Tuesday, 3 January 2012
The Year that has Gone By...
Phew!! What an exhausting end to the year it was! And it's a wonder I still remember the login credentials to this blog as it's been more than a year since I last updated it...Sorry to keep all of you waiting for so long for my particular brand of sardonic and sarcastic humour (atleast that's what I like to think of my sense of humour as..Sounds so witty and wordy, no?) !
So anyway, coming back to the old year-new year juxtapose..What a rollercoaster year it has been! I finally let go of my parent company after four and a half long years...It was with a very heavy heart I bid adieu to the company I started my career with and to all the lasting friendships I'd made in the course of my duration over there..I still remember how I had made it through the selection process and the way I'd given my interview with a don't-care attitude! I remember I was the only person there wearing a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers! Can you believe any company other than IBM actually selecting me after this?! But everything wasn't hunky dory once I joined..Had to go through a lot of wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee moments before I got the hang of actually being in a job..But being my first company, I'll always have a soft spot for it and yes, I do plan on going back someday..Once I'm rich and don't care so much about the money part!
After saying teary goodbyes to IBM and everyone in it, I had to join CTS...Now there was a cultural shock if I ever knew one! I'm still adjusting and trying to work it out...But finding it difficult and missing all and sundry in IBM...Even the actual office I was based out of! First of all, access to the internet is limited...That means no Facebook, no Gmail or anything else which has the capability of providing some succour for from the dull, dreary work I'm going to be doing here! On top of that, the leave system here sucks big time...CTS doesn't have unlimited sick leaves! Infact according to the company policy, an employee gets only half a day of sick leave per month! How illogical and stupid is that?! I mean, how do you limit the number of times a person can fall ill in a month? Agreed that people take advantage of the unlimited sick leaves in IBM, but limiting them to such a ridiculous number is downright slavery if you ask me! On top of that, you are provided with four vacation leaves and one leave per month as and when you complete it (if I understood what the HR was blabbering during induction correctly!)...So in all, you get only 16 paid leaves in a year! How unfair is that?! And they even make you work like donkeys if what I see is anything to go by...So in short, my life is screwed from now onwards! The only bright spot in this godforsaken situation is that I'm well compensated for...I now have more money to spend on clothes and books and makeup! Yay!!!
Now the last weekend of the year, was very far from being a relaxing, partying and lazy kinda one...My parents wanted to set up the new place they'd bought and the whole of Saturday (31st December that is) was spent unpacking all the stuff they'd sent over from Nagpur...And not just unpacking mind you...They even wanted to set it up properly...So there I was, tearing through cardboard and bubble wrap and thermocol (this was the fun part especially as bubble wrap was involved!)...I kinda like the destructive side of me...Hmmm, will need to explore it more! They even wanted the washing machine functional for crying out loud and I was made to run to get some parts for it to the nearest hardware store...Apart from that, I also made tea and coffee for everyone not once but twice! By the end of it, mom, dad and me were sprawled on the bed and were contemplating just having some dinner and turning in for the night, to hell with New Year's Eve! But we decided against that and went to my uncle and aunt's...My cousin brothers along with their wives and one kid were visiting too...Had a good time just lounging around eating, drinking and making merry in general...Once it was 12am, everyone wished everyone and we left for home...I crept gratefully into bed but it was a small consolation as the next day was going to prove to be as hectic...My aunt had organised a get together for all the family and friends for her grandson (my nephew)...So had to be present there the next day, working my ass off again! But that was fun work so didn't mind as such and plus I was meeting the whole family after a long time...So it was quite a different new year I had from the partying one I usually do and I really liked it!
That's it from my end...Comments and inputs are of course always welcome...
Friday, 12 November 2010
The Good Samaritans
This incident happened to me about a year back..maybe more..But I just got down to writing about it now..I have no idea why I delayed it so much so don't ask me!
So what happened is this...I was driving back from work one very overcast and can-rain-anytime evening..There was a car behind me since I left from office and both were IBMers as I'd seen them around in the canteen and some such...So they were with me all the while but of course I didn't give them too much of a thought as you normally do with colleagues you see around and don't know! So here I was, merrily driving by myself, singing along with the radio and in general just enjoying the drive back (as much as one can considering the traffic and the road itself!)..
Now, as I approached a major intersection, there was no car in front of me and as the signals were off too, I started inching my way forward..There wasn't a cop in sight but as soon as I reached the middle of the square BANG! There he was in front of my car motioning me to stop! He came out of nowhere and caught me totally unawares..I knew I was done for when he asked for my licence and then took it away with him as he made me park by the side of the road..I didn't know what to do in this situation as traffic cops are pretty rough and talk very rudely..As I parked by the side of the road, I saw a car turn around and come back and park on the opposite side..When I got out of the car, I saw it was the same lady and her friend who were getting out..I found it a bit strange but didn't really think too much about it until they hailed me and started walking alongside me..They said I wasn't wrong and that they were there to help me..I was flabbergasted! I literally pinched myself to see if I was dreaming all of this..But I wasn't and they were very much there..They introduced themselves as Satish and Padma..I told them my name too and thanked them profusely for coming to my aid..They told me I wasn't at fault and that they were witness to everything that happened..
We then approached the cop and before he could say anything, Padma started off saying, "The signal's not on and you're standing in a corner. How would she know you're the manning the square if you're not visible...." and so on and so forth..Even Satish got into it with full gusto and started talking to the cop in Marathi..I did my part too by putting in a word or two..In Marathi I might add..This got the cop all confused and with a false bravado he too got into the melee by proclaiming that I was the one who broke the rules even when he was standing right there..And that so many accidents had happened at this square that he was there for our safety only..So in the end I apologized to him (even though I wasn't at fault) and the cop in his magnanimity gave me back my licence without taking a single naya paisa from me! Can you believe that?! I'd thought when I was stopped and my licence taken that I'd now have to cough up cash to get my licence back..But nothing of that sort happened!
So then, feeling very happy with ourselves, we walked back to our cars, with me thanking both Satish and Padma for their help again and again to the point where I think they got a bit embarrassed! But they were very graceful and said they came back because they knew I'd not done anything bad and they genuinely wanted to help out..So having said our goodbyes, we drove off to our respective destinations..
I still see them around in office and I always make it a point to greet them and talk for a few minutes..It's the least I can do after they came to my rescue so selflessly..Who these days does something like this? Would you?
So what happened is this...I was driving back from work one very overcast and can-rain-anytime evening..There was a car behind me since I left from office and both were IBMers as I'd seen them around in the canteen and some such...So they were with me all the while but of course I didn't give them too much of a thought as you normally do with colleagues you see around and don't know! So here I was, merrily driving by myself, singing along with the radio and in general just enjoying the drive back (as much as one can considering the traffic and the road itself!)..
Now, as I approached a major intersection, there was no car in front of me and as the signals were off too, I started inching my way forward..There wasn't a cop in sight but as soon as I reached the middle of the square BANG! There he was in front of my car motioning me to stop! He came out of nowhere and caught me totally unawares..I knew I was done for when he asked for my licence and then took it away with him as he made me park by the side of the road..I didn't know what to do in this situation as traffic cops are pretty rough and talk very rudely..As I parked by the side of the road, I saw a car turn around and come back and park on the opposite side..When I got out of the car, I saw it was the same lady and her friend who were getting out..I found it a bit strange but didn't really think too much about it until they hailed me and started walking alongside me..They said I wasn't wrong and that they were there to help me..I was flabbergasted! I literally pinched myself to see if I was dreaming all of this..But I wasn't and they were very much there..They introduced themselves as Satish and Padma..I told them my name too and thanked them profusely for coming to my aid..They told me I wasn't at fault and that they were witness to everything that happened..
We then approached the cop and before he could say anything, Padma started off saying, "The signal's not on and you're standing in a corner. How would she know you're the manning the square if you're not visible...." and so on and so forth..Even Satish got into it with full gusto and started talking to the cop in Marathi..I did my part too by putting in a word or two..In Marathi I might add..This got the cop all confused and with a false bravado he too got into the melee by proclaiming that I was the one who broke the rules even when he was standing right there..And that so many accidents had happened at this square that he was there for our safety only..So in the end I apologized to him (even though I wasn't at fault) and the cop in his magnanimity gave me back my licence without taking a single naya paisa from me! Can you believe that?! I'd thought when I was stopped and my licence taken that I'd now have to cough up cash to get my licence back..But nothing of that sort happened!
So then, feeling very happy with ourselves, we walked back to our cars, with me thanking both Satish and Padma for their help again and again to the point where I think they got a bit embarrassed! But they were very graceful and said they came back because they knew I'd not done anything bad and they genuinely wanted to help out..So having said our goodbyes, we drove off to our respective destinations..
I still see them around in office and I always make it a point to greet them and talk for a few minutes..It's the least I can do after they came to my rescue so selflessly..Who these days does something like this? Would you?
Thursday, 19 August 2010
A Rarity called an Honest Autowallah!
Yes people! I have encountered an honest autowallah in our very own Pune! Do I hear gasps of disbelief and wonderment? Well my dearies, it is the truth. Let me tell you what happened...
It so happened that I wanted to go to to my workplace from home which is a good 10 kms away by the shorter route on a day when my car had gone for some repairs. So I hail a rickshaw and tell the driver where I want to go. Usually, once the driver hears I want to go to the IBM office, a greedy and gleeful gleam lights up their eyes and I can almost see the cash being counted in their heads! They also always assume that I'll be taking the longer route and then I need to tell them (and watch their dreams of looting me getting shattered!) to take the shorter route. Now this guy is different. He starts driving and before I can tell him to take the shortcut, he beats me to it! I'm in shock now and just say, "Yes please". So there we are going on our way and as I'm about to plug in my earphones, he again asks me whether he should take Holkar Bridge, which is a traffic nightmare or the Sangamwadi Bridge which is apparently relatively easier. So I tell him to stick to Holkar as it is my regular route. He of course doesn't push it and says, "Ma'am, you should try going by the Sangamwadi Bridge as it doesn't get congested at all." So I tell him that I've heard the road is narrow in some parts and it may be difficult for a car to pass through. He replies that yes that is but if you have a small car, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. So I tell him that I'll think about it. He's talking to me very nicely and with respect. I'm still wondering about this guy. Is he for real?!
I reach office by the time my musings about whether he's a regular autowallah or not have come to a stop. I ask him the fare and he tells me it's 80 bucks! Now I'm really bowled over as usually autowallas take 90 bucks and above from me for the same journey citing traffic and the distance. I give him the money and in a daze ask him if he's read the meter properly (don't ask me why I did that! But I really didn't feel like fleecing this nice man). He confirms it and says he usually only does pick up and drops of children to and from their schools, and in between takes regular fares whenever possible. I thank him and go my way, my faith in humanity restored. But since then, I've never again come across an autowallah like him. I know they are a very rare breed and I just pray to God that they never become extinct!
It so happened that I wanted to go to to my workplace from home which is a good 10 kms away by the shorter route on a day when my car had gone for some repairs. So I hail a rickshaw and tell the driver where I want to go. Usually, once the driver hears I want to go to the IBM office, a greedy and gleeful gleam lights up their eyes and I can almost see the cash being counted in their heads! They also always assume that I'll be taking the longer route and then I need to tell them (and watch their dreams of looting me getting shattered!) to take the shorter route. Now this guy is different. He starts driving and before I can tell him to take the shortcut, he beats me to it! I'm in shock now and just say, "Yes please". So there we are going on our way and as I'm about to plug in my earphones, he again asks me whether he should take Holkar Bridge, which is a traffic nightmare or the Sangamwadi Bridge which is apparently relatively easier. So I tell him to stick to Holkar as it is my regular route. He of course doesn't push it and says, "Ma'am, you should try going by the Sangamwadi Bridge as it doesn't get congested at all." So I tell him that I've heard the road is narrow in some parts and it may be difficult for a car to pass through. He replies that yes that is but if you have a small car, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. So I tell him that I'll think about it. He's talking to me very nicely and with respect. I'm still wondering about this guy. Is he for real?!
I reach office by the time my musings about whether he's a regular autowallah or not have come to a stop. I ask him the fare and he tells me it's 80 bucks! Now I'm really bowled over as usually autowallas take 90 bucks and above from me for the same journey citing traffic and the distance. I give him the money and in a daze ask him if he's read the meter properly (don't ask me why I did that! But I really didn't feel like fleecing this nice man). He confirms it and says he usually only does pick up and drops of children to and from their schools, and in between takes regular fares whenever possible. I thank him and go my way, my faith in humanity restored. But since then, I've never again come across an autowallah like him. I know they are a very rare breed and I just pray to God that they never become extinct!
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