What struck me most about him when i had first met him was his intelligence, his wit and his ability with numbers. However, I had sensed a slight resistance where sharing work knowledge was concerned. It was much later that he had told me that he and other colleagues had found me to be a bit of a "oh, here comes the ms.know.it all??" and had actually decided to make the going rough for me :-)
I had joined LB from NIIT and there was a marked difference in the work culture. I came with "processes". LB was without one. He had seemed to be the boss's favorite and he was supposed to have been my point for knowledge dump.
Days went by. Unpleasantries at work had changed to comradarie. I realised then that all that was there to him met the eye. Honest to the T. His team used to love him - unplanned work, late nights or whatever. He used to be there for them. Always. He was sensitive to their needs. Infact, i soon relaised that he was quite sensitive as a young man. Period. As for honesty? Boy!! One woman in office in pariticular should have known how brutally honest he could get about his feelings!! Thank God I was not her! :-)
He moved out of LB to the land that was his home. Delhi. He made the younger women in his cirlce feel happy that he knew them! The older women just felt happy for him ;-) And that, included me. He had that charisma about him. Smiling, cheerful, full of wit and full of life.
Here's wishing Arjun and the love of his life all the very best in all that they do. He just got engaged. Lucky girl.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
As Close As It Gets
It was a bright afternoon a few years ago. And opportunity had come a knocking at my doors...mmm, well, almost. It was when I was working at Concern India Foundation, a social organisation. An opportunity to act opposite Aamir. Wow!
A friend of my then-colleague (now a dear friend of mine) was coming to meet her. And we sat on the terrace of our office building, getting all excited about meeting this filmmaker friend of our colleague.
He was assisting with the making of a film that starred Aamir Khan. We had not heard of the movie or the cast except for Aamir Khan. The movie had then sounded like one offbeat movie that starred him with a then-little-known Nandita Das. The shooting was happenning at some place in Purani Dilli (Old Delhi). The movie, as was described to us by this colleague, was based on a certain novel, The Ice Candy Man.
The friend was explaining howAamir had not quite attracted the attention of the crowds and that things had been pretty much smooth...no rushes of crowds and stuff. However, there was one hitch.They were not being able to get Burkha-clad women for a scene in which Aamir needed these women actors as co-stars. Sharing screen space with Aamir for all of 10 seconds and he wasnt getting actors!!! My eyes appealed to him - "Ask us, including me!!! Just try and ask us. We would do the scene for free." Wow.
The next thing I know is that I was offered the role by this filmmaker and I had promptly accepted the role. I was standing with Aamir, Burkha in place and the shot getting ready. The weather sucked. It was very hot and in the Burkha, it felt even more so. I felt a tap on my shoulder. My colleague was tapping my shoulder. Her friend was leaving. Whoa?...Where was I? Gosh...had he or hadnt he asked the question. I woke up from my reverie. I was on the terrace with the sun shining hot and bright. I was not in a Burkha. Reality dawned.
But what the heck, I was offered the role. To act with Aamir. Well, almost...This was as close as it would get. :-)
A friend of my then-colleague (now a dear friend of mine) was coming to meet her. And we sat on the terrace of our office building, getting all excited about meeting this filmmaker friend of our colleague.
He was assisting with the making of a film that starred Aamir Khan. We had not heard of the movie or the cast except for Aamir Khan. The movie had then sounded like one offbeat movie that starred him with a then-little-known Nandita Das. The shooting was happenning at some place in Purani Dilli (Old Delhi). The movie, as was described to us by this colleague, was based on a certain novel, The Ice Candy Man.
The friend was explaining howAamir had not quite attracted the attention of the crowds and that things had been pretty much smooth...no rushes of crowds and stuff. However, there was one hitch.They were not being able to get Burkha-clad women for a scene in which Aamir needed these women actors as co-stars. Sharing screen space with Aamir for all of 10 seconds and he wasnt getting actors!!! My eyes appealed to him - "Ask us, including me!!! Just try and ask us. We would do the scene for free." Wow.
The next thing I know is that I was offered the role by this filmmaker and I had promptly accepted the role. I was standing with Aamir, Burkha in place and the shot getting ready. The weather sucked. It was very hot and in the Burkha, it felt even more so. I felt a tap on my shoulder. My colleague was tapping my shoulder. Her friend was leaving. Whoa?...Where was I? Gosh...had he or hadnt he asked the question. I woke up from my reverie. I was on the terrace with the sun shining hot and bright. I was not in a Burkha. Reality dawned.
But what the heck, I was offered the role. To act with Aamir. Well, almost...This was as close as it would get. :-)
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Her smile was infectuous...she stood out in the crowd due to this. And, the fact that she was often seen around with a particular someone, now her husband. Ofcourse, people talk. :-) And office gossips...well...:-)
She was also considered to be good at her work. That's how I had begun to notice her. I had made a mid-carreer move and was wanting to learn as much about the new line of profession I had chosen and as quickly as possible. It was not so easy - making a move from social work to IT- ELearning.
Days passed. I was in a project with her. The project was an "oniste" project - only that the "onsite" happened to be Mumbai, not some part of America or Europe. The project was a high pressure one - very high client expectations, pressures of the "onsite" - offshore dual-mode develpment model. But, she balanced her life perfectly. Her love for life mesmerized me. What I saw was a young woman doing everything to her best and most importantly spreading cheer both at workplace and without. Her spirit for life was amazing.
Years passed. She married and joined her husband in Singapore. She kept in contact through her "weekly diaries" - vivid descriptions of the lands she visited, the people there, their culture, the geography, the history, the weather - beautiful "guides" with a personalised touch. The enthusiasm amongst her group of friends from Mumbai swung like a pendulum.
But she never wavered. Her diaries continued.
She travelled from Singapore to neighboring countries, then to Australia and then back to Singapore. Her diaries continued. Undeterred about who replied and who did not. I used to invariably excuse myself feigning work pressures. She never held to those resorts. She remembered birthdays (of freinds, their spouses, their kids), anniversaries - everything that mattered. And she continues to do that and more.
This post is in honour of Sarayu who I continue to observe with awe and regard.
Her weekly diaries continue. She now lives in Boston, where she was transferred to when her husband got admission to a premier Management School of America.
God bless you, dear! :-)
She was also considered to be good at her work. That's how I had begun to notice her. I had made a mid-carreer move and was wanting to learn as much about the new line of profession I had chosen and as quickly as possible. It was not so easy - making a move from social work to IT- ELearning.
Days passed. I was in a project with her. The project was an "oniste" project - only that the "onsite" happened to be Mumbai, not some part of America or Europe. The project was a high pressure one - very high client expectations, pressures of the "onsite" - offshore dual-mode develpment model. But, she balanced her life perfectly. Her love for life mesmerized me. What I saw was a young woman doing everything to her best and most importantly spreading cheer both at workplace and without. Her spirit for life was amazing.
Years passed. She married and joined her husband in Singapore. She kept in contact through her "weekly diaries" - vivid descriptions of the lands she visited, the people there, their culture, the geography, the history, the weather - beautiful "guides" with a personalised touch. The enthusiasm amongst her group of friends from Mumbai swung like a pendulum.
But she never wavered. Her diaries continued.
She travelled from Singapore to neighboring countries, then to Australia and then back to Singapore. Her diaries continued. Undeterred about who replied and who did not. I used to invariably excuse myself feigning work pressures. She never held to those resorts. She remembered birthdays (of freinds, their spouses, their kids), anniversaries - everything that mattered. And she continues to do that and more.
This post is in honour of Sarayu who I continue to observe with awe and regard.
Her weekly diaries continue. She now lives in Boston, where she was transferred to when her husband got admission to a premier Management School of America.
God bless you, dear! :-)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tree of Life
For the first time, among the several lenghthy drives that I had had in the city of Delhi, I took notice of them. They stood there tall and silhouetted against an indifferent city - a city that probably paid scant or no attention to them at all.
As my brother, who was driving the car, was in a rather pensive mood, I had nothing to do but stare out of the window. Looking back, I am really grateful to him for that. Atleast, it gave me the opportunity to realise that I needed to be grateful to many others besides my parents for my life.
The length of the road between Sarita Vihar, which is situated at one end of the city to Janakpuri, which is at another end altogether, is a long stretch. This gave me ample time to do all the observations in peace.
The evening was unusually calm with not even a hint of breeze. And, as I looked at them, I realised that they had always been there...I must have infact seen them too. It was just that I had never noticed them - atleast not in the way I saw them now. There were all kinds of them - some totally bare, some with thick blancketed covers. Some were old with knotted skins and some were young with soft tender looks. Some were colourful while others were not. And as I continued to stare at them, I suddenly realised that they were all looking very sad and very tired.
By now I was mesmerised by them. And what I saw amazed me. It couldnt possibly have been a figment of my imagination. They deifinitely looked tortured and resigned to their fates. They seemed to carry some heavy burden in their shoulders which made them droop. Suddenly, I felt as if I understood them perfectly. There they were imploring one and all, to stop being so cruel to them. They were stooping because they were indeed carrying the burden of a huge blanket of pollution on their shoulders. They were beseaching mankind to allow them atleast to breathe in peace. They looked tortured because life had indeed become hell for them. For them, the difference between CO2 and CO was not just a difference of a molecule of oxygen, but it was a matter of life and death.
Even as I experienced this strange enlightenment within me, a slight breeze began to blow. The breeze was slowly gathering into a pleasant evening wind. As the wind blew in fresh air, I looked at them again.
This time, the trees were swaying merrily - still standing tall and silhouetted against a blue sky. The old ones with their knotted barks, the colourful gulmohars and the not so colourful jamun trees, the evergreen neems and the bare acacias - all of them were swaying. As I hung my head in shame, had they perhaps understood that atleast one among the indifferent species called mankind had understood their predicament.
This is a middle of mine that was published in the HT a few years ago.
As my brother, who was driving the car, was in a rather pensive mood, I had nothing to do but stare out of the window. Looking back, I am really grateful to him for that. Atleast, it gave me the opportunity to realise that I needed to be grateful to many others besides my parents for my life.
The length of the road between Sarita Vihar, which is situated at one end of the city to Janakpuri, which is at another end altogether, is a long stretch. This gave me ample time to do all the observations in peace.
The evening was unusually calm with not even a hint of breeze. And, as I looked at them, I realised that they had always been there...I must have infact seen them too. It was just that I had never noticed them - atleast not in the way I saw them now. There were all kinds of them - some totally bare, some with thick blancketed covers. Some were old with knotted skins and some were young with soft tender looks. Some were colourful while others were not. And as I continued to stare at them, I suddenly realised that they were all looking very sad and very tired.
By now I was mesmerised by them. And what I saw amazed me. It couldnt possibly have been a figment of my imagination. They deifinitely looked tortured and resigned to their fates. They seemed to carry some heavy burden in their shoulders which made them droop. Suddenly, I felt as if I understood them perfectly. There they were imploring one and all, to stop being so cruel to them. They were stooping because they were indeed carrying the burden of a huge blanket of pollution on their shoulders. They were beseaching mankind to allow them atleast to breathe in peace. They looked tortured because life had indeed become hell for them. For them, the difference between CO2 and CO was not just a difference of a molecule of oxygen, but it was a matter of life and death.
Even as I experienced this strange enlightenment within me, a slight breeze began to blow. The breeze was slowly gathering into a pleasant evening wind. As the wind blew in fresh air, I looked at them again.
This time, the trees were swaying merrily - still standing tall and silhouetted against a blue sky. The old ones with their knotted barks, the colourful gulmohars and the not so colourful jamun trees, the evergreen neems and the bare acacias - all of them were swaying. As I hung my head in shame, had they perhaps understood that atleast one among the indifferent species called mankind had understood their predicament.
This is a middle of mine that was published in the HT a few years ago.
Monday, October 9, 2006
Ride "T" for Terror
Without the slightest hesitation, Mohan had given a lift to an old man. It was a dark October night and he had quite forgotten that Delhi was no longer a safe place, what with an ever increasing crime rate. The man looked as old as his grandfather, with a white flowing beard and wore a head-gear.
As he drove along the road, Mohan suddenly felt a fierce jab at his back. Instantly he realised it was a knife. The Kalindikunj route connecting Noida and Mayur Vihar to the Mathura Road was annoyingly eerie and was completely deserted at this time. The night suddenly seemed to be really dark. There was absolutely no one in sight to even shout for help. The moon also seemed to have disappeared to allow the terrorist to do his act in peace. And although winter had not yet truly set in, Mohan was beginning to feel exceedingly cold. He had really been quite unprepared for the night and was deeply regretting the lack of warm clothing which would probably have made stabbing a little more difficult.
Reeling under a heady mixture of fear and helplessness, which was as potent as venom, Mohan paid scant heed to the fact that the road was unlit and pothole-ridden as he drove his mobike at break-neck speed. One mistake and his passport to the mystique world would have been ready.
Even as he tried to fight the increasing numbness that was setting in at the feeling that all was lost, his instincts were working overtime. In desperation, he began to switch from the third gear to the fourth so as to make the mobile cough suddenly, and upon impact, throw back the person sitting on the pillion. Simultaneiously, he himself tried to jump on the fuel tank to allow as much distance between the terrorist and he. But within seconds the terrorist was again starting to jab at him and this time with renewed vigour. It sent a shooting pain all the way down his spine.
The cold shivers that had run through him were now turning into hot flushes with sweat forming on his brows and forehead. Perhaps for the first time in his life, he prayed to God sincerely. Suddenly as if his prayers were answered, he realised that they had reached the spot where the man had wanted to get to. Except for the penetrating pain down his spine, nothing untoward had happened so far. As Mohan stopped his bike, the man seemed to be in no hurry to get down. Slowly, Mohan himself got down ready to face whatever that came his way. He looked towards the man on his pillion.
The old man was sitting all cooped up and bent forward with a file held very close to his body. The file had a jarring edge to it.
As he drove along the road, Mohan suddenly felt a fierce jab at his back. Instantly he realised it was a knife. The Kalindikunj route connecting Noida and Mayur Vihar to the Mathura Road was annoyingly eerie and was completely deserted at this time. The night suddenly seemed to be really dark. There was absolutely no one in sight to even shout for help. The moon also seemed to have disappeared to allow the terrorist to do his act in peace. And although winter had not yet truly set in, Mohan was beginning to feel exceedingly cold. He had really been quite unprepared for the night and was deeply regretting the lack of warm clothing which would probably have made stabbing a little more difficult.
Reeling under a heady mixture of fear and helplessness, which was as potent as venom, Mohan paid scant heed to the fact that the road was unlit and pothole-ridden as he drove his mobike at break-neck speed. One mistake and his passport to the mystique world would have been ready.
Even as he tried to fight the increasing numbness that was setting in at the feeling that all was lost, his instincts were working overtime. In desperation, he began to switch from the third gear to the fourth so as to make the mobile cough suddenly, and upon impact, throw back the person sitting on the pillion. Simultaneiously, he himself tried to jump on the fuel tank to allow as much distance between the terrorist and he. But within seconds the terrorist was again starting to jab at him and this time with renewed vigour. It sent a shooting pain all the way down his spine.
The cold shivers that had run through him were now turning into hot flushes with sweat forming on his brows and forehead. Perhaps for the first time in his life, he prayed to God sincerely. Suddenly as if his prayers were answered, he realised that they had reached the spot where the man had wanted to get to. Except for the penetrating pain down his spine, nothing untoward had happened so far. As Mohan stopped his bike, the man seemed to be in no hurry to get down. Slowly, Mohan himself got down ready to face whatever that came his way. He looked towards the man on his pillion.
The old man was sitting all cooped up and bent forward with a file held very close to his body. The file had a jarring edge to it.
This is a middle of mine that was published in TOI a few years ago. This was based on a real life incident in my brother's life.
Sunday, October 1, 2006
Birding and Flamingoes
I was the newest entrant in the group. I had progressed from addressing them as "birds", to addressing them as "Swallows, Robins, Parakeets and so on".
The group was an informal gathering of people with varied vocation but with a common passion - bird watching. I had known such a group in Delhi, thanks to a friend. The same friend was now instrumental in me being part of such a group in Chennai.
Bird walking this time was to be at the Pullicat lake in the outskirts of Chennai. A birding enthusiast couple had offered to pick up my friend and me in their car. The mission - counting flamingoes sighted at Pullicat.
Incidentally, part of Pullicat lake lies in the Tamil Nadu region and the other part in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district. We decided to go to the AP part of the lake before going to the TN part.
Enroute to Pullicat, we counted some 62 migratory "plovers" in a region near Sriharikota. Waders with short beaks. They were the "Kentish" plovers. I missed sighting the golden plovers when an informed gentleman shouted "golden plovers" - coz, by the time I trained my pair of binocs on this bunch of birds, they were silhoutted as tiny specs on the skyline. :-)
Plovers, shikras, barn owls, bee eaters, doves, and parakeets later, we reached the Pullicat lake. Boy, what a sight. The flamingoes, gregarious as they are, were an absolutely stunning sight.
Flamingoes are usually found in brackish water. These migratory birds reach Pullicat in the months of October and November. We also sighted a few pelicans floating around in the lake - maybe, they were visitors from the nearby Nellapattu bird sanctuary, which apparently houses loads of pelicans.
Between us we counted about 4000 flamingoes. One enthusiast was sure he counted close to 9000!!
We had also sighted a bunch of grey herons in the lake. The identification was done after a lot of debate. Were the beaks yellow? Were the feet yellow? So on and so forth. Finally, it was decided that they were the grey herons.
I had returned with a strange sense of joy...was tired but the joy of learning, observing and walking amidst nature - that has to be experienced to be believed.
The group was an informal gathering of people with varied vocation but with a common passion - bird watching. I had known such a group in Delhi, thanks to a friend. The same friend was now instrumental in me being part of such a group in Chennai.
Bird walking this time was to be at the Pullicat lake in the outskirts of Chennai. A birding enthusiast couple had offered to pick up my friend and me in their car. The mission - counting flamingoes sighted at Pullicat.
Incidentally, part of Pullicat lake lies in the Tamil Nadu region and the other part in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district. We decided to go to the AP part of the lake before going to the TN part.
Enroute to Pullicat, we counted some 62 migratory "plovers" in a region near Sriharikota. Waders with short beaks. They were the "Kentish" plovers. I missed sighting the golden plovers when an informed gentleman shouted "golden plovers" - coz, by the time I trained my pair of binocs on this bunch of birds, they were silhoutted as tiny specs on the skyline. :-)
Plovers, shikras, barn owls, bee eaters, doves, and parakeets later, we reached the Pullicat lake. Boy, what a sight. The flamingoes, gregarious as they are, were an absolutely stunning sight.
Flamingoes are usually found in brackish water. These migratory birds reach Pullicat in the months of October and November. We also sighted a few pelicans floating around in the lake - maybe, they were visitors from the nearby Nellapattu bird sanctuary, which apparently houses loads of pelicans.
Between us we counted about 4000 flamingoes. One enthusiast was sure he counted close to 9000!!
We had also sighted a bunch of grey herons in the lake. The identification was done after a lot of debate. Were the beaks yellow? Were the feet yellow? So on and so forth. Finally, it was decided that they were the grey herons.
I had returned with a strange sense of joy...was tired but the joy of learning, observing and walking amidst nature - that has to be experienced to be believed.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Fear and their Manifestations
A Federal Agent to pick me up??? In a special car??
My mind tried to reason it out. After all I was at a wrong place in the airport. Was nicely coloured for an Asian and besides, we were nearing 9/11. Naturally, the airport authorities would be cautious.
I had disembarked at the Paris airport from AirFrance. Had to reach Terminal 2E for the conecting flight to Atlanta. The friendly airport staff had directed me to a bus that would chart me to Terminal 2E. After deboarding, I walked up to one of the women at the Terminal counter. "Could you please let me know if I am at the right place?" No harm in rechecking.
One look at the ticket and " No, Ma'm. You are at the wrong terminal." I tried to appear calm. "So, how do I reach there?" She stared at me for some time. No smile. No look of hostility either. Spoke to me in French. "English please". She picked up the phone, dialed a number and spoke quickly in French. "Please wait there madame. A Federal Agent will be here and he will take you in a special car. Please sit there and I will call you when he comes."
My heart sank. I could have cried out aloud. What could they do? They wouldnt arrest me for having come to the wrong terminal?!! But then, why a Federal Agent??
Ever noticed - Fear something, and things usually do go wrong. From the day I had known that I had to travel, I was paralysed with fear. Fear of the unknown. I didnt know what I was afraid of, but I was scared. And scared like hell. I knew I would be shitting bricks at Mumbai -my ticket was Chennai-Mumbai-Paris-Atlanta. The more I thought of killing time at Mumbai, the more I got disturbed. I knew it was abnormal - maybe I needed to see a shrink. For, would anyone lose sleep on "such a trivial issue", as someone stated! Not only had I lost sleep, but had also lost everything inside of me as the thought of travelling to Atlanta had made me retch.
The Federal Agent came with his special car, took me to the right terminal and wished me a good journey ahead. Even as I sat on the plane to Atlanta, my mind had begun to weave another fear knot. This time, I checked into the Atlanta hotel without my fear charting the path for me.
My mind tried to reason it out. After all I was at a wrong place in the airport. Was nicely coloured for an Asian and besides, we were nearing 9/11. Naturally, the airport authorities would be cautious.
I had disembarked at the Paris airport from AirFrance. Had to reach Terminal 2E for the conecting flight to Atlanta. The friendly airport staff had directed me to a bus that would chart me to Terminal 2E. After deboarding, I walked up to one of the women at the Terminal counter. "Could you please let me know if I am at the right place?" No harm in rechecking.
One look at the ticket and " No, Ma'm. You are at the wrong terminal." I tried to appear calm. "So, how do I reach there?" She stared at me for some time. No smile. No look of hostility either. Spoke to me in French. "English please". She picked up the phone, dialed a number and spoke quickly in French. "Please wait there madame. A Federal Agent will be here and he will take you in a special car. Please sit there and I will call you when he comes."
My heart sank. I could have cried out aloud. What could they do? They wouldnt arrest me for having come to the wrong terminal?!! But then, why a Federal Agent??
Ever noticed - Fear something, and things usually do go wrong. From the day I had known that I had to travel, I was paralysed with fear. Fear of the unknown. I didnt know what I was afraid of, but I was scared. And scared like hell. I knew I would be shitting bricks at Mumbai -my ticket was Chennai-Mumbai-Paris-Atlanta. The more I thought of killing time at Mumbai, the more I got disturbed. I knew it was abnormal - maybe I needed to see a shrink. For, would anyone lose sleep on "such a trivial issue", as someone stated! Not only had I lost sleep, but had also lost everything inside of me as the thought of travelling to Atlanta had made me retch.
The Federal Agent came with his special car, took me to the right terminal and wished me a good journey ahead. Even as I sat on the plane to Atlanta, my mind had begun to weave another fear knot. This time, I checked into the Atlanta hotel without my fear charting the path for me.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
The Inevitable Travel
I had asked to be placed onsite when my first employer had asked me to join back. There was an ulterior motive to it though.
The first time I was offered an onsite posting was when I had joined back office after a serious bout of illness. In my first meeting with members of the onsite team after joining back, the Sr. PM onsite seemed thrilled, her excitement seemed palpable and for reasons I got to know soon. She popped up the question "Welcome aboard Vrinda. When are u travelling to US? You need to work from onsite." Boy o Boy. Did I get nervous or what?? I had put the speaker phone on mute and exclaimed to my boss and my colleague, who were moderating this "Introduction" call - "Go onsite?? What!!?? No way!"
My boss was kind. She attributed it to me being back from my illness, hospital and stuff. I did the same.
Months passed by. I was managing another project. I had also been thinking of moving out of my current work place. My boss had resigned and I had a new boss. This time around I was the moderator of an "Introduction" call to introduce my new boss to the client. My client wanted to meet us - we were invited to travel to Finland. My new boss said - "But of course, me, Vrinda and the Business Head will travel. We can decide on the dates." I put in my papers. It was attributed to my getting a "good" offer. I attributed it to that too.
I joined my 2nd place of work - another city but within India. My ex-employers got in touch with me. They wanted me to join back. I said "I would only want onsite work." They didnt offer me that. They attributed my not joining them back to thier refusal of an onsite offer. I did the same.
Work was madly hectic at my new work place. I knew I had to move if I wanted a work life balance. And I moved again. 3rd place in one year. It was going to spoil my CV!! Another city still in India. My 2nd place of work contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in a job onsite. They were certain I would take it. In a knee-jerk reaction, I replied "No". There were no more attributions to make. I was firm and clear.
My work place offered onsite placements - not once but thrice over. I steadfastly refused. And then came a situation when travel looked unavoidable.
The ineveitable had to happen. It happened. This I attributed to fate.
The first time I was offered an onsite posting was when I had joined back office after a serious bout of illness. In my first meeting with members of the onsite team after joining back, the Sr. PM onsite seemed thrilled, her excitement seemed palpable and for reasons I got to know soon. She popped up the question "Welcome aboard Vrinda. When are u travelling to US? You need to work from onsite." Boy o Boy. Did I get nervous or what?? I had put the speaker phone on mute and exclaimed to my boss and my colleague, who were moderating this "Introduction" call - "Go onsite?? What!!?? No way!"
My boss was kind. She attributed it to me being back from my illness, hospital and stuff. I did the same.
Months passed by. I was managing another project. I had also been thinking of moving out of my current work place. My boss had resigned and I had a new boss. This time around I was the moderator of an "Introduction" call to introduce my new boss to the client. My client wanted to meet us - we were invited to travel to Finland. My new boss said - "But of course, me, Vrinda and the Business Head will travel. We can decide on the dates." I put in my papers. It was attributed to my getting a "good" offer. I attributed it to that too.
I joined my 2nd place of work - another city but within India. My ex-employers got in touch with me. They wanted me to join back. I said "I would only want onsite work." They didnt offer me that. They attributed my not joining them back to thier refusal of an onsite offer. I did the same.
Work was madly hectic at my new work place. I knew I had to move if I wanted a work life balance. And I moved again. 3rd place in one year. It was going to spoil my CV!! Another city still in India. My 2nd place of work contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in a job onsite. They were certain I would take it. In a knee-jerk reaction, I replied "No". There were no more attributions to make. I was firm and clear.
My work place offered onsite placements - not once but thrice over. I steadfastly refused. And then came a situation when travel looked unavoidable.
The ineveitable had to happen. It happened. This I attributed to fate.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Chennai - Scene 2, Act 1 - Apartment hunting and exaggerated aspiration
Period- Feb 06 to Mar 06. Event - Settling in Chennai. Reason - Job Switch.
Apartment hunting contd -
A so-called "cosmo" property dealer in Adyar, when I had asked for a decent accomodation, had taken me to a chawl-like area to show me a dingy little two-room apartment with a corner that had been marked off as a kitchen area - i hadnt dared to inspect the loo.
When I made a hasty retreat and coveyed my displeasure at the house he had shown, he had summed up my requirements - " Oh! So, you want a super-deluxe apartment. The budgets for those kinds are upwards of 15,000INR" !!!
Another property dealer had asked me to come down from my "film-star like" aspirations for a house because I insisted on a neat loo and a workable, easy-maintainance kitchen!!!
Apartment hunting contd -
A so-called "cosmo" property dealer in Adyar, when I had asked for a decent accomodation, had taken me to a chawl-like area to show me a dingy little two-room apartment with a corner that had been marked off as a kitchen area - i hadnt dared to inspect the loo.
When I made a hasty retreat and coveyed my displeasure at the house he had shown, he had summed up my requirements - " Oh! So, you want a super-deluxe apartment. The budgets for those kinds are upwards of 15,000INR" !!!
Another property dealer had asked me to come down from my "film-star like" aspirations for a house because I insisted on a neat loo and a workable, easy-maintainance kitchen!!!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Act 1 contd - Mumbai Beckons
Stranger to a new city. A woman at that. Time 9 PM on a Sunday eve - I decide to go out and get some grocery and other items - the guards in the apartment seemed sure that I could go out at this hour - I decide to believe them and trust them.
The autodriver that the guards get for me just downs the meter - no questions asked - he takes me to a nearby Mart and I do my shopping - from bedcovers to soaps and towels and bread and jam - everything that I could think of - I shopped and was back at the Guest House - safe and sound by 10: 30 PM. And he only chnarged me Rs. 25/- for the round trip. He missed seeing my jaws drop!
Fresh fruits and bread down my gullet, I slept like a log amongst the logs!
Woke up to a blissful morning with birds chirping and stuff. My guest house was atleast located in a good place. I had the view of trees and not of concrete.
My experience after arrival in Mumbai had not been good. In fact, it had almost made me turn on my heels and head straight back to Delhi. And so, I did not know what to expect from the city.
Having lived in Delhi, travelling alone at night after 8 PM was not adviceable. Infact, this is ill advised for all women across India. However, Mumbai was different. I had heard so and had also experienced it on my first day alone in Mumbai.
Travel in Mumbai was so very convenient. There were buses, cabs, cool cabs, autos and the famous trains. No questions, no haggling. Hop into the hired vehicle, state your destination. Meters are downed and you pay the bill per the meter reading. This is also he only city perhaps in the entire India where the auto guys give you back the exact change. I couldnt but draw comparisons between Delhi and Mumbai - the two cities were poles apart. True, Delhi had beautiful wide roads, was comparatively neater but what the heck - a woman could just not travel by public transport in Delhi.
I never felt the pinch on my pockets when I was moving around the city looking for a decent rental acomodation.
When I did find a place to move into, I was plasantly surprised by people's attitudes too.
People were quite cosmo - they couldnt be bothered about other people - they minded their own business and let you mind yours. Not to say that they were indifferent when you needed help. Atleast my neighbors were ever ready to help. I was told by friends and colleagues that it could have been a case of "mallu" bonding - but I would have liked to believe that it was more a case of "human" bonding.
Days and months past by. Work was not exactly what I had envisaged it to be. Moreover, most of the nights too were spent in office. I had to look for another alternative. And look fast. That was how my stint at Mumabi lasted for a little over 6 months. Not withstanding the short stint at Mumbai - I must say that the city is truly cosmopolitan and safe, especially for women. I just hope that it continues this tradition in the days to come.
The autodriver that the guards get for me just downs the meter - no questions asked - he takes me to a nearby Mart and I do my shopping - from bedcovers to soaps and towels and bread and jam - everything that I could think of - I shopped and was back at the Guest House - safe and sound by 10: 30 PM. And he only chnarged me Rs. 25/- for the round trip. He missed seeing my jaws drop!
Fresh fruits and bread down my gullet, I slept like a log amongst the logs!
Woke up to a blissful morning with birds chirping and stuff. My guest house was atleast located in a good place. I had the view of trees and not of concrete.
My experience after arrival in Mumbai had not been good. In fact, it had almost made me turn on my heels and head straight back to Delhi. And so, I did not know what to expect from the city.
Having lived in Delhi, travelling alone at night after 8 PM was not adviceable. Infact, this is ill advised for all women across India. However, Mumbai was different. I had heard so and had also experienced it on my first day alone in Mumbai.
Travel in Mumbai was so very convenient. There were buses, cabs, cool cabs, autos and the famous trains. No questions, no haggling. Hop into the hired vehicle, state your destination. Meters are downed and you pay the bill per the meter reading. This is also he only city perhaps in the entire India where the auto guys give you back the exact change. I couldnt but draw comparisons between Delhi and Mumbai - the two cities were poles apart. True, Delhi had beautiful wide roads, was comparatively neater but what the heck - a woman could just not travel by public transport in Delhi.
I never felt the pinch on my pockets when I was moving around the city looking for a decent rental acomodation.
When I did find a place to move into, I was plasantly surprised by people's attitudes too.
People were quite cosmo - they couldnt be bothered about other people - they minded their own business and let you mind yours. Not to say that they were indifferent when you needed help. Atleast my neighbors were ever ready to help. I was told by friends and colleagues that it could have been a case of "mallu" bonding - but I would have liked to believe that it was more a case of "human" bonding.
Days and months past by. Work was not exactly what I had envisaged it to be. Moreover, most of the nights too were spent in office. I had to look for another alternative. And look fast. That was how my stint at Mumabi lasted for a little over 6 months. Not withstanding the short stint at Mumbai - I must say that the city is truly cosmopolitan and safe, especially for women. I just hope that it continues this tradition in the days to come.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Act 1 - Mumbai Beckons
July 4, 2005 -
I came to Mumbai on Jul 4, 2005 when I made a career move from Delhi.
"It is an MNC - a very large corporate company - please do not worry about me - I am sure things will be very fine" - I had said gallantly when I had decided to take up the job offer in Mumbai.
And I landed in Mumbai. Brushing aside my assertion that I could manage on my own, my SIL's brother gallantly offered to drop me off to my guest house. I had gone to his house to drop off my nephew who was travelling to Mumbai to meet his maternal grandparents.
Scene 1 -
The office guards are taken aback when I ask for the keys to the guest house.
I am shaken.
Guards - What do you want?
Me - The keys to the guest-house.
Guards - Who are you?
Me - I am a new employee.
Guards - What’s your name?
Me - Xyz.
Guards - No one's expecting you.
Me - No, they are - here’s my employee joining letter and here’s the letter with the details for my accomodation.
Guards - What do we do?
Me - I don’t know.
Guards - Here’s the number, please talk to HR.
Me - Sure.
Me- Hey, they are sure that I am expected.
Several calls and embarassing moments later, I landed up at the door to my guest house - two and a half hours after I landed up at the office.
Scene 2 -
Action - Insert key
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit
Action - Insert key a second time
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit a second time
Action - Insert key a third time
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit a third time
Reaction from SIL's bro - Here, let me try
Action - Insert key yet again
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit yet again.
Reaction from SIL's bro - These are not the right keys
More calls and even more embarassing moments later, a property dealer comes with the key to the door.
Lo and behold!! The door opens.
My SIL's brother was now even more determined to see me settled and I was getting awfully embarassed that I had a witness to such shoddy treatment from an MNC.
It is now dark and I am fleetingly glad that I have with me someone known.
Scene 3 -
The dining table in one corner of the room doubled up as the sofa set, the TV stand and the newspaper stand. Not to speak of the dust on it.
A refrigerator that had rotting bread and loads of fungus was standing not-so- tall in the kitchen.
There was logs of wood piled in one of the rooms - that is the one I decide to occupy. The other one had a stinky loo attached to it.
Someone had tried to be innovatibe - had used the last vista of a bedcover to drape the windows.
I tried to be calm and composed - profusely thanked my SIL's brother for having been around - convinced him that I would make myself comfortable in the room.
And my sojourn started - I welcomed my self to Mumbai.
I was on my own at 9 PM, Sunday eve ... - to be contd
I came to Mumbai on Jul 4, 2005 when I made a career move from Delhi.
"It is an MNC - a very large corporate company - please do not worry about me - I am sure things will be very fine" - I had said gallantly when I had decided to take up the job offer in Mumbai.
And I landed in Mumbai. Brushing aside my assertion that I could manage on my own, my SIL's brother gallantly offered to drop me off to my guest house. I had gone to his house to drop off my nephew who was travelling to Mumbai to meet his maternal grandparents.
Scene 1 -
The office guards are taken aback when I ask for the keys to the guest house.
I am shaken.
Guards - What do you want?
Me - The keys to the guest-house.
Guards - Who are you?
Me - I am a new employee.
Guards - What’s your name?
Me - Xyz.
Guards - No one's expecting you.
Me - No, they are - here’s my employee joining letter and here’s the letter with the details for my accomodation.
Guards - What do we do?
Me - I don’t know.
Guards - Here’s the number, please talk to HR.
Me - Sure.
Me
Several calls and embarassing moments later, I landed up at the door to my guest house - two and a half hours after I landed up at the office.
Scene 2 -
Action - Insert key
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit
Action - Insert key a second time
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit a second time
Action - Insert key a third time
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit a third time
Reaction from SIL's bro - Here, let me try
Action - Insert key yet again
Reaction - The key wouldnt fit yet again.
Reaction from SIL's bro - These are not the right keys
More calls and even more embarassing moments later, a property dealer comes with the key to the door.
Lo and behold!! The door opens.
My SIL's brother was now even more determined to see me settled and I was getting awfully embarassed that I had a witness to such shoddy treatment from an MNC.
It is now dark and I am fleetingly glad that I have with me someone known.
Scene 3 -
The dining table in one corner of the room doubled up as the sofa set, the TV stand and the newspaper stand. Not to speak of the dust on it.
A refrigerator that had rotting bread and loads of fungus was standing not-so- tall in the kitchen.
There was logs of wood piled in one of the rooms - that is the one I decide to occupy. The other one had a stinky loo attached to it.
Someone had tried to be innovatibe - had used the last vista of a bedcover to drape the windows.
I tried to be calm and composed - profusely thanked my SIL's brother for having been around - convinced him that I would make myself comfortable in the room.
And my sojourn started - I welcomed my self to Mumbai.
I was on my own at 9 PM, Sunday eve ... - to be contd
Creating my blog
How the blog bug bit.
View my blog – said Arjun - I viewed
View my blog - said John – I viewed
View my blog - said Sridhar – I viewed
View my blog – said Leela – I viewed
I didnt know. It didnt hurt. But the bug had bit.
View my blog – said Arjun - I viewed
View my blog - said John – I viewed
View my blog - said Sridhar – I viewed
View my blog – said Leela – I viewed
I didnt know. It didnt hurt. But the bug had bit.
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