City. Around an hour drive from Pune.

Next, I went to Shingnapur around 20km from Shirdi, the temple of 'Shani'. It was also a new experience, going bare footed with a white clothing on top. People from this village never bolt their doors and is a village of candor. We were so tired after finishing up that we gave up our plan of going to Shirdi on that day and returned back.

But few days later, we went to the Shirdi. The place is well built and had numerous of places for the devotees to name a few are: Samadhi Temple, Chavadi, Gurusthan, Khandoba Temple, Mahadev, Shani And Ganesh Temples. Pujas were held all the day and special possessions on Thursdays.

The first week in the company was Induction program at President Hotel organised in quite a sumptuous style and the best. We were then placed on rotation in four JV companies with projects. I did my first rotation in Tata Autoplastics System Limited. It was an office work and the interaction was limited mostly with the Quality and HR Department. Thereafter, I did my other two rotations in the other JV company, Tata Johnsons Control Limited. It was indubitably an involving job in the Materials Department.  Finally, I was placed in Tata Autoplastics Systems for my final and on the job training in the Engineering and Business Development Department.