It's farewell, again!!!

I, on a personal front, feel the best post on my blog till date is 'The effect of S'. You can bet anything on the fact that nothing can beat doing something for our friend. Well, that was a post I did specially for my best friend. And, today, I'm back with a similar post. You could even consider this as 'The effect of S - part II' except it isn't about the same person. It's rather about my colleague, and more than that, a good friend, Mrs. S. Today was the last day at office for her.

Ours was a two member team - comprising of me and her - here at offshore that was led by Mr. A - a perfect example for the term a-gem-of-a-person - at onsite (Guess, I would do a post on him in near future). Having said that, one could figure the importance of the companion. I still remember my first day in the project when our P.L., introduced me to her. He ended the meeting with this statement - "She is a very good resource who will be helpful and flexible." To this day, she lived up to his words.

I was new to this account. On the meeting, "She is [her name]," started our P.L. "and she will be your teammate." The moment I came to know that my teammate is a girl, I thought, "Okay, so that's it. How am I going to be comfortable here?". He then added fuel to the fire with the sentence, "She is married!". And that made me to think, "Okay, now how am I going to be comfortable with a married-girl-who-is-also-a-stranger-to-me?". But somehow, on seeing her, I felt everything would be fine, and I had a hunch that she will be fine, and make me fine here. Throughout our time in this project, she proved my hunch to be true.

Undoubtedly, she was the only reason for me to be comfortable in what could be called as new environment. On my first day, I was just sitting in my machine reading out some documents. I haven't talked to her after the meeting, leave off once to inquire about the link for the documents. Later that day, it was she, who came to me and called me for a break. From that day, we used to go for a juice break almost everyday. She also joined me for lunch with few of my previous teammates daily.

From that day our relation was slowly built up. I found her as a good-friendly-colleague. Our work wasn't that much hectic, and for that reason, we used to enjoy our time like anything. We discuss about movies, any recent weird incidents that happened elsewhere, our previous projects, our time in TCS and so forth. We used to go to the reading hall and the library everyday, and spent some time over there. Nowadays, I'm reading a lot of books (mostly self-improvement or business  or management kind). I would proudly say, she is the reason for that. Being so, she has made my reading time valuable, and directed me in a better way.

Sometimes, "A" used to come online and initiate a conference chat with us. We shared a lot - that comprises personal things (like our weekend happenings, movies, etc) mostly rather than official (we used to discuss task related stuffs only in the status call that we take up in the evening). We both enjoyed those casual chat with him. It's always nice to have a chat over something rather than work alone.

Her specialty is that she has a power of mind reading. She used to speak out the characters of our onsite coordinators (we had one more person working with us at onsite for some time) and our QA Analyst to me. She used to say how they would be and how they would handle things, with a great enthusiasm. And from our call with "A" yesterday, we found she was more than correct in her findings.

At times, she was more like a kid, actually. Just like them, she used ask so many 'Why-s' to me. I, to be frank, really enjoyed answering her with whatever information I had in me. Sometimes I had to Google to get answers for her why-s.

She used to listen to me patiently every time whenever I had something to say to her. She used to praise her husband a lot. By then I always felt happy for her (I know how difficult it is, nowadays, to find a good guy for a girl. I know the pain involved for I have two sisters). She used to share some funny incidents happened in her home. She used to complain her maid to me (that was the only problem she had in her home).

Since she is from Andra Pradesh, she doesn't know Tamil. One day, she explained me the way she used to interact with her maid. It was nothing but she used to talk 10% in Tamil, 10% in Telugu/English and 80% in sign-language. That day, she actually acted one conversation that she had with her maid in the morning. I couldn't help laughing out loud. That was one of my funniest days in this project. I owe her a lot specially for that :-)

And work wise, she was more than perfect. She was always committed to the work she does. She was responsible, and extremely helpful. Also, she had never said a 'no' to me for whatever I had asked her to do. Without her, I wouldn't be what I'm now in this project. She always pose a smile in her face. She was very much a down-to-earth person.

She had to put in her papers last month because of her husband's transfer to Maldives. The one month notice period she had to serve was the craziest of all. She used to count the days everyday with her fingers. He left for Maldives last month. During the past one month, she mentioned him often. That showed how much she missed him. She told that she was very much bored after he left her. In fact, during this time, she praised him more than she did earlier. She really had a tough time staying in hostel for the past one month. She complained about the mosquito bites, the food, and so on. Those times, I really prayed for the month to run fast.

Yesterday we had a call with "A" to have an informal, friendly chat. It went for more than an hour. We got to know more about him. At the end of the call, all we could do was to praise him even more. I feel I'm really gifted to be in this project only because I had to meet these two persons. Though it was only 5 months, we had a good friendly relationship which I hope would last long.

And today, her last day in office, she was happy rather being sad (No wonder, of course, she should be!!!).  After the usual farewell meeting, we - me, "X" (my colleague) and "S" walked down to leave for the day. "X" was kidding her all the way asking, "Ain't you feeling sad? you rather seem to look happy, or are you really feeling sad, and uh, are you going to cry?"

She replied, "I'm feeling sad for Suresh. He will be alone...."

That sums it all.... I will miss her as a good teammate, and above all, as a very good friend.

And yeah, we're developing!!!

Yesterday, as I was coming out of a departmental store after I was done with my purchase, I saw a girl sitting in the steps with a couple of shopping bags fully loaded. Her posture made me to think she was waiting for someone, and that someone, I apparently thought was a girl (her roommate).

I actually saw her when I was walking towards my bike parked next to the steps where she sat. Before I started my bike, I saw a guy rushing towards her with a lighted cigarette in his mouth. As soon he reached her, he passed on a cigarette – a new one – to her, and then the one that was in his mouth few seconds before. She put the new one in her mouth, and lighted it with the one she got next. Surprise, was the scene to me. Uh, a girl smoking wasn’t a surprise to me. I had witnessed it already - when I went for a treat with my friends - at a famous restaurant.

By then, I was all but left in awe for it was first time in real I saw a girl, well, a bunch of girls actually, smoking (I have seen girls smoking in many Hollywood movies. It wasn’t a big deal for me though for that was America, after all). Those girls, with a cigarette held in their hand, casually called out the waiter by his name (They were regular customers, maybe) and asked for a lighter. After that day, I have seen girls smoking many a time at different places.

But yesterday, what I saw was a surprise to me, not because I saw a girl smoking at a common place, but it was because she was smoking with her husband. Yes, the guy was her husband. That was evident. Eventually, he sat next to her and both started smoking, enjoying the company of one another. It took few seconds for me to realize that I was actually staring at them sitting in my bike. Luckily, I was wearing a helmet, and that no one would have actually seen me gazing at them. And maybe I would have been one among the few who were left staring at them. I was just wondering what would happen 20 years from now, maybe they would give company to their child in smoking. No offense. In many ways, there is a possibility.

I have seen and heard people quoting several facts to substantiate their point to prove India is fast developing. As I rode my bike back home yesterday, I was just thinking that the incident is merely another one to help them. Isn’t it? Yes, Indeed. India is fast catching up.

Meme time again

I badly wanted to do a post today, and with the laziness I had, I felt nothing would be better than a 'Meme' post. Like my other meme posts till date - first and second, I got this one as well from this blog.

So here it goes -

1. Last movie you saw in a theater?

I go to the theater almost on every weekend (wheresoever a bachelor who is fond of movies go when staying with his friends). Hence, the answer will be one of the latest movies that got released last weekend, and it’s “Deiva Thirumagal”. Unlike few other Tamil movies that were inspired from some Hollywood flicks, this isn’t a direct copy of the original. The movie is loosely (a trifle more than that, actually) inspired from the Hollywood flick – “I am Sam”. I have seen the original long back, and it still holds fast to the list of my favorite movies. Deiva Thirumagal, like the original, gets added to that list.

2. What book are you reading?

Thinking Write by Kelly.L.Stone. (I'm not sure I will be thinking right after reading this, anyway.)

3. Favorite board game?

Business. It’s one of the few board games that solely involves ‘luck’, save the cheating involved if your best friend acts as the banker. The time spent on playing this game taught me that there is a factor called luck that plays a vital role in our life. ‘Chess’ comes a close second, just because it involves the ‘brain’ factor rather than luck. But I would suggest 'Scrabble' for any kids.

4. Favorite magazine?

Sports Star, always (though, of late, I didn’t get a chance to read it). It was the only reason, in my school days, for I was seen at the library often. Also, it was the only magazine I actually read rather than flipping over the pages looking at the photos alone.

5. Favorite smells?

The smell of Petrol, Kerosene and, on top of all, the smoke that pumps out of a lorry. (I don't find it strange as some people might feel about it because I have heard few of my friends too like these a lot.)

6. Favorite place to relax?

Beach, and sometimes, a Theater.

7. Worst feeling in the world?

Guilt and Embarrassment.

8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?

It varies. But I'm not a sort of person who prays to God as soon as he wakes up, or who cogitates his DOs and DON'Ts for the day. Moreover, I don't actually remember what I thought when I woke up today.

9. The blog that you are exploring currently?

I have been following h-h-hello for long, and this for quite sometime now.

10. Future child’s name?

Have to think about it after I get married. One thing is for sure, it will not depend on the horoscope (even if my wife, or my parents or her parents insist).

11. Finish this statement. “If I had lot of money I’d….?

not be blogging now, maybe (and I'd, for sure, not have bought an IPL team).

12. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?

Hell no, and will never do that.

13. Storms – cool or scary?

Scary, but only once for the unimaginable experience. Otherwise it’s cool always.

14. Favorite drink?

Nimbooz by 7up.

15. Finish this statement, “If I had the time I would….”?

have finished this meme, a couple of days, earlier.

16. Do you wish to be a nerd?

Yes, I do. I want to be someone, for a while, that I have never been till date. :-D

17. If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice?

I wouldn't do it. So, why to care about the choice?

18. Name all the different cities/towns you’ve lived in?

Pudukkottai (Newfort), Chennai and Bhubaneswar.

19. Favorite sports to watch?

Football and Hockey.

20. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you?

I wish it was sent by someone, to the least of all – for the sake of answering this question. Sadly, that’s not the case.

21. Would you like to be born as yourself again?

Not again.

———–

That’s it, one more meme is done.

I wasn't wrong!!!

Yesterday, my friend gave me a call at an unusual time. He was one of the very few people with whom I had shared almost all my stories I wrote. He was always an active follower of my stories, and once done reading those, he would call me to give his comments. Yesterday's call was also of that sort, the only difference being it wasn't for the comments on any of my stories, but on my recent blog post - "What I prefer".

He wasn't particularly happy about my preference for the question - Tamil or English. He was upset, disappointed and, on top of all, was angry on me for choosing English over Tamil, my mother tongue. Here is the excerpt from that particular post.

9. Tamil or English.English. Simply because I was always poorer in Tamil than English.

He, in fact, kind of jovially threatened me by saying that he would start a thread on this topic in Facebook. I know, he wasn't serious. Even if he was, I'm least bothered about it. The main reason for this post is not his threat, but my responsibility - the responsibility of clearing things up. I just don't want to get to be mistaken by my friends for what I am not.

Well, to answer him, I didn't insult Tamil in any way. I swear, I never will. I just said that I prefer English to Tamil, and I guess I had given a valid reason - the fact that I'm just poorer in Tamil than in English - to back up that. I can't help but say how hard I have struggled to write in Tamil with least possible spelling mistakes. And, moreover, given the fact that I haven't got that much chance to write in Tamil in the past 7 years, not a sane person will expect me to write perfectly in Tamil.

Okay, maybe, he might have thought I choose English over Tamil in the context of a better language. If so, I just want to make it clear that he was completely wrong. My preference was just in the context of writing and communicating. That was the way I felt. If anyone wants my preference in the context of a better language, I will, obviously choose Tamil over any other language. No doubt in that. Reasons -

1. It's my mother tongue, after all.
2. I have read and heard several positive things about Tamil all through my school days.
3. I have been talking in Tamil umpteen times more than English ever since I started talking.
4. Lastly, I didn't know the history of English unlike I do about Tamil.

So, to him and other followers of this blog, I still say I prefer English over Tamil in the context I had explained earlier. If you guys still think I was wrong, then help yourselves. So there.

My second 'meme' post

So here's another meme that I found in Sameer Jha's blog that interested me to blog on. I don't know how many more (inspired posts) are to come yet. Basically, he had stolen (as said by him) it from someone else's blog. So I just rounded off to myself that blogging by inspiration is not a crime, after all. Moreover, the 'Meme' posts are supposed to pass on from one person to another. Moreover, I will feel happy if I get to know this post of mine has inspired anyone. So here it is.

I think: I'm travelling in a right path by pushing myself to blog frequently.

I know: what it takes to run towards my dreams, although I'm not ready yet.

I want: to meet Mr.Selvaraghavan, one day and have a chit-chat with him.

I have: to learn things that I always wanted to - Photoshop, for instance.

I wish: I'm more matured by now, specially, on handling people. 

I hate: myself when I lie to someone (this is for the ones who believe me). I hate: the people who are uncommitted to their work (this is for those who don't believe me on my previous answer).

I miss: her (the name won't be revealed here for she won't like me doing it, and I always wanted not to do what she dislikes).

I fear: deadlines.

I feel: really happy when I find me as a reason for someone's smile.

I hear: Yuvan's music a lot.

I smell: the 'hot wings' chicken, in my fingers, that I ate few minutes ago at the nearby Pizza Corner.

I crave: for knowing what am I up to.

I search: for the tips and tricks in MS Excel, lately. That's on technical front. On a personal note, I search for my real interests.

I wonder: how many people will read this post and comment on it.

I regret: for my decision on March 21, 20**. In fact, I will always do.

I love: almost anything and everything, as long as it does't make me hate it. Had I not have any followers to this blog (and this post in particular), it would have been a name, undoubtedly :-)

I ache: when I lose something I dreamed of winning.

I care: about all the persons who had left an impact on me and my life.

I always: found it hard to name a title for my stories and the posts in my blog than writing them actually.

I am not: a person whom you think I am.

I believe: in fate. Okay, that's a lie, and I hate myself for that lie (Believe me, at least, now).

I dance: in my dreams, but only once in a while.

I sing: while taking a shower, and rarely, when I ride my bike with no one in the pillion.

I cry: when I watch a heart-touching movie like 'Deiva Thirumagal' (the one I saw today). Fortunately, it happens rarely.

I don’t always: pray to God.

I fight: the laziness that surrounds me, or at least try to.

I write: for the sake of myself only. I was never really worried if it will be liked by others (that's the real fact, even though some might feel it bad).

I win: most of my friend's heart. I actually do, really.

I lose: to my laziness, mostly.

I never: ran in front of the running train/bus/lorry :-)

I confuse: people when they confuse me. Not a sort of tit-for-tat kind, it just happens.

I listen:  to everyone patiently (mostly in my dreams).

I can usually be found: at Office (during office hours) or otherwise at home. NOTE:Weekends not considered.

I am scared: when I watch a horror movie alone at night with the headphones.

I need: to brush up my knowledge on many subjects.

I am happy about: having few trust-worthy friends whom I can share anything with.

------

That's it. My second 'meme' post is done.

Commitment - where everything starts

How often have you seen your friends rambling about getting a job before they finish the final year of their course in college? Pretty often, isn't it? No wonder, you yourself were one among them.  In fact, I was, and frankly, anyone and everyone falls in that category. It's not something to be ashamed of for no one here is being sheepish by being a rambling person in this regard. Everyone, at some point of time, sooner or later, rambles about it. If you happen to see anyone saying otherwise, then you are witnessing a person who is trying not to be ordinary. Don't mistake yourself by rounding him to be extra-ordinary, he is just less-ordinary.

The rambling continues till one lands up getting a job by the time they finish their course, and it only gets worse when one has to spend time with the fellow mates who were placed already. That's really a horrible thing to experience. Luckily, or unluckily I didn't get a chance to experience that. By the way, that's not the point I wanted to discuss here about. The real point is this question - How many of us are being committed to our job once we are on board? By committed, I mean a-genuine-commitment.

I have been working for almost three years now, and I have seen and been with many people in my tenure. From my very own experience, I would say, strong and hard, that not many were committed to their job, their work. I'm damn sure about that. Okay, there could be few days where people get frustrated, or feel sick, or have some (personal) things troubling them, or some stupidity running over their mind, or what not. At those times, you can't even expect them to be normal let alone being committed to what they do. Also, no one can escape from these unfortunate events, after all, we are humans. But that's acceptable as long as that happens occasionally, and even then, everyone has to, at least, try to be committed. Because that's what we are paid for - for being committed and get things done at our end, in the best possible way.

From the personal perspective, one can be lenient on people when they face any of the above said unfortunate events, but from the business perspective, one can't expect the same leniency, and you can't blame anyone for that. If that is the case, how can being-so-uncommitted be accepted from someone who is (or seems to be) normal? Honestly, I hate that, I hate the person to the core, no matter who and how close they are to me. Though I try not to put it out to that people, inside of me, I still hate them.

I just go by the motto, give everyone the best of you whether or not they deserve it. So when my company pays me, I should pay back them with what they deserve - the commitment. And I expect that from my colleagues as well. In the past 3 years, I have seen few people being uncommitted to their work. When I say that, I'm not referring anyone in particular, and moreover I just don't want to do so. Many, at least, at times, were a victim. They just take things in a rather casual way. I just want them to realize the importance of their work, the basic quality of being truthful to the employer, thereby, to themselves. Sometimes, a person's failure from being committed causes a stir among other employees, which drastically affects the commitment of theirs as well. We should inspire others to make them grow, not to make them fall.

For anyone who say, "I try, but I just can't be committed!!!". Just try to -

• Be responsible - Responsibility makes you to finish any work in time with at most sincerity, and that turns you to be committed.
• Enjoy - Just enjoy the work you do. You will always be committed to do something you enjoy yourself.
• Inspire others - Always think yourself as a leader. A leader should always inspire his/her (team) mates at any cost. To be inspiring, you have work on your work first, and that pushes you to be committed.

I can't help but say, Commitment - this is with what everything starts!!! So always be committed. That's what I wanted to put forward. I just quoted this with my job, and my colleagues. My sincere apologies had I hurt someone by this post. I mean it. The commitment has to be with everyone no matter what place it is, what work we do, and top of all, what others deserve.

Having talked about commitment, I can't sign off without mentioning my colleague here. She is my inspiration when it comes to commitment. Unfortunately, she had to put in her papers last October. Wherever she is, by now, I'm pretty much sure that she will always be committed to what she does, and inspire others just like she did to me.

What I prefer

As I was stalking this blog, I ended up reading this post. Well, Sameer Jha, (I don’t know who he is, or what he looks like for I have never met or talked to him yet. In fact, he doesn’t even know I’m stalking to his blog lately) himself had stated that anyone, who has a blog, is more than welcome to do a post on this topic. He had also given the right to modify the questions. So here I am, with this post. Unlike the reasons for his post, I just do this to increase the count of the posts in my blog (and yeah, I guess, I can also copy a part of his reasons – personal time pass – as well).

So, here are the 15 questions with my preference. NOTE: Few questions are edited to suit me, and my stand on life)

1. Night or Day

Night, for I always feel the complete me in the night’s silence accompanied by the moon light (just the darkness will do on a New Moon day).

2. Facebook or Twitter

Twitter. It’s always nice to follow the celebrities – whom you admire and cherish – to know what’s happening with them, in a quick, elegant and simpler way. Who cares what of yours reaches others as long as something of others reaches you.

Moreover, I got used and attached to Twitter more quicker than Facebook. Although, by and by I found FB has more to offer, it was just too late. Additionally, I could spend a day without logging into FB, but that’s not the case with Twitter.

P.S: I also considered Orkut as a choice, but it’s out of question in today’s world of Facebook and Twitter (and well, that’s strictly my personal view. Pardon me, if I’m wrong).

3. Arranged Marriage or Love Marriage

Love Marriage, though my mom is leniently against it.  I would always say, marrying a good friend of yours would make your life only better. “Love the person, Marry the person, and Live the life.”

4. Pudukkottai or Chennai

I have spent my past 7 years in Chennai, which of course, by the fact, are the most crucial years of my life. Chennai, offered me a lot, both in a personal and professional front. But how can one choose something over their hometown that still holds the top spot in their heart for the cherishing, everlasting memories it had given. So I go for my ‘Newfort’ (that’s the name I tag for Pudukkottai to my friends).

5. Good looks or Intelligence

Intelligence. Good looks might take someone to greater heights, but won’t grip them there forever, whereas Intelligence always does.

6. Money or Respect

Respect. Money, at times, could make you selfish, but the respect you own will always make even a selfish person to be altruistic to you.

Plus, money doesn’t get you respect,whereas, respect gets you money (you can easily borrow money from someone when you have the respect). 

7. School or College

College. It’s where I had no fear of the teachers, my parents, and moreover no worries about being less studious than my siblings. But no second thoughts, I always loved the care-free life of my school days.

8. fingerspoint.blogspot or fingerspoint.wordpress

WordPress, maybe because it’s new to me. Anything new is always interesting and exciting to be associated with.

9. Tamil or English.

English. Simply because I was always poorer in Tamil than English.

10. Tea or Coffee or Milk

Coffee. But the fact is I had gulped a lot more of Milk than Coffee or Tea, all my life (Thanks to my Mom).

11. Maths or Physics (or any other science subjects)

Maths, any time. It’s after all my favorite subject in all my classes. I love to solve some problems than sketching some crap figures. 

12. Football or Cricket or Hockey

Football. Hockey comes a close second, but Cricket is way behind.

13. US or UK

I love football. So I’d choose the land for Football over the land for Baseball/Basketball. Even this day, watching a premier league match, preferably at Old Trafford, Manchester, tops my wish-list. 

14. Director or Writer

Director, always. I’d choose to be Selvaraghavan over Chetan Bhagat. They both are my favorite in their path.

15. Me or You

Well, having talking about selfishness in the 6th question, I can’t be selfish here.  So, unarguably, it’s ‘You’.

And yeah, for that compliment for ‘You’, you owe me, and it’s your pay back time. I know you’re genuinely a good person who just don’t like to owe someone forever. So you could repay me by dropping your comments in this post. Also, if you are tempted to throw any random questions at me which, you might feel, should have made to this list of 15, you’re most welcome. Dare it. So there.