Like many Bengalis, I grew up immersed in Tagore’s songs and Satyajit Ray’s movies. Ray’s films sparked my love for traveling, though I must give some credit to Baba, who ensured we took at least two trips a year – once during the summer vacation and once during the Durga Pujo holidays.

One of Ray’s movies I loved as a child was ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’. I was fascinated by the magical shoes given to Goopy and Bagha by Bhoot’er Raja (Ghost King). These shoes allowed them to travel anywhere instantly by simply putting them on, high-fiving, and saying the destination’s name. I lost count of how many times I watched the movie, wishing for a pair of those magic shoes for myself.

Another masterpiece by Ray that left a lasting impression on me was ‘Agantuk’ (The Stranger). This was where I first encountered the term ‘wanderlust’. The story and the protagonist’s adventures, as he narrated them to his niece’s son, intrigued me deeply. Although I didn’t grasp all the movie’s nuances at first, I understood that the world was beautiful, and I wanted to see more of it. I didn’t know when or how I would explore these places or what it would feel like to step out of my comfort zone and experience life elsewhere.

In my first year of college, I visited a friend’s house in Kolkata, where her grandfather asked me, “Tumi ki Agantuk’er Utpal Datta hotey chao?” (Do you want to become like Utpal Datta in Agantuk?) I couldn’t answer him then, but I rewatched the movie, and it struck a chord in my heart. I didn’t know if I wanted to be like him, but I certainly desired a life out of the ordinary.