my log

Well I had arrived in the comfort of my Studio Apartment. This was going to be my home for the next 6 weeks. Gosh the building in the city are tall. I was 50th floor of 80 storey tower. Good thing that the apartment was close to the subway station. It would enable me the explore the city easily. That is if I would be able to take time out of the treacherous task that lay ahead.

Minda Industries, Robinson Road. Okay I will see you at 9 sharp. And I draped myself in the comfort of the bed. Next morning was big day. My appointment was freezed for sharp 9. Reaching a new place, finding the office & the right person would take time. But thankfully the system in Singapore is so organised I reached the 23rd floor office of Minda Industries well in time.

Good Morning Mr Gupta. We have been expecting you. Our executive from the finance department would be assisting you throughout your assignment. Said the Chinese looking woman at the visitor's counter.
Please be seated, she said extending a visitor's batch to me. You must wear this at all times.

Come on in Mr Gupta. Said a young man. Ushering the towards the door. We have created a temporary office for you in one of our conference rooms. We have deputed one of our Indian staff to help you.
Here she is.
Good Morning Meera! This our guest from India Sidhant Gupta.
What the fuck? Of all the people I have met in my life she was least I had expected to see.
Wow. This is a shocker.
My mind was wavering as we exchanged pleasantries.
You don't look surprised to see me.
I have been expecting you.
Your name & designation was made known to me for some time.
Unlike you I have been keeping in touch albeit not directly.
The first thought that came to my mind
Now this girl is gorgeous.
In college she was arguably the most beautiful girl.
And now, end of arguments.
She was wearing a blue dress with hair neatly tied behind.
Her eyes, well I have been guilty of falling for them before.
Concentrate.
I was trying hard to look at the computer screen where she was explaining the various financial statements.
Instead my eyes tilted towards her cleavage.
Were they always this big?
Oh shoot man. You are committed in a relationship for God sakes.
But does that mean......

My reverie was broken by Meera. Lets break for lunch shall we.
She escorted me to the cafeteria.
We settled as we grabbed a couple of sandwiches. You must me wondering, how did I end up here in Singapore of all places?
Yes it didn't occur to me. The shock & the delight to see her after so many years bamboozled me.
She was to be married to a rich, business family in Delhi. So I was told.
How come she is working, that too in Singapore.
Aren't in-law's supposed to be conservative?
So fill me in.

Well you know about my engagement after college. I got married in December. Initially I was very happy. But once the honeymoon period got over, the true colors started showing up.
My husband was a spineless coward.
His family was very conservative.
They didn't allow me to even step out alone.
For everything permission of my mother-in-law was essential.
She was a witch I tell you. And wanted me to her slave. Which I refused.
Sahil wouldn't leave his family so I left him.
We were separated after 2 years of marriage.
Divorce by mutual consent.

I couldn't bear to see the look in the eyes of my relatives.
Poor girl. Her husband left her. My foot. I could shut their mouths but not their eyes.
So I took a management course in Singapore. And here I am this is my home now.

I listened to her with intent. We didn't end on great terms but I would have never wished such a plight for her.

So much for me. What has been up with you?
Big executive at a MNC. Not bad Sid.

Well you did give me shock 6 years ago, as you have given now. Only difference being that was a slap on the face & this...
And this..?
Well time will tell.
Ha Ha! Well you still have your witty sense of humour.

Meera promised me to show around the city during the weekend.
Singapore is beautiful place.
Sentosa Island, night safari, Ocean Park......And to top it all you have a company like Meera.

It was just like old times. It had taken me a year to get over Meera. Each day I would go to bed hoping it is all a bad dream. And in the morning things will return as they were with us.
Wasting 360 odd days of my life just pondering. Living in regret.
afyer

The rebuttal from Meera had its aftermaths. It transformed from me from being a dreamer. Naive enough to paint a rosy picture of a perfect life without accounting for the thorns that accompany it. I was beginning to understand the nuances of the 'real' world. I was no longer gullible. With time I had matured. My immediate focus was on my career. Within the stipulated time period I cleared all the mandatory exams & now the suffix CA was attached to my name.

Now was the time for some serious business. I intended to open my own company soon. But before that I wanted to gain some experience under my belt. Also networking & having contacts with the right people was crucial in my line of business.

With this goal in mind, I joined a MNC consultancy firm. And in the words of our company partner, 'I was amongst the cream of the country which had been given a once in lifetime opportunity.'
After signing our offer letters. We had been called to the company head office for a tete a tete with the CEO.
He was a pleasant looking gentleman, who didn't speak much. But the remarkable thing was he knew each one of our names. And he interacted with each one of us individually.
He remarked ,''You have competed well to land up for a opening in Deloitte. Amongst the hundreds of candidates interviewed, you guys are the chosen few. For the next 6 moths, we would be assigning you under various departments. We intend to give you a taste of all our verticals before assigning you departments. All the best.''

From the next day we had a week long orientation ceremony. We were put in a training centre on the outskirts of the city. It was scenic setting with a backdrop of the Aravalis. We had been given a itinerary for the week. Departmental heads & senior associates were scheduled to come & give a presentations. The purpose was help us understand the functioning of each of their verticals. We would be rotated in the various roles during our training period in order to understand their functioning. After getting gist of it, we would be sorted out in the various departments according to our preference matched against the company requirements and the evaluator's report. So much for week of fun filled holiday.

The 1st presentation for the day was scheduled for 9:00 AM sharp. The doors would be closed by 8:50 AM, so we were told. All of us wanted to make a good impression. But that didn't prevent us from having some late night frivolities.
The result, most of us struggling to meet the deadline.
'Just grab something to eat man'
We will take the last seats and drool.
I want my sleep man.
What is up with these guys?
Early in the morning. This torture.
Sssshh
The moderator is here. Take your seats fast.

As we hustled into the seminar room, we were shocked to see it sparsely occupied.
Seating had been arranged meticulously with our name placed in front.
Take your seats gentlemen.
All of us placed in different rows.
Where is my seat
Sidhant Gupta..........Oh Shoot! 3rd row from the front middle seat.
Talk about my luck. The presenter would be staring right into my face.
Bye, bye birdie
We quickly grabbed our seats, as the first presenter made his way into the hall.
'Good Morning fellows! Early morning start haa! I share your dread.'
Now that's a witty remark. He caught our attention immediately.
We were in the process of settling the commotion, when all of a sudden a voice got our attention.
'May I come in Sir.'
'Sorry I am late Sir. Just arrived. Got delayed by incessant rain.'
She mumbled.
'No worries dear. Common in. Let me get you a warm cup of tea to get started.'
'Ram Niwas tea for all.' , he thundered.
'After all you guys need to be awake to be able listen to my blabbing.'
The whole room erupted with laughter.
The last entrant to the room gazed around. And then fixated her eyes on me.
She was the prettiest girl in the room. Infact she was most beautiful girl I had seen.
As she approached her seat, she smiled & it took my breath away literally.
For you all sins can be pardoned sweetheart.
She came up & took the seat next to me.
Lucky dog, someone sniped from behind.
I was trying to read her nameplate when she towards me.
'Have I missed out on anything.'
For a moment I was mesmerized by her looks.
But I snapped back in time and answered.
Not much, infact we have just begun.
Here this is the schedule for the day.
And this the itinerary for the rest of the week.
Thanks.
She glanced through the pages.
You can keep it, I have extra copy.
She simply smiled at me. And her smile took my heart. I knew from that moment onwards things would not be the same. I was in love.

But so was the rest of the room. All eyes were fixated on her.
The speaker was not oblivious to the whole situation. He had seen the centre of attention shift to the new girl.

Very well. Now that we are all settled & seated, let's get on with the work.
For the next 75 minutes I was mesmerized.
My eyes were fixated on the damsel seated next to me.
She had it in her to sedate the whole room.
She wore a cream colored kurta with matching salwar and blue dupatta.
Little droplets of water oozed off her hair as she swished them behind.
Some of them landing on my face. Oh yes!
How time passed I didn't know.
I kept staring at her instead of listening to the speaker.
For me it was like everything had come to a stand still.
Looking into her eyes I fell deeper & deeper inside them.

Snap she looked at me.
She must be thinking, what a pervert?
I quickly looked the other way & pretended to make notes.
Well gentlemen, let us take short break now.
Thank god, I sighed. Time to escape.

I got up from my seat to leave the hall suddenly a voice beckoned me.
'Excuse me'
I turned back.
It was her.
Crap! She would surely give me a mouthful.
But she simply smiled at me & introduced herself,' Hi! I am Nishi Malhotra.'
'Sidhant Gupta.' I replied without wasting time
We shook on it.
Thanks for updating me. I was delayed.
No problem.

Hey wanna grab something to eat.
Yaah! sure. I am starving.

We got talking. She was from Sydenham College Mumbai.
I love that place. It has got a unique charm about itself.
No one pokes their nose into your business.
We got talking on & on.

Within a matter of days Nishi &; I became the best of friends.
Man she was really cool. I never felt awkward speaking in front of her.
She was sweet, sensible, charming & infectious.
The day I didn't see her, I became restless & fidgety.


team lunch
presentation
client side
our first kiss
confession
separation
Wind is to fire what distance is to love. It vanquishes the weak & enkindles the great.
Singapore calling
Brush with the past
Reliving the old times
The Choice
Saach mere yaar hai, bas wahi pyar hai, jiske badle mein  koi to pyar de, baki beekar hai yaar mere, ha yaar mere
Mystery Unfolds