New Face in the Corporate Race III

Niharika left the place but the actions of Alok were disturbing her again and again.

“ Was Alok Sir trying to be extra frank to me or this comes in corporate culture?

   What should I do?

   Should I join the Company? I think I should talk about this to ...Ammm to whom?

  Oh C'mon!! let's leave this here only.

“Well he must have seen the real talent in me!! This might me the culture of the companies. He was  just trying to make me feel comfortable when I was so nervous!!

Why am I thinking so much??

I think I should focus on my work and start preparing for my first day.

I am so excited for my first day of my new life!!

From Tomorrow onwards there will be a New Face In the Corporate Race!!”

Niharika reached home and informed everybody about her selection. Her parents were very happy for her. She had always been a proud daughter of her parents and this time she made her parents happier because they always wanted their daughter to touch great heights and that was the first step for the same according to them. Although Niharika’s parents warned her about the corporate culture but they being not much aware of the same were just able to tell to the extent they have heard from near and dear ones.

Now Niharika had to prepare for the next day. Dress, Foot wears, bag, sunglasses, documents, a new Pen and folder, some required documents etc etc.

Done!! Niharika said to herself after completing the preparation for the next day. 

Although cab facility was available for Niharika but on the first day she had to make it on her own. Hence she had to wake up early in the morning to get ready properly and catch the local train. Mumbai’s local trains have always been very popular because of the rush of office going people. It is magical to see that people or I would say workers of all categories travel under one roof. Unknown from each other but still connected to each other via a local train and no matter what the busy people of Mumbai always find their destinations on their own without depending on anyone.

Niharika’s journey was also about to start. Where for other youngsters the age of 20 would be the age of having fun in life, Niharika was interested in becoming an independent girl financially and mentally. It was not just money but also she wanted to grow as a person in her life which made her take that decision of starting a job and enter the Corporate World.

“All set for tomorrow?” Niharika’s dad asked.

“Yes Papa” Niharika replied.

“Then go to bed as you have to wake up early in the morning.” Niharika’s dad said.

“ok!!”-Niharika

While lying on the bed Niharika was thinking about that incidence when Alok came and sat so close to her. She was wondering why Alok did that.  What could be his intention? Was he just trying to make her feel comfortable or…? Or the matter was something else. But as she was new into that world she decided not to think much about that and focus on her carrier and growth.

"Good night for the last time to the college going girl, Niharika !! " Niharika wished herself and switched off the lights of her room

Next Morning she woke up early and got ready for her first day to office. She tried not to forget anything and managed to look as professional as she could on the first day of office. After catching a local train she managed to reach office on time. She met the receptionist who guided her towards the orientation room where the HR manager was supposed to give the orientation and do all other joining formalities. Luckily she was not the only one who got selected but she had a whole team of new joiners with her. She felt comfortable for the first time after last day's incidence.

After some time the HR Manager Ms. Ammy came.

"Good Morning folks"

A young lady with a pleasing personality entered the room. She was charming in her own way, Fair complexion, curly but well maintained hairs, a well knitted business attire on a perfect slim body and matching earrings embellishing the beauty. She was just  perfect.

"Hi my name is Ammy Shaw and I am the HR Manager of this company. Please make yourself comfortable on your seats. I am a friend of yours and not a senior over here." She said with a mesmerising smile on her face.

"From where do they get training for being so extra-ordinarily sweet." Niharika murmured.


To be continued...

New Face in the Corporate Race-II

But she knew very well that knowing only “golden rules of accounting” would not serve the purpose.  For Niharika, who was a brilliant science student and whose first love used to be laboratories and chemical reactions, entering into the world of accounting was like entering into an unknown tunnel without a ray of hope. But she managed to atleast take a step forward and thus she entered the interview room. Nervousness could be seen on her face. She was holding her resume folder so tightly and sensitively as if the folder was a treasure which she wanted to hide from everybody. The interviewer sensed her nervousness and made her feel comfortable on the chair.

Mr. Alok (The interviewer and Manager of the process for which Niharika was called): (In a sarcastic manner) So miss!! Would you mind giving me your resume?

Niharika: Sure Sir!! Here it is.

So tell me about yourself miss, asked the interviewer.

Niharika: Well I am Niharika from Mumbai. I am a BSC graduate from University of Mumbai and currently looking for a job opportunity in commerce field.

(She wanted to be smart enough to influence the interviewer and make sure that she wants to shift from science stream to commerce stream. Also she read somewhere that a brief bio is the best bio, that’s why she stopped after talking about herself in one line.)

Mr. Alok: (Amused) Ms. Niharika what made you think about a carrier in commerce/accounting field and leave the science stream as I could see that you are a brilliant student and your scorecard is just amazing.

Niharika: (In a very diplomatic way) Sir my interest brought me here. I believe in being brilliant in each and every task I take up and my previous result is a proof of that. But now I want to carry on with my interest and that’s accounting.

Mr. Alok: But Niharika, it is not easy. You don’t even know the rules of accounting…

-          Debit the Receiver, Credit the Giver

-          Debit what comes in, Credit what goes out

-          Debit all expenses and losses, Credit all income and gains, Niharika replied immediately and in one go.

The interviewer being an experienced person knew the level of excitement and immaturity what the people at the age in which Niharika was show and hence he just smiled and moved on with his questions.

“So what are your long- term plans miss”?

Niharika: Sir I want to grow individually and professionally while working with your esteemed organization. ("Waaoo!! a perfect answer" she looked in the eyes of interviewer and gave a perfect smile as if she has just won the heart of the interviewer with that answer)

Mr. Alok (Giving a fishy smile) Well perfect answer Niharika. I am impressed. So what are your expectations from me ahh I mean my organisation.

Niharika was already in a dilemma when she looked at him giving that fishy smile but then she ignored the same and answered, "15K to 20 K per month sir."

Alok looked at Niharika and stood from her chair. He started roaming here and there in the room and suddenly sat next to the chair where Niharika was sitting.

Niharika felt uncomfortable. 

Sir amm, she started making strange faces.

Mr. Alok: Niharika .. well you can ask for a better salary you see.. you are smart enough to ask for that and I would be happy if you ask for that because I want young and charming personalities like you in my organization. 

He stopped. Niharika was also silent.

Alok started again, Niharika, please don't take me wrong. I am just saying that you have the caliber to do wonders in your carrier and you are so bold and confident to take a decision to shift your carrier from science to commerce which is highly appreciable. I was just appreciating the same. Hope you did not mind.

Niharika: (Although she was alert) Not at all sir. I know my caliber very well and that's why asked for this salary.

Alok smiled and gave an instant approval for Niharika's selection.

He called the HR department, "Ms. Jenny I have selected a girl, Niharika. Please take her documents and start with the hiring procedure. I hope you are getting me" and he hung.

"Alright Niharika you can join us from tomorrow onwards. You will be undergoing a training of 30 days after which you will be totally ready to enter into this corporate world." Alok told Niharika.

In the whole conversation, Niharika was looking at Alok in a strange manner. She was unable to understand what was going on with her. No more questions? She thought.

After few seconds..

“Thankyou sir” Niharika replied and left the room.

To be continued..

New face in the corporate "Race"- I

April, 2011

She was 20 when she completed her undergraduate degree and had couple of more degrees in her mind. But before that she wanted to earn a little bit to be able to take an admission in further courses. This led to the idea of taking up a job, no matter small or big but to be able to stand independent further in her life because for her being self sufficient and self dependent was on her top most priority. 

Niharika, not a middle town but a middle class girl of a metropolitan city was an ambitious girl since her childhood.   The high cost of living of the metro city never allowed her family to spend even an extra penny on any luxurious items or anything more than just meeting the ends. Although Niharika believed in flying high but she never left her values and always kept her feet on ground. Thus she touched although not great heights but a fairly appreciative level during her school days and college days. She always managed to be among the rising stars of the school or the college and made her parents feel proud on her. The level of expectation from her was always high and she always managed to live upto the expectations of everybody in her life.

Now was the time to start a new life. A new challenge, a new phrase, a new turn of life was waiting for her and soon she prepared herself for the same. Luckily just after completing her graduation she got her first interview call. It was an outsourcing company i.e. a KPO where she was supposed to look after the expenses and payables in short the accounting work. Coming from a non- commerce background it was somehow difficult for her to perform the job task easily on the other hand the job was important for her because remaining ideal was not her cup of tea. Somehow she managed to clear the written test. Now came the personal interview session. She was tensed. Before her turn came, while sitting on the chair outside the interview room she was wondering what was the only reason because of which she needed the job so desperately. The reason was simple. It was not the carrier opportunity she could see in that 8 to 5 job but the money. Yes !! she just wanted to do the job for the sake of money.

Now when the purpose of job was clear she focused on clearing the personal interview. She looked here and there.Suddenly she heard two candidates talking in the corridors. “Bhai, the interviewer is asking golden rules of accounting from every candidate”. Now what was that crap “golden rules of accounting”? How could anyone expect from a science student to be able to tell those “golden rules of accounting”? But then she did not have any option but to know them all. Hence she stood up and walked towards those two candidates talking about those “golden rules of accounting”.

What are the golden rules of accounting? Niharika asked politely from one of the candidate. Niharika always carried a very powerful weapon along with her which helped a lot while asking for help and that was her childlike smile and pleasant personality. No matter what but she was always able to seek the attention of people around her by her spontaneous actions and positive vibrations. The same attributes helped her on that day as well. The other guy helped her remembering the golden rules of accounting taking pride of being able to get in touch with a beautiful lady no matter just for a short span of time.

Thus Niharika learnt the said ‘golden rules of accounting” and felt more confident before entering into the interview room.

to be continued...

Happy New Year !!! (Is it Over??)

Few more days to go and we will enter into a new year of our respective lives. All of us might be starting with new hopes, new desires, new resolutions, new wishes and non other than memories of past.

I wish we could have a clear conversations or clear memory option which we could apply on every first of  January. It would have been much easier to enter into a new year and start with new hopes and desires.

I wish entering into a new year could have been like stepping into a new home and doing "Grih Pravesh" and leaving behind the old home and forgetting the address as well.

I wish starting a new year could have been as exiting as starting a new level of "Mario" or "candy crush" or unlocking a new weapon in "Zombie" and I wish we could have felt as proud as we feel while unlocking a new stage in the game.

I wish entering into new year could have been like entering into the transparent wall as we used to watch in "Harry Potter movies" or "Shaka Laka Boom Boom-the Hindi version of the same" or the movie "Abra-Ka-Dabra" again the Hindi version of the same, leaving behind the school room and facing the new world of challenges.

The Last Kiss

The last Kiss

20/01/2014- My b’day

Our love was perpetual but we were not destined to be together. He was getting married and we were together for the last time. I was sitting beside him letting the chilled air touch my face and dry my tears.

“I love you so much Aman. I can’t see my future without you”. I Said.

Tears rolled out of my eyes as I embraced him. I felt helpless and closed my eyes giving him permission to award me with the most pleasant and the last b’day gift.

He held me tight and planted a kiss on my left cheek; I held him tighter as if I wanted more to come. Slowly his lips moved towards mine. He leaned towards me and I shivered out of excitement as he kissed my upper lip. Leisurely the moment I slipped my hands inside his shirt, he rewarded me with the most pleasant gift of my life.

“We kissed each other.”

I hugged him again and couldn’t stop myself from breaking into tears. He knew the reason behind that and allowed me to rest on his chest for the last time and then he left forever.

 (Awarded with first prize in a short story contest with words limit 150-200..

 Finally made it to write the feeling in 198 words. Well the inspiration was real so couldn't stop from expressing in few words as well. 

Looking forward to express in unlimited word counts and with unending emotions "You Promised .......... " and the suspense continues)

To the girl who cannot hear me now !!

 11 November 2014, 3:00 PM

If I had to choose to give an award to the best development of the decade then I would definitely choose “Delhi Metro”. Life has become so easy now. Few years back when people used to think twice before leaving for Delhi because of the pathetic “Bus Journey” or so now the employed ones don’t even think a second time to commute from Delhi to Gurgaon and vice-a-versa. I personally prefer metro over any other mode of transport to travel to Delhi. Reasons could be the comfort level and the other one is none other than watching the amazing creativity of god. I wonder how many courses of architecture god must have done or might be he must have done a double PhD in creativity before making human being. Damnn!! And the best part is DMRC had given the first bogie to the most beautiful creations in the world…Girls!!. Intelligent DMRC hann!!

The best part of boarding metro from Huda City Centre is you get plenty of empty seats and you can choose the most comfortable one. My priority always remains the same, the one near the charger point where I can charge my phone and take a nap as well. But the girlsss ufff!! They actually can never let you sleep in the ladies boogie. It is not that I take interest in their never ending gossips but I love looking at girls with different kind of gestures at every point of time. I love watching their funky dressing sense and at times the most decent ones. Some of them are truly admirable and some of them are ahh god is listening so no gossips!!! Make-ups, perfumes, short dresses, long dresses, short and silky hairs, long hairs and so on. Poor boys they don’t have the access to the same till the journey ends!!

It was a wonderful morning when I had to leave for Civil Lines for some departmental work and I decided to board the metro than going by car. After completing the work I left from Civil Lines and boarded the metro towards Huda City Center, Gurgaon. It was an afternoon with huge rush in the metro. With no other option I had to board the train and hence I took the ladies compartment which is always decent enough to stand.

“Rajeev Chowk Metro Station we are sorry for the delay but due to technical problem the train stops here”

What the f***. I mean I was already late and now this metro uff!! And on the head of that the whole Delhi rushed towards the other metro which was supposed to take the passengers further.

Ahh!! and another one…”Patel Chowk Metro Station due to technical fault the train is stopped here, we apologize for the inconvenience”..That’s so nice of you my darling DMRC!!! I am happy atleast you accepted your mistake.

The doors of the metro were open and we were able to feel the cool breeze when a boy came running in front of me. “You know what a girl jumped in front of the train and committed suicide”.

A sudden wave of current passed through my body.

What would have been the reason of taking such a painful decision of life?

What all she must be going through which led to ending up the life like that?

Why didn't she share that with anyone else?

It could be possible that the matter was small but she could not handle the stress!!

How could a person be daring enough to throw him /herself in front of a train?

Was that the only option left with the girl?

And thousands of questions filled my mind along with the pain which the parents might be feeling after listening to the news.

I am still stuck at the last question. I am no one to judge anyone and I might not be aware of the situation of that girl when she committed suicide but generally thinking over the suicide rates of the country, have we lost our patience to deal with the situation of our lives which leads to taking such harsh decisions? How easy or how hard it would have been for that girl to commit suicide can never be judged but what about the people whom she has left behind crying for her. The biggest and irreversible loss if anyone could have is the loss of life and that’s what happened that day.

I know she cannot hear my voice now. I even don’t know the name of that girl and I pray may her soul rest in peace but I would like to pass on few words to her:

To my unknown friend,

“I am not asking you to count the number of people who loved you but if you would have looked back and thought for a while about the lady who took the pain of whole nine months to bring you in this beautiful world you might not have committed suicide.”

“I am not asking you to count the number of people who loved you but if you would have looked back to remember the hands which made you stand on your feet you might not have committed suicide.”

“I am not asking you to count the number of people who loved you but if you would have looked back to remember the small fights which you might have done with your siblings and then loved them for the same, you might not have committed suicide.”

“I am not asking you to count the number of people who loved you but if you would have looked back to remember you special friends who made you realize how beautiful you are you might not have committed suicide”

 “I am not asking you to count the number of people who loved you but if you would have looked back and recall the beautiful moments of your beautiful life than the worst moments you might not have committed suicide.”

“I am still not sure what made you take the biggest decision of your life and ending up the life like that but if you would have shared your worries with any one of the people who loved you, you might not have committed suicide.”

“I am not sure who made you take this decision but if you would have been brave enough to fight back, you might not have committed suicide”

But anyway Well Done Girl!!

You gave a reason to people to talk behind your back.

You gave a reason to the people to cry for you.

You gave a reason for your family to meet for a cause.

You made someone realize how incomplete life becomes without the loved one.

You made someone realize the pain of emptiness in life.

You made someone strong enough to handle the pain of losing you.

You made someone realize the importance of loved ones and now everybody will fear from losing theirs.

I am still not aware of the reason and pain which you might be suffering from but still I am also not sure why you didn't look back!!

Your unknown friend…

   

Kiss of Love Vs Confusion of Love

Once my grandma told me story which I remember after reading the “kiss of love” issue and it goes like this:

Once upon a time a father and his son decided to go to some place together along with a camel. The father insisted to his son to ride on camel and he will walk on the sand. While they were crossing a village, the villagers started commenting on the two of them saying what kind of son is he? He has no respect for his father. How could he let his father walk while he is riding a camel? After listening to villager’s comments the son came down and asked his father to ride the camel to which father agreed and hence they left the village. After crossing that village they entered another village. The moment villagers saw a father riding the camel and son walking on sand they started commenting, what kind of father is he has let his son walk over the hot sand and is comfortable while riding the camel. He is so shameless. Both the father and son were in dilemma now. Whom to listen?? What to do??

Moral of the story: No matter what you are doing, the society finds a way out to criticize you, even if it is good or bad for you or for them!!

The Kiss of love scene:

Have you people ever witnessed a couple or just two friends out of whom one was a male and another one was female who got harassed by the local police or any political party. Kerala case, Hyderabad case and none other than the valentine day’s cases can never be forgotten where the political parties and policemen beats up or harass the couples who even sit together in the parks or are seen anywhere dating or holding hands together.

Do you know why they have such a power and are able to snatch from us our fundamental right of equality?

First One is section 294(a) of the IPC which states  that "Whoever, to the annoyance of others, does any obscene act in any public place shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both. 

Truth behind the section: The meaning of the word 'obscene' is not given in Indian Penal Code, hence it is interpreted differently by different authorities. 

And this is the reason most of the youngsters are harassed for the sake of law by the policemen because policemen themselves are not clear about the law and according to their interpretation “Obscene Act” includes the act of couples holding hands or dating in public. On the other hand maximum youngsters are unaware of the law and get scared when any higher authority threatens them to charge.

Another reason for this is the moral values or the name sake of Indian Culture. I was shocked and surprised when the youngsters went against Modi ji’s statement and SC’s judgment of giving freedom to people for showing their love in public. For them this is against the Hindu culture/ Indian Culture/ Moral values etc etc. Can anyone please tell me where does the moral values of the youth goes when used condoms are found on the university’s/ any collage’s floors or when any girl gets raped by those valueless youngsters and other heinous crimes are attempted by our “moral value driven youngsters”. Where does their values and culture go when they do not hesitate in adopting western culture for their own benefits and leisure?

Ahh how sad is this that going out at night and hanging out with friends with bottle of beers, coming home late night and disrespecting the elders is totally cultural and comes under the “Hindu culture/Moral values”. Finding a hidden place and raping a girl is totally cultural…ohh how could I forget that it was not public, those innocent rapists did that in silence but please remind me of Nirbhaya case then!! . Sending parents at old age home comes under the practice of moral values, live-in relationships are just normal and cultural but my dear friend showing love in public is totally immoral. Please do not commit such a mistake in public otherwise this time police might not arrest you but “the moral value driven youngsters” might harm you!!

I want to ask the protesters who were against “kissing and showing love in public”, haven’t any one of them kissed their loved ones. Do all of them wake up early in the morning, goes to temple, touch their parent’s feet, comes to college, attend the class, goes to home, listen to bhajans, complete their studies and goes back to bed early at night.

I agree that showing love in public should be in limits but was that right to comment that “if you will kiss in public I will f*** your ******* in public”. Was the statement itself cultural enough? Where did your moral values go while commenting like that?

Intention of the law: Well according to me the intention of Supreme Court’s judgment was clear. SC and HC were against the inhuman behavior of policemen and political parties which goes totally against the youth and takes away from them their fundamental right of freedom. At times policemen, out of their hangover of power do not even accept the simple truth that the two of them might be actually married and just because they were unable to give any proof of their marriage they are harassed for the sake of power. I mean how illogical is this that in India whenever a married woman goes out with her husband, it is not out of custom or tradition that she has to put “sindoor” or wear a “mangalsootra”, but because police might arrest them or harass the two of them and put them into the jail for the sake of our culture.

Confusion of Love

This time the youth was actually confused whether to accept the new law or reject the same. I accepted it wholeheartedly and when asked by my colleagues, they accepted it when they wanted to show love but rejected the whole idea of their sisters being kissed in public. Well my dear friends please understand that the girls whom you will kiss in public would be someone or other’s sisters or daughters. Am I right while calling it still a male chauvinistic society?

This is not a protest against the SC’s judgment but confusion between culture and desire. We want to avail the freedom of expression which itself includes expressing love but we are confusing the same with our moral values or tradition.

Please answer some of my questions which are running in my mind:

Where the culture goes when a male policeman beats up a female in public?

Why don’t this youth talk about culture when they do not hesitate in commenting on the outfits of girls and harassing them?

Why the political parties are still quiet on the biggest crime on earth and that is raping a girl’s soul? Or have they started counting it as a trend/culture?

In a country where poverty and rising population are still one of the biggest issues how could political leaders and “over-thinkers of culture” find time to raise such an illogical issue?

How about raising the voices against Human-trafficking and prostitution or is it cultural cum traditional in the eyes of my budding politicians who are at present the “rockstars” of youth.

Well India is an over –legislative country and the only reason behind breaking the law is because of the over-lapping of law and ignorance of law. Maximum of us are not actually aware of many of the laws passed by the govt. from the past many years and even if they get to know about any one of them, they are ready to make an issue out of it. 

India needs some change. Adopting things blindly might be dangerous but adopting right things at the right time is the need of the hour. And the expectation from the youth is to be broad minded enough to accept the changes wholeheartedly.

My Slogan from today:


If you can’t be the change atleast let the change happen!!