Week-41 here refers to the week of January 26, 2026 to February 01, 2026. Much like the previous week, this one too unfolded largely outside the realm of academics, an anomaly by IIM Ahmedabad standards, where coursework usually finds a way to dominate every waking hour. This rare shift in rhythm was both surprising and refreshing, offering a glimpse into a different side of campus life that often remains overshadowed by deadlines and deliverables.

The undisputed highlight of the week was Ekatva 2026, officially billed as the Inter-IIM One-Year MBA Networking Festival. Unofficially, however, it was anything but a polite networking affair. In reality, it was a full-blown inter-IIM sports and cultural showdown, where handshakes quickly gave way to competitive spirit, and name tags mattered far less than team colors. Any pretense of networking was swiftly abandoned once the games began, and the sledging, surprisingly sharp and impressively creative for people in their late twenties and mid-thirties, took center stage. What followed was a weekend charged with rivalry, camaraderie, and laughter, reminding all of us that sometimes the most meaningful bonds are forged not in classrooms, but on playing fields and shared moments of unapologetic fun.

Monday arrived carrying the weight and pride of the 77th Republic Day, and with it came an unexpected personal milestone, my first-ever foray into an on-campus quiz competition, aptly titled the India Quiz. Having once been firmly rooted on official quizzing teams during school and later donning the role of quizmaster in college, returning to the other side of the table after so many years felt strangely refreshing and deeply nostalgic.

Stepping back into the world of pouncing questions, rapid recall, and confidently instinctive guesses reminded me why quizzing once held such a special place in my life. Our team eventually finished third, and given the sheer enthusiasm, and occasional over-smartness, of the competing teams, it felt like a small yet deeply satisfying victory. More than the position itself, it was the joy of reconnecting with an old passion, one that had quietly slipped into the background over the years, that made the experience genuinely rewarding and unexpectedly fulfilling.

Tuesday marked the end-term exam for Logistics Management. While operations and logistics have never really been my calling, I walked into this exam surprisingly content with the effort I had put in, and even more satisfied with the number of pages I managed to fill in the answer booklet. My preparation, however, followed a very non-traditional structure: about 75 minutes spent downloading all the relevant files, 90 minutes figuring out which topic lived in which document, a very productive 45 minutes lost to oddly satisfying YouTube Shorts, and a solid 480 minutes of sleep before the exam.

Net-net, for a 150-minute exam, I probably studied for a focused 75–90 minutes, but somehow managed to write a reasonably coherent paper with logical backing. The engineer in me could not have been happier. There was a strange sense of nostalgia in that process: minimal prep, maximum optimisation, and just enough structure to make things work. For a brief moment, it felt like old times, and I walked out of the exam hall with a quiet smile and zero regrets.

But the real highlight of the week unfolded over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and the sheer madness that came with it. Ekatva arrived with full force, bringing out every sportsperson, athlete-at-heart, and long-retired I-used-to-play-in-school legend as everyone collectively inched toward the end of their MBA journey. Suddenly, the campus transformed into a sporting arena, with people ensuring their presence was felt everywhere: on the field, on the sidelines, and very loudly in the stands.

Football, cricket, snooker, basketball, name the sport, and chances are at least two players had already picked up an injury playing it. But beyond the aches and bandages, what truly stood out was the sheer zeal and competitive spirit on display. Watching people rediscover their athletic instincts, push their limits, and give it their all on the field was incredibly refreshing, a reminder that even amidst deadlines and degrees, the joy of play still finds its way to the surface.

The Organising Committee also pulled off a beautifully curated Gala Dinner for contingents from all six IIMs on campus, and it turned into one of those quintessential evenings that make life at IIM Ahmedabad so special. Beyond the conversations and laughter, it was the setting that truly stood out: the iconic Louis Kahn Plaza, dressed up in all its glory, looked nothing short of breathtaking. It was one of those rare moments where you pause, look around, and feel immense pride in being part of this space. And yet, woven quietly into that beauty was an unsettling thought: that this chapter is officially drawing to a close in just 35 days, slightly over a month from now.

As February 2026 settles in, it becomes impossible not to pause and reflect on the whirlwind that this year has been. What once felt endless now feels fleeting. The late nights blurred into early mornings, the relentless interview preparation, the countless CV iterations, the sacrifices quietly made, and the opportunities consciously let go of, all of it now seems to be converging toward a single moment. In just 35 days, this chapter reaches its conclusion. What felt overwhelming in the middle now feels meaningful in hindsight, as every struggle, every compromise, and every small victory begins to make sense as part of a journey that is about to become memory.