AM I THERE YET- The Wanderlust of an Auditor
In my ‘head’, I always thought of myself as a tough girl, a girl with some uncanny ability and a travel enthusiast. But the ‘reality’ was that in my entire 21 years of life, I had never been allowed to go anywhere outside the city, without my parents, not even school trips or excursions. That was when I breathed and shouted in disbelief, “Wait, What!”
It is said that ‘Forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest’. Always saying “No, I can’t” to teachers, schoolmates and friends, I have had just enough of everything. This time around, I was resolved to change the state of affairs and meet the temptation.
A night before the Articleship interview-
Dad: Make sure you mention that you aren’t allowed to go for outstation audits. Am I clear?
Me: Of course, Papa, I know that!
Next day-
Interviewer: Okay, we do have outstation audits and there’s absolutely no space for discrimination on the basis of gender. This was briefed to you earlier, right?
Me: Of course, Sir, I know that!
YES, I did this! I manipulated because I was that tempted!
Now I was in my second year of Articleship and, hush, hush, hush, there it came like a gush of entrancing melody.
“You are going to Goa for 25 days. You’ll be boarding your flight on 1st of May and it’s just you and Khyati.” With every single word the Audit Manager uttered, calmness was settling in my spirit.
Let me explain it to you in #hashtag format:
#MyFirstEver #OutstationTrip #FirstTimeFlyer #It’sGOA – ‘The Land of Allowance’ a #FiveStarResortAudit #25days #MyBirthdayInGOA Whoa!!
“Wait! What?”
Along with the fever of enthusiasm came the toughest hurdle of my life, i.e. convincing my parents. Sigh!
On my way back home, it felt like I was entering into a war zone with the thunderstep music playing in the backdrop. I and Dad had an aggressive discussion for hours and my brothers provided us with occasional background laughs, every time I made my point. That’s sibling violence, I swear!
And finally I emerged victorious over everything, mainly because I played the-usual-victim-of-emotional-blackmail card and turned the table this time.
Then came the time for shopping, getting all those clothes which I could never wear in Delhi. From Jumpsuits, to Flip-flops, to hair accessories, to anklets, I got them all. While packing, my Mom had to remind me that I was going for an official work and should carry formal clothes as well; this had indeed escaped my mind.
The first time flight experience I had was unbeatable. I have severe motion-sickness, but I was able to beat it during this journey. Well, actually there was this cute French guy sitting next to us and I gave my brain innumerable instructions to resist vomiting in front of the handsome. Leon Brown has stated,”It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to have power over you, if you allow it”. Hence, it was proven that day.
Three hours and there we were. Goa welcomed us with bright 
sunshine. We reached the resort, which was nestled in South G
oa’s most serene locale, adjoining the Arossim Beach and where guests are welcomed in true Goan hospitality style. One such specimen of their hospitality is the board that welcomes you at your cottage door, ours read -“Residence of Khyati and Nikita”. ☺
This audit was highly crucial for me and Khyati, because the Audit Manager had shown immense faith in us by sending just two Articled Assistants for such important audit. Going by the Audit Plan, we had no spare time to explore the charming destination, as we had to work overtime. Therefore, we decided to concentrate and work for six days in the week and then get lost in the narrow roads and fascinating beaches of Goa on Sundays.
The next morning, we began to work as per the Audit Schedule which we had finalized a day before. Given that it was really challenging to concentrate on work while one is in Goa, I gave up within 2 days. Now, every day, after office hours, I used to grab a bicycle from the Resort and go to the Arossim Beach, sit there for an hour or so and feel some delicious throng of sensations in the silence. It was magical!
The first weekend, we explored the magnificent Gothic churches of Old Goa, then headed to the Paradise Cruise on the Mandovi River and then to Fort Aguada. When you walk around a little in Old Goa, it’s easy to get hooked on the houses as they still have the colors and 
textures of the Portuguese era. The next Saturday we left early from the client’s office for Dona Paula Beach, which is settled on a rocky, hammer shaped headland and had such thrilling breezes blowing all over. We then took a quick round of Baga, Colva and Anjuna beaches on Sunday.
Being a vegan, Goa had nothing much to offer to me in terms of food. But yes, Khyati had the time of her life feasting on the variety of seafood flooding there.
Alright, then came my birthday on the next Sunday which called for some heavy dose of adventure and there we went for parasailing, jet-skiing and go-Karting. To my surprise, I had few considerate friends who couriered gifts from Delhi for my birthday. That was the most incredible birthday, I’ve ever had – water sports to the Casino and the night life. We danced some! We drank some! We stayed up till 5 am in the morning to work on our Audit Report and then we ran to the beach to see the blindingly beautiful sun peeking over the horizon, mixed with the blue clear waves.
Yes, this was the finest part of my life and furthermore, the ONLY outstation audit I’ve been permitted to go. By the way, we were highly appreciated for our work in this internal audit, by the Manager, Audit Partner and the Client. A sigh of large contentment! Absorbed in the scent and murmur of this paradise on earth, I was all rejuvenated.
Life in Goa can be summed up in the graffiti I saw on one of the walls there: “Goa is like a fridge, because everyone just chills here!”
Loved reading your Goan adventures.. I can understand how difficult it must have been concentrating on the work;).. Hope that you get to attend more outstation audits on the future 🙂
Thanks Aastha !! 🙂 May your mouth be filled with ghee and shakkar 😉
Exemplary! This thing totally enthused me and i know what it is to be a Chartered Accountant bound in chains 😀
Loved it.
Thanks Anshita ! I am a little not happy hearing that you could relate to my being bound-in-chains part of the article :-/ If you still are, break them right away ! And if not, well, it’ll be worth it !! 🙂
i’m not sure how you enjoyed it but u made me feel aweeeesome with your text ..Kudos ..!!
Thanks Srikanth 🙂 It feels great.
I like how every story ends with “we were highly appreciated for our efforts by manager and client too”. It almost sounds improbable sometimes. But this time it sounds believable 🙂
Oh you have no idea SHRIRAMAN, this actually means a lot to me.
You could believe me for this ‘rarest-of-the-rarest’ thing possible in our industry.. Thank you for that 🙂
Wow! I actually went into a trance and travelled as you did, saw what you saw, played the sports that you played, felt what you felt, heard the music of waves as you heard and yes, worked like you worked!
Thanks for letting me become Nikita for a while 🙂
Thank you for being this kind and for doing full justice to my article as a reader !!
Love,
Nikita
Sounds exhilarating! I guess these are the things that remind you that beyond all the hardwork, there’s still a world with life bustling underneath.
So, after coming back, how did you ever manage to convince yourself to go back to your day job?
Absolutely !! And I am happy I have witnessed that beautiful world and could write about it so that you could feel it along with me 🙂
Damn !! You hit the right nerve Vaibhav 😉 It took me over a week to settle back here in Delhi ! Not just work, I was suffering from GOA-sickness even when I was at home for a lot of days. Goa, is such a beauty!
I’ve been to Goa four times for audit purposes and I could relate to every bit of your article.
Nostalgic !
I am sure, you have enjoyed Goa much more than me because you knew you didn’t have a second time. Thanks for writing this article. We’ll be waiting for some more from you .
Regards,
I shall be writing many more for you, Apar 🙂
And listen, you need to make sure that I have a second time in Goa and that too, soon !! 😉
Love,
Nikita
Dude this was such a nice read ! It’s amazing how you were able to derive joy out of your work and could balance work & leisure ! I’m sure someone who wasn’t convinced to do CA earlier will be convinced to do it after reading your article !
Oops ! That’s absolutely NOT my motive Keshav 😛
But thanks a lot for your kind words. Coming from such a creative soul, this makes me so much more than happy 🙂
Love,
Nikita
Very engrossing article…I could relate to it while reading it…how much I wish to visit places(goa is on the top of my list)with friends but I am not allowed :/ though I have been allowed for outstation audit but I never had any audit in goa,&that’s the saddest part… 🙁
Very nicely delineated…it was a good read.. 🙂 have a nice day
Ah don’t worry Sayanti, if not now, probably in the years to come, I am sure you’ll have a ‘DONE’ written against Goa. 🙂
Thanks a lot for loving it 🙂
Love,
Nikita
Really nice article….
Thanks Braston 🙂 You are such an important part of my Goa experience. Thanks for all the help.
Love,
Nikita
Such a great read. Thank you for writing a straight dil se waala article … waiting for more from your desk 🙂
Keep’em coming ..
Thank you so much for finding time to read this.
Definitely, I shall keep writing 🙂
Love,
Nikita
A pleasant journey, aptly recited!!
This experience was priceless and one that i will cherish forever.
Our first outstation audit and that too GOA, the exotic destination….I mean like seriously who works there, but for a change WE DID( The Sleepless nights says it all)
A beautiful amalgamation of exertion and excursion..
Best audit ever and the way you have written it I could actually relive each and every moment that we had..
Great Writing Though…..Kudos Puggu!!!
#Reminiscing Our Moments
Khyati, thanks for everything. You have helped me thoroughly, in making this experience worth remembering. Every single day and moment is absolutely fresh and alive in my head and am sure so is it, in yours.
The ‘non-stop two hours dance’ that we did every night in the resort parties and your ‘Gentleman’ scoof!! Damn, I miss it already. 🙁
I love you tons, Khyati. Thanks for appreciating.
You liked it, so I feel like a Star now 😉
I have never been to goa but after reading this article I want to just run to the beautiful place. AmaZing write up Nikita .
Do that Ritika. 🙂 Thanks.
Love,
Nikita
Hey…suchha nice article nikita…very well written…goa is an amazing place..i hv been there 2 yrs back…you have revived my memories 🙂
It definitely is an amazing place. Thank you for your kind words, Deepali 🙂
Hey Nikita !! It is such a beautifully written article… I felt so connected with this one and it reminded me of the time when I convinced my parents for outstation trip and my first flight journey etc etc… But at the end its all fun 🙂 Very well written, enjoyed your write up 🙂
True , at the end it is all FUN !! ?
Thanks Sakshi for appreciating ??
This was such a nicely written article! I loved how your experiences were accompanied with actual pictures of your vacation. I think everyone should visit Goa at least once, and if your only outstation trip was to Goa, rest assured, you’ve been to the best place!
I’d love to read more of your work. Keep posting!
Now that you’ve said it, I am definitely gonna keep writing ?
Thanks Sagar. You are such a sweetheart ?
Hey Nikita, just read ur article. A very good read indeed, thoroughly enjoyed it. U have a very good command over ur thoughts and content, I’m really impressed. Keep writing ?.
Tc, Aanchal
Receiving a compliment from a scholar like yourself, I feel highly special. Thanks a lot Di ☺️
Nikita it is a beautifully written piece. I could relate to it as I was brought up in the same environment. I enjoyed my first flight of independance just as you describe it. I hope you keep writting as this is surely a masterpiece. All the best.
I am glad you liked it ? For an author there can be nothing better than knowing that his/her readers could relive their moments while reading your write-up.
Thanks a ton. Shall keep posting ?
Love,
Nikita
very nice
Thanks Rajeev ?
Hey Nikita..!!
Enthralling…!! It was a pretty good read..!! I too would love to ride the same roller coaster but unfortunately I’m bound in the same chains u were bound before this audit..!!
Waiting for more write ups from you…
Thanks a lot Sonal ❤️ I am sure even u r gonna get this opportunity really soon in life. ?
Wow Nikita ???
Amazing craftsmanship of thoughts and experiences into words,keep polishing ur creative instinct ?
Thanks a ton ☺️☺️?
Wow Nikita just read ur article & u brought Goa alive for ur readers ? excellent write up. Hope u get to travel to ur hearts content…. Wishing for all ur dreams to come true ?
Thanks a lot for such wonderful wishes Di ???
The first half is the story of every girl. It’s so beautifully expressed. Loved it. I’m a CS student,not CA.. But this is very attractive ?
Thanks a lot Neha 🙂 Good Luck for your CS exams !
Nice one! Though I have read it a little late, but I am able to relate. A resort audit 4 years back! Though I have made sure to visit Goa every year since then.
Nice article! Keep writing..
Hi Nakul
You can share your Audit Trail journey here under this column. We would love to hear about your experience travelling to the different places for work. We are sure it wold have been exciting in its own unique way. Plz go through the following link to know how you can share own Audit Trail here at CA Diaries : http://cadiaries.com/my-ca-diaries-entry/
Thanks & Regards
Team CA Diaries
I am happy that you could relate to it. Make sure you post your article with CA Diaries soon. 🙂
Dude! It’s just sounds like a filmy story where parents didn’t allow and than trip to heaven for youth -GOA ! You’re immensly lucky to witness such things and as in my articleship tenure I visited places like bihar uttarpradesh and many rural belts of some state! Believe me it feels great to see you enjoying ! I hope you get more audits like this and wish some in foreign too!
Chirayu Arora
Indore
Hi Chirayu
You can share your Audit Trail journey here under this column. We would love to hear about your experience travelling to the rural belts for work. We are sure it wold have been exciting in its own unique way. Plz go through the following link to know how you can share own Audit Trail here at CA Diaries : http://cadiaries.com/my-ca-diaries-entry/
Thanks & Regards
Team CA Diaries
Chirayu, at least you have greater number of trips than mine. I have had this opportunity just once :-/ I am done with my articleship, I am gonna do the talking next as a ‘CA’ ! *fingers crossed* 😉
The grass is always greener on the other side. 😛
You can share your Audit Trail journey here under this column. We would love to hear about your experience travelling to the different places for work. We are sure it would have been exciting in its own unique way. Plz go through the following link to know how you can share own Audit Trail here at CA Diaries : http://cadiaries.com/my-ca-diaries-entry/