First Official Mistake

I saw her and just like that….3…2…1, I fell in love. She waltz her way in to a cabin where her laptop screen was still lit bright with recent usage. Flowy blue dress, combined with that gait and I swear, it felt the place just grew 10 times more interesting. I had to have a last glance as I couldn’t miss the last glimpse of her from that fish cubical I passed by. “Start-ups are great”, I muttered. She was playing with her long curls and was invested in the moment, she collected all of them and rolled it into a bun. But missing few strand near ears, she dismantled the first, collected all back, tossed and carefully caressed all in another yet seemingly bigger and tighter one.

My interview started and I cleared 2 rounds with seniors. The HR entered the room, where I sat comfortably, to announce the last round to be with colleagues as policy for 360 degree evaluation. I was hoping to see her again and get to know her. She didn’t join me but this other lad who scooped in with excitement, for his many first of many time opportunity to interview a senior role.

I went back and never received a call. Forgotten about the incident, I carried on my streak to appear for more interviews and awaited good offers. Finally, after 3 months and 2 days to be precise, I received a mail from the same start-up where I thought I was rejected about that position. Freshers are at mercy of jobs and to work in a start-up is cumulative experience of 10 corporate years in just 3. Money was bad and I would have to make some rent adjustments but to survive in the city, it could have been worse.

Within the next hour my mail notification beeped again and to my surprise, it was an offer from the corporate house with benefits, perks, a package with advancement option and no rent adjustments, I was waiting for. I wanted to smile for my luck was shining bright that day but within minutes my smile worn off. It was either a white and black but a stable corporate life or professional bun developer in a fish cubical. I was not here or there or anymore at any place mentally. The corporate offer stood with a time line of 24 hours and I only had wished if it could have reached me 24 hours earlier, 3 months and 1 day to be precise. I called up my teacher from Alma mater and explained everything, minus the bun tying skills. Obviously, the advise for an orphan boy coupled with financial security, to live a colourful and fulfilled life outside the grays of corporate. Something was amiss. There was a look on her face while she was working, the look I was forever chasing. And finally I keyed in my revert to both the mails with a regret to one offer and acceptance to another, as the deadline was surely not to be missed.

 

Next day, the phone rang and it was the HR who wanted to check on my joining date. She sounded excited to have me in her team but asked me out of concern, if everything was okay? Hesitant to her question, I stayed mum but there were a million of things popping in my mind. How would the rent work out? I might have to find a place an hour away from work, good food joints for late night office calls, recreational spaces and travelling through local trains. After all, it was a choice to go ahead with the lively fish cubical view and ignore the 9 to 6 life, even though lucrative and stable. My mind amidst a battle zone with thoughts; which I never had a chance to air them and I was wondering about the situation as to what did I put myself into.

 

One my first day, I was smiling as it was a cheer to have a colourful life and an enigmatic death of my financial planning. 2 years of management studies and my very first office mistake.

 

Welcome to Poppysmic Events at Acranum Outlook(AO)

Hello Everyone,

I am Rohan Batra, pursuing the Master in Management studies from a B school in India. My hobbies include playing basketball, listening to music, enjoying time with family, to be participative in social events and social media. My blog is a reference to all who are interested in understanding the events from a common man’s perspective. The blog would throw light on the topics like technology, marketing, Information technological, fashion, glamour, political events and finally my Favorite, Money.

The stories shared on this blogs are virtually substantial to make you think on many different realms of reality and make your lips go Poppysmic. This is the first time, I am on the personal blogging bandwagon. Being a novelty venture, I am open to your valuable comments.

Your truly,

Rohan Batra.