009. What's in a name?

Trivandrum

27-Nov-2009

FLASH NEWS ...

Reached Trivandrum, India (my hometown) today morning on a short vacation.  As always, the first obvious sight, on getting out of Trivandrum International Airport enroute my house is (the nostalgic) Shangumugham Beach.

Paused a minute to take this shot - fishermen on their way of life, early in the morning.

Motivated! Here it goes! 

Two of my senior family friends also reached Trivandrum (from Malaysia) within an hour after my flight touched down.  During our conversations today, the topic of Malaysia took me in particular, to my initial days in Kuala Lumpur.

(I do not think that I would be able to complete this blog post today itself because, the time is just crossing midnight and I somehow want to hit the bed at the soonest possible!  Am I tired?)

Let me have a try!

Acknowledgement - as always!

Once again, thank you very much for going through, and commenting on  my previous entry - "Marks - some remarkable markings in life!".   For the first time ever,  the response from the readers was marvellous.  To place on record - 8 comments within the first 8 hours. 

A big thanks to all those who visited my site, read and commented on. 

What's in a name? - A background information

I am reminded of a funny situation which I faced in the very first week in Maxis, Malaysia. circa October 2000! 

My first abroad tenure was something, that came out of the blue.   I was happily staying with my father, wife and kid in my hometown, enjoying my work in SunTec, a Telecom/Transactions Billing Systems company, located just 6 kms. from my home.


Through a Chennai based company, viz. Synergy Log-In Systems, I got an interview call from Maxis - a telecom giant in Malaysia. 

Got selected.
Go or no-go?

Tug of war between the homely comforts and career progression!

Thought, thought, and thought.

Thought, talked, and decided.

I pulled up my socks and packed my bags.

At a very short notice, I left my hometown.




As per the directives of Synergy Log-In, I reported at their Chennai office.  I have a sentimental attachment to Chennai, then, now and forever.   Because, while in SunTec, I was a part of the Chennai Telephones Billing System, a project I really enjoyed working in.

And, for that matter, I love Triplicane, Haddows Road, Nungampakkam,  KK Nagar, the chain of good vegetarian restaurants,  cinema halls around, the tender coconut vendor in front of KK Nagar Telephone Exchange etc.etc. and lot more.  I am thankful to Chennai, for giving me a feel of something, which I cannot explain !  

At this point, I would like to thank Col Anand Nair (who was the Vice President of Synergy Log-In) and  Sreepriya (who was the HR Executive), for making my visa/flight arrangments swift and comfortable!

My first flight - significantly remarkable! 

I strongly believe that no "first(s)" should ever be forgotten!


After my initial joining formalities in Maxis, Ngai Sooy Leang, my  Project Manager ushered me to my pre-defined (or destined) seat.  

 There were no familiar faces at all - I could see only Chinese/Malay/Indo-Chinese/Indo-Malay faces everywhere. 
The floor (please dont read this word on its original dictionary meaning) where I was going to work, resembled an ocean to me.  Around 100 rectangular workstations! 

I was 0.01, I mean to say, a mere,  one-upon-hundred.

I looked around.

At the new place, I literally felt out of place.

All of a sudden, I heard somebody calling me by a "Hello" from behind.

I turned back. 

Thank God, an Indian! 

"Hi, I am Rehman.  I am also in Sooy Leang's team.  You are also in the same team, right?"

With a heavy sigh of relief, I nodded positively.

My first colleague or friend in Maxis.  This "first" is also not to be forgotten.  

(Eventually, we became good friends.  He introduced more about the work and other formalities, including many dos and donts.  We shared a similar wavelength, I felt.  Rehman, I mean, Mujeebur Rehman is currently working in an IT company in US.).

By the way, knowing Rehman, he made it a point to get out of his seat and relax himself whenever he got stuck in some codes while developing software applications.

Next day or so, while helping me settling in, Sooy Leang told (while pointing her fingers to a vacant seat adjacent to mine) - "Renjith, you would be reporting to Sara, who eventually reports to me.  You would be assisting Sara's portfolio - Reporting Applications and Finance related applications in our Billing System".

After a while, Rehman, whose desk was just behind mine, came to me and told  - "You would be in Sara's team, I guess"

I replied with an excitement - "Yes, thats what Sooy Leang told me just now."

I am not sure whether Rehman noticed the "new and improved: shining in my eyes?!

Yes, Rehman was not wrong, anyway.   I was a little excited to meet, see and work with Sara.  Especially, I am "directed" by Sooy Leang to work closely with Sara as an assistant. 

I asked Rehman - "is, Sara very strict or a friendly person?"

Rehman replied - "dont worry, Sara is a nice person to work with - a person who really understands our problems and cares the subordinates!"

That was, really a morale booster.  I desperately  needed one.

I told to myself - "I am going to like this place!  I am going to have an understanding and a caring boss. Great going!"

I started to fantasize - Sara's age, looks, talking pattern, behaviour, friendliness with me, closeness etc.  But my thoughts stopped, when I realized that Sara was going to be my boss.

But, off and on, Sara came to my thoughts and imagination.

Two days passed.  I was eagerly awaiting Sara to resume the duties and get myself introduced.

Without manifesting my excitement,  I approached Rehman and started the conversation with a query, related to some database tables.  After he replied, for which I must not have given much of my attention, I checked up the real query - "Do you know whether Sara would be coming today?"

Rehman replied - "I forgot to tell you. Sara extended the leave and would be joining only tomorrow, or most likely, a day after. Sara spoke to me a little while ago to discuss some urgent reports"

For sure, I was disappointed.

Why I was so eager to meet up with Sara?  Probably, because, I had been working with male superiors - some friendly and some rude.  I wanted to explore  the feasibility of this new equation, with a lady boss.

Sooy Leang interrupted my daydreaming session, by virtue of a Change Request Form (a document used in Software Development briefing the requirements).  She asked me to work on an urgent report and check up with Sara for further details, if required. She gave Sara's handphone number (Handphone is the word used in Malaysia for GSM/Cell/mobile phones)

Thanks!  I got an opportunity to speak to Sara!

I dialled out Sara's number - phone was switched off.  Disappointed.

With an added vigour and vitality, I worked on the assigned Change Request.  An opened-up gate to prove and establish my ability and stability!

I worked.
I worked hard.
I worked hard late hours.
I worked hard late hours and finished the report.

I got the Report and the program code verified  by Rehman.  His affirmative answer gave me more courage and confidence.

I somehow wanted to show this report  to Sara at the very soonest (for an appreciation).

Friday!  Sara was expected to join and resume the duties.  I kept tab of Sara's seat as it was adjacent to mine.  Many of Sara's subordinates (hierarchially, peers to me) used to access Sara's computer and other work related materials.  I appreciated Sara's openness to the subordinates. 

Because, I had worked with superiors, a majority of them managed their work with high confidentiality.  They feared their subordinates, categorizing them as potential threats or risk elements to their jobs!  They were misers when it came to knowledge sharing, I felt.

Due to the openness I mentioned, many developers used to access Sara's computer.  Some greeted me as a gesture, but many did not.

I continued scanning the whole floor for a "newer" face.  Failure.

After a short gap, a person came to access Sara's computer. 

So, what?

I noted him differently,  because, he was different from the others who used to access Sara's computer.  As a spy, I noticed him  accessing some personal folders in Sara's computer. 

I got alerted! 

I stamped him as "controversial".

I turned back to share my observation (or discovery) with Rehman, but he was not present at his desk.  He had gone out to vent out his pressure  and to gather back his stuck coding!

Withina few minutes, the "controversial" person got up and went to Sooy Leang's cabin. 

I watched, and watched.

Some discussions.

After a while, the "controversial" person returned to Sara's seat. 

This time, he smiled at me.

I reciprocated.

To open a conversation channel, or for a formality sake,  he stood up from the  chair and extended his arms for a "shake hand".

I shook hands with him.

As an introductory dialogue - "Hi, you are Renjit, is it?"

I was surprised. 

How could he know my name? - a person who came to Malaysia just 5 days back? Am I so well known ??  Bewildered thoughts in a fraction of a second!

"Hey...."

"Renjith, I am told about ypu by Sooy Leang just now!  You joined last Monday, isnt it?"

I had no clue. 


??????


"I was on emergency leave.  I am SARA.....   SARAVANAN ANNAMALAI"

I fell off the chair!


Renjith Sarada
NOTE : I made it!  Time is 2.44 (Indian Time) the next day after I started writing this blog post.  I am feeling sleepy due to my travel.  Hence, am not reading this before posting.

Thank you for your time.  Please feel free to comment.  You may use "Name/URL" tab to fill in your name while commenting.


© 2009-2012 (Renjith P Sarada) All Rights Reserved

008. Marks - some remarkable markings in life !

Kingdom of Bahrain

21 November 2009

BREAKING NEWS ... Happier today!
I am just back after a debut.
A debut on dubbing in Zayoon Artistic Productions, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Thanks to the Almighty and my good friends who are a part of the drama "Kuchela Vritham", to be staged in December 2009.


Personally, my debut is highly remarkable, because I was directed to offer my voice for the person who enacts the role of Lord Krishna, the super hero in Hindu mythology!


May I request you to share my happiness.  Some images of the recording!




Mr. Peethambaran, the writer-director fixed the dubbing artiste's head set for me, the very first time (20-Nov-2009)!

Acknowledgement - as always!

Once again, thank you very much for going through, and commenting on  my previous entry - "Make a call, book a dog!".  I acknowledge my sure-shot readers and new readers - they have not disappointed me.

A big thanks to all those who visited my site, read and commented on.

Good support  - with many thanks.

New initiative

A new initiative has been the commencement of online marketing,  by including  the logo (along with the one-click-link) of Etisalcom Bahrain,  the organization which motivates me every month end (by virtue of salary!).

To the storyboard!

This piece is churned out from a relatively old memory chip!   Let me muse happily on some of my childhood tantrums and  funny moments!

Walking back to the 80s, circa 1984.

- St. Joseph's High School, Trivandrum, India.

- 8th Standard.

- People all over, scared me by constantly advising the importance of 8th Standard in one's life.  

- The new gown of a "High School boy", fell on me like a burden, honestly.

- From nowhere, neighbours and distant relatives became more curious on my education!

Immeasurable tension!

- The frequency of tuition classes were beefed up.

- My adventurous journey (to the tuition classes) started, approximately by 6.30 AM in the morning from Mathematics, to school, to Physics, Chemistry etc. etc. etc. 

- I really looked forward to a tuition for Drill/Physical Education!   But, could not!

That year, Hari, my neighbour-cum-childhood friend-cum-school mate joined me in the same Division  where I was.  Though we were in the same school, that was the first time he was joining my class.  


Hari, a relatively brilliant student,  progressively posed a tough competition to my studies and hence, the whole 8th Std, for me, was something similar to the race between the hare and the tortoise.  

- We went for tuitions together.

- We played cricket together.

- We went to school together.

- We sat on the same bench, almost together!

- But, our marks were not together!  

- There was always quite remarkable, or consistent difference in our marks, in almost all the subjects!  He was superior.

As expected, Hari fared well in the First Quarterly exams.  Having said that,  I cannot completely deny the fact that I did not do well, but of course, not as significant - thats a fact.

I was under tremendous pressure.  There were comparisons from all over - neighbours, relatives, parents, everybody contributed profusely!  


There were even analyses of the "quantum" of hours we played, we studied, we wasted time, we watched television, and what not!

Did I become a laughing stock?  Yes / No / Don't know.

- I decided.

- I decided to study hard for the Second Term Exam.

- I attended.

- I attended the next Term exam with a boosted confidence.

Hari too.

Please don't frown!  I was not into cheating, or copying for the exams!

Exams over!  We spent short vacation by playing cricket, cricket & more cricket!

End of Parole

After a 10-day fun-filled-happy period,  the parole was over and the school reopened for the Final Term.  

With much (unwanted) enthusiasm, the teachers used to finish their answer paper valuation during the vacation.

Whatever said and done,  I was more than happy to get back my answer sheets of Mathematics, English, and Hindi, but not others.  Because, I had been confident in those specific subjects!  I was eager to "announce" the marks I obtained for these subjects.   Especially, if my marks were superior to that of Hari's, though very rarely.

But,  the comparison of our marks became a routine matter and a terrific activity for me.   Obviously, my ego suffered a dent.

- I decided.

- I decided to indulge in some foul game to protect my ego.
- I finalized.
- I finalized to inflate the marks while reporting at home.
(After all who is going to remember the marks that I reported?)
- Idea, confirmed.


One by one, the teachers started distributing the answer sheets - boomerang, reminding me of the proverb, "what you sow is what you reap".


For Biology, I still remember, I got only 26 out of 50, while Hari got somewhere around 42-45. The difference in our marks were so remarkable that I could not avoid nasty comparison.


On the way back home (by walking) from school, I started to implement the new idea.  I started inflating my marks.  By the time I reached the next junction, I decided to report my Biology marks as 30 (the next round figure).  On analysis, I understood that there was still a big gap of 12+ marks.  By the time, I reached the Ganapathi temple, located at the midway between my house and the school, my Biology marks became 35.  Considering the comparison exercises followed by stringent "firing",  I reported my Biology mark to my Amma as 38.


A fraud of only 12 marks within 10 minutes!


Poor Amma, she was, believed it and told me not to worry !


I continued this exercise for other (bad) subjects, and as per my plan, Amma believed me.  I was happy that I could escape the humiliation of comparison and further scoldings!  As per the new marks reported, my total came to somewhere between 480 and 500 - aggregating 80% PLUS.


I was confident that Amma would never be remembering my marks even when I show her my Progress Card.

Award Ceremony

If you ask me to list down the most scariest days that I had experienced in my life, I would definitely point out the initial ten to fifteen working days in St. Joseph's High School, immediately after  Second Term exam vacation.

Why?

Because, the Progress Cards were distributed by Headmaster himself.   


To make matters "adverse", he would always be accompanied by a teacher (who was good in physical stamina) for the Award Ceremony.  Mostly, it was our beloved Scout Master, late Mr. J.R. Vincent.  (RIP, both these beloved teachers left us for ever in 1988 and 2009 respectively)

Award Ceremony?  Awarding of cane beatings (hereafter referred to as awards) !  The recipients were  all, those who did not show any improvement in their marks when compared to their corresponding marks for the First Term Exams!!

A strange ritual it was!

I pretended to be "sick" to take leave from school during this timeframe,  but in vain.  After all, my parents were my parents!  

Yes, I too got awards.  The quantity and quality of these awards varied according to the "de-improvement" in your marks.   It was painful, but was equally happy sometimes, as the awards were happily given to many top rankers as well (just because, they scored less when compared to the First Term Exam).

Thankfully, Hari too got awards, hence I was at peace.


Climax
I showed the Progress Card to my Amma, who would, normally, "through Proper Channel",  get the signatures from  Achan.  


One day, two days, three days past, neither Achan signed my Progress Card nor Amma spoke to me.
I became anxious.


I asked  -"Amma, I want to return the Progress Card latest by tomorrow".



She handed over the Progress Card to me, just like before, that is, without any signatures!


Amma stared at me, like never before.  I was perplexed, and had no clue.
I even asked to myself - "Why is she indifferent this time?"


Like in movies, she got off her chair and walked to the kitchen.


I followed her.


Much to my surprise, she opened her kitchen shelf.  From the midst the cereals and provisions, she took out her notebook,  the one she  used for noting the kitchen-related accounts.


She opened the notebook - the penultimate page, to be precise.


Positioning her reading glasses, she asked me - "How much did you score for Biology?"   


Looking at the Progress Card,  I told - "T w e n t y   S i x".


On hearing my response, Amma looked at her note book.  Must have commented something, I don't remember, exactly.  


She reconfirmed - "Not 38, isn't it?"


She repeated the same questions, for those hatred subjects of mine - Physics, Chemistry, History & Geography.  My face turned pale.


As per her records (that she noted my inflated marks in her kitchen notebook, without my knowledge), I got 80%.  


I shouldn't have underestimated her!!


Quite unexpectedly, she caught me red handed.  Because, in actuals, my aggregate was much much less!  Undoubtedly, a session of punishment, continued.


Perhaps, that was the  LAST TIME,  I lied to my Amma (especially in marks).  


I learnt through the hard way not to underestimate your parents, how old or educated or uneducated they are.


With this note, let me open a discussion on similar experiences from my valuable readers!


Today
Hari, after his Engineering graduation, is currently working in America.   After this shocking experience, I stopped telling lies to Amma  thereafter,  and tried my best to study hard.   With God's blessings and her care  & affection, I enjoy where I am, what I am, who I am.


From my heart, once again, "Amma, I AM SORRY" !


Renjith Sarada
Please do not hesitate to leave your comments.

© 2009-2012 (Renjith P Sarada) All Rights Reserved

007. Make a call, book a dog !

Kingdom of Bahrain

13-Nov-2009

Preface

From the comments received, I understand that there was a mismatch between the subject and the content in my previous contribution - "The foldable cots in Gautam Nagar".  As always,  I honour and noted all the comments, both positive & negative.


From the GIS-application embedded in the website last week, I came to know that this site received many visitors, across the globe!    Quite motivating indeed!   

Thankfully, my previous one on Gautam Nagar (Delhi) got me Subair & Augustine, two of my colleagues in the Planning Commission, where I spent my 1993-96 years.   They have urged me to jot down about my Planning Commission days.     Definitely, I will - because, I have lot  to write -  about our Magazine club, Yojana's Kerala, fruit chaats, moosambi juice,  night shifts during parliament sessions... and many more.  

Thank you all, once again !

Delhi is one of my lucky places - it enriched me with a Government job, a Private sector job (little later),  helped me to associate with Delhi Experimental Theatre, gifted good friends, colleagues, family friends and above all, some  very good memories to relish forever !   

October, 1997.  Weather in Delhi was very comfortable, but that in my office, wasn't.  


I was then, with a private company, hierarchically under a "self imposed boss", a Finance Manager (who had nothing to do with my Job Description as my tag was System Administrator).  I spent days and nights thinking on how, what, when and who made me under him in the organization chart.  But, in vain.


The tattoo -  "Just Married"  -  still fresh. 


As soon as I got into my office that day morning,  I heard my desk phone ringing.  Mobile phones were a  luxury item then - hence not popular.

Bindu, my wife.

"Hello, reached office?"

"Yes, just now.  Whats the matter?" , I asked with a tensed voice.  


Because, usually, it was me who used to call her, as an acknowledgement, on reaching my desk.  So this  reverse call made me panicky.

"Did you see today's news paper?" 


Of course, this question of hers made me more worried.  Because you know about newspapers! 
  

"What happened?? Anything .....?"


She replied - "Dogs....."., and continued.


(But, frankly speaking, I could not focus on her conversation completely, because I got stuck somewhere, presumably questioning myself as to why she started the conversation by the word "Dogs"!)


A few seconds later, I got back to my senses;  asked her to repeat.


"I was referring to a news item in today's newspaper - "DOGS TO BE HANDED OVER TO DOG LOVERS"


She read the full news, but I must have listened only half of what she read out (I have not changed, even today).  But, I didn't fail to get a synopsis of the whole news item.


It meant - some dogs, imported from USA by a Pharmaceutical company were stopped by the Air Customs in New Delhi and were handed over to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  Vide the dailies, the S P C A was notifying the interested  dog lovers to call them and "book a dog", for free !


Indirectly, I was instructed by my wife to "make a call, and book a dog!!"


Quite patiently, I started trying out S P C A's telephone number.   


Busy tone - once, twice, thrice, many times.  


Are there so many dog lovers in Delhi, and that too, reading newspapers (unlike me)?  I doubted.


I became so busy and engrossed in the mission of  dialing out this particular number of S P C A, with much zest and an added determination.  


I got interrupted in the middle by an unwanted, or, what to say...  a trifling call from my SIB (self imposed boss!!).  He was calling me to type a letter (a personal one,  on behalf of his wife!!)


He handed over the manuscript to me, in a dirty handwriting.


"Am I your typist?  What do you think of me and my qualifications? Can't you see that I am the System Administrator of this Company?"


I swear, I wanted to throw these questions to him.  But, could not.  


Not because I didn't have guts to ask him.  But, I realized that I was working in a private organization, and the person I am referring to - was my SIB and above all, the Finance Manager, who had the authority to push or pull salary cheques!!


I listened.


I obeyed.


I typed.


I made typos - deliberately.   In the letter,  I remember typing  Chef for Chief,  ass for as  etc. etc.  No other avenues were available for me to vent out my anger at this SIB!


With a fictitious smile, I handed over the manuscript and the typed papers to him.  He, surprisingly acknowledged with a thanks, and I reciprocated,  like a lovable daughter-in-law reacts to her mother-in-law.  With an artificial smile,  I pretended pleading him to give more of his personal works, whenever he wanted to ! 


Back at my seat, I continued my mission of getting in touch with S P C A.  


Repeated busy tone!  Once, twice, thrice, many times!


But, my determination pushed me to  try dialing out SPCA's number - again and again.


In a short while, another disruption!    It was my boss again, with another set of manuscripts, along with the corrections to the previous one.  He was intelligent enough to dig out the typos I made.  An actor, I was,  and hence I acted as if those mistakes pointed out by him were mistakes, literally.


I really wanted to form another S P C A in the office - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Administrators (to be read as System Adminstrators).


Intermittently, I attempted to reach SPCA.  


Busy tone - once, twice, thrice, many times.


After umpteen attempts, by post lunch, I got my call to S P C A connected!  Hip, hip, hurray!!


"Hello S P C A?"


"Haan ji, boliye...."  (Yes, please speak on)


"Aaj akhbaar mein ...."  (Today, in newspaper....)


No explanations or introductions were necessary, as the Telephone Operator had been attending similar calls from the morning.


"Aap ka naam kyaa hai?" (What is your name?)


"Mera naam Renjith hai.." (My name is Renjith).


"Ek second rukhiye"  (Please hold on for a second)


"Achcha, aap ka naam register kiya hai, aur aap aaj shamko chcheh baje ke pehle pehle idhar hamaare office mein aayiyega.." (OK, your name is registered and you should come to our office before 6 PM today)


My happiness - immeasurable!  


I called up Bindu immediately and communicated the conversation I  had with the S P C A person.  She was happy and me too!  


I was more happier than before, because, by then, I had seen a picture of one of these controversial (cute) dogs in the newspaper.   I even started planning on how to bring the imported member home and make him/her a part of our small family.   


I blamed the pharmaceutical company for doing these kind of cruelty to animals.  Testing a drug, without knowing the end results - on these cute and tiny living beings?   Oh! God!  What a pity!


After an impatient wait, by evening,  5.30 or so, I stepped in to the S P C A office. Much audible was the background score of barking dogs - different breed, different voice, different pitch, different tone, different tempo, different tune etc.


Like a job interview venue,  there were around 10 other people waiting at the reception. Automatically,   I became the next one in the queue.  


I saw people getting in to an Officer's room,  coming out after a couple of minutes.  None of their faces were happy. 


Mixed feelings !


My turn came.  I got into the Officer's room.   


A lady officer.  She greeted me with a smile, asked my name,  and opened a Register to verify the genuineness of my appointment.   She got convinced and asked me to talk about myself !! 


Examination? 


Believe it or not,  I had an interview!


She asked me, starting from my name - my address, my family background, job position, salary, environment of the house etc. etc.  


No wonder, why I saw people who met this lady before my turn, went out of the room  with irritated expressions.  Not to specifically mention,  I also started to get irritated.  


My enthusiasm "started to finish".   


With an optimism, I asked her, "Madam, aaj hi mein ye dog le sakthaa hoon?"  (Can I take the dog today itself?)


The Officer started an essay of the subject dog, their breed, their environment in America, how were they looked after, the category of their masters etc. etc.   After a pause, she started further questions.


"Aap ka ghar pe AC hai?"  (Do you have A/C in your house?)


I answered negatively.  The blunt truth.


Further, in a different tone, she continued.


"Roz 100 rupeye ka kharcha hoga.  Kyonki, ye sirf tin food hi khaathe hain"  (Daily you will have to spend nearly Rs. 100.  Because this breed will have only tin food).


I checked up whether there were any chances for substituting the tin food.   Like, any bread mixed with ghee, or some cheese stuff, or baby food, or pure mutton or chocolates etc.  


No way.  The officer did not accept any of my suggestions. 


I promised that I would take care of this imported dog, and look after better than me, and  in the best of available circumstances.  The Officer didn't budge at all.  


She hinted that there were many other "more-qualified" dog masters in her Register, to take care of this imported breed, as per S P C A's expectations !


I wished to live like a dog in the next life!


But, as a consolation,  she told me that there were few other good breeds available,  free of cost.   On her instructions, one of her assistants ushered me to the kennel area.


The sun was setting, hence little dark.


Kennel area - a center path with rows of kennels on either sides.  When we passed by, the dogs started to bark vigorously.  


It was scary audio visually,  because of the barking sound and lack of day light!  


I decided to give up.   


It was disappointing, because I did not expect these long and complex formalities.  I learned once again, that nothing comes free in this world, there is a price tag attached to everything.  


I returned home.  Did not want to disappoint Bindu at one go.   So, I told her that after a long "interview" process, I got selected to the second round of interview, most probably to happen in the coming week.   Then,  followed by a verification of my house and surroundings by some S P C A personnel, the dog  would be handed over.   Etcetera, etc. etc.  


She must have waited for the call from S P C A  for the second round of interview.


Neither any call from S P C A came, nor the dog!


The wait continued...??  I don't know and never asked her too !




Renjith Sarada
Kindly feel free to leave a comment.
© 2009-2012 (Renjith P Sarada) All Rights Reserved

006. The foldable cots in Gautam Nagar

Kingdom of Bahrain

06 Nov 2009

Winter of 1993 was at its peak (at least for me, being a first timer).  I got down at New Delhi Railway Station after a long domestic travel from South to North, for the first time in my life - a "voyage" spanning more than 54 hours.  I liked train journeys, always.  I liked  meeting different people, seeing different places, eating different food, enjoying train coffee etc. etc.  Since  that was my first long journey, Daddy accompanied me, who had been to Delhi many times, during his Services tenure.

My sister, Lekshmi Chechi (who was then in Gurdaspur, Punjab) and another relative, Wing Cdr. Mohan Chand (a.k.a. Mohan Chettan) received us at the Railway Station.   Will write more about my acquintances  with Mohan Chettan and his wife Mallika Chand (a.k.a Malu Chechi) a little later.   I can never forget their care and affection shown to me,  especially during my initial days in Delhi,  and the big consideration towards me, a novice in the big Capital city.


Malu Chechi introduced me to Joies, one of her colleagues in Modi Xerox.  The latter, hailing from Pala in Kerala was a very helpful person  and  had consented to accommodate me also in his accommodation in Gautam Nagar (near AIIMS).


Very clearly I remember, with a beige coloured VIP suit case and another bigger travel bag, I started my independent life, miles away from my home and family.  From a huge house,  till a few days ago,  I got confined to a shared accommodation (to be read as one-room + kitchen + common bathroom).  To make matters worse, the room was shared by five people, including me, the latest entrant!   Initially, I felt claustrophobic, but, later got used to it.


When I was staying comfortably with my parents back home in a big house, without any "mandatory hassles", I thought that  independent life would be interesting and enterprising.    Those where just blurred thoughts, I learnt.

After helping me to settle down in my "new house",  Daddy left for Gurdaspur with my sister for a short visit.  Though he was scheduled to come back to Delhi  after two weeks (prior to his  return to Trivandrum),  I felt a strong tremor within myself - a feeling of solitude - a feeling of loneliness - in simple terms, budding of home sickness!!


I tagged relationships and bondings - priceless !


Accommodation in Gautam Nagar

Though it was very difficult to cope up at the beginning, I started to like the place and the environment, progressively. 

In every similar accommodation in these big cities, I learnt that, there was a "leader" who would be the single point of contact, at least for the house owner, for following up the rental dues, if any!    In vernacular  terms, his neck will be the first to be caught by the  (stout)  house owners if he fails pay the house rent on time!!


For us, Joies was the leader, as he was the person who took this particular room for rental.  Literally, he was our Guardian!  House owner, was of course, a strong and stout lady (with a silent husband).  In the same building, there were many rooms provided on rental basis, house owner may not be the right word in this context.   I would rather call her, a rooms owner. 

Like many other buildings in Gautam Nagar (and many other parts of Delhi), this building also had a first floor with 5 rooms (+ 5 kitchens) and one common bathroom-cum-toilet.  This room-renting concept in these constructions gave me a feeling that the first floor of houses in Delhi were meant to cater to the requirements of people like me,  a part of the  "job seeking influx".

Lovingly and honestly, I would write more about my Gautam Nagar life sometime later!  Because, there were very different, loving  and funny people associated with my day-to-day life there.

Moving forward, the crux of this story, is neither related to this building I am talking about, nor about the rooms owner.  

It is something related to the two folding cots available in our room! 


About the roommates - a background information

The roommates I had in Gautam Nagar, were ambitious.  Their main ambition was to get themselves migrated to Gulf/Middle East.  They all considered their Delhi tenure as a stepping stone to get in the first flight to the Middle East.

Joies,  alias the "leader"  was working in the capacity of a Service Engineer in Modi Xerox.  Because of his systematic and disciplined work habits, he could possess  wonderful and timely appreciations from the organizations wherever he was attached to.  Coincidentally, one of his responsibilities, from a Service engineering perspective,  included my office in the Ministry of Defence as well.    For a perfect Gulf job,  matching his experience and "all" his expectations,  he desperately tried, then got tired and eventually retired.


Tale of Joseph seemed little wierd for me.   He was a hotel management professional who resigned from his job,  completely relying on a false belief of acquiring a job in Saudi Arabia.  He expected that he would get his Job Offer letter as soon as the interview was cleared. On a haste, he relinquished his charges from his  then position.   Occasionally, he cursed his bad time,  but resumed applying for Gulf jobs afresh.    Since he claimed to be a close relative of Joies,  he could earn the title and "rank" of a deputy leader in our room.  The pose I best remember of his, is him scanning the Jobs-Vacant pages of Hindustan Times swiftly with a "501" brand beedi glued to his mouth, early in the morning.   He was obviously on the look out for a hotel management related job, matching his experience and "all" his expectations.


Jose, reportedly, a "5km-distant" cousin of Joies came from Rajastan two weeks before I joined.  Since he joined our room prior to me,  he also was a senior to myself.  He was good in cooking and he WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS MY FIRST COOKING GURU.  More about his cooking skills and the culinaries I learned from him,  will be detailed when I write more about my Gautam Nagar life.   Like Joseph,  he was also desperately attending umpteen Gulf bound interviews,  but in construction domain.   Gradually, he started to dilute his  aggressive enthusiasm towards Gulf opportunities.   Alternatively, for his passion sake, he transformed himself to a "domestic cook", for all of us ! 

Of the above, Dilip wore a different coloured cap altogether.  He was a soft spoken person, happily enjoying his job in a company in Nehru Place.   He was undergoing some medication,  more details unknown to me.

Foldable cots

The time frame I am referring to, is January-February of 1993.

Winter!

Severe weather!

The winter nights in Delhi, for me,   became intolerable.   Because, we were sleeping on the floor. 

The two foldable cots available in the room were used by Joies and Joseph.  An unwritten rule prevailed there,  and in line with that, the cots were allocated to the two "top ranked room  leaders".   Jose, due to his physical strength occasionally overpowered Joseph and used to grab one of the foldable cots.   But, Dilip and myself were permanent "floor sleepers". 

It was fun! 

Full of comedy! 

Bachelorhood !

Days passed by.  Due to acclimatisation problems,  the  winter nights and continuous sleeping on the floor became a real nightmare for me! 

In the meantime, to get rid of this inconvenience,  I requested one of my colleagues to help me in finding a better and convenient accommodation.   He told me that one of his roommates would return to hometown, thereby opening up a "vacancy" in their accommodation.   But, there was uncertainity as he did not assure any guarantee on the timeline expected.

Under the circumstances, only two options were open to me - either to become a leader of the room or shift to another room alone (with  a "leader" status)! 

Frankly,  being a "neophyte" in the Capital city,  both these options were not practical for me.  And,  the only feasible solution was to pray for the best!

Yes, I started praying, very religiously, for me and for all concerned!

Prayed for a suitable job for Joseph in one of the best hotels in Saudi Arabia.....

Prayed for a matching job for Jose in a well known construction company in UAE.....

Prayed for an awesome job for Joies in a MNC in any Gulf country he likes.....

Because, the above three were the only possible candidates for the foldable cots!

Also,  prayed for a promotion for Dilip and a better stay for him in Delhi,  as he was not at all a threat to me to grab one of the available  foldable cots !!

First or last, but not the least, I prayed for my well being too!!    Selfish!??

I trust in God - past, present and future.

Within a fortnight, my colleague, gave me the happy news of the readiness and availability of a "berth" in his accommodation.   Without having any second thoughts, I nodded positively to his much awaited call. Moreover, this newly proposed accommodation was located near to the office.

I got a little relieved. 

Not little, but a lot relieved!

In March the same year, Joseph got a job  offer from Saudi Arabia, which he happily accepted.  He left Delhi within a week and I have never seen him thereafter.  

After a month later, Jose also left Gautam Nagar.  He got a job in a construction company in Dubai.  Due to his family commitments, he went ahead with the appointment.  I will never forget the Aaloo Mutter (an Indian curry made of potato and green peas) he taught me to cook, the very first time.  Even today,  I have a sentimental attachment to Aaloo Mutter, and I cook whenever I think of my Gautam Nagar days.  

Dilip was not that lucky like others and I would say, that my prayers were not heard for him.  He went back to Kerala for some further treatment.   I came to know many years later, that he got settled in Kerala.  

Joies continued, like ever before.  But, his ambitions had a paradigm shift.   He abandoned his Gulf aspirations and he  wished  to marry a beautiful girl  from the nursing profession to get settled.

When Jose, Joseph and Dilip vacated the room,  Joies and myself experienced a missing feel.  

No fun.

No comedy.

And, there was no fight or competition for the foldable cots. 

(Anti)climax

Summer had started  by the time I started to enjoy my sleep on the foldable cot.  The story and the nightmare continued, as it was terrible to sleep on the cots during Delhi summer !!  Then, I longed to get rid of the foldable cot.

Months later, winter started all over again.  As per my word given to my colleague, I shifted to the new accommodation.   Ironically, I was junior in their team, again, and my story of sleeping on the floor continued.....  

I resumed my prayers ......

Roommates - today?

Joies - succeeded on his mission and later married a nurse.  Surprisingly,  with a matching name too - Joisy. 

Jose - neither I saw him thereafter,  nor I talked to him over any communication media.   Jose, we will meet up, one day -  I am confident.  I have improved my culinary skills.

Joseph - due to lack of familiarity with emails and mobile phones when we parted, could not establish any contacts with Joseph.   Joseph, if you are reading this by any chance, please contact me.  Lets revisit our fun-filled days.

Dilip - hope and trust he is a leading a healthy and happy life.  Dilip, if you are happy, I am also happy.

I would be more than happy If we can  have a reunion after a very very long 17 years! 

Not one, or five, or ten, or fifteen, but seventeen long years! 

I am feeling very sleepy.... let me get my foldable cot, kept somewhere here !

Good Night!

Renjith Sarada

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