My Appraisal
On a dark and foggy night, a small figure lay huddled on the railway tracks leading to the Bangalore station. At once I was held back to see someone in that position during midnight with no one around. With curiosity taking the front seat, I went near the body and tried to investigate it. There was blood all over the body which was lying face down. It seemed that a ruthless blow by the last train could have caused the end of this body which seemed to be that of a guy of around my age. Amidst the gory blood flow, I could see a folded white envelope which was fluttering in the midnight wind. Carefully I took the blood stained envelope and was surprised to see the phrase "appraisal letter" on it. With curiosity rising every moment, I wasted no time in opening the envelope to see if I can find some details about the dead guy. The tag around the body's neck and the jazzy appraisal cover gave me the hint that he might be a software engineer. I opened the envelope to find a shining paper on whic h the appraisal details where typed in flying colours. Thund! ers broke into my ears and lightening struck my heart when I saw the appraisal amount of the dead guy!!!!! My God, it was not even, as much as the cost of the letter on which the appraisal details were printed.... My heart poured out for the guy and huge calls were heard inside my mind saying "no wonder, this guy died such a miserable death"... As a fellow worker in the same industry , I thought I should mourn for him for the sake of respect and stood there with a heavy heart thinking of the shock that he would have experienced when his manager had placed the appraisal letter in his hand. I am sure his heart would have stopped and eyes would have gone blank for few seconds looking at the near to nothing increment in his salary.
While I mourned for him, for a second my hands froze to see the employee's name in the appraisal letter... hey, what a strange co-incidence, this guy's name is same as mine, including the initials. This was interesting. With some mental strength, I turned the body upside down and found myself fainted for a second. The guy not only had my name, but also looked exactly like me. Same looks, same built, same name.... it was me who was dead there!!!!!!!! While I was lost in that shock, I felt someone patting on my shoulders. My heart stopped completely, I could not breathe and sprung in fear to see who was behind......... splash!!! Went the glass of water on my laptop screen as I came out of my wild dream to see my manager standing behind my chair patting on my shoulder saying, "wake up man. Come to meeting room number two. I have your appraisal letter ready"
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Indian police at their best
No, I am not talking about the Jessica Lal case or even the Salman Khan case. I am talking about our recent interaction with Indian police.
As our office bus was passing through a congested area, it banged into a car.
The bang woke up a few of the sleeping passengers including the conductor. And his first reaction was same as ours, of surprise. Although his job was to look at the rear side of the bus; he was found most of the time looking but with closed eyes. The victim of the accident was a taxi. The driver came rushing out of his taxi screaming abuses to the driver.
The morning show (post-accident drama) had already started, a large group of people came over at the road side PVR.
There can be various kind of persons found in such a crowd, some of which were noticeable to me:
* Curious kind : these are just curious to know the extent of damage
* Victim: of course the victims of the accident
* "nothing else to do" kind
* lets have morning exercise kind : these are ready to beat up anyone. Just a start is required or a shout "maaro maaro", which is just what I was trying to do.
* lets have fun : many of us including me and my colleagues.
So except fist fight everything else was going.
Soon the taxi driver's companions came up from somewhere. I think he called them up on mobile. All of them in blue jerseys were ready for a brawl. Our side also grew strong with all of us getting out of the bus. A third party materialized much fierce and much stronger than either of us. They were the local jats!!!!
At last the fourth party reached the scene "Indian police", laughing all the way....they shouted at some, showed their rusty guns to some and after some peace and order restored began "investigating".
The taxi-man was demanding a hefty 3000 bucks for just a rear view mirror. the driver was asking for some time so that his contractor could come and settle the matter. The police was getting restless to get their hands warm.
So it was decided that a policeman will accompany us on the bus to our office, where we will be dropped as we were getting late, and matters will be resolved with the contractor.
The taxi men followed us in 4 taxis for the next 20 kms.
After all the debates and damage analysis, the police decided that the bus contractor pay Rs. 400 to the taxi driver and 200 to them (their reward for solving the case so quickly).
So, three cheers for Indian police. They made their morning wages. The taxi drivers returned in anger as they had already spent more petrol than Rs. 400 could buy, leave aside the damage. The driver was relieved. The conductor got a good verbal bashing for sleeping off while on duty.
And I went on for the office quiet happy and amused by the event. Obviuosly, some amusement was because I reached office late with a valid reason and a long story to narrate.
No, I am not talking about the Jessica Lal case or even the Salman Khan case. I am talking about our recent interaction with Indian police.
As our office bus was passing through a congested area, it banged into a car.
The bang woke up a few of the sleeping passengers including the conductor. And his first reaction was same as ours, of surprise. Although his job was to look at the rear side of the bus; he was found most of the time looking but with closed eyes. The victim of the accident was a taxi. The driver came rushing out of his taxi screaming abuses to the driver.
The morning show (post-accident drama) had already started, a large group of people came over at the road side PVR.
There can be various kind of persons found in such a crowd, some of which were noticeable to me:
* Curious kind : these are just curious to know the extent of damage
* Victim: of course the victims of the accident
* "nothing else to do" kind
* lets have morning exercise kind : these are ready to beat up anyone. Just a start is required or a shout "maaro maaro", which is just what I was trying to do.
* lets have fun : many of us including me and my colleagues.
So except fist fight everything else was going.
Soon the taxi driver's companions came up from somewhere. I think he called them up on mobile. All of them in blue jerseys were ready for a brawl. Our side also grew strong with all of us getting out of the bus. A third party materialized much fierce and much stronger than either of us. They were the local jats!!!!
At last the fourth party reached the scene "Indian police", laughing all the way....they shouted at some, showed their rusty guns to some and after some peace and order restored began "investigating".
The taxi-man was demanding a hefty 3000 bucks for just a rear view mirror. the driver was asking for some time so that his contractor could come and settle the matter. The police was getting restless to get their hands warm.
So it was decided that a policeman will accompany us on the bus to our office, where we will be dropped as we were getting late, and matters will be resolved with the contractor.
The taxi men followed us in 4 taxis for the next 20 kms.
After all the debates and damage analysis, the police decided that the bus contractor pay Rs. 400 to the taxi driver and 200 to them (their reward for solving the case so quickly).
So, three cheers for Indian police. They made their morning wages. The taxi drivers returned in anger as they had already spent more petrol than Rs. 400 could buy, leave aside the damage. The driver was relieved. The conductor got a good verbal bashing for sleeping off while on duty.
And I went on for the office quiet happy and amused by the event. Obviuosly, some amusement was because I reached office late with a valid reason and a long story to narrate.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
AT LAST
But first of all the main stage:
Friends you waited impatiently for this, and I waited impatiently to get such an opportunity.
At last, here it is:
Scene: Our company party. Ankur almost drunk, and my friend and his ...... "Nishtha" trying to stop him from drinking more.
This pic is back on my blog after strong oppositions from Rands.
He again came to "harass" me on 27/2/2006, Monday. I ask the world is there no right for a freelance journalist like me to exercise his right of publishing explorations like this.
Now, me and my team members, going left to right: jandial, sandy, mohit and myself.
And yes, Rands was really drunk, "didn't know his limits".
Finally, sab yaar dost ek saath,
But first of all the main stage:
Friends you waited impatiently for this, and I waited impatiently to get such an opportunity.
At last, here it is:
Scene: Our company party. Ankur almost drunk, and my friend and his ...... "Nishtha" trying to stop him from drinking more.
This pic is back on my blog after strong oppositions from Rands.
He again came to "harass" me on 27/2/2006, Monday. I ask the world is there no right for a freelance journalist like me to exercise his right of publishing explorations like this.
Now, me and my team members, going left to right: jandial, sandy, mohit and myself.
And yes, Rands was really drunk, "didn't know his limits".
Finally, sab yaar dost ek saath,
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
GREAT INDIA ROCK
After I spent my saturday night at a party given by the office (the first big thing), at the JP greens golf course; I was dead tired. The party really rocked to the tunes of Bollywood from the latest to the oldest remixed ones.
Wait for the pics to be posted up soon.....
But sunday evening was something else. The Great India Rock show. I had just heard about it. But now having "been there and done that", I don't want to miss it ever again. Its just great.
The cover of the to be album on GIR X
Everyone must have heard some great rock music, but hearing original compositions by Indian bands in something. Firstly, you are hearing something new and refreshing and that also by your fellow Indians. The night was rocking. If you like the music, bang your heads in ecstasy and if you don't like it then just shout it out. Its that simple.
The swedish band Freak Kitchen also played some head banging stuff leaving aside their crappy jokes or khattas or pajjads (alll synonyms).
In the end it was all very goodie goodie as "freak kitchen cooks" would have called it.
After I spent my saturday night at a party given by the office (the first big thing), at the JP greens golf course; I was dead tired. The party really rocked to the tunes of Bollywood from the latest to the oldest remixed ones.
Wait for the pics to be posted up soon.....
But sunday evening was something else. The Great India Rock show. I had just heard about it. But now having "been there and done that", I don't want to miss it ever again. Its just great.
The cover of the to be album on GIR X
Everyone must have heard some great rock music, but hearing original compositions by Indian bands in something. Firstly, you are hearing something new and refreshing and that also by your fellow Indians. The night was rocking. If you like the music, bang your heads in ecstasy and if you don't like it then just shout it out. Its that simple.
The swedish band Freak Kitchen also played some head banging stuff leaving aside their crappy jokes or khattas or pajjads (alll synonyms).
In the end it was all very goodie goodie as "freak kitchen cooks" would have called it.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Still in search of I
Having just returned from a OR;Operational Review, I was wondering in the boring moments of the presentations: what am 'I'?
'I' The most strong letter to be used in the most common places.
Or as Ayn Rand puts it; in the most sought after lines by a lover, "I love you", love is not as important as "I". Everyone can love, but only a few can dedicate their whole "I". And one can do so only when he can explain "I".
The first thought that goes on in my mind as an employee is "I" am a resource as every big person in the office says.
My definition of a big person: A usuallly fat male/female, usually married, usually carrying a laptop and usually the diguised unemployed person of the company.
Although I had to write a lot on this, but once again, my thoughts can't be put here in so little time so less a space and by so little of a thought such as mine.
Maybe I will think about it sometime more, and express my thoughts once again.
Having just returned from a OR;Operational Review, I was wondering in the boring moments of the presentations: what am 'I'?
'I' The most strong letter to be used in the most common places.
Or as Ayn Rand puts it; in the most sought after lines by a lover, "I love you", love is not as important as "I". Everyone can love, but only a few can dedicate their whole "I". And one can do so only when he can explain "I".
The first thought that goes on in my mind as an employee is "I" am a resource as every big person in the office says.
My definition of a big person: A usuallly fat male/female, usually married, usually carrying a laptop and usually the diguised unemployed person of the company.
Although I had to write a lot on this, but once again, my thoughts can't be put here in so little time so less a space and by so little of a thought such as mine.
Maybe I will think about it sometime more, and express my thoughts once again.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
MP3 Blogs
Just as I thought that I had listened to more than enough number of times each song on my playlist, I bumped to yet another blog. An MP3 blog.
For those who are unaware of such a phenomenon, as I was just a few days ago, such blogs post MP3 songs of varied genre.
Such a blog is capable to stream audio or enable you to download songs too.
One of the MP3 blogs that I liked is: http://blackballoonmp3.blogspot.com/
It serves quiet a unique variety of songs. A mix of hard rock and blues and much more.
I will be looking forward to more such MP3 gatherings......
Just as I thought that I had listened to more than enough number of times each song on my playlist, I bumped to yet another blog. An MP3 blog.
For those who are unaware of such a phenomenon, as I was just a few days ago, such blogs post MP3 songs of varied genre.
Such a blog is capable to stream audio or enable you to download songs too.
One of the MP3 blogs that I liked is: http://blackballoonmp3.blogspot.com/
It serves quiet a unique variety of songs. A mix of hard rock and blues and much more.
I will be looking forward to more such MP3 gatherings......
What DK did on V day??
I kept nagging him to tell me what he did on the first V day (Valentine's Day to clarify the too dumb ones reading this) after job.
So, at last he got so fed up, he opened up in his mail which I just recieved.
Read the full text below to see how witty his reply was.
Hi,
so u wanna know how was my day?
it was the same tuesday till 5 pm. then anjali pandey called me up. she is working in wipro .her office is just 2 km from mine. so we decided to go together to some
place for hangout.
we landed in "the forum" big shopping mall in bangalore. lots couples like us were having fun.some kind of programmes were organised in order to engage the crowds in the mall.we headed for pvr cinemas. i made an assumption that couples would not go for movies like us on V day so i thought that we could get movie ticket.
but she said thats wrong lots of couple go for movie as they have nothing much to say each other but still want to have time with each other ,so those people will go for movie.
ya she was right. tickets were sold out all...
then we went to pizza corner, no seat there too..then to pizza hut...
ya plenty of space..sat there ..had pizza that too veg as u know she was veggie. and i am both. omnivorous..
then headed to her appartment ..to download liquids from our body.and watched one or two songs in tv and played few overs of cricket..in hall. had some cake as she had cleard her GRE with score of 1320.that what written on cake.then we headed toward NGV builders club. u have table directly under the sky.it was getting cold. we ordered for chilli chicken and gobi amchurian and two bottle of bear one for each.
then came a missed call from rinchin my friend from kottayam medical college. he said he was in tivadrum hospital to see some of his friends relatives who
had met with an accident.
then i said goodnight to her and said to keep in touch and said if possible
shall meet at lunch time office hours.
so that was my V day..
finally one simple clearification anjali pandey is nitin pandey my iitg
football mate..we met after three months..even though we were in same city..
have nice day
I kept nagging him to tell me what he did on the first V day (Valentine's Day to clarify the too dumb ones reading this) after job.
So, at last he got so fed up, he opened up in his mail which I just recieved.
Read the full text below to see how witty his reply was.
Hi,
so u wanna know how was my day?
it was the same tuesday till 5 pm. then anjali pandey called me up. she is working in wipro .her office is just 2 km from mine. so we decided to go together to some
place for hangout.
we landed in "the forum" big shopping mall in bangalore. lots couples like us were having fun.some kind of programmes were organised in order to engage the crowds in the mall.we headed for pvr cinemas. i made an assumption that couples would not go for movies like us on V day so i thought that we could get movie ticket.
but she said thats wrong lots of couple go for movie as they have nothing much to say each other but still want to have time with each other ,so those people will go for movie.
ya she was right. tickets were sold out all...
then we went to pizza corner, no seat there too..then to pizza hut...
ya plenty of space..sat there ..had pizza that too veg as u know she was veggie. and i am both. omnivorous..
then headed to her appartment ..to download liquids from our body.and watched one or two songs in tv and played few overs of cricket..in hall. had some cake as she had cleard her GRE with score of 1320.that what written on cake.then we headed toward NGV builders club. u have table directly under the sky.it was getting cold. we ordered for chilli chicken and gobi amchurian and two bottle of bear one for each.
then came a missed call from rinchin my friend from kottayam medical college. he said he was in tivadrum hospital to see some of his friends relatives who
had met with an accident.
then i said goodnight to her and said to keep in touch and said if possible
shall meet at lunch time office hours.
so that was my V day..
finally one simple clearification anjali pandey is nitin pandey my iitg
football mate..we met after three months..even though we were in same city..
have nice day
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