vanitaj

We have all experienced a manager asking for stretching beyond the office hours in different styles but today it was a man asking for stretching financial details beyond my annual income in a very sophisticated style. Here it goes:

Sophisticated officer: So you are working at <Name>

Sophisticated officer: Role?

Me: I am working as Module Lead.

Sophisticated officer: That company does not pay much!

Me: It pays on par with any other India company. Of course I can’t compare it with the handsome salary paid by product companies of Europe/USA base.

Sophisticated officer to Father: So what’s your annual turn over?

Father: <Dad provides some calculations>.  (Sophisticated officer is not satisfied with the answer).

Sophisticated officer: So now tell me how you will support your daughter in future financially!!!

Father: She is well qualified and earning pretty well.

Sophisticated officer: You send me a mail with details of your annual income.

I being a “true” sophisticated professional shutting the other details of the discussion here ;)

As Kabir-das said “Pothi padh padh kar jag mua, pandit bhayo na koye”, it is yet another instance to realize high qualifications does not change attitude.

Does work take preference over family? Should we actually give preference to the work commitments more than our family?

We keep reading the forwarded mails which highlight the priority of family in life in comparison with work but where do we actually draw the line. Let’s take the example, you have committed to travel onsite on a Friday and you know no one else in the current position can replace you for this onsite work and you are well aware of the happening on project front and on Thursday all you family members except you fall sick. What will you do. The illness is not a mild fever which will be cured with 2 doses of antibiotics but a high fever which makes you bed ridden by taking out the energy of all the joints in body added with swelling on joints. What should a person do?

I took a call to go ahead with work commitment thinking the illness my family members have got is not breath taking (I am confident on my parents life I don’t know why I am so confident on the most uncertain fact of existence) and even if I am there next to them I cant take away their pain, of course I would have helped them a lot; but if I don’t travel now my customer satisfaction may get affected which will affect the relation built over last 4 years with continuous hard work from each team member. I still don’t know if I am right. Should I have stayed back and taken care of my mother when she needed me the most? When I ask this question to myself I think that would have been right. But now nothing can be done as I have already reached the destination.

I just pray to my parents that they forgive my yet another act of prioritizing work than personal life.

Have you seen anybody relaxed for missing the flight? If No you missed the chance to see one! ME.

I missed the connecting flight for LA from Hongkong. What happened was all strange. I don’t know how it happened, it’s a MYSTERY! Probably there is more than one reason for this. And this is the answer one gives when the hormones take over the control of brain. I don’t even which hormone took over my control.  But the feeling after missing the flight probably took me to the state of mind I have never experienced before.

I feebly remember that there are 4 states of mind. ALPHA,  BETA, DELTA, THETA. All the time human beings are awake they work in the BETA state of mind. ALPHA state of mind is in all innocence of a child which I have no more and in state the of meditation (which I TRY to do) and DELTA is when we are in deep sleep, and  THETA the frequency of mind during early stages of sleep.

I think I realized what is a ALPHA state of mind today probably! I am not sure if I should title it but YES it was worth missing the flight ;)

My journey started in lot of hurry under lot of worry. So the two “rry”’s started with me to mess up anything on this journey.  I hope that ends with missing the flight.

When I got down at Hongkong, I had to rush to find where GATE 46 is! I had woken up from sleep and badly wanted to brush but still the instinct kept saying go near designated gate and then take break. Habits make you slave, so I was. I could not stop the feeling to brush the teeth. It overtook my instinct and I entered the rest room near GATE 38 to take break. Added to this was another habit of trusting the time shown by wrist watch! The mind is set to 5 minutes ahead of MindTree working hours and often brain forgets that fact. I kept my ear on the announcements going on but I was far from GATE 46 which I realized too late. Then when I got out of the rest area, I was kinda enjoying the magnanimous airport trusting my watch; then incidentally I saw big advertisement from Rolex and it appeared to be showing the local time which was 4:00 PM. I was supposed to report by 3:50. Immediately I saw the status of CX882 and it said LAST CALL. I performed a sprint race to reach to GATE 44 where there was security stopping from anybody going further, I begged her to do something as it was very important for me to reach Tucson on 7^th. But the gate was closed the flight door was closed; all the doors to the flight CX882 were closed for me.

The moment I realized I missed my flight was very disturbing. I knew the expenses of reaching late to Tucson. These tensed moments lasted till I went to the contact desk to find out about the next flight details. At last I got the flight on the same night to LA.

After all the running around, I relaxed to see what was on my mind. Probably to find how did I miss the flight. It was blank. It was a state where thoughts didn’t linger even when I forced them to. How I wish life continues in that state where I felt so relaxed. There was nothing worrying me. All the tension which I underwent was washed away.  There were no thoughts about my parent’s health, project status; I don’t know where they got lost. Probably the fact of missing the flight took away the entire plight!

So guys MISS a flight next time when you are on journey with hops, it may turn out to be good experience!!!

The show must go on

Last night myself and Shripad had a long discussion . So long the discussion went on that I missed my offshore call and later had to complete it post 12 AM.

Discussion kindled when I said down the lane after some 20years when my kids are in 10^th or 12^th standard I shall give them freedom to choose if they want to keep the family name as part of theirs or not. Because each one should lead life as he is born to prove his identity. Then we will build a great nation.

These words somehow lead to the discussion on society which linked with current regional setup of India lead to the long discussion.

As I strongly believe progress of India is not greatly affected with the current regional setup, Shripad on the other side was strong on proving that the very fact of India getting divided on basis of language after Independence holds the big hand in hindering the growth of our nation. His point was individual will never grow thinking of India as MY NATION as long as he is meddling with petty interstate issues, consciously or unconsciously fighting for decades.

Me: With strong belief that its education which helps man to grow and change to a better person, if with education we continue to fight for such issues then its not due to the division of India into different states on the basis of language responsible, India can prosper only when each individual with education excel in following things consciously.

It’s because of the division on language basis that we have a structured education; we have nurtured culture, distinct to each region.

Shripad: On the other side said, it’s the society which holds back a person. What do we hold to show to the world as achievement we achieved because of our distinct cultures.

If I take my low caste friend to home, unless they come to know about his birth he is a nice guest, as soon as his class or caste is revealed its why did you get him in home?

Me: I say the country well structured on the basis of language is not responsible for this, it’s the caste system which was developed over decades and centuries, this problem would not have resolved in any manner if we were not organized on the lingual basis. It would continue to exist as its now.

We Both: India has a long way to go. Down the lane after 20-25 years will our children also continue to say the same?

Shripad:Miracle has to happen to see India the way we want in next 10-20years.

Me: Miracles do happen.

Shripad: They will either continue to discuss the same or chicken out, move to a different nation and be another escapist. How many great brains are there holding back themselves in our nation and fighting back?

Me and Shripad :We as society never have courage to stand for our rights. Most of the times we don’t even know what our rights are? We just accept things and never fight back

Shripad : I still remember it was our jawans fighting on the Kargil border for our nation and we safe at home were happily watching cricket. This is the pride we have for our nation. This is the way we associate ourselves with the nation.

Me: Yes, I had these feeling during the Kargil war, I still remember we were celebrating festivals when the war was still going on, on the border.

Me:The power of Satyagraha is proven with unfeigned belief of one single soul; we need such one great soul to change.

Shripad: Its dinner time, I am feeling very hungry. Anyways the life will go on as its said “THE SHOW MUST GO ON”

Me: ya, good night

I am left with many thoughts but one strong thought

Could any one of us be that soul?

At least can I always stand by the morals of great education and never consciously or unconsciously find the ways out for the benefit of mine or others....

Atfter a long time I had discussion on something worth discussing about. And thanks to Shripad, I am made to think, made to give wake up call to some neurons sleeping for months.

PS: Its bits of the discussion we had, if in anyway the discussion was unclear or you got baffled then it’s my naïve skill which could not convey the gist of our thoughts.

Subroto should write article on such thoughts what u say ;)

Oh God! It’s a month away from home. Time just flies. Some of emotions also fly with time. Enlightened say forgetting is the best gift humans possess. But they didn’t give thought on the amount of time it takes to forget anything. May be we don’t forget anything; it just remains at the back of memory and recalls itself when you are alone as I am now.

My memory has kept track of all my experiences then why doesn’t it remember what I studied in Engineering? Learning is a major experience right!! It makes me doubt if I ever studied 4 years of engineering. Anyways this time makes me go back to those past experiences and again and again make me justify my stand. And I come out with different paths leading to the same answer every time. It kills time. I totally agree empty mind is devils house. Past gets recalled when you don’t have anything else to think about.

So the major learning of the whole of one month is keep yourself very busy if you don’t want to recall any of your wrecking memories of the past.

As usual this 4^th week end started on Friday evening. Though didn’t work much as had plans of coming on Saturday left from office at 4:30 itself. Record right! I went with Sobhan to his home. Then we went to WalMart with Kalyani and Siddhrath. What to buy what not to buy was a problem. I just bought cooking oil and my favourite orange juice.

When we started back it was almost 8:45. Then I had dinner with Sobhan and Kalyani and Sobhan dropped me back at 11 PM. I was just catching sleep, Vikas called up. It was long chat on ThanksGiving plan of seeing one of the Natural Wonder of World - Great Grand Canyon.

Saturday was spent in office. And Sunday will go in finishing the extra work pending for last one month.............

Friday is a holiday it’s a long week end. A salute to all the mortals who served their nation in possible way, in remembrance of their work it’s a holiday today.

Sad thing for me, its long week end what will I do.

Friday went in waiting for Mala’s call as she had told me that we shall go shopping, but sadly she didn’t call me up. She got busyt with her house work and my day was wasted. Then on Saturday as I didn’t want to spoil the whole day, called her up to know the plans and yes she took me to Tucson Mall. We spent almost 4hrs in the Shopping mall.

Mala knew what she wants to buy and I on the other end didn’t have any clue of what I want to buy but I wanted to buy some other the other thing for some or the other person.

On Sunday wanted to go to office. Walked for a distance with a hope to get the bus at other end but luck was bad. I didn’t get. So it was a flop plan.

Parveez-sir called up. It was nice speaking with him. As Anjum had to go to office their week end plan was cancelled it seems. He was filling his stomach with chocolates.

I had a chapatti in lunch and don’t know what to eat for dinner. Don’t feel like cooking L

I think this is the shortest week end description. There is nothing to write what to say than it’s a punishment to live alone.

Week end starts on the Friday evening. After watching Friends I slept at 7Pm itself without even having dinner. And when I open my eyes on lazy morning of week end it is 8AM. The soothing rays of sun are peeking through the window, I keep seeing them to delight my eyes and soul; took some time to come out of mesmerizing morning sun trap to clean the apartment. After my breakfast when it is 10 and since then I am listening to Kishore hits and hitting the keyboard to update you all about what I have been doing, and even waiting for Sobhan’s call as he had told me that we shall go to office for some time but he hadn’t mentioned the time so I am waiting for his call.

Actually I am waiting for his call because he is going to take me to his home today! Eager to eat proper dinner made of Sobhan’s Mom’s hands. Mom’s hands have some magic; just the touch of their hand on food makes it more delicious. I am waiting for dinner!!!

I got little suspicious about Sobhans plans so gave a call to his home. No one was available so I was sure they all have gone out. To find out what time he is coming, called up on his cell phone and he said 1:30PM. I was ready since morning now 1:30 made me think of lunch. Lazy Saturday no mood to cook food for myself so pacified the hunger with juice, banana and a laddu.

Now its 2 PM, me and My Manager in office, both of us busy clearing our mail boxes and looking at Peoplenet after a week. Subroto’s article Google your careers sprouts discussion on his articles and it grows on and on visiting different branches to end at 4 PM when we realize too much of time pass and we are here to work. Sobhan has to look at some bug in the emission test so we go to Lane. He sets the debug points on the code and goes to drive. There are 5 traces in the test and each trace takes minimum 5-8 minutes. The engine of the car is making so much noise that we can’t even can’t even touch upon the untouched topics of after noon discussion.

So Sobhan is doing time pass in his way by turning the wiper on and off, examing one or the other parts of the car. I am doing time pass by trying to write with my left hand admiring all the ambidextrous people for their capability.

We are done with testing by 6PM and now back in MindTree cubicle. Me busy looking out for Digital Camera and Sobhan probably filling his expenses details and other personal stuff.

Just before 7PM we start to Sobhan’s home. There is no traffic on the roads we reach his home pretty fast. Siddarth is in Kalyani’s arms. I wash hands to take him and play with 2 months old kid. It’s real joy to play with babies.

My stomach is burning. Suhail (another Indian in ESP) as usual late to come we are waiting for him to join us soon when its 8PM.

At last around 8:30 Suhail comes in with a sweet box in hand. I say Suhai “Sweets bana ke laye kya?” he replies “Dabba bhee banaya. ESP mein kuch bhee kar sakte hai “ !

He plays with Siddharth for some time and them we decide to eat food.

Food is too good. They call is Roti with black grams in it. It tasted more like MaddurVada for me but bigger in size. It was really tasted good with butter and ginger chatni. Then had dal-rice, samabar-rice and curd rice. And I had no room for IceCream so I kept it back in refrigerator. As I had liked the ginger chatni a lot Sobhan’s mom gave me a bottle full of Ginger Chatni. That just touched my heart. I think all Indian Moms are alike. Even my mother does the same when some one admires some food. She will not even keep something for herself and serves away everything.

It’s 10 time for Sobhans parents to take rest so we said BYE to them. They are returning to India coming week. 

Sunday is just another lazy day of week end. Very lazy to cook so had my usual breakfast with Milk,Banana and Laddu. From 10AM started giving missed calls to wake up Suhail. PH you are genious at it yar. Many times the call went to message box.

Atlast at 11 sun raises for Suhail. We go to the university at 12. It’s a hot noon of Tucson for a girl from Karnataka but Suhail says its normal yar.

He shows me the Computers, Literature, Civil departments; All in one shop; A Big Library; Amrical Football, Basketball, Football, Tennis, SoftBall….grounds.

Though it ‘s Sunday, students are busy studying in the library. There are places for group study too. It is a nice place. Momentarily thought of going back to studies comes in my mind so I ask Suhail how much value does MS adds. He says it adds a lot of value. My desire gets more intense. Before I loose myself in thoughts about it we see a group of students palying Football. A girl is playing really well. So we stop in the hot sun for 4-5 minutes to watch her playing.

Then we see the old library looks like a very very old building, it has a royal look.

Suhail drops me back to apartment by 2PM. Now I am really hungry. Easy to make and easy to eat is rice. So I eat and sleep.

Shripad is on phone at 4 and we speak with each other for 2:30 hrs can you believe it. The topic of our discussion was Weddings. Most interesting topic Arranged vs Love. Behaviour of parents towards Love Marriage when it comes to their children.There is no doubt we the call is for 2:30 hrs.

That’s my second week end in Tucson AZ…in the state of Cactus