Naari – The Woman

A big lesson from a small incident

The whole day was bad. I was convinced of it. I was a wannabe software engineer. I had 4 years of experience in various IT related fields. I had been a trainer, a project guide, a developer, and even a video editor in these 4 years. But all that had been “Once upon a time in Goa”. This was Bangalore and I still had to prove my worth to this electronic city.

 That day I had an appointment with CEO of a company. I wasn’t very keen on this job, but had agreed for the appointment when the HR person had called me. I didn’t think I would get many chances and whatever came my way, I had decided to go for it. During the 1 hr journey from Sheshadripuram to Airport Road, I talked myself into making a good impression, into using the chance even if it meant only to sustain out here. I knew only too well the reluctance of my parents to let me be on my own in this big city. Another 2 weeks and they would start asking me to come back. The thought of going back empty handed provided all the incentive (?!) needed to work hard over here.

Finally, I saw the familiar-by-now, Leela Palace and got down from the bus. Walking towards the office I said a silent prayer and asked God Almighty to give me what was best for everyone. Then there was a blur of activities and I found myself at the reception asking for the CEO, enquiring about my appointment with him. I was asked to take a seat, which I did and waited patiently. Minutes ticked by. My patience began wearing out.

After whole of 2 Hours, I saw a guy approach me. He asked, “What is the matter? Are you waiting for someone?” I answered, collecting all my sanity, begging myself to keep a cool head, “I have come to meet Mr. Shah. HR person has fixed our appointment. This is regarding the interview I have cleared and my posting in this organization.” Enquiring eyes almost mocked me as he said, “I am Shah, the CEO of this company. But I don’t remember anything about this appointment. Let me see…” With that he did a 180-degree turn and walked out. I hoped at least now I can speak to him and be done with it. I gathered my papers and almost perched at the edge of the sofa, ready to go. My surprise on knowing he was the CEO had saved me from bursting out at him, which, ironically, was to my advantage.

Another 5 minutes followed and then I was met by a young guy. He smiled at me, I smiled back. Almost hearing before he spoke, what I wanted to hear, “You may go in…” But no, that wasn’t what he was saying. He told me, “Sorry Ma’m. Sir is busy and cannot see you today. Our HR person will get in touch with you and let you know.” He couldn’t have cared less.

I thought of myself sitting nervously, worried about another interview which I had had to postpone because of this one. I thought of these people playing with someone else’s time, effort. That was the last straw. Something snapped inside me and I spoke in clear ringing voice, “How could you do that? It was Your HR person who asked me to come here, today. I was here before time, canceling other things for this one and now after so long you tell me to go away. Is this fair?” Futile words were exchanged and I walked back.

I felt all burnt out, cheated, betrayed and God-knows-what. I kept fretting over things, boiling blood while going over the same scenes again and again. I didn’t realize when I reached Shivajinagar and took another bus to my place. Crowded bus added to my dismay.

And then, something changed. A group of school kids entered the bus. People accommodated them. I guessed they were regulars on this bus. The driver seemed quite pally with them and some passengers too. I lost myself in their activities. So much that I almost forgot to notice that these were special kids. Challenged. Unable to communicate with language and words like us normal people. As this realization hit home, I was ashamed. Here was I: a healthy capable person, gifted by all the faculties and natural abilities. I could talk, communicate, reach out. Easily. And here were these kids: nature had cast them aside in many ways, normal things like speech which I took for granted, was a hurdle that lay in their path every moment of their life. They would be facing various types of treatments from other people, sympathy from grown-ups, ridicule from their healthy peers, may be even hate and contempt from some insensitive souls. But they had a gift of laughter about them, a survival kit of sunshine which they spread liberally.

More than anything any interview or the preparation there of has ever taught me, I learnt something that day. From these young ones. A line I had read somewhere flashed to my mind. “Be a sun beam. There are many people who are in need of one!!!” With a smile on my sweating face, I vowed to pursue this mission.

Note: This post was earlier posted on my old blog, “A mused mind”.

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A walk in the past…

If the Ladakh trip had me bewitched, it would hardly be a surprise that I so wanted to get close to nature again. But, being a resident of Delhi, I was not too sure of how that could become a reality.

But as they say, “where there is a will…”. Some Googling for opportunities to be with nature within the city gave me the idea of  “Heritage walks” conducted by a group, “Delhi Heritage Walks(DHW)” every weekend.

That is how the Saturday morning found me thrilled, half smiling to myself,  leaving early to see Delhi in full swing. Even at the early hour, the driving was crazy and honking incessant. Me and my friends, somehow managed to reach on time.

Guided by archaeologists from the DHW, we entered the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Sprawling over 100 acres of land  this is where buildings from all periods of India’s conquer-and-build history stand. Mosques, tombs, guard towers, living quarters, and minarets – stone witnesses to the romance and hatred, bloody wars and progressive, peaceful times, poor servants and beautiful princes. Each seems to whisper to you in their own silence, tell you tales of their proud yesterday and neglected today; beckon you to understand and empathize for their uncertain future.

As we began our walk and the walk leader from DHW explained the monuments and the history behind them, I was ashamed I shunned away from history as a subject in school! Never did I know before that the rich heritage of India can be so alluring. As per one of the archaeologists, it is only here that you have remains from almost every era of Delhi’s history from the early Hindu settlements to the more recent British times.

Among the attractions were the beautiful Jamali Kamali mosque, an adjoining tomb that has beautifully preserved interior with lovely red and blue plaster work on the ceiling, the Balban’s tomb although somewhat dilapidated and a stepwell – “Gandhak-ki-Baoli” – considered to be the oldest in Delhi. As the walk came to conclude, I was left feeling hungry to know more…

So, if you too want a sneak peek into the past, take one of these heritage walks and rest assured it would be a walk to remember. Here’s where you can visit to know how to…

http://www.delhiheritagewalks.com/
OR
http://www.intach.org/pdf/DelhiHeritageWalk.pdf

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Edward Cullen

“About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was ….” I watched Bella Swan muse to herself on my laptop screen. My own thoughts were not much different. I was watching “Twilight” – the movie made from the first of four books from “The Twilight Saga” series.

•  A seemingly impossible mix of characters from ancient times and modern where no one seems out of place. 
  Dialogs and descriptions that Stephenie Meyer out to you to the core. 
  A tangle of emotions – uncontrollable thirst for someone’s blood, fear of being the monster you can be, pain of loving someone who you think should not reciprocate and finally, love, that washes all else away.
  Twilight Saga series is a set of four books, 
                        Twilight, 
                        New Moon, 
                        Eclipse and 
                        Breaking Dawn,
• with all this and more….

After a long time I got to read some romantic stuff so alluring, its almost an obsession.

Stephenie tells the whole story mostly from Bella’s perspective. Her emotions, her opinions, her life. However, she also created a draft of Twilight that was the way story unfolded from Edward’s eyes (in my view, more potent than Bella’s books ). Unfortunately it circulated on the internet without her consent. Finally she did share it on her website. You can more about the draft and the draft itself from Stephenie Meyer’s official website here.

The movie does not disappoint either. Every single character plays to perfection. From Rob and Kristine in lead roles to their parents, siblings and friends every single role is very well cast. A remember-to-blink-if-you-can entertainment!!!

Here’s where you can grab your copies of books / DVDs. Enjoy!!!

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