The dark side

Watched a Hindi movie named Ankahee(1985) today starring Amol Palekar and Deepti Naval. The movie was recommended by a friend. According to him, the movie was very touchy but I on the other hand am filled with anger, frustration, exasperation and outrage after watching the movie. This state of anger, frustration and outrage is against various accustomed rules of the society.

But before I proceed further, let me tell you the summary of the movie. I believe, none of you would be interested in watching an Amol Palekar’s art movie, hence there shouldn’t be any problem disclosing the summary here. Following goes the summary.

“Renowned astrologer Pandit Satyanarayan Chaturvedi lives with his wife Devki and son Devki Nandan aka Nandu. Nandu is in love with Sushma and wishes to marry her. His father is against the marriage and tells him that he is fated to be married twice. He also tells Nandu that his first wife will die within eleven months of their marriage. Nandu purposefully marries a mentally challenged girl Indu, hoping her to die within 11 months of the marriage which would allow him to marry Sushma after Indu’s death. But the prophecy doesn’t come true. Indu doesn’t die, on the other hand Sushma commits suicide because of her self consciousness.”

Luckily, I have been born in a family where there is no place for such superstitions. But I do have encountered few incidents where superstitions and prophecy have taken lives away. I have seen a very dear friend of mine dying just because her father was an astrologer and didn’t wish to pursue a doctor for any kind of medication. After her death, people were accusing him of letting her die just because she was a girl. It seemed, it was a golden opportunity for him to get rid of at least one of her daughters. I was then almost 6 years old and the girl who died was almost 2 years older than me. I don’t have much of her reminisces now. But when I asked, my Mom did tell me that she treated me like her younger sister though she was the youngest in her family. She was also very affectionate towards me. Aah!! How disgusting of that father!!! In fact he isn’t worthy of being called a father. Is he?

Though I live my life by my own principles but many of them are the same as my father’s. I remember ,once while I was at home, I asked my Mom to take me to a palmist. She asked- “Why do you need to visit a palmist? I don’t find any need but since you are very keen, I will take you there tomorrow.”

Tomorrow came but I said to Mom-“ Mumma, cancel the plan of visiting the astrologer. I don’t wish to go.”

My father was standing behind. He asked-“ Oh Roohi! You were planning to visit a palmist..but what for did you want to go there?”
I said-“Just to know what is written in my fate ahead , Papa.”
Papa said-“ Okay then what happened now? Why did you change your mood?”

I said-“Because I am afraid, if the Pandit said something unpleasant /sad, I might not be able to cope with it.”

Papa said-“ Then that’s absolutely a wrong and unacceptable approach Roohi. You must be able to face whatever is ahead in your life. You must have the courage and strength to face it. Don’t be a coward. Your statements are just like burring your head in the sand when the storm approaches you.”
He continued- “ I will tell you a better reason not visiting any astrologer or palmist. I assume that you are not an atheist, you do believe in God..Do you?”

I fervently nodded my head in agreement.

He continued-“Then that almighty God/ invisible power takes care of you, me and everybody else on this universe. He is our creator. We are orphans if he doesn’t pay attention to our fortunes/ misfortunes. In this never ending battle of life, we do fall, struggle and then stand up but all this while he holds you in his lap. His blessings might be invisible but certainly aren’t a fable.

Now, the astrologer whom you were wishing to visit in order to know your fate is also a creator of the same invisible power.  He is just as tiny as us in front of God. He can’t predict your future at any cost. If he was able to do this, he would be standing just next to God..don’t you think so? He just uses this profession of his to earn his living. Think about it.”

And after that incidence, I never felt the need to visit any astrologer/palmist again.

I have always believed that everybody is entitled to their opinions. But to me, these un-necessary customs, astrology and superstitions are just excuses for few people to get rid of their responsibilities (just like my friend’s father) and hence for the rest of the people it becomes a reason to suffer (just like my friend who died).

The extraordinary people- Chapter 1

In an early afternoon of July 2010, I was standing in front of the receptionist of a leading MNC which specializes in developing and marketing computer hardware systems and enterprise software products while asking for Mr. Manohar Kulkarni. After confirming with Mr. Kulkarni  on phone, the receptionist escorted me till the lobby and asked me to have a seat on the couch. He also informed that Mr. Kulkarni might take few minutes to show up while leaving.

I gave a quick glance to the place and made myself comfortable enough into the couch while grabbing the newspaper. Mr. Kulkarni showed up after almost 20 minutes. He was a middle aged man with a bulky physique, fair complexion and an average height. We greeted each other with a handshake and then he introduced me to a guy saying he is the one who will be interviewing me. I had almost overlooked the presence of anybody else other than Mr. Kulkarni in my nervousness of the pre interview phobia.

Well, the guy was pretty easy on the eyes aged around 28 to 29. While I was discreetly looking at him, the inner voice of me uttered- Roohi, relax. Didn’t you hear Mr. Kulkarni properly? This guy is about to interview you and hence he must be a demonic character. I immediately brought myself back into this world and smirked at my inner voice. By this moment, Mr. Kulkarni had already left.

So Roohi, shall we find out a cabin, he said in a firm voice while proceeding towards it. I followed him without uttering a word. He offered me to sit on the chair which was just rightly placed on the other side of the center table. I sat down on the chair and gave an unsuccessful trial to make myself comfortable.

Now, it was the time for me to get bombarded with his all so technical/drudging questions. Well, I was also in the “come on girl, let’s face it” mood.

He asked, “To Roohi, kaisi ho? BTW my name is Ifthikar”

I gaped at him, too dumbstruck for words.

He said,” Dekho, I am not much familiar with these typical interview sessions. So, let’s treat it as a formal meeting between you and me. Besides, I am not feeling too well today but didn’t want to postpone this interview. Hence, here I am with a 102 degree of fever sitting in front of you. ( the grey color half sweater over his formal shirt did witness the truth behind this statement of his)

By that time, I was almost out of that pre interview phobia and was quite comfortable with the environment, my uneasiness has suddenly vanished and a sense of comfort had taken it’s place. I think he managed to achieve what he actually wanted to..

I answered, “Main thik hun. And it’s sad to hear that you have to interview me even in this state of fever.”

After that, he asked me a bunch of technical questions, few of which I did manage to answer correctly while rest of them being wrongly answered and hence impacting a not so good feeling into me. So far this interview didn’t seem to be going on the right track to me.
Well, after those technical questions, now it was the turn of that typical question which I so hate like those melodramatic twists and turns of Ekta Kapoor’s serials.

And, he did ask that “Tell me something about your positive and negative characteristics.”

I usually don’t like lying to anybody but these kinds of questions do force me to lie specially when I am sitting in an interview room and my career is at stake.
I answered in a firm voice-Talking about the positive aspect, I am hard working, patient, and can handle stress very well and blah..blah..blah..( Well, everybody around me can explain you briefly about my laziness and the way I panic sometimes.) And, I am an emotional fool( Well, most of the girls are..and I love the way I am), you can consider it a negative aspect of my life.

He gave a 5 minutes lecture over the negative aspect making it to sound like the greatest weapon to win the world and then left asking me to wait for few minutes. I really was expecting him to come back and then say “Roohi, you can go home. I am really sorry, we did select you in the telephonic round but you were not up to our expectation in this face to face interview.” But to my surprise, he came back with Mr. Kulkarni who was supposed to be my next interviewer only to be followed by another 2 round of successful interviews.

Well, I must say that the dude did help me beyond my expectations to grab a job in a leading Database Management company.

blah..blah..blah

It was an early morning of October 2012 while I was at home. I was talking to somebody on phone in a little loud and harsh tone. Papa was passing by from there. He asked- Roohi, is it the customer service you are talking to?

I said- Yes Papa.

Papa prompted with the next obvious question, “Well, did they reschedule the flight once again? How many times did I advise you not to travel with Jet Airways!! First of all, they don’t have any direct flight from Patna to Bangalore and 2nd they always reschedule their flights. I have never seen you boarding the flight on the same day as mentioned in the original ticket. It either has to be the previous day or the next day but it never is the same day! I don’t get what’s with this Jet Airways obsession of yours. Sharma’s uncle daughter always prefers an Indigo flight and I have never heard of her facing such issues.

I replied in a dramatic melancholic tone-But Papa, Indigo’s air hostesses are so boring..neither are they beautiful nor are they attractive! And, Jet Airways has coolest flight stewards as well!!  Now don’t tell me that I should look for my comfort before I start looking at those air hostesses. After all, a flight journey becomes very uninteresting and tedious without those beautiful /attractive air hostesses and cool stewards.

Papa replied- You and your tantrums! Nobody can win any argument while he is having it with a lady. Just tell me your rescheduled flight timings.

I said- Papa, it’s not an argument. It’s a discussion, you see..:D You are very well allowed to put your points as well! However, the flight is for tomorrow and it’s via Mumbai. The flight from Patna to Mumbai is at 11 AM and then there is a stay of 2 hours in Mumbai and I think, the Bangalore flight from Mumbai is at 5 PM.   

Papa said- Okay, then let’s leave the house at 9 AM tomorrow.
I replied- Sure! Done..

The very next morning:

Papa-“Roohi, come on! It’s already 8:30 AM. Hurry up!”

Before I could answer anything, Mummy replied- There are still 2 and half hours left and you are asking her to hurry up! I am still not done with snacks packing. I need another 1 hour.

I replied in a pleading tone- Mom, please hurry up. If you delay that much, I won’t be able to get a window seat Mumma. 

The same day at around 10:30 AM:

Finally, myself  and Papa are at Patna airport with 1 trolley and 1 hand bag, the hand bag is filled with only SNACKS. I rush to the ticket counter with my voter ID card in one hand , the hand bag in the other and only God knows in which hand was I holding the trolley bag(can you imagine!) and ask the agent while getting the boarding passes “Can I get a window seat please!” She replies in a sarcastic yet trying to be firm voice- “Mam, you are one of the last passengers to board in. I am sorry but you will have to adjust with a middle seat but yup, I can give you window seat for the flight from Mumbai to Bangalore.” I thanked her for the kindness she was anyways supposed to show and proceeded towards the security checking.   Damn! Mom, I wish you could be here!

The same day at around 4:30 PM:

I am in the flight to Bangalore looking for my seat. Suddenly, I see, it has already been occupied by a man, aged around 40 to 44 years. I said “Excuse me! That’s my seat, I guess.”

He replied “oh..sure! I will shift” and he shifted to the middle seat. It was not more than 5 minutes since I had made myself comfortable enough that he prompted once again “You look tired. Have you been traveling all day?”  I thought-“What the hell!  You are supposed to espy those air hostesses not me.”

Well, You can say, I am kind of over protective when it comes to this part of life. Anyway here is what I replied to him “Yes, I was in another flight this morning.”  And then he came up with another question “ So, do you work in Bangalore?” I replied- Yes, I work in Oracle answering his third unasked question as well and expecting him to shut up. He once again asked-“Which building of Oracle?” I replied-“ Do you know Kalyani Magnum Infotech Park?” He replied “Oh..Yeah..the one just opposite to Mom and Me..right? In fact I live with my family in the adjacent apartment and I work with some blah..blah..blah..blah”  Now, let me tell you the fact that I always prefer traveling alone until and unless it’s a well planned trip to some place with friends. The travel time is ME time. I get time to spend with myself without any disturbance and incoherency while traveling. Finally, I reached Bangalore at around 8 PM.

And, you must be wondering..What’s with this “ME” time..right?

Well, it was not more than 10 minutes since that obnoxious man had stopped irritating me and started annoying the person sitting to his right and I was asleep!! Well, you see, be it a window  seat, middle seat or corner seat, all I do is sleep while traveling and I suppose that’s the ME time of mine..:D 

Also, I am still pondering, what’s the conclusion of this anecdote… that ME time is important? that everybody needs to travel alone at least once in a life time? that being overprotective about ourselves  is good and yeah,that definitely is..that we should always leave before time to acquire a window seat? that I should stop irritating you people with such stupid anecdotes?Well, conclude it yourself and do let me know as well...:P