It was one of those days which stick in your mind no matter how old you grow.
It was the 17th of August, 1998.
I hadnt slept well the night before. Not without a reason for Wipro was scheduled to visit our college for a campus interview that day.
With a mind rapidly oscillating between tension and anticipation, I remember driving down to college that day dressed in a white van heusen shirt (for the first time in my life :)) already feeling a bit lost and out of place.
Seeing the same “I am scared but I wont show it on my face” look on many of classmate's faces, I eased up a little.
The written test was much easier than I had expected and I settled for a long wait for my interview which was scheduled at 9:30 PM in the night.
I have had several extruciating waits in my life but that one must rank among the most painfull. I waited and watched quite a few of my classmates enter and leave the room displaying a wide range of emotions a kamal hassan would have been proud of :)
In the end after what seemed like an eternity, I was called in. With trembling hands and a heart beat faster than schumacher, I remember entering that room. What followed was a surprisingly pleasant conversation instead of a nightmarish situation I had conjured up in my mind.
By the time, I came out, I was back to my confident best almost sure that I would be selected.
It took another 3 hours for Wipro to announce the result. I still remember sitting of the steps in front of my class room talking about my dreams and the life ahead with a friend who goes by the name Vishnu. Both were selected but he has left wipro long back for pursuing higher studies in the states.
What is clearly etched in my mind about that night is the drive back home on my trusted kinetic honda. If there is one moment in my life worthy of the song,
aaj mein upar,
aasman neeche,
aaj mein aage,
zamana hai peeche,
it was that.
The cold wind running through my hair, the biggest smile possible on my face, the empty roads ... It was a surreal moment alright :-)
The smile on my mother's face when she heard is yet another moment etched on my mind.
So why I am writing all this ?
Tomorrow is my last day at Wipro. After 3 and a half years, I will be going to a different companynext monday onwards.
How does it feel ?
A little bit of nostalgia. A little bit of sadness. A little bit of happiness. A cocktail of emotions is perhaps the best description.
Wipro was fun. I had some of the best colleagues a man could ask for. In the end, nothing lasts forever. I had to move on lest I run the risk of being stagnant proffessionally and financially ;-)
So if you have been mailing me at my wipro email id, send them for the time being to anand at this particular domain. I will update you when I get the new one.
I dont know what is in store for me in the new place. Life is best lived moment to moment and so will I.
Al vida. I will be back :-)
Damn it. There is a tear hidden somewhere behind my eyes waiting to come out ..
I guess, only when you walk out of something, you realise what you are losing ...