“Hi Jay, How is your job going on“? winkingly queried Shyam. Jay was truncated for his full name of Jagjit Abhishek Tandon, while Shyam got his name shortened from his long original name of Shyam Ratna Das.
“Hi Shyam, Quite Surprise. Just yesterday it struck in my mind ‘it was quite a long time since we last met’. ‘I should make an effort to call on you in a couple of days’.
“You are here now. We have obviously good and strong vibes, right?” Jay excited to meet his old pal and clasped his hands in their own way of friendship unpolluted with personal ambitions and desires by passage of time. The feelings radiated through them were genuine and warm within their interaction.
“Jay, I had some business in this part of the town and decided to pay a spontaneous visit”. “You are right, we have harmonious wavelengths with us, else our feelings will not connect”. “Say, could it be five years since our college graduation?” “We had an interesting annual day and with our total participation in the stage set-up, musical and theatrical events with our farewell , it was hectic schedule of events until the end ”. “Time flies, doesn’t it? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating our college graduation”, weaving a tapestry of friendship and nostalgia .
“You are correct, more than 5 years passed since that last graduation assembly”. “Now, tell me something about you, Shyam, I am keen to know more about you and your developments”.
“OK, come and we will go to our cherished spot in the Calangute Beach, munch our choice snacks paired with hot ginger tea”, Shyam invited and Jay accepting his call, tidied his work station for the day. Taking the wheel of his sleek sedan, Jay started to share, “Shyam, on bidding farewell to our companions at the college premises after the accolades, I was overcome by an inexplicable sensation. However, my father reassured me that parting ways with those closest to us is an inevitable facet of life, guided by the principle of ‘que sera sera‘. Despite my initial discontent and unease in this new town, I found myself grappling with a heavy heart and a sense of disorientation.”
“I apologize for burdening you with my inner turmoil,” Jay added. “How have you navigated yourself, Shyam, post our collegiate escapades?”
“Jay, you had somewhat a melancholic and fleeting moments”. “Good, it all turned you out for a new exploration in the wild days and I tell you now, Jay, forge ahead and don’t ever retreat from any of your efforts which you so passionately pursue”
“I felt, I was free from the confines of college and strayed aimlessly in every green pasture”. “In that course of diverse moments, I applied myself in what was then required – doing somewhat casual work, some Romeo flings, social and political participation”. “I added fuel to my family’s balanced ambience, its economy to crumble with its sub-optimal skeletal existence in the society”.
“I knew nothing of what not to do”. At times I meandered through distant and undisclosed sites and stayed incommunicado”.
‘My little sister Jasmine came to know of my plight from my parents”. “It was this darling sister with I played in the mango and tamarind trees, the low hanging and strong branches of which we made to swing in the evenings to have thrilling fun while swinging”. “It was adventurous and we were enjoying the natural surroundings and the feeling of freedom and joy .”
“Clinging defiantly on a thread of hope, she jotted the possible locations of my whereabouts with help of my friends and narrowed one after another to reach me at the end of 20th week”. “Her attempts, she cried admitting once, failed miserably in the beginning to locate me”.
“I became numb and virtually frozen when she leaped onto me and embraced me tightly, crying loud ‘Why, why of all people, Shyam, you have distanced yourself from us?” “Why have you become a nomad aimlessly?”
“It was at that moment we observed time passing languidly, our gazes locked in a silent exchange. A mutual urge to delve into our innermost thoughts and release the flood of emotions besieged us, yet an unseen force restrained us from doing so.” “Abruptly, Jasmine’s small hand swiftly met my face with a resounding slap, her voice cutting through the tense air, ‘Shyam, beyond the physical pain, the void you led us to endure, this mere slap fails to convey the depth of our suffering, the anguish, and the endless sleepless nights.”
“For all that nomadic life I went through, it was my sister’s big blow on my cheek that brought a poignant realization on me that ‘no matter what you say your life is yours to live, you are still a part of your own people’s emotions with their well being and that intertwining of your life with others is inseparable from your own growth and happiness”.
“My homeward return was theatrical, full of all Shakespearean love, despair and other human emotional explosions to a serenity of sweet home”. “The heroine, my sister Jasmine was in a secluded corner with a twinkle in her eyes rejoicing our reunion”.
“Well, several days passed with somewhat uneasy quiet and then I enlisted in the National Marine Forces and Jay, here I am before you in my first annual vacation”.
“Shyam, you are correct, some treasures and gifts you get to experience our values”. “These treasures and gifts are not what you earn in your life”, Jay gave a comforting pat to Shyam summing up “you got rich knowledge from your experience on your friends and relations”.
They both realized that the gifts of life are the lessons learned, the memories shared, and the love that binds us together in our interactions with others.
“Often, our perceived view of a situation is the cause of our own trouble”, Jay advocated. “The situation remains constant for every person including you and me but our perception and sufferings are different and manifold”.
“OK, Jay, we will live with our escapades and follies”. “Why I now came to see you is primarily to invite you and be not just as an invitee or spectator but join me as my good friend on the 31st of this month in my nuptial with Ganga”.
Jay was afloat with his emotions, excitement on his beloved friend’s betrothal and yet simultaneously confusion and irritation ‘what kind of person is this Shyam’, ‘he recounts all his misadventures and dishonorable acts throughout his meeting with me and discloses his new chapter of life very casually at the end of the day‘ enveloped his whole of his right hemisphere.
“Shyam, you still are unable to narrow down priorities of your life”. “We discuss all sundries over multiple servings of snacks and tea for more than half a day of our meeting”. “Am happy you invited me for your engagement but sad that you gave unduly less consideration to your future married life and diminishing importance on our friendship”, Jay closed his disappointment.
Taken aback at Jay’s blunt charge, Shyam recomposed himself and spoke “Jay, my apologies if I’ve hurt you”. “Am a technical man immersed with machinery, its nuts, bolts and gears and I admit my inadequacy in my communication with you especially”.
In an attempt to assuage his friend Jay, Shyam took his friend’s both hands and in a manner of pledge, “Believe me, I have no intention to hurt you now or hereafter”.
With quiet air breezing past, the scene seemed unnatural and the due walked a little ahead on the uneven road. Jay again broke the ice to eliminate quietude and asked Bhuvan, “why didn’t you ask me anything about my life, career, goals?” “Why have you become indifferent and a nonparticipant?”
“Yes, I do want to know more about you, besides what I learn from my family on your sterling progress, and it was my second mission to meet you today”. “We veered away from the main course, nevertheless, on our main path now”, matter of fact Bhuvan stated.
“So Jay, I knew you made attempt to start Air Traffic Industrie as charterer to ferry your clients between different destinations”. “My dad wrote on a couple of occasions about your growth and success and often teased me to take you as my role model”. “ Relax, this is not a pun or ridicule”. “We often take some heroes either from the past or from our current family as role models in our life and in my case, I am still immensely happy to follow you”.
“Is something bothering you, Jay?” “I’ve been a chatterbox from the moment we met and except some monologues, your response is cold”.
Jay thought for a moment and then commenced his narration on various adventures and occupational experiments. “The college jubilee celebration day unfolded an intriguing mystery for me “.
Leaving the premises I was in my pure spirits and gaiety to return home and saw some of my neighbours thronged just at the portico. A kind of mix and uncertain feelings wrapped me up as I stepped in. My uncle who was most senior in the family and eldest in the paternity clan came forward and rested his hands on my shoulders to update me “See, Jay, at what has your father done” and he was panting profusely. It became very important and a first priority for me to soothe him and help him recover his self. “Uncle, you already knew that we needed to accept events that occurred beyond our capacity and control,” and “everything will pass by”, I reasoned with him without knowing what actually was the gravity of the event that shook the entire household.
Seeing me enter the spacious central hall, my mother rushed to me and pacified, “Jay, whatever happened was always for good”. “Keep yourself calm and decide logically what requires to be done”. Mom being a mom of her doting son was worried and concerned about my welfare and future more than the solution to set the existing situation right. Yet, it irked me that nobody disclosed actually what the scene was. Unable to control my ignorance, I blurted at her, “Mom, please tell me why the neighbours have assembled here and what actually has happened”. It was then that my mom told of my father’s misplaced faith in his best friend who usurped my father’s entire estate on a promised mirage of lucrative venture. Just few moments before a wealthy doting son became a classified pauper in the society.
It was necessary for me to fend the whole family from the next moment onwards.
“My dear friends and neighbours”, I addressed impassively “this is our family problem”. ”You all have been very exemplary in your participative support and even your offers of unsolicited help to us have garnered our grateful recognition and respect”.
“We seek your good counsel and gracious cooperation to preserve and uphold the honour of our family in the society in its original status and without degrading it the least, to help us coexist in tandem with you all”. “Please be good to disperse now”.
“The next day too we all crossed paths silently as though we were collectively grieving a profound loss in the family, unable to accept the harsh reality”. “My father, despite being highly erudite and experienced, always his head in remorse bowed down, who held himself upright and gazed intently into your eyes”.
“A tumultuous waves of confusion, mutilated thoughts and illogical fears and impractical solutions boarded over my mind in that gloomy hour”. “An intuition later in the day goaded me to visit our esteemed principal, Mr.Viraj Manik Sharma, M.Tech, Ph.D., for his invaluable yet practical guidance”.
“I never had a ‘principal-student interaction on one-to-one level”. Except one or two occasions in the whole of my academy I seldom visited or met the Principal”. “As I entered his cabin, the butterflies in my stomach fluttered their wing and rings”. “My Greetings to you, Sir,” I offered and as he was looking up from his pile of papers, ‘Come in Jay’, the principal invited me to his private chambers. What surprised me the most was that every year a vast multitude of students and different teaching faculty visiting him , he effortlessly recognised me with his mercurial memory. Then, he offered graciously a seat adjacent to his working desk. ‘I will attend to you after completing this crucial task’.
His warm reception pervaded to calm my anguish. I gave complete narration of what happened in the family and what I should do to firstly revive the family economy and entwining harmony. He was all of his ears through my episode and not even once did he raise a doubt or ask for clarification. This opaque scene eddied self doubts against my intuition.
At the conclusion of an hour long meeting, he requested a serving of hot tea and sandwiches from his private cafeteria. After indulging in the snacks, the Principal opened up to candidly ask me “Are you clear that you want to redeem your family from its current disgrace”? “If so, you must temporarily set aside your aspirations for further academic pursuits”. “I will allow you some time to deliberate and refine your priorities”. “Subsequently, we will together devise a viable action plan.”
“I have made my firm decision, Sir, that my family harmony and welfare are my top priorities for salvation”, Jay expressed to Sir Viraj. The Principal again cautioned Jay not to be wary of the current plight which would soon pass. He then stated bluntly, “Jay, you are responsible for your decision from now”. “You cannot reverse it later even if you wish so”. “Are you now clear of your final decision?”, Sir Viraj questioned to gauge the depths of my resolve.
By then, it was already half past eight and darkness had descended. “Jay”, Sir Viraj proposed “we will reconvene tomorrow evening”. “Retain your logic and sleep well”. I exited his chambers. Though I felt somewhat relieved of my anxieties after my interaction, my mind was edgy trying to assess the decision or plan of action which Sir would by then have sketched for me.
The night was a dreaded nightmare, sleep elusive, mind running at its optimum negative output and fatigue draining me of my sobriety. I tossed and shifted my positions in the bed, unaware of my count. Thank Heavens, the first light of the dawn gradually broke and I compulsively engaged myself to focus on the day’s mundane roles, to distract myself from the sinister thoughts that plagued me.
The day dragged itself against my fervent fever to visit Sir Viraj, and uncover his model plans. Sir Viraj was equally stressed on my tendency to errors and repeatedly steadied me to remain focused on the immediate task.
Prior to exchanging his plan, he checked again with me of my resolute intent and unfurled the details set to specific time frame. As Sir Viraj elaborated his meticulous plans, I couldn’t help but admire his attention to detail and his unwavering commitment to excellence, while erasing my initial apprehensions. Sir Viraj’s structured approach and his moral support were like a beacon of light to me at that point of time.
With passing of each interaction, Sir Viraj insisted me to update him with my progress vis-a-vis the plan. Sir so thoughtfully explained that remedial change to overcome the impasse in the plan might be introduced to surge ahead. With his methodic inspiration, I found myself galvanized to push beyond my limits towards my goal.
As he outlined the timeline for my induction, I felt the path ahead seemed challenging yet filled with endless possibilities for growth while a tinge of nervousness seeped in me. I consoled myself that his invaluable guidance and strict mentorship would see me overcome current plight to pave way for really a bright career brimming with promise and potential.
“Jay, we now need to quell our stomach’s riot”, he was jocular and earnest to lead me to the dining table at the corner of his cafeteria. “Sir, While I am unable to refuse your generous invitation, I will grossly do injustice to my family members waiting for me to join them in their dinner”. “Jay, you are thoughtful of your relations”, Sir complimented me.
“I will give a sealed envelop for one of the industry captains and you may collect it from the office by 11.00 am tomorrow” so saying, he bid farewell to me.
Unlike the previous night, I felt a streak of equanimity and with that, a ray of hope embraced me to sleep undisturbed. Probably, the current setback was a boon in disguise to realize my self worth and the need to reach out to other people without my ego for peaceful existence.
The next morning when I reached the college office, the administrative officer handed a sealed envelop with specific instructions from Sir Viraj to deliver it to the addressee before 3.00 pm on the very same day.
I joined Blue Way Chips as trainee in their chip manufacturing facility, 35 kms far from our location. In the beginning, the senior colleagues delegated their assignments to me, often ridiculing my education and daunting my involvement in their fiefdom. My induction commenced under the aegies of Mr Sami S N, General Manager (Technical) with theoretic lessons under the Production Manager, Mr Francis N Barnard , from the designs of the product under various uses. From one week exposure in theory and production, I was periodically shunted to different operations until the Testing of Final product at the end of the 5th year of my induction.
It was challenging from the point of quality standards, R&D reflections, production schedules and sometimes frustrating to comply with government mandates, compromise on financial, labour and transport implications and other inherent factory management techniques.
Interim meets with Sir Viraj boosted my morale and a widening outlook. With this personality cultivation, I continue to scale up my profession and family economy.
Then came a press advertisement in the mainline newspaper from the National Maritime Corps . The vast blue waters’ inviting call was something I just could not resist and with completion of all due selection and training processes, I joined as Maritime Officer.
That’s all Jay, I am sharing a part of my personality and it makes me happy and emotionally feather-light. Thank you for your time with me.
“That’s really fantastic Shyam, you have open mind about the possibilities and outlook to reach right people, Hats Off to you”, so saying Jay hugged Shyam!
“Well, I gave you a long episode for TV serial and Hollywood movie, right”? Shyam was matter of fact to Jay.
“What is amusing in everyone’s life is the struggles, frustrations and separations with a few brief and joyous get-togethers in marriage, festivals and other social events, interwoven as a just pattern be they educated and elite or otherwise”. “The difference distinguishing this pattern always succeeds inversely like misery with joy, health with illness, but overall the mixture is just the set level or boundary of living and I realise that I am becoming fanatically religious”, Shyam’s elliptical view flowed out.
“Hey Shyam, Stop that, you give sermon like our good old sages and hermits”.
Didn’t we study that the whole life is cyclical and we need to keep rhythmically attuning ourselves to balance our living!”
