21 March, 2013

Final Frontiers - Chapter 8/8

It was a night of lights and music. I reached the place early; he wasn’t there yet. I knew he was busy, but surely he wouldn’t miss his Hall Day. He hadn’t invited me tonight, I guess I know the reason. But I had to meet him today, this might as well be the last time. I waited for a while in his wingie’s room when I heard his door unlock.

Mikunj Nall was anything but in a party-mood. This was undoubtedly the most gifted guy I’d come across in a long time. Sure he was clever and slightly wicked, but you don’t get great things done by playing innocent. I entered his room, or rather his jungle of papers. One thing was for sure, he didn’t have time to clean his room. I can say this because even in the dust and cobwebs, I could see an affinity for an organised life. I could also see that he had not prepared anything for the party, not because he didn’t want to mind you. Mikunj is one of the biggest party-buffs I’ve come across ever. I guessed it’s because he didn’t have the time to plan it. Not that it turned out to be a problem for him, his wingies had him covered. They’d gotten everything ready for him. I could see that they knew this was a guy who could intimidate you if he wanted to, yet this was a guy more loved than feared. He’d accomplished more than any of them and was still not resting. So what if he nicked in a few favors for himself and his friends, after all the hard work he put in, he deserved it didn’t he? So what, if he gave someone else opportunity to someone else just because he could, that’s how life goes. That’s what life gives you. That’s how the world turns around. Mikunj Nall was an extra-ordinary man with ordinary flaws. Flaws, one can learn to live with.

It takes time for him to realise that I’m sitting in his room. If he is affronted by it, he does not let it show on his face. He greets me like he had always for the 6 years I’ve known him. He’s quick to tear up a few papers he thinks I should not put my eyes on. He notices me noticing that, and smiles in return. We know each other too well to talk about it. He goes out to get booze and food from his wingies. I decline the alcohol. He frowns as usual, and forces me to have a peg. I don’t decline this time. This might be the last time he’s making me an offering. I take it.

It’s an emotional time for me. Before me stands the man whom I’ve ridiculed and abused and criticised over the last 3 months and he humbly smiles and chooses not to argue with me over such petty nuisances. I’m grateful. I want to leave before the other PlaceComs come to his room. I don’t think they’ll be as understanding as him. I take my leave and come out. I’m glad to have made it before my time is up.

*          *          *          *          *

And this marks the end of my journey. For those who were reading for Placement Fundas, you may stop here. I’ve something to say to my readers.

For the last 4 years I’ve written about the 4 years of TTI KGN. How a person goes through a Nomadic Existence, trying to find his place in the campus. Then he’s asked to choose an option, where I chose the Second Option. He Pleads Not Guilty for the crimes he didn’t commit and learns something very important, that life is neither easy nor fair. But living is the only option life gives you. Then life gives him the 3rd Finger and finally, at the end your life is weighed. That, is the final judgement day, the Final Frontier. It’s not measured in terms of money, not in terms of the future, but in terms of how much love you’re leaving behind. That’s how the campus life of KGN is, and that’s how life goes.

In the last 4 years, I feel I’ve lived my entire life. I confess that 3 years ago, I started these series with the sole intention of increasing my readership. And I realised something very important. It’s not cheap writing which beckons wide readership and popularity, but the value of what you give. That’s why this year I had the intention of talking about a topic which’d create some much-needed awareness. In the process if I’ve hurt anyone, I don’t regret it. I understand what they were doing was a part of what they felt right. And what I did was what I felt right. I hope that never again would I need to start another 8 chapter story. I intend Final Frontiers to be the last story of this kind I ever write.

It is a strong temptation to me to close the present tale with an earthquake which should engulf KGN and its environs so deeply in the bowels of the Earth that no youthful Schliemann would ever find a vestige of it. But as somewhat melodramatic conclusion might shock my gentle readers, I will refrain, and forestall the usual question, ‘How did it end?’ by briefly stating that all the placements (including mine) turned out well.
And now, having endeavoured to suit everyone by many stories, few puns, and as much exaggeration as the eternal fitness of things will permit, let the music stop, the lights die out, and the curtain fall forever on my story of KGN.

08 March, 2013

Final Frontiers - Chapter 7/8

BarCap भी आके चली गयी
Big 4 भी गरज कर बरस गये
पर Interview की एक झलक को हम
  TNP वाले तरस गये
कब होने लगेंगे fair selection
दिन रात ये दुखरा रहता है

तेरे TNP Notice Board पे
मेरा नाम नही कभी दिखता है
अफ़सोस ये है, के open for all भी
CG cut-off रखता है

15 days of placements had passed by which included the company which co-incidentally was a high-paying company which came late and co-incidentally was managed by the PlaceComs of AutumnFest and co-incidentally took the remaining candidates of AutumnFest. Purely on the basis of merit though.

But then came day 16, I remember that day vividly. I was peacefully playing Nero Cricket on my computer when Raghavendra barged into my room.

‘Dude! You’ve been shortlisted in Zibense,’ he announced.
‘Are you phuking kidding me? That test went horrible.’
‘Check the Notice Board!’

As it turned out, I WAS shortlisted by the company. I wondered how. I hadn’t attemped half the questions in the test as it was a coding company with a software job, something which repulsed me as sense repulses the monetary system. Anyways, once shortlisted it was mandatory to go for the interview, else I would be debarred from the placements. Not that getting debarred would’ve changed much for me; but I still didn’t want to get thrown out. The interviews were to start at 2 PM as per the Notice Board. It was 1:30 PM now. I quickly arranged my file, ironed my clothes, shaved, got dressed and cycled wildly to the placement complex. It didn’t come as a big surprise when I was told that the interviews were later by an hour and I should report at 3 PM. I saw no point in going back to my hostel and decided to wait in the computer lab.  Researching about the company would prove to be a better use of time. At 2:50 I checked on the Notice Board for any updates. This is what it said,

URGENT – Revised Shortlist for Zibense                              14:46 hours | 16.12.2012

The following students have been shortlisted for Zibense. Shortlisted candidates are to reach the interview venue by 3 PM. Please note that the previous notice regarding Zibense stands cancelled.

What followed was a list of the names of 17 students. Mine wasn't. For some time, I didn’t know how to react. I went back to the Notice Board and tried to find the old notice with my name on it. The notice had been taken off. I didn't even know that a Notice could be taken off from the webpage. I didn’t know whether to be sad for myself or be angry. Yes I wasn’t doing anything important but that doesn’t mean you can get me formally dressed, call me, make me wait for an hour and then after I happen to chance upon the Notice Board I get to know that it was all futile. I immediately went to the TNP Control Room only to find it locked. There was no PlaceCom in the area. I didn’t know how to react but there was only one way I could react. I went to the parking lot, took my cycle, and left for my hostel.

I still didn’t know what to do. Not only my time had been wasted by something completely useless, after 17 days of placements it creates a mental pressure. And after that to be treated like this, the least I deserved was an explanation. My problem was, no one was hurt if I wasn’t given any.

What followed was something I’ve been asked not to mention for the sake of "the institute’s reputation." I choose not to say it on this blog only to avoid the drama and trouble I faced later that day. In case you want the story, please ask a PlaceCom and they'll be happy to elaborate their side of the story. Infact they were able to keep on elaborating it till I hung up the phone. I was particularly amazed at their ability to keep  on speaking on a topic which even they know is a lost cause. I believe you really do need some talent to be one of them. On my side, all you'll hear is a rant of the irresponsible behaviour of the committee at that point of time.

Dear PlaceCom, if you read this, I hope you understand why I did what I did and atleast a call to give some information would’ve been common courtesy. But then, who cares about common courtesy to someone who can’t shove a rod up your ass. Right?

01 March, 2013

Final Frontiers - Chapter 6/8

Of all the crazy wild-ass messed up stories I heard and saw during the placement season (in my dream ofcourse!) one stands out. Luckily or unluckily, it involved me only as a spectator. But it left me thinking, what kind of world are we living in? For those of you who visit my blog for a few laughs, please stop at this point. You might be disappointed.

I was woken by cries of joys and screams of “CONGRATULATIONS!” I opened an eye and looked at my phone – 10:30 PM. Someone in my wing had gotten placed. I sat up, rubbed the sand out of my eyes and opened the door. Raghavendra was literally humping Vala. Parun Valacharla, better known as Vala, must’ve gotten in that day’s company for him – iRanAway.

‘Congrats,’ I said sleepily into the air. No one seemed to listen. I went out to wash my face and brush my teeth. Later when I came to Vala’s room, he was already in the midst of his story.

‘…and then they told me that I was waitlisted. In that case in someone selected from their list gets selected for another company as well, and chooses the other company then I slide up into a permanent selection. They’d selected 4 guys and I was put on waitlist. One of them, Rihani of RK, you know, the gay dude, was also selected by Ceccenture. I was waiting in a room when a PlaceCom came and congratulated me. Rihani took the job at Ceccenture.’
‘But I know Rihani,’ I had to interrupt. ‘He didn’t like the job at Ceccenture. How come he chose that over iRanAway?’
‘I asked the exact same question to the PlaceCom,’ Vala replied, apparently too happy today to be irritated by my interruption. On any other day this would’ve been enough to turn him into the Tasmanian devil. But today was different. He continued, ‘Rihani had initially chosed iRanAway. But then the PIC of placements, took him aside and told him that since he was selected in both Ceccenture and iRanAway and iRanAway had a waitlist, him choosing Ceccenture would mean better records for the institute.’
‘But this is wrong,’ Joose said. ‘A guy has the right to choose the company. The PIC can’t push him to make a choice.’
‘From what I heard, he can. Apparently the PIC threatened him to not forward his details to iRanAway and then Rihani would’ve been left unplaced. I know it’s wrong, but it worked out well for me.’
‘Alright,’ Joose replied. ‘I’m happy for you. Sometimes you’ve got to work for the greater good. You should go and thank him sometime.’
‘I did. And that’s exactly what he told me. He did it for the greater good.’
‘So now quick get ready. This calls for a treat…’

I came out of the room at that point. Perhaps it was my drowsiness thinking, but I felt it immoral of the PIC to push a student like that. Somehow, I didn’t feel the greater good in the event. I knew Rihani personally and I knew what this would mean for him. Somehow, this was just ethically wrong and yet there was no one who could do anything about it. But then, I’d acted ethically correct all this while and it took me nowhere. Perhaps it were people like me and Rihani who were on the wrong track. Perhaps, we were too naïve to understand how the world works. Perhaps, it was time to change my ways.