Nagpur/Flight 6E 403/Calcutta: As the Airbus A320 took off, on the dot at 5.20pm on Tuesday, Sourav Ganguly gave Nagpur, the city which gave him such a rousing send-off, one last look.

Sitting on 1B, flanked by Dona and Sana, Sourav turned towards the window for a minute or so before closing his eyes.

Sourav remained that way for around 30 minutes, till Sana, who wasn’t able to open a cola can, woke him up. For the next hour, Sourav chatted with friends from the media, some of whom had been part of his 12-plus years’ journey as an iconic Test cricketer.

In between, there were requests from co-passengers (and the all-women cabin crew) for autographs. One gentleman, mumbling something, took as many as three.

It would’ve made the season for him.

Earlier, at Nagpur airport, there was mild commotion once word got around that Sourav had arrived to board his first flight as a former India cricketer. “Doesn’t sound odd... I am a former cricketer now,” Sourav said.

A very special one, though, going by what teammates wrote on a T-shirt when it was taken around by Dona during Monday’s dinner in his and Anil Kumble’s honour.

Sachin Tendulkar’s was the most emotional message, but pretty touching was the one from Rahul Dravid — “It was a great journey with you, buddy.”

Rahul and Sourav’s Test careers, it may be recalled, began in the same match (Lord’s, 1996).

Back to Nagpur airport…

Additional personnel had to be called to maintain order and, when Sourav was clearing the security check, the CISF’s H.S. Thakur shook hands. His smile suggested even a promotion probably wouldn’t have made him happier.

As for the relaxed Sourav, he tried to play a prank, wanting to pocket a friend’s BlackBerry from the x-ray tray. He ought to have been a shade quicker, for the owner pipped him by the proverbial whisker.

It wasn’t a guard of honour, like the one given by teammates on Monday morning, but the private carrier’s staff gathered on the tarmac and applauded Sourav as he got off the bus to board the aircraft.

He was moved.

Once inside, Sourav was greeted by first officer Gur Kamaljit Singh. “He’s been one of my favourites and I couldn’t have sat in the cockpit without wishing him. It’s sad that Sourav’s retired, but it’s a decision which has to be respected. Only he could’ve known when to leave,” Singh told The Telegraph.

The Airbus touched down in Calcutta on schedule (6.50pm) and Sourav was overheard saying “home is always home.”

Dona and Sana deplaned first and, when Sourav stepped on the tarmac, he was greeted by minister Asok Bhattacharya and elder brother Snehashish.

For security reasons, Sourav and family drove home from the tarmac. That dozens of security personnel and airline staff, who’d been keeping fingers crossed in the arrivals’ terminal, were disappointed, would be an understatement.

Footnote: Sourav will, within days, start his innings as a columnist. He’s been signed up by Sunil Gavaskar's Professional Management Group for articles during the soon-to-begin ODIs and Tests against England.