I experienced yesterday how a single line can rewind all the memories within a flash. One of my ex-Infy colleagues put his status message on FB as “For all those June 26, 2006 batch employees of Infy, congratulations on the successful completion of 5 years”.
Well, I left Infy 3 years back but there are so many things associated with me getting into Infy, that it brings back so many special memories. The summer of 2006 was one of the worst and then the best time of my life.
Worst. If there’s one thing I can say that I worked hard for in my life, that would surely be an MBA seat. So as I said, I worked very hard for all the written exams of 2005 and got interview calls from some of the elite institutes of India. But I could not convert those calls into final admission. I received bad news one after another (of me not getting into any of those colleges) in all those terrifying months of April, May and June 2006. And I did not have any choice other than to prepare once again and wait for that elusive seat. Now, the problem was that I was working in an industry where I did not want to make a career. And MBA was then the only way to get out of that industry. So, I had to start all over again for my MBA aspirations. I once said to one of my friends “Its difficult to light that flame of desire every June”.
Best. In between those working years, in that industry, I tried my hand in getting back to my industry: Software, which was actually my plan B (I’m a “qualified” software engineer, btw;)) And then I got, finally, into Infy. But to be honest, getting into Infy was only half of the reason why I still believe June 2006 to be one of the best months of my life. When I broke the news to my friends, they were happy and sad at the same time. Happy because of Infy and sad because I had to leave Pune. But then it was the best option I had at that time. I had around 15 days before joining Infy. And I must say that those 15 days are right there on top. How I wanted to spend every second with my friends and enjoy the little time I had! So from 7 in the morning to 12 in the night, I created memories that would last my lifetime.
I believe it happens with everyone that you always get, at some point in time in your life, few precious days that are permanently inscribed in your heart. But those days are special because I had those special people. They made me feel like I was on top of the world and told me things that I did not expect them to explicitly say though I knew every word they said.
It’s been 5 years since I left Pune but it still feels like all that happened yesterday only. Now, I don’t meet those special people very often (have not met few of them even once since then) but still if given a choice, I would like to relive those 15 days.
If there's any reason we should appreciate our life, then definitely its days like those and I feel that I'm the luckiest person as I got the chance to meet, befriend and spend time with those idiots. Precisely the reason why Pune is my favorite city!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
What's the worth?
After midnight and pre-dawn calls from home are the ones that can make your heartbeat racing. I got one such dreaded call a fortnight back. I saw 2 missed calls from my dad at 6:15 in the morning after I came out of showers. First thing I did was to pray to the God and then call back to my dad. By the time my dad picked up the call, I made numerous guesses. And then finally, dad broke the sad news of my Mom’s uncle’s sad demise due to two back-to-back heart attacks. I was stunned.
My dad told me in clear words that I don’t need to rush to home, as I would not be able to attend the funeral and advised me to try to come during “Terahvi” (the thirteenth day), if possible. Though there was no doubt that I would come but it shows my dad’s understanding of the problems I may face while coming, when he used “if possible”. Well, I somehow managed to go after overcoming many “problems”. Being with your loved ones during these testing times is something we all want to do.
Amidst all the other benefits of life that people like me who live 1000 miles away from their hometowns enjoy, this is one of those reasons because of which we sometimes feel sad, cursed and even ashamed. I have always felt that pinch of missing out so many events because of only one reason: I was sitting far away from my hometown. But never I felt that pinch so strongly as I’m feeling from last 15 days. What’s the use of all those luxuries of life if you can’t be with people who matter, in times of need? I know I cant do much other than rendering a shoulder but isn’t that the most important thing at these times?
This is not the first time nor is this going to be the last time. This whole thing reminds me of that “one-Bedroom-home” story of a man who roams around the world so that he could afford a home but misses out being with his loved ones his whole life and finally at the end sits alone thinking about the worth of his life.
But this is the price that I have to pay and I have known about it from the beginning itself, as that was the trade-off. I’m living my dream, professionally at least, and have done and achieved much more than what I thought I would be able to, but I think there’s a line which needs to be drawn before its too late. I know I can’t go back to my hometown permanently but the distance can be reduced.
That impending US visa interview is no more exciting and maybe its time to consider those opportunities in Noida/Gurgaon/Pune.
My dad told me in clear words that I don’t need to rush to home, as I would not be able to attend the funeral and advised me to try to come during “Terahvi” (the thirteenth day), if possible. Though there was no doubt that I would come but it shows my dad’s understanding of the problems I may face while coming, when he used “if possible”. Well, I somehow managed to go after overcoming many “problems”. Being with your loved ones during these testing times is something we all want to do.
Amidst all the other benefits of life that people like me who live 1000 miles away from their hometowns enjoy, this is one of those reasons because of which we sometimes feel sad, cursed and even ashamed. I have always felt that pinch of missing out so many events because of only one reason: I was sitting far away from my hometown. But never I felt that pinch so strongly as I’m feeling from last 15 days. What’s the use of all those luxuries of life if you can’t be with people who matter, in times of need? I know I cant do much other than rendering a shoulder but isn’t that the most important thing at these times?
This is not the first time nor is this going to be the last time. This whole thing reminds me of that “one-Bedroom-home” story of a man who roams around the world so that he could afford a home but misses out being with his loved ones his whole life and finally at the end sits alone thinking about the worth of his life.
But this is the price that I have to pay and I have known about it from the beginning itself, as that was the trade-off. I’m living my dream, professionally at least, and have done and achieved much more than what I thought I would be able to, but I think there’s a line which needs to be drawn before its too late. I know I can’t go back to my hometown permanently but the distance can be reduced.
That impending US visa interview is no more exciting and maybe its time to consider those opportunities in Noida/Gurgaon/Pune.
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