Boomerang :)

                               History does repeat Itself...
                                   


SME Trainee ->SME ->  SSME -> GL -> Manager -> SME - Trainee

!!!! Karma!!!!

Concept Courtesy - Kannu

Pic Courtesy - Komal & Vaidehi

~~~Task Delivery~~~

Just two weeks in hand and you are pulled for some critical project in crucial timeline to develop late CR…tremendous pressure of completion of work in crunchy deadlines. Off-course when one is being pulled as a fire fighting resource there are always expectations of quality work and default thoughts –‘you will be meeting targets!’ At other end of life so many troublesome situations waiting for you…at work you cannot concentrate… and yet people keep on banking on you. Knowingly-unknowingly they ignore your initial unawareness of work and keep you moving saying next time this will be accomplished, and you can do it, we know that. In status meetings people hold you, set expectations about work ; revise timelines and off course remind - you’re IT professional (that says all-- what I meant!)

Yet, few things just don’t make you move ahead. The moment you ponder on work, you realized other complexities in the tasks involved, now there is a week ahead for delivering the work to client and you dig out some other pitfalls and start designing the solutions to catch up the targets. Again and again, incredible deadlines and in between your personal front demands you to take vacations in same timeline. What more could be more taxing while working at such vital point?


Yes, you have to compromise vacation nights to meet the deadlines and balance personal life, somehow you bring up the work in shape, and still few minute things turn entire code-show flop. In such cases, there are no other options but to spend weekends from your pocket and try giving Midas touch to the code. Not for your name, responsibility shown on you but for the time you have been pulled in and the zeal of working in a way to add meaning to your days.


Somehow you could not sleep for the days when things were not falling in place; you kept on getting dreams where some geeks give you tips of how one could be happy with work done. You cannot see any personal front nor could you make your face pale with any other difficulties. Although beloved once called you to check how you’re with rest other difficulties, but you keep on discussing about your work. The only thing in your life remained for a certain timeline is…accomplishing work with zero defects!


Finally after couple of nights and early mornings, day arrives; you have done almost everything possibly you could. Now it’s a time to relax and have coffee with soothing music but its already a late night... rather, early morning… The city is awake and getting engaged with daily routines but you are falling asleep…

पोस्टमन

पोस्टमन आणि दिवाळी ह्यांच एक निराळ  नात आहे. (आता ज्यानी पोस्टाची सेवा उपभोगलीच नाही त्याना कदाचित मी काय  बोलतेय ह्याचा अंदाज़ नाही येणार.) दिवाळी निमित्ताने का होईना पण मला ह्या व्यक्तीची आठवण झाली हे काय कमी आहे? 

फार काळ लोटला नाही त्या दिवसाना ज्यावेळी   आपण अगदी आतुरतेने ह्या व्यक्तीची  वाट पाहत असू. सगळ्या सुख दुखा:च्या  बातम्या अगदी निरपेक्ष भावनेने कळवाणारा हा एकमेव प्राणी. पण तुम्ही जर त्याचे नेहमीचे सेवा उपभोकते  असाल  तर तुमची सुख आणि दुख:ही त्याने जाणून घेतल्याशिवाय तो पुढे जाणार नाही हे ही तेवढच खर. पूर्वी आम्ही आवर्जून विशेष दिवासाना ह्या खाकी गणवेश धारकाची  वाट पाहत असू. आता मात्र कलानुरूप आम्हाला आमची पत्रे आमच्या mailbox मधे मिळतात अणि भेटवस्तू एखाद्या तत्सम courier कंपनी कडून.  

 तस पाहील तर अगदीच रटाळ  अशीही पोस्टमनची नोकरी. तरीही आपला जीव ओतून हा पोस्टमन रोज येणारी पत्रे ,तारा ,कधीतरी भेटवस्तू अणि महिन्याच्या सुरुवातीस moneyorders घेऊन येणार. अगदी आता आता पर्यंत आपल्याकडे housing societies मध्ये letter  box  ची सुविधा नव्हती. तर मग पोस्टमन अगदी चार- पाच मजले चढून ती पत्रे , तारा तुमच्यापर्यंत पोहचवणार. कित्येक मैल हा दिवसभर चालणार किंवा cycle हाकणार. सकाळी पहाटे पासून ते सायंकाळ पर्यंत असा हा एकंदरीत परिश्रमाचा दिनक्रम. ह्यातून एखादे पत्र किंवा तार वेळेत नाही पोहचली म्हणजे त्याच्या नोकरीवर गधा आलीच म्हणून समजा. कुठल्याही पत्राच पाकिट फाटू नये ह्याचीही जबाबदारीही  तो घेणार. एकंदरीतच इमाने इतबारे नोकरदारात ह्याची गणती!  

 एरव्ही कुठल्याही सणा दिवशी किंवा खास वेळी तो तुमच्याकडे काहीही मागणार नाही.(मला तर आमच्याकडे नित्य नियमाने येणारया पोस्टमनने  पाणीही मागल्याचे स्मरत नाही. )  पण दिवाळीच्या दिवशी मात्र हक्काने दिवाळी नेण्यासाठी तो येणार. अगदी तुम्ही ओळखणार नाही अशा नवीन कपड्यामध्ये येऊन (पोस्टमन कड़े त्याच्या खाकी कपड्या व्यतिरिक्त काही असू शकते ह्याचे मला तेव्हा खरच नवल वाटे.) तरीही त्यात त्याचा दिवाळी घेण्यावर कसलाही आग्रह नाही. तुम्हाला वाटेल जमेल तशी दिवाळी त्याला दया. तरीही तो खुश. नाही दिलीत म्हणून त्याचा कसलाही त्रागा नाही. दिवाळी नंतर परत तो आपल्या उद्योगाला-  अगदी त्याच आवेशात आणि त्याच निरपेक्ष भावनेने!

  काही कारणानिमित्ताने ह्या दिवाळीच्या  अगदी पहिल्याच दिवशी मी जुनी पत्रे, पोस्टाने आलेल्या भेटवस्तू पाहण्यात मुग्ध झाले. आणि एक सुखद काळ पुन्हा एकदा   अनुभवत होते. अचानक  दारावरची बेल वाजली म्हणून सगळ्या पत्रांची आवारावर करायला घेतली अणि बाहेरून आवाज- "मी पोस्टमन. दिवाळी न्यायला आलोय"  अगदी तशीच मी उठले. डोळ्यांच्या ओल्या कडा  पुसल्या आणि हातात आलेली नोट पोस्टमन काकांच्या हाती दिली. आमचे शेजारीही पाहत बसले ज्या अंकाची  नोट मी पोस्टमन काकाना  दिली अणि बिल्डिंग च्या  पूजेची  वर्गणी  मात्र देताना माझा हात तोकड़ा करते. पण त्याना काय सांगणार ही बिदागी  त्याने मला दिलेल्या एका  सुखद अनुभुतिसाठी  आहे जो कदाचित मला ह्यापुढे मिळणही दूरापास्त  होणार आहे...

   

All Izz Well...

“Di, I got the tickets, I have to fly tomorrow early morning” unexciting voice replied me over the phone. My head started rotating too. I could not concentrate on my work and this news almost broke me down. The news was not at all bad nor was it surprising. We knew soon lil miss is gonna fly to Banglore to start her career. Yet, somewhere I was worried for her. Till now she was always with me. I used to see her every week-end. The moment I used to hear her soaked voice, I could take liberty to see her by leaving everything at my end. Now that she will be away at considerable miles, I’ll have to think of seeing her often for sure. Don’t know but I was not prepared for this actuality for sure.

In total thirteen students including my sis’s were moving to Banglore from Pune training centre. I knew she was not alone, and it’s her time to move on, explore new place and people too. Definitely she needs to breathe in independent air. Finally with all mindset preparations I went to drop her. Flight was at early morning and before flying buddies could reach at airport all their batch mates had gathered to give them sendoff. I was surprised to see her entire batch at airport coming from very distant places, yet managing to reach so early morning. The moment we got out of car, entire group hugged lil miss. I was shocked to see, other people’s love for her. I could see all innocent faces crying and trying to console themselves. For sure they had shared amazing bond, and when their associates are getting dispersed throughout India for job postings all of them getting sensitive. All of them were guaranteeing each other to see in vacations at different places. Few of them were instructing to take care. Most of them were forcing all Banglore posting buddies should stay in same apartments. As and when flying time was coming closer, all were getting touchy. Lot of crying, promising and what not …

My entire mindset changed in fraction of moment. I could perceive now, lil miss is not so lil and she has her own world, where she is protected and people around her are keeping her happy as best as they can.  There was absolutely no need to worry for her. She is really grown up which I never thought of she will ever be at one fine day. The moment I had reached airport, her Di had got misplaced and friends came in picture. But the developed kid made sure, I was alright. All her friends made me sure, there will be joy with them and I in fact was unnecessary concerned.

The moment flight announcement started so many hands waved with one sound…”All Izz Well”.

All the best kido! Hope you have nice time, people and lots of opportunities.

Leaving Mumbai...???

I decided to leave Mumbai not because I wanted to step out of home but to make career. Nevertheless, I had choice to make between couple of campus placements and decide the city.
Leaving my only lovely- dearly sis alone at home and rest Mumbai-gang, I walked away... to make career (no, to make money to be honest)!

With full of tears I had packed the bags. All my relatives, friends were happy that I could get the better choice for my life to start with. I had no clue on it; rather I was becoming more and more emotional towards my decision. After the acceptance step, I started looking outwardly for what I will be getting through.

Indeed to mention I got best friends that I could hold for my lifetime. Colleagues- who could add diverse parameters to my existence and new city to show me `this could also be the way to live`.


Although Mumbai was very close to heart till the time I couldn’t make move back. Not because I love city the most but solely to keep my job-tag with good spirit. The moment I had made the move to Pune, my idea of job was very clear –“I am working for my personal life betterment than making work my personal life for job betterment”. All my passions were going out of touch when I was put in a career-race and I lost the meaning for a period. Now when I want to regain all my energy back and deciding should I go back? My city is really calling me back… exactly when I made mind to move back my sis got her posting to Banglore- another job-hub place. Few of my gang -members had already started dispersing throughout the world.


No clue now, what I am really looking ahead whenever repatriating thought comes up. No matter what, I missed Mumbai, I am and I will be missing it for sure. When my sis will leave for Banglore for sure we both will leave so many things behind in this lovely city, who knows, in future we may just guests be the guests for Mumbai city!  The thought just su*** and the fact is just burning me away…

Bureau jerky!

Although I have not change my working-firm till now. For sure I have changed enough work locations being in same office premises. My manager made sure, even if I don’t get change in terms of work that I may desire for, I definitely get to explore many desks along with new people, bay’s and get to travel all towers that my company posses! (I guess that is how he made sure, his every resource gets some or other kind of change in his/her career!)

I always find moving from one work-place to another is just fun and keeping me alive. (Now don’t say – this is what gypsy’s love about!!). This gives me some kind of new environ and colors to breathe for.

 At least this time I was hoping to see some nice faces around. But look what my so called *** manger did to me? He put me in a place where he can see my face as and when he wants to and jeer at my every activity possibly he can, especially my cell phone and texting activities (when I am smiling the most at my work station and he is most envy about.) This is how he made sure to evaluate me in every review than reading my mails and judging my real work. Yet, I am v. sure he will read this blog and do some rational evaluation over coffee :).


So coming back to a point of shifting from one location to another, I was amused to see who my new neighbor is. The one with whom I fought (and fighting) the most since I had join the firm is gonna be my closest neighbor now onwards. This made me realize, I need to work (pretend) in very much workaholic mood to avoid all the fumes that will raise during office hours and should not expect like other S.E.’s- office could be my second home and I should be logging there for some life. Rather I should be treating this place like Kashmir and always be vigilant. What else worst can your boss do to you? When I asked him the explanation – the answer I got was very diplomatic from official front and I could smell the real reason – he wanted to have live entertainment and stop my non-sense creative activities. But this is not gonna stop my blogging ever! And this will disclose (mine and apparently all surrounding malaga’s) office life in public now on-words…

Toddlers -> Frank -> Over frank?

Those who are elder they for sure understand the pain behind this title.

 Here are some incidences to prove it –

  I buy some dress which I feel is best fit I can ever choose. My lil sis walks in with one glimpse over dress; she proves this is the worst thing I could ever pick. And then I comprehend x amount that I spent is just worth filling my wardrobe!

You change the phone ring to one of your favorite sentimental song instrumental …relating to your good old (young?) days – reminding you some ***stuff. In home when babyish siblings hear it – w/o seeing what you can feel about ring they declare “This is such an annoying ringtone one can ever have. Who the **** gave you this ringtone to fool you?” I somehow pick one of their phone and start looking for ringtone put in so called their ‘cool’ folders.

You go for alumni get together and come back home with wet heart. Your adolescent brother catches you asking did you find any handsome senior than what you thought he was before. You look at him – thinking was that the purpose? They prove: No wonder... you’re still single. 

job - life!

Once the market is up most of the S.E.’s start switching the job and there are hundreds of convincing reasons to change the job. Few of them are -
i. The existing job is not providing you growth opportunities (in terms of mostly money but to mention it is role, working place, etc etc)
ii. Existing job is just su***** and manager too. No good work life
iii. No work –life balance
iv. Want to change the organization due to personal preference or looking for dream job with some other so called very good brand firm
v. Bla bla bla…
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When I went over with all reasons while thinking the same as above – I added few more parameters to find so called dream job:
i. Job that pays you well and gives hike and incentives
ii. Job that never evaluates and provide you hike or bonuses in terms of your band but on your performance
iii. Job that gives you ample of time to relax, learn new things and do new things
iv. Job that gives you internet facility at good speed and do not demand to use just for job growth but for any other relevant purpose that you find it to be right!
v. Job that gives you time and fresh mind to blog :)
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Then I sat back to find what my job should give me however it turn out to be a thought –
In every market boom I will try changing job since –
i. This is not at all a job that I ever think of working for
ii. This is not at all a company that will ever think of making me their stake holder
iii. I love my job till the time I get acquainted with problems and people
iv. I love my job the most when I get to explore new things which are totally out of scope w.r.t. job that I work for or get to blog


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With these, parameters remain – to change the existing job are:
i. “People along with problems” I want to know and form new network with
ii. Money that keep me a-live and pays me to keep some other alive..

??Resolution??

Writting blogs in  indian language is one of the painful thing I have ever found. (specially when you write them at your work-station!) I started writting marathi blog in May month. Wanted to say this was one of b'day resolution and immediately act on it. Alas! this blogpost and my work-station did not allow me to pursue this resolution. So after long time on one of my friend's b'day I went back and check 'my resolution-list'. There I found, below posted saved draft -written in marathi with hell lot of spelling mistakes. this time I put 100% energy and work time to rectify it. With all cursor playing games and transalations I could complete my first marathi blog in office hrs on office m/c. What else you need to gear up your resolutions?

गांधारी एक जीवनप्रवास!

गांधारी म्हटल की साधारण आपल्या समोर उभी राहते ती डोळ्याला शुभ्र वस्त्र बांधणारी स्त्री जिने वस्तुतः आंधळेपण स्वीकारल. जिने खूप मोठा त्याग केला सृष्टी अनुभवण्यचा आणि इतराना दृष्ट असण्याचा आभास निर्माण करण्याचा . कारण तर अगदीच क्षुल्लक - राजेसाहेब आंधळे होते. आजकाल कोणालाही ही गोष्ट हास्यास्पद वाटेल; परंतु त्यामागे उभी असणारी गांधारी मात्र एक स्वतंत्र यक्तिमत्त्व म्हणून भावण्याजोगी आहे खरी . ती कुठेही परावलंबित किंवा भित्री व्यक्ती म्हणून वावरत नाही . अगदी छोट्या छोट्या गोष्टींतही स्वतंत्र छठा उमटवून जाते . म्हणूनच एक तत्वनीष्ठ स्वतंत्र व्यक्ती म्हणून भारतीय संस्कृतींत ह्या स्त्रीचा गौरोवोच्चार अपरिहार्य ठरतो.
एक भारतीय स्त्री म्हणून कुठेही आपल शील सोडत नाही अथवा कधीही आपल्या पतीस त्याच्या कुकर्मापासून परावृत्त करण्यास विसरत नाही . एक माता म्हणून, एक पत्नी म्हणून अथवा एक राज्ञी म्हणून तिने आपला धर्म अतिशय कर्तव्यदक्षपणे निभावाला. तिने सतत पुत्रांना, भावाला अणि पतीला एक मनुष्य म्हणून भानावर आणण्यासाठी प्रयत्न केले . कुठेही खचून न जाता तिने आपल्या पुत्रांना शासन सुनावले, अगदी आशीर्वांदापासूनही त्यांना अखेरपर्यंत वंचित ठेवले . कोणती माता हे करु शकेल? स्व पतीलाही न जुमानता जेव्हा त्याच्या दुष्क्रुत्याचा पाढा वाचायची वेळ येते तेव्हा ती निशंक आणि तटस्थ व्यक्ती म्हणून समोर येते . हीच गांधारी त्याला अखेरच्या क्षणाला एक पत्नी म्हणून आणि माता म्हणून अश्रु पुसण्यासाठी आपल्या पतीसमोर येते, पुत्रवियोगाच्या दुःखाने झालेली अगदी असह्य आणि कारुण भासते. तिची माया, प्रेम आणि क्रोध शेवटच्या पर्वात हुरहुर लावून जातात. स्वलोकांना कंटाळलेली स्त्री शेवटी आपला सगळा क्रोध, मत्सर आपल्या भगवंतावर काढ़ते आणि एक शापाचा वाली म्हणून अमर होते . वस्तुस्थिती पारदर्शकपणे पाहिल्यास आपल्यालाही जाणीव होते की तीच्या जवळच्या व्यक्ती किंवा प्रसंग तिच्या हातात नव्हते. आलेल्या प्रसंगांना ती मोठ्या धैयॉने सामोरी जाते . कुठूनही पलायनवाद करत नाही. नाहीतर ती केव्हाच आपल राज्य सोडून तिला माघारी घेऊन जाण्यासाठी आलेल्या शकुनीसोबत परत गेली असती . आपल मनालेल्या घरी मोठ्यांच्या सन्मानाकारिता तिने स्वखुशींचा खूप विचारपूर्वक त्याग केला . सगळ्यात आकर्षित करणारी गोष्ट म्हणजे तिने कधीही आपल्या निर्णयाचा त्रागा केला नाही अथवा आपल्या नशिबालाही दोष दिला नाही . "कर्मण्ये वाधिकरास्तेषु मा फलेषु कदाचन। " ह्या ऊक्तीप्रमाणे तिने आपला जीवनप्रवास सुरु ठेवला . आणि म्हणूनच शापीत भगवंतालही तिच्याकडे उशाःप मागण्याचे धेर्य करता आले नाही. अशीही ही गांधारी एक स्त्री म्हणून एक अदभुत शिखर गाठते.

"HaPpY BiRtH WeEk"

I am celebrating my b’day for aprrox a week now (and still celebrations with different groups are in queue). The whole week is full of joy, surprises, cakes, gifts, cards and off course with friends.
So now I am hearing new wishes – “Happy birth week dear!” Although I am celebrating some XX b’day, nevertheless my friends are motivating me to celebrate it on biannual basis.
Thanks freinds :)


P.S. This post is for them who forgot my b’day and forgot to even wish me belated or in advance.

Isn't it?

Valentine Blast

One valentine weekend, for which all youth eagerly await to celebrate, do some shopping for near and dear once or go to some good café; could be for valentine special or for independence celebration… I am no longer an exception. So was obviously on way of enjoyment and snagging on special crowd, zeal with my friends. Suddenly my phone bleeps . My roomie calls :" Where are you? Are you safe? Get home soon… there is a blast happened in Koregaon park. Are you still at Camp area? Take all your friends on way back home!" I am in complete shattered stage; don’t know how to react on this. How to get home safe when everything is so insecure? Thousands of questions going in mind and I catch my friends car to rush back to home…leaving all shopping , most importantly good food in nice restaurant with all my beloved friends to celebrate on our independence special and catch on some valentine’s plans in city…receiving n number of near and far ones’ calls for inquiring whether I and my friends are safe or where we all, at this moment. Everybody rushing around home, closing shops, restaurants…even the minds. Fanatics achieved what they wanted to.


Being Mumbaiya, I am not new to this blast news, I guess now all Indians are acquainted with such news coming on any fine day. So not a great bite on this topic. As usual normal feeling in mind, I am safe today. Don’t know about tomorrow. It’s all fate, whether we will meet such accident (or blast?) and say goodbye to life. All of us gather, have dinner with news saying’ X’(just ?) number of people killed,’ Y’ number injured and then discuss it’s bad. Confirming none of in our vicinity caught up in blast via splashes of news. Chew something about security, politics and go to bed. Neither action nor better reaction!


Early morning I get up to see newspaper what’s the status of blast. I see all young life declared to be corpses and just get shocked to see wounded lives. See some news of CM’s denial on information that multitalented groups provided. Another counter argument from ‘Z’ department for alarming situation provided…and then caught up with normal ‘safe holiday’ talking to many long distance relatives and assuring them I am safe, no …rather lucky for the day.
I catch my friends online chat for v’day specials…no, curse that it’s holy day… and get distressed with the news Amdocs newbies died in bloody blast… All of us tremble …on details about Binita Gadani and P Sindhuri (staying in same apartment). Two youngsters, just passed out from college
having lot of dreams in eyes, start life, make parents proud just ended with a moment blast. I may not know them personally but acquaintance made me sensitive about all crap happening with "We Indians". Us Indians troubling hard to be safe!


Again rethink about the news concentrate on injured and dead. Blast goes far away, some other calculations go around… what some innocents did wrong to have such punishment? Why we normal citizens ignorant about too many harming conducts are chargeable? What some terrorist want out of it they get it, but so many lives just dangle. Who thinks about them? What one injured loses in his lifetime…just hands or legs? Eyes or entire vision of life? What about their families which are solely dependent on their income? How they will survive with handicapped situation? They might get some help from NGO’s even from government for that matter but how much? Can it pay the price of their suffering? Can it give them the life of peace? Primarily, will it give the life which was their destiny? Manmade deed just shook away everything which GOD had planned. So many families became helpless, many parents became fruitless, and most valentines became single with few seconds of blast.


Tears roll down on my face for innocent ones. I Started blaming that Government is not taking care of ‘us naive Indians’. These bloody had apprehension alarm with spot information and F***ing bodies did not even bother to tighten (or provide?) the security. Repeated chapter of 26/11! How much it would have cost to accord peace than playing with lives? Who had asked them to pay from their pocket ? They can spend on all gracious marriages of their kids, parties with friends and families in squeezed sanctuary but not on public security, for which they have been elected?
As and when I recollected all such things, I became more aware that I can’t really help this situation than going for help of deprived.
I get up and walk down to Sassoon hospital….