Helpless

“Desire is the main reason for worries” that’s true!!” Confusion is the hallmark of a transition that is also true. To rebuild both your inner and outer world is a major project of transformation; it will have life staring at you in the mirror. As it is said “Objects seen in the mirror is closer than you think”, just when we realize it is the end of the tunnel the powerful dig more tunnels only to extend your ray of hope. Seldom when we start seeing light at the end of the tunnel, little do we know it is the train which is running in.
Have you ever got frustrated waiting to be interviewed? Have you experienced organizations asking you to join them in a week’s time post issuing the offer letter, but asks you to serve 3 months notice while leaving? Isn’t it true that whoever has the gold makes the rules?
Have you ever thought why Politicians who divide our country basis religion, language and caste roam scott free while people who protest the divide get arrested? You dare not think that Bush Jr & Tony Blair will ever be tried for war crimes? Osama never got arrested even once. Manu Sharma goes on parole to disco’s. On the other hand we have people like Vikram Buddhi, Aaafia Siddiqui, Ruchika Girhotra, Lakshmana Kailash (The lesser known techie from Bangalore who got arrested because the service provider gave a wrong IP address to the Maharashtra cops, when a hate message was posted against a leading politician of the state) were they or will they be given a fair trail at all? Maybe they are! May be they are not. Maybe they could be a victim of concept of judgment which most of the times are subjective, not just for the mere reason that someone up there wants you to show how helpless you are. But maybe wants you to feel it too.
118 News Channels in India flashing the same anecdote almost everyday. Every incident of stray atrocity on Indian in Australia is concluded as a racist attack. And then there is this media trial, where some channels even go to the extent of passing judgment, forgetting that they just aired an advertisement of fairness cream during a commercial break. The advertisement endorsed by none less than the leading movie stars of my country. 1.3 billion Hypocrites will that be an over statement? If this statement is true it is more dangerous than the nuclear bomb itself.
The law is for everyone, but it depends on how one implements it. If you protest to bribe a cop who is required to sign on your passport papers, not only your processing time gets extended but you could be booked for disrupting a government officer from discharging his/her duties. But if you turn out be a politician’s kin then not only could you flaunt your high handedness, but you could jump the long queue to be seated right in front of the PSI who would even order for tea and snacks for you, by charging “Extra” from the bribe receivable from the next lay man in the queue.
I am sure you could relate to the Incident which is most common of my countrymen’s life. At Rickshaw stands, especially if you are in a hurry to reach a destination. You call him “Bhaiyya” (Brother) I need to go to Santacruz train station. The rickshaw driver would say no!! I am not going anywhere. Then you persuade him until he agrees for a little extra “I will charge you 'X' Rs Plus”, you say ok!! now move. Then comes condition number 3, I will drop you on this side of the highway. With no other Rickshaw in sight you agree to condition number 3 as well. Where does that leave you? What does that make you? Have you ever questioned your self? If not, do it now.
Jaanu do I really have to go through this, is there an alternate? Asked Raj’s beloved wife when he suggested an abortion due to job Insecurity during the recession. His eyes were drenched so was hers when Raj hugged her and nodded his head looking into her pale face and eyes which had embraced dark circles due to lack of sleep. The couple spent sleepless nights together talking how they could survive just incase Raj lost his job. It was a love marriage against all odds. They eloped and got married it was not approved by Raj’s in laws. His life was revolving around a job, had he lost it. It would have been a perfect fodder for debate for his in-laws, to win a psychological war against him. It would have been an apt food for thought to win back their only daughter, Raj thought to himself.
Raj had been promoted to a new role only a month ago, that could be seen as saving grace contested his wife to re assure that all is well, will end well. That could be a consolation but not saving grace replied Raj. Like everyone else he too had been asked to stay alert and look around for opportunities. That took him down the memory lane; he recollected reading Narayan Murthy’s (Chief Mentor Of IT firm Infosys) article which was doing the rounds on forwards. “Don’t love your company so much. You never know when the company stops loving you”. Raj felt like picking the phone and calling up Narayan Murthy to say how true his article was. Raj too worked for long hours not giving heed to family life or relations. He would not avail leave unless he was really sick and not able to drag himself out of the bed.
He had now landed in an unfamiliar situation which was soon getting known to him. As days passed Raj realized he survived the great depression of his times. He felt like Lady Anne who survived the Titanic sink. Months passed the hangover of recession still remained raw in the minds of the people who survived it. There were formula’s worked out by colleagues on which company to join and why? How much to negotiate and which is the safest designation. Raj knew sooner or later he had to get out of the pandemonium; He set a deadline for himself and communicated the same to his wife & mother who were dependant on him. There started a war within him and the struggle for a new beginning. Little did Raj know it was the beginning of the struggle for survival, as his boss had already had other plans chalked out for Raj.
Long hours in office, setting up systems & processes, streamlining the world’s most chaotic processes in the company, where systems and processes were changed like undergarments. Early morning sms’es to colleagues. Early to office, last to leave. A person who was known to everyone across functions as a diligent worker was now made to feel like serviette.
Do you have a housing loan? Bargain with bank to revise the term. Your team budget has been revised. You need to operate within this circumference, you cannot recruit so what if the volume is high and the TAT and quality are falling. Try and outsource this piece to rural BPO you too move there. I am not a mail person, it is unfair to expect reverts from me, If these are critical you should have called. I saw your number on my cell. I missed your call. I forgot to call back said his mentor who had already drawn maps of Raj’s exit.
A Traumatized Raj knew he had to revisit his plans, as his exit has been staged and advanced in the pretext of lean structure. Raj asked his Mom to take stock of her assets she owned, to check if he could save the house which he had purchased just before he joined the organization. He asked his wife to be alert and check if she could find a better job which could cover their basic necessities. He frantically started applying for jobs, He reached out to people whom he knew but in vain as they too were recession struck.
In the interviews he attended, he was asked questions. “Where do you see yourself three years from now? Three years from now..ummmm perhaps knocking at another company’s door? That is just incase if another recession does not knock me off ”, Raj thought to himself. These are typical Interview questions which puts a candidate at one end and a moron at the other. You spent only two years in the previous organization??? Why are you looking for a change??? “Work in my organization, be in my shoes and then ask this question you ass” Raj pondered. But as luck has it, nothing really worked for Raj.
“Your dad had gifted these things to me I cannot part with them said Raj’s mom”; any widow would have behaved in the same manner as Raj’s mom did. Janu except for the mangal sutra I can help you with the jewels you have purchased for me. But they may or may not be worth more than one lakh Indian rupees claimed Raj’s wife.
As the tension embarked, with it increased the blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia and confusion as what to do next? Raj thought if I commit suicide at least my mom and wife can survive for a decade with their kind of life style. But again will my wife take care of my mother who is ageing was another question which kept bothering Raj.
Raj’s thoughts flickered through Subroto Bagchi’s book “The professional”. In the third paragraph page sixteen of the book Bagchi says, “Put yourself in the position what you are going to do to others”. Professionalism could be subjective. All Head Of Department’s in Raj’s organization were gifted with a copy of Bagchi’s book. But people who did not want to read it had a way out; also it was not mandatory to implement key points given in the book.
Rationalization or laying off gave some bosses a professional high. After working for 4 years in the organization Raj was told he lacked interpersonal skills, something which Raj wouldn’t have imagined after working for 13 years as client relations person handling International clients for over 8 years. After 2 promotions in 3 years in the same organization how did the company wake up to an attribute like interpersonal skill to be an issue in the 4th year of his service, when the work he did and people he interacted with, did not change much claimed Raj.
But as fate would have it, one cannot fight destiny. Raj being a strong believer of destiny could not have thought different either. Knowing that things might get worse, Raj put his house for sale on every given website that dealt with real estate. Depreciating value due to economic crisis added insult to injury. By the grace of god, His wife managed to fetch a job in their home town. At least that gave them some ray of hope for survival.
Antics of the people around quickly change when one becomes a victim of circumstances. Very few want to be associated with a victim. “If you have not experienced it yet, allow life to fail you once” as Raj spoke to himself, his phone rang, it was his wife on the line “Jaanu, Mom & I felt like eating outside tonight. We went to Shivasagar (A decent road side south Indian vegetarian restaurant), Mom wanted to try something different so she ordered for cheese masala dosa & I had besibele bath (A south Indian dish made up of rice). Mom liked the dosa, I think he (Chef) should not have added brinjal in besibelebaath that does not taste good you see… On our way back we tried hiring a rickshaw, the driver said we would have to pay Rs 15/-. Why should we pay him 5 rupees more Jaanu? Mom said we will walk back, we chatted while we walked. We really enjoyed our evening Jaanu”…Once you come down we will go to Bannerghatta National Park the Volvo buses plying in this area charges Rs 30/- for a round trip. It suddenly struck Raj, if life was so simple then why are we being so materialistic? We do not have to run others down to garnish our life. Do we? While Raj was lost in his thoughts he heard a pale voice “Jaanu are you with me?” Yes sweetie!! mummered Raj. This time, I am completely with you….