Anaganaga Oka Roju (అనగనగా ఒక రోజు), because all this has happened in one day. Dramatic!
When i joined my first job, i had one goal. I need to land in US as soon as possible and i have a three point agenda. Work. Deliver. Fly to US. Sounds like a plan, right?
If it reminds you of a scene in movie "Dil" where VenuMadhav says "Appatlo Bhutto, Ippudu Musharaff, Seat icchestara?" it is no fault of yours. It was pretty much the same scene.
Reality hit me hard when i got to know that freshers would be treated as minnows and if you are from a non-computer background, you are rather non-existent for those seniors. I had been living with this US goal for almost two years and prevailing conditions had filled me with no hope. With in a week, after humiliations from my so called "mentor", i started sketching for Plan B. I was talking to professors such that i can start research program in one of the US universities.
if you remember "Cup Importantu Bigilu" from Bigil movie. My goal was on similar lines "US importantu, Raghu".
Despite all the hurdles, i managed to keep my aspirations alive. I was determined and the resolution is absolute.If this makes you think of "Thaggedhe le" from Pushpa, again, it is no fault of yours. I was actually obsessed with my goal.
The less i talk about the humiliations at work, the better it would be. I was already having a terrible state of mind (if you are guessing heart break, no brownies for you. After all, its very obvious). Adding to that, i wasn't sure if i have made right choice by opting this job over PhD at Indian Institute Of Sciences. I almost lost the hope in that job and i was just waiting for an admission to happen. But...
On one rainy day, i was called into a meeting room for a KT session as the so-called "mentor" was going on leave for his marriage. It was for name sake to paint a picture that development work of that particular module is ON. Bunch of papers(TDD, FDD, Guides) were thrown at me and was asked to read. I had no intentions of losing my energy over that piece of functionality as it is not aligned to my goal. One must remember "US importantu, Raghu" goal. It should echo and get registered in the minds of anyone who is reading this blog.
With no "mentor" in office for the next two weeks. I was thinking i shall focus on my goal (it should echo by this time). I have planned to connect with some of the professors and identify the research area. However, those bunch of papers were mocking at me and i wanted to give a try. It is no rocket science, all we need to deliver is a single page with few CRUD operations on two tables. I was told that module is already "getting ready" since a long time. BTW, i was pretty comfortable with FDD by the end of that day.
The next day, i started coding in a proprietary framework (read it as unstable, evolving framework) and i could make a very decent start. By the end of the day i.e., at 11 PM or so, i could see the module ready for Unit Testing. I left for the day and reached home by 1 AM. With this kind of schedule for a week, the module was almost complete. If it reminds you of Venkatesh in "Aadavari Maatalaku Ardhaale Verule", this time you are at fault. That module is a simple one which is being dragged for months. I don't take any credit in it.
So, finally my "mentor" joined back after a long vacation and i didn't bother to pay a visit. I was sitting on my desk "orkutting" (very popular in those days). He didn't even bother to verify the code that i have checked in. In fact, he doesn't even know about the progress made. In the evening, we had a status call with our project manager. "Mentor" sahaab very confidently projected his timelines of completion and this time i had to interfere for good. Earlier, as part of humiliation program, i was offered to shut my mouth for asking a question, of course in a very polite way. With PhD admission in hindsight, i have taken the liberty and presented a demo of the module that i have merged a week back. It was a sweet shock for our project manager, but i had extreme pleasure in seeing the colours on the face of my "mentor". I think, the respect which i have been seeking is back on the table. Even though it felt good, little Raghu never deviated from his goal. అందరూ మరొక్కసారి గట్టిగా అనండమ్మా "US Important...."
Next week, i was asked to work with another lead on a new module, but this time with a very kind hearted person by name Ravi. He is some 10 years elder to me but looking at our conversations, one would think of us as college buddies. I was doing decent enough in the team but i realised that i'm drifting from my goal (telusukada..). I kind of hinted him about my aspirations and how badly i want to go to states.
Finally, we have delivered the product with reasonable quality :) While the product is in UAT, there was lot of noise on the floor. One kind and elderly gentleman, Prem, came from onsite and he was very kind and generous towards me. Gratitude. Again, while the customer is running UAT, we have experienced chaos. Those bugs, ERs, fixes, build breaks what not. There comes few more delivery managers from onsite to look after the whole project and they normally used to sit in a big meeting room aka war room!
One day, i was asked to meet them in the war room. While i was walking to that room, i had many thoughts. I was wondering if my code brought down the whole server and made the UAT stop. I was preparing for the worst. Have entered the room and i wasn't offered a seat. (It must be a P0 issue, i thought). I was standing at a corner. One Delivery Manager, looking at the monitor was asking if i know how to play TT. Bizarre! My answer was "No". He smiled broadly and said, "Atlanta has a very good TT board and you would enjoy your stay there if you play". The beautiful smile i have ever seen. Ok, I'm lying. The second best one till that time. The day has just started.
Remember the Title? Anaganaga oka roju. Promise, this title is apt. Kahaani abhi baaki hai ....
I came out of the war room smiling and i had an urge to throw the fists in air, but i know it sounds so dramatic. I sat in my cubicle and shared the news with an elderly lady who sits next to me. It was Friday and congratulations were in order from friends and acquaintance. That day was friday and i felt it colourful than ever. Friday, on-site travel అంతా బానే వుంది. But something was missing. While i was contemplating, i saw a lady in a light green saree coming towards me. In fact, she was the one who boards the bus near our apartment and we had some conversations in the past. I was so grateful for all the wishes and went for lunch. Food which normally is insipid tasted ok that day. I was planning on how to manage my lunch and dinner in US.
I wanted to celebrate the day and left the office early. Boarded the bus and found a seat next to the lady in the green saree (remember??) . We have exchanged smiles and she offered me a seat . She asked for a party and i was game for it. She asked me to pick her up at Aundh junction in the morning. Plan is to go for a breakfast, followed by a movie, followed by lunch and then another movie. Dinner was supposed to be at McD. Sounded like a date and yeah, she confirmed it as a date. Before anyone assumes, i never had any intentions, but the idea sounded great. Onsite opportunity and a Date too. If it makes you think of "Inko Laddu Kavala nayana.." advertisement, i cant help. You are master of your imagination.
For a moment, i thought god is making up for everything and we both got down at our stop. I had a sumptuous meal and slept for the day. Imagine the state of my mind. I was just few days away from fulfilling my two year goal and one day away to experience a date. I fell asleep. If you think there comes a shubham card for "Anaganaga Oka Roju", you have put your leg in the lentils. (adhe, pappu lo kaalu)
I have woken up in the middle of the night with a sharp pain in the back along with vomiting sensation. It aggravated and there comes a point where i couldn't bear the pain. I didn't disturb my roommates and admitted myself into a near by hospital. Kidney stone it is! The treatment there was so bad, i had to fly to Hyderabad and had to take one week off. The day i have joined back, i came to know that i was replaced with one another guy as the requirement in US was very urgent. That lady came to me with a sorry face and i just smiled at her. I have never spoken to her again. I knew i would get another offer in the near future, but i was hurt. Deeply.
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