abad, an interview and myself

Hotel Abad Plaza, Cochin.

That didn't ring many of you a bell right ? What is there that is to be told about to be a star hotel in Cochin.
For me and scores of those students who were aspiring to be software engineers, Abad was the destination, where one would rush off after clearing of those strenuous tests from SHREDS Kerala, Edapalli.

Its would all start with the advent of the glorious final year of the college. People are busy to get a job, and get registered in SHREDS. And then for people like me the cycle starts, an early morning bus or an evening train to Cochin, reach Edappalli High School and then that long queue for the registration with a Hall ticket and 100bucks and loads of marklists copies stacked up, filed and held on to your armpit. It was a site you know, people from all over Kerala concentrated at a single center with hopes and aspirations. Companies came and went. When we hear abt the CTC, we will divide it by 12 and think about the money we are getting in our hands monthly.

"Oh Da Mone, 12000 Rupa masathil entha pinne vende..". A he or she will yell.

After those vicious tests, some pass some fail. Those who fail, catch the next bus and return back to their colleges and those who pass catch the next Red Bus to Abad Plaza. By the time one reaches there, his attire would have changed. He would have put in a nice tie and full sleeve shirt and inserted it and will look a perfect executive. I don't think one will get a good reception while you enter, atleast I felt so. They needn't to rt? Who are you after all for them, just another passer-bye. The person at the door himself will know where the person should be seated and then you have to go there and just wait. Wait for the time when your name is called. Then when it is called, you walk with your body shivering unless you are some real cool guy like Kich.

I still remember those long narrow corridors were I waited for my Future Soft Interview. My Anonymous ex Roommate was there on the other side, and then there were also my other friends. As I enter the room, I remember seeing this really beautiful HR lady, whom I looked for a few moments or so.

"Hello Dhanush". She said and thus started my first professional interview. I remember I was trembling and stammering a lot and also in the whatever time I could face her, I was admiring her beauty :-). She might taken notice of that admiration and must have thought, this guy will be after me if I take him aboard and thus I didn't pass the first round.

Since it was my first chance I was never worried, I came back to Edappalli High School and attended tests. With the Industry booming like a rocket, companies came in thick and large. But never I climbed those stairs of Abad Plaza again, until during that Onam a company called Mahindra British Telecom Ltd came and I passed the test, probably because all the creamy guys of our class and other colleges joined the mighty companies which came earlier with better pay package and higher cutoff mark. Or else in plain words, I was just too bad to clear them off. I remember one day my father asked me about the complexities of these tests. He would have thought why I am not clearing, while a lot of my friends and his friends children got into big companies. Also with the amount of money I was spending, it was quite normal to a father to be anxious abt his child. But worse memory was a classmate of mine asking me

"Neeyokke kore kaalaayallo pokunnu, ennittu vallathum aayo".

Well whatever is the case, MBT asked me to report at Abad at around 7 in the evening. There was my close friend Sandeep, Joju, Abhilash n KP of ECE and a few others I don't remember. I wore the best shirt I had, a beautiful checked one which my aunt gifted me. I dont remember if I tied up a tie, no I didn't. And I waited in that soft sofa.

Finally I was called, and the person was a techie guy and unleashed a lot of question. Operating Systems, DBMS, Compilers. It was an okey-dokey interview and I still remember one funny answer I gave. The person asked about different keys in RDBMS and asked What a composite key is.
"Sir, we study DBMS this semester and that portion haven't been yet covered. We have reached till Primary and Secondary Key only" . Huh what an answer- he might have thought. But somehow he must have been satisfied with my performance on the other questions and I got selected to the next round.

Now only Vivian Fernandes stood in front of me and an offer. At 10 in the night I was called up by him for the HR round. After the formal introduction, he asks me:

"How long is Calicut from Cochin". Oops, what kind of question is that. I think, but gave the answer too and then he explains me that he needs to go there for some function. He made me comfortable and so I could open up during the talk, ask abt the company and other blah blahs. The final question from my part was, when are the results going to be published.

He replied "Before Satyam guys are gonna catch you".

Satyam Computers were coming the next day and that reply of his gave me a faint hope, but I dwelled it down telling to myself - If you are worth it, you are gonna get it, otherwise you perish.

Next day it was Seena's Birthday. We never knew each other that time, otherwise I am sure she would have gave me a treat.
Next day I reached there early, for the Satyam test. Registered for the test and as I was abt to attend it, the results came in. I didn't knew it, then I saw Sandeep running towards me, with a big smile on his face and finger pointing towards me.
"Eda mone, nee select aayada". Well that may not be the exact words, but that's what he conveyed. I hugged him and asked, "What abt you "
"Its only you,da, only you". I was crying with both joy and sorrow. Happy beacuse I got in, but sad because my best buddy with 10% marks more than me not getting through. I was really sad, for the earlier night while walking back home he said, "Just think we both in Pune together, adichu polikkada". And that wish was not going to happen. I think he was lucky to be in a different stream and take up his own career different from the software world and today he is settled and all set to marry his sweetheart.

I was the 25th person from my class of 51 to be campus selected. The next day we had a meeting with the MBT guys where MBT T-Shirts were distributed. 6 people including me were selected from GECT to join on August 6th 2001 at the Pune office and only I joined them on June 2nd 2003 at Mumbai.

A few good memories after I got job:
- When I was telling Vrinda Madam about my MBT result, she told me that she was always thinking it was high time I too got somewhere, while others were conveying their success stories earlier.
- Tanuja telling me her mother used to ask her whether I got in to some company.
So there were a few people who thought I could do it much before.

But then as another friend of mine says, It just a matter of time, Dhanush

Sheesh .. Loooooong Post, but not bad alle?

PS: Abad was reminded to me today by a friend of mine and this post is dedicated to that person who triggered me to unleash a good memory from the beautiful college days. Those were the best days of my life.

palaayil enna okke ondu viseshangal..

I am blessed, for I was there when the monsoon showers washed on to the Kerala shores. My trip was pre-planned and I had to attend the marriage function of my friend philosopher Mr. Shimmy Thomas, but monsoon came unplanned and I haven’t even taken an umbrella to tackle her. He lives in the beautiful terrains on the border of Kasargode and Kannur, the place called Cherupuzha. On Thursday morning as I woke up, I was greeted with the lush green mountains of Sreekantapuram – Naduvil (Native place of TP, a place which he boasted of being Kerala’s Ooty - It is true mate) - Aalakkode route which finally ended up in Cherupuzha. I have been to his house before, but the route I took always was from home. This one from Bangalore (without touching Kannur) was narrow, curvy, and scenic. At one point I could see on my side, a deep valley with rubber trees and clouds touching them just below me.

Rain at that time was scattered, raining at one place not at the other. But I could see the real dark side of her, when we were at the church. It was getting dark, sun had hidden as if being afraid of the downpour and there was a marriage to happen. Then it poured, up there from the top, he the creator of all inverted the huge bucket of water.

It rained thick and hard. And in that wet atmosphere, the bride arrived. The driver had to make a great effort in parking the car close to church, so that she won’t get wet.

Next day, I drove the car alone for the maximum distance ever. I was off to my mom’s place, Pala, for a house warming function there. This time there was no dad in the front seat to irritate me with his advices as my parents had another program and had to leave early. J . As I drove freely, I enjoyed the new bye-pass from Thondayad to Ramanattukara on the way. The Thrissur Angamali sector has become even busier, not at single time I could drive past 80Kmph. My Uncle, who came along with me with his family, at times said – “Whenever you feel a need to change, just tell me”. I felt, but never told him ;).

Then it happened somewhere near to Perumbavoor, a White Chevy Optra over took me and a kid from its back seat said something at us. “What did he say?” was the topic in the car was the discussion in the car for the next few minutes. My aunt even suggested that he might have been kidnapped to which my uncle replied in the typical Kozhikkodan Sshtyle – “Pinne Ooloru budhi, Kidnap Cheyyan varunnavaru Optrayilalle vannu kidnap cheyyunne”. But I knew what he said; as the vehicle was not behaving the way I wanted. It was loosing its power and developed a new sound from the rear. It was punctured, and we had driven a few kilometers for now.

As we fixed it, it got dark again and it poured heavy. Then my uncle suggested that it would be better that he drive now and I obliged. On that Main Central Road looking through the window shield, I saw the lush green Kerala. Someone’s comment on the blogosphere is really true; Kerala is at her beautiful best during monsoon.

I should say I was very much relieved to be back there at my mom’s place. It’s been a long time I visited them, mostly due to distance I was myself from my home, physically. I did meet my chittas and cousins in between but was never been to Pala in years. My cousin complained, the last time I met her was at her marriage and now she has a kid of 2 years, and that makes 4 years of gap. Hmmm.. That is too much. I know, but happened mainly due to the fact that whenever I came come from Pune/Mumbai I came for 5-8 days and those days I fully wanted to enjoy at my home .And with a menu given to my mom, I could get every dish I liked. :-)

I and My Uncle got engaged in the daily chores, putting up pandals, bringing in stationary items for the sadhya, pulling up current from the old house to the new house, cleaning and washing the tanks, the usual stuff. The evening before was the interesting one, we were off to Pala town to get something for the next day and since it was evening and my uncle was getting bored he decided to visit his friends shop. There they decided to have a few drinks. I could smell the air that was of conspiring how to avoid me. My Uncles discussion went this way:

Uncle: “We will sit sometime here; I haven’t met Mr. PR for sometime. I hope you don’t get bored.”
Me: “No it’s ok, or else I will go home.”
Uncle: “Will you take the car alone.”

After a thought

Uncle: “Then what will you say if Chitta ask where am I. No no, we will go together.” :-)

I was worrying whether he will put in the question – “Do you drink?” Thank god he didn’t put that, to him I am still a kiddo, I guess. And he had very much difficulty in the gulping the spirit as I found him turned his back towards me when I entered the shop after my purchase. I too was in a kind of weird atmosphere, where my uncle and his friend are drinking and I watching it. I cannot even ask for a sipL. I always say this that sitting amongst people who drinks, without you drinking is the most boring thing on earth.

On the way back, of course he promised me not to mention anything about the visit to Mr. PR’s shop, because if my Chitta knows he visited PR, then she knows what would have happened there. And that night it rained so heavily. The wind was blowing at it best. Then the right most pole that held one end of the tarpaulin came down and along with it came down the huge tarpaulins that were there covering the right side of the courtyard. I ran to save the table and chairs from being wet and tried holding the pole. But I lost, for the wind was too heavy, it was coming down hard on me and the rain too. My uncle too joined me and then he tried to hold it and asked me to tie the ropes. I ran out to tie the rope to the tree, and at that moment a huge wind came in and rain lashed harder. I lost the grip on the rope and my uncle lost the grip on his mundu. The tarpaulins went down and we both were wet.

And when rains subsided, we began the rescue work. The next day it rained again and the same pole misbehaved again, but luckily the function was far from over and now we have to return them. So we didn’t do the rescue work. I sat there listening to the sound of rain that danced according to the different tunes of the wind. My cousin was telling all the news that was pending for four years. I sat silent. At the end of it, she said “Ee Chekkan Onnum Mindum Koode Illa” and left.

In the mean time I found some time to capture the snaps of rain too. I dedicate these to Victor George, a Photo Journalist who worked with Manorama, who loved rains and chased them, and captured them in his frames and also died along with them. Don’t raise your eye-brows; I am no match to him. I don’t even know him personally, neither did he know me. He is the role model for me, when ever I try capturing rainy days.

On my way back too it rained. As my bus crawled through the MC road, the rain water flowed over the big glasses of the Volvo. It formed a blurred vision and the scenery across it was completely blurred, but beautiful. I could see the lights of the streets, some rubber estates far away, children playing in the rains, people trying to get back home, a Maruthi Omni head-on collided with a Lorry and a lot more. The rains never stopped that night. I followed them and enjoyed every cent of land that View through the Big Volvo Glass Window brought me. I wanted to capture them on the frame, but this time I decided to capture in my mind. It was awesomely beautiful.

5 days through Cherupuzha - Kannur - Vadakara - Kozhikode - Perumbavoor - Moovattupuzha - Pala - Ettumaanoor - Kottayam -Moovattupuzha - Perumbavoor - Thrissur. Back in Bangalore from the roads of Madiwala to the bye-lanes through the Christ College, to that small dingy place called Taverekere – life sucks. Now its all memories.

Mom called me up in the morning, they have left Pala. It’s still raining there.

I quote Silverine here (With your permission, Silverine) “We are indeed blessed to have that special place called Kerala, to go to during vacations :)”

Let me modify a bit “I am indeed blessed to have that special place called Pala and Vadakara, to go to, whenever I want :)”

one more ..

നാളെ എന്റെ പിറന്നാളാണ്‌!
എനിക്ക്‌ ഓര്‍മ്മയുണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. അവളുടെ കത്തില്‍ നിന്നാണത്‌ മനസ്സിലായത്‌. അവള്‍ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നു: "വരുന്ന വ്യാഴാഴ്ചയാണു പിറന്നാള്‌. രാവിലെ കുളിച്ചിട്ടെ വല്ല്ലതും കഴിക്കാവൂ. വ്യാഴാഴ്ച പിറന്നാള്‌ വരുന്നതു നല്ലതാണ്‌. ഞാന്‍ ശിവന്റെ അംബലത്തില്‍ ധാരയും പണപായസവും കഴിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്‌. അവിടെ അടുത്ത്‌ അംബലമില്ലേ? ഉണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ കുളിച്ചു തൊഴണം..."
എന്റെ നന്മയ്ക്കു വേണ്ടതെല്ലം ഭാര്യ ചെയ്തു കൊള്ളും. ആ ഉറച്ച വിശ്വാസമാണ്‌ എന്നെ നയിക്കുന്നതു. അവള്‍ വളരെക്കാലമായി എനിക്കു വേണ്ടി പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥിക്കുന്നു. അവളുടെ പ്രാര്‍ത്ഥന ഫലം ഉണ്ടാവാനിടയുണ്ട്‌. ദേവന്മാരുടേയും ദേവിമാരുടേയും കണ്ണിലുണ്ണിയായി വളര്‍ന്നവളാണ്‌.
നാളെ എനിക്കൊഴിവാണ്‌. പിറന്നാളാണെന്നുള്ള വസ്തുത പൂഴ്ത്തി വയ്ക്കുകയാണ്‌ ഭേദം. അറിഞ്ഞാല്‍ കൂട്ടുകാര്‍ ഇരച്ചുകയറും. പാര്‍ട്ടി വേണമെന്ന് ശഠിച്ചാല്‍ പേഴ്‌സ്‌ കാലിയാകും. അവരില്‍ പലരുടേയും പിറന്നാളുകള്‍ക്ക്‌ പാര്‍ട്ടിയും ഡിന്നറും കിട്ടിയിട്ടുണ്ട്‌.
പിറന്നാളിന്റെ സാമീപ്യത്തില്‍ പണ്ടെല്ലാം ആഹ്‌ളാദം തോന്നിയിരുന്നു. ഇപ്പോഴാകട്ടെ, ഒരു നേര്‍ത്ത വേദനയാണ്‌ അനുഭവപ്പെടുന്നത്‌. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ വസന്തകാലമെന്നു കവികള്‍ പറയുന്ന ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തിന്റെ അവസാനമടുത്തു തുടങ്ങി.

- ഒരു പിറന്നാളിന്റെ ഓര്‍മ്മ, എം.ടി. വാസുദേവന്‍ നായര്‍

Is it the end of that beautiful moments in one's life ? 26 years after the drop from mother's womb to the world that is changing, I too am changed. I should right?, for its the only thing in life that is constant :-)
Mom called up and asked: "Son, what do you want?"
I said, "Nothing Mom"
"You should go to temple P, Isn't there a temple near to your place?"
"No Mom, I cannot go, there aren't many."
"Its Ok. I will go to the temple here and do the rituals." Blessings are always like that, need to get it from some god through some one.

Birthdays after home leaving was always the same. Call from my sis at the stroke of midnight, then from a few other friends. Others will come up with cold handshakes and Kingfisher Lagers. Not being at home always saddened the things, but I regularly went to temple, all these times except for today.
Today sis called up at the midnight, then only Boyzone knew about it. And the bumps were different and strange because, I didn't tell them. In fact I forgot it till a few hours before my sis called. -ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ വസന്തകാലമെന്നു കവികള്‍ പറയുന്ന ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തിന്റെ അവസാനമടുത്തു തുടങ്ങിയോ-
I don't know. !! But I enjoyed it, being rolled up in a bed and four thadimaadanmaars sitting on top of it and playing a round of rummy. Thank God Abhi won fast, did you?
So finaly one more year less to live :-(

miss you

I always wondered what make you to a cool couple, and I am still searching the answer for that. I remember the warm shake hand that you both exchanged at the office reception on that rainy day. I was tense and alone, you were both smiling and talking. And while I was busy mugging up software engineering and Oracle Procedures, you were reading Harry Porter, and you got close. On one afternoon you told me "How would be it, if we got married ?". I was angry, I thought atleast you both would keep the "Friendship Tag" alive , but I was wrong and I was wrong for the whole eternity. Life taught me that good lovers were always best friends.
 
We had good time there, enjoyed our days, went to Hiranandani, ate our Tandoori Chickens, and got parted to Pune and Bangalore. But the chain of mails continued. You got married and I was not there physically to wish you. But I could see the marriage from miles apart. Only the second time I felt sorry of not attending a marriage, because we were not there.

The we re-grouped, but the 'we' were different this time. And slowly I drafted into the Bangalore Boyzone. The ride to your house always gave me the immense pleasure for I could ride my bike at 100kmph on that stretch of Intermediate Ring Road. We made GOA POA, we had awesome weekends with some 'fantabulous' hands on those rummies ( which had rules no one in this world knew except for you ;) ) and yes monopoly too(with much of this Kalipps displeasure).

Now you guys are moving on, but for a while. And since the world is small and we have promises to keep we will meet again.

But I will miss those weekends, that are not complete without you.
I will miss those dinners at Kayal.
I will miss those terribles.
I will miss those rummies.
I will miss those drives.
I will miss you both.

To a wonderful couple I have ever seen, Have a wonderful time there and all the best.
Be a cool couple :-)