Suit up!

Six months back when I had written the last post, I knew that my next one had to be after the next good thing I encounter in the following months, but just when the previous phase crossed my mind, something else caught up, that I’m getting into a Management programme (Refrain from using MBA, for few argue that this is a techno-managerial). I wouldn’t disagree when I say that there were numerous occasions when I wanted to sit down and pen my thoughts, like after the Suryashibir trip at the start of the semester, Samaarambh and the Independence Cup, where I first led our team into the field(a square cricket field, yes!) the first time when I went all suits with the college formals aka uniform(At least that’s what these people call) and when the one-that’s-not-supposed-to-be-spoken-about happened, it was joy outbound, but I couldn’t go beyond a line, with most of the times I giving excuses as lame as the time being 1am or charge about to die despite the charger at the socket but switch turned off. See, these are excuses. Excuses that begin to form a cloud of uncertainty, that takes the very originality out of us (Although originally, I’m lazy deep inside). So why start today? What’s special? Eh, nothing. What would make this special is that when this post goes live despite the fact that I’m not sure if it will as I write this.

Far from the voices of Chennai Super Kings and the breeze of Marina Beach, to the vibrant city of Bangalore, this phase has been a shift to Amchi Pune, there goes the quota of Marathi for today! When I last visited home, everyone began asking how Pune was (is). I replied “Oh Hinjewadi? It’s amazing! I visited the extremes of Hinjewadi from the D Mart in the east to Hyderabadi House in the west”. The next ten minutes nobody knew how to take the conversation forward. Yeah, it was a bit awkward! Not as awkward as laughing at the jokes (If that’s what you call them) in a Marketing class. Technically, we have been occupied. Oh yeah, this is on the same lines as when that distant cousin of yours when pursuing his/her MBA programme used to say “Life’s been hectic” , now we all have been going through that phase and get to say that. Twelve plus subjects per semester in the first year makes it look like one trying to crush the clothes to remove that last bit of soap while washing. A tad more would tear it apart. Add projects – reports plus presentations plus viva for most of the subjects, you feel like adding all this in your Life Resume!

With having breakfast at twelve in the noon to having dinner at three in the morning, it’s been a little complicated. Thanks to the cheese paratha at D hostel. D-Hostel, not from the same franchise of D-Mart (Or is it?), has been the home in giving us the warmth (I say warmth to appreciate the round-the-clock hot water supply!). Despite the heat (Not the cold temperature) faced, there’s that chaai which fills your stomach the first thing in the day. Likewise, plenty of positives. Let’s save the rest for some other time.

When on a Saturday night, something makes me write, it has got to be MBA (Oops! Management degree, nobody heard it!). Despite the sick and sulky material of the blazer (Oh, It’s the uniform), somewhere deep, when you wear that up, it adds something. Not just looks, of course, one would easily find a picture with the blazers in each of the profiles (Eh, including mine). C’mon not always one gets to wear them (Unless otherwise it’s the one-that-you-are-not-supposed-to-talk-about). It’s okay to make some noise and publicise, after all I’m part of the Media team in a MBA programme (At least that’s how I pacify myself).

The Experience

In another couple of days, I'll leave Bangalore to pursue my higher education.

Phew! That escalated quickly, isn't it? When few of my friends left their first job, they put a lot of things over social media which made it pretty obvious for a reader to infer that the concerned did not have a good time at his/her workplace. While many passed on comments and high fives, I saw through those posts and treated with no special attention. I used to think how I would be when I leave the job, my first job. Well, certainly not dramatic but direct pass from the heart.

If you had followed my blogs(which only I did myself), I would have shared the way I felt when my college director read my name which was the third last in the list. The 20 minute interview at dinner time when I did not even had the lunch owing to some delays in the interview slots, the 10 minute walk back to hostel after the interview, and the 5 minute swallowing of noodles(11.30 pm) followed by rushing back to the auditorium in 15 minutes, all for that one moment. That moment when someone reads your name to let you know that you are selected, offered a job among hundreds.

As and when the names were read, the atheists and non believers as well folded their hands, closed their eyes. People were screaming and jumping upon hearing their own/friend's names. I stood there watching all by myself before that sudden burst of adrenaline pumped up, senses were back to position, all eyes were on me and few of my friends shook me with wide smile on their face, while I listened to the last 'Ganesh from EEE' part from the director. A second later, rewind and played it, 'Ajay Ganesh from EEE'. Oh dear, one should be there to feel it. That moment, when you throw the weight of past behind you. All those poor marks seemed to me as a speck of dust in front of a job offer. That was close to two and a half years back.

A year later, when half my friends were enjoying their holidays, I was waiting for that one mail from my company which called me over. Every single morning, noon and night before bed(Sometimes after bed as well) I used to check the mailbox that once Gmail failed to load, shocker! Only to realize that my dad had switched off the Wifi. I was excited for the job. I was excited to be part of the corporate world. I wanted to see and feel how it was. I wanted to feel the sophistication involved with it. Of course, I wanted to spend money from my pocket without that extra half a second thought.
Then came that evening, the very evening when India won a Lord's Test match. My joy doubled. It was destined. The place was Bangalore. Took out my dusted notebook where I had my check list and started off right away.

Fast forward a bit(Two months into the firm) I was there in a training room, not to attend a training, but to let them know that I attended the training and learnt something(The Test). First attempt, duck out! Second attempt, clean bowled(Absolutely clueless). The last attempt came just after Dussera, I had gone home despite being able to celebrate, also to study. When I started off, I was upset, my father asked me to give my best and not to worry and take things seriously. How could I not worry? It was my first job and did not want to be thrown out because of a percentage less than the cut off in an exam. I decided that an exam should not stand in my way to continue in this firm(Though heartbeat rose a few hundred more when I thought that). Next day, I finish the exam, check my result. Bang! Employment confirmed. When I boarded the shuttle, called my parents and told them that I shall come the following week to get the rest of my luggage. I was not meant to leave that early :)

22 months since the day I first stepped into the firm, here I am, trying to assimilate thoughts and experiences that I shall never shy away from sharing. The journey was never easy(As many would say) but something I shall cherish for a long long time.

Unlike many, I shall not be glad and thankful for leaving it. For I earned this job! Every inch of the script has been mine, there's no way I'm going to blame myself. It'll be different the next two days at office, the way I look at people, vehicles, shuttles, cafeteria and of course the application that I work on. Things shall move on, but not the memories. Deep down, there's a place for saving this phase of my life.

P.S. Search for the dusted check-list is on!