December-After much drama we passed the stream! Yay! Ankita actually
danced when she saw the ‘P’. I cannot even begin to thank Hamid-da for it. The
SAP ABAP, SD, Testing and Java groups had already started coming to Unitech and
we could not wait to join them on bench. Raja’s birthday inaugurated our bench
period and this period changed my life forever. December was when Babuida got
married and I was extremely happy. December was also when Ankita broke up and
cried her lungs out while the blue man was seen in and around Accenture campus
leaving the TCS building behind for afternoon walks. There were many movies and
too much gossip and more shopping and adult talks around this time. I spotted
and was proud of the Diocesan connect with Fullora who headed KDC pretty much
and pretty well. The proxy ITP attendance was on and it was also the time the
Friday musicals started. I realized the new and wonderful side to Aniket rather
than his usual swearing around this time. We voluntarily registered for
training because we had absolutely nothing do! And 50% of the salary was spent
on food. The cafeteria people started to know our orders even before we could
say. The 5th floor canteen sold amazing ice cream and mousse and it
became a ritual to eat and watch the pretty sunset every evening.
January- January took away all the colors from my life. The
cafeteria that saw me chirping and snatching desserts in the evening now only
had me staring at the sunset. The Rajarhat sunset from such great height is a
breathtaking view. I do not remember crying that much and being that thin is a
long long time. Ankitas, Isita, Susmita and Anuradha were as patient as
possible with me because I had literally stopped talking, back then. Diptarka
and Moubashshir almost pulled me out of the Endeca training and spent the
evening explaining at the Breakout area. I remember my condition and Diptarka
said ‘next time thot kapte dekhte ek chor lagabo’. Oh how much I love these
people. A got his job around this time and I met the one, the last time, like
old times, in January itself. I also met Tuhinda for the first time. I knew it
was the start of the most haunting year of my life. Baba was sure I am
suffering from illness but then, the Friday evening musicals brought me solace.
I remember postponing the Karunamoyee mela and smiling wide, after a long long
time when Chire and Aniket did the brilliant ‘Kokhon Tomar ashbe Telephone’ and
the entire Rec room clapped in awe! We missed the bapida’r momo that day. It
was also the time when I drowned the little self-respect that was left and
begged.
February- February was like a little happiness pixie dust in
my otherwise gloom. A joined work, did not care to say Bye of course. I was
introduced to Barua in February, the local hero teamed with Ankita for the TT
tournament and I saw very little of Ankita that month. We again registered for
Hyperian training and the sad heart low weight disgusting person that I had
become, I needed a holiday. I remember discussing this for the first time with
Raja and Diptarka. The plan was finalized in the class and off we went. Barua of
course agreed for certain reasons and it was this trip that I got to know him
better! On the way back Titoo broke the news of Kaustav Mohanty’s last stage
cancer. I was shocked and sad. He passed away a few days later and I MUST admit
here that we had a little of mutual jhari relationship for a few months in
class 11 before he went absolutely nerd. The final TT championship happened
after Bakkhali, Barua won and I got Mousse and Pastry treat! The mixed doubles
went down the Hoogly but Ankita still bagged a prize with Nita di. It was
around this time that we became friends with Joyda! SUCH A WONDERFUL MAN. I
started idealizing him and his story with Heena di! Jeet and Raja and Ankita
started teaching me TT this time itself and Guha started complaining about no
carom tournament. Her expert carom stunts brought her one million ghayal
admirers! Soon it was time for Graduation party. Ankita and Annu put up the
most spectacular dance performance, and Chire sang his patent baul gaan. I
shouted my lungs out, danced away to glory, such was my sadness. Anuradha had
tears, while Urmish went for MBA interview, when Kaushik sang ‘naa tere bina
lagda jee’ that night and I noticed, I just noticed, and sighed at the lyrics. GFT
party was the last time the entire batch of 100 was there together and the
terms of everyone with everyone was normal. Soujita accepted Atreyo’s proposal
formally that day itself. Ankita C drove us to office to Ecospace to Ruby and
Shiva went you girls must call me back
when you reach-a. Anuradha got an admirer who wanted to help the poor lone
girls. Bleh. Anuradha left for Pune soon enough. Their little romance on the
last day on the last seat of the bus broke my heart a little. Wet-o-wild saw us
too.
March- March had world cup finals and a disappointing scene
in the cafeteria. It was March when Barua left (and we missed the fish) and then Ankita did. Women’s day
was celebrated and I can still hear Aniket singing ‘sun-ri-sakhi’. I don’t
think I’ve heard something so beautiful, live, ever. EVER! Ankita refused to
perform and later she realized it was a mistake. The Pune gang was ready to
roll. We had a tough time arranging and agreeing at farewell gifts. I started
to wonder who will ever listen to my ghyan-ghyan and not say bad things about
the one since Ankita was going already. The only good thing about March was
that Neel was back on track. He apologized and waited and did everything he
could to win Ankita back. I remember being secretly happy because the rest of
the people were still very skeptic about him. I knew things would be more than
perfect once she leaves for Pune! March was also the time when Ankita and I
sang horrible songs horribly and beautiful songs horribly as well. Guha became
the carom expert. While the ABAP people started getting projects, we started to
freak out at the Oracle Apps fate this time. Towards the end of March,
it was just us and one empty bay. Joyda converted his religion from TT to
carom. I started to talk more. Isita was happy at this little improvement and
Susmita was sure I shall get what I want; it was just a matter of time!
Pritwishda joined KDC and people of the bay went dhak dhak! The Vajra guy also
joined KDC and the bench was again full of new people. The Friday musicals
started to decrease. People started to get serious and we were still stuck on oporer chicken sandwich na nicher
chicken sandwich. I think we watched the dangerous Roy this time. I did all
that I could to keep my brains away from the obvious. And read old messages and
chats and diaries at night. I looked like shit. Guha’s nayansukh for the
Chakraborty guy went strong.
April-
One fine morning we were called
to a meeting room and the news dawned. Cross training. To? JAVA! I told you the
year has been horrible to me. The only stream that I hated so much welcomed me.
Raja, who is a sheer Java genius, looked sad as well. The smile that Soujita
had because Java=Bangalore=Atreyo created two groups. It was April when
Subhayan and I collected our certificates and formally ‘Graduated’. The poor
tall man had to tolerate a lot of my drama and request to collect the
certificate for the other tall man. It was the month I saw the man I love after
long, all so thin, malnourished and changed. April was when the Java classes
began, April was when Raja and Guha dedicated their life to explain the codes
to me and I could not get a thing, until or course Diptarka and Isita came to
their rescue. April was also when I realized what gem of friends I made. April was
when we had the earthquakes and we were ready to die together, minus the poor
Chitiya Kalaiya Susmita who was still at Unitech while we were sharing Tiffin
and eating at Trijal because there was no food around. April was when the Java
trainer almost adopted me and I almost killed him with constant
haat dekhiye Sir mera! There was a CSR
event where the KDC team met. There was Basketball and color and fun, and an
exam in a week and also, I was the TL of the group and was shit scared. April
was also when the 19
th made
me howl.
May- We passed we passed and I love Guha for all of it. Got
back to Unitech and projects started coming. I got the project first,
Bangalore. SHIT I was still hopeful that others would get Bangalore too but
then, Barua had a prophecy that I’ll get Bangalore and someone I want to stay
in the same city with will get Pune. People started getting projects and mostly
they got Bangalore except for the friends who got Pune and Mumbai. May was also
when KDC Idol happened. While Aniket sang sang ‘aoge jab tum’ I was very close
to tears because Diptarka and Ankita probably got Mumbai and then he got Pune
and Raja and Isita got Pune and Susmita was at Bang8 which is almost Mysore and
all the project phone calls came during that one song. Susmita left first that month
next Guha. Diptarka, Isita and my last day was same. I remember Nandaja and
Raja seeing us off at the Rajarhat bus stop that Friday which was also Ankita’s
second day at Mumbai. Raja gave us chocolates, he looked extremely extremely
sad that day, also because his project dates were not confirmed and he was left
alone. That was also the last time I saw Nandaja, the amazing woman! May was
when I left for Bangalore. May was when I reached and hated Bangalore. May was
when Maa left for Kolkata. May was when I needed a phone call, THAT phone call
which never came. May broke me down completely.
June- Raja left for Pune. I ate a lot of cake on the 25th,
visited ISKCON and got some peace and lived by the mercy talks of a certain
someone all through June. Shifted to PG, cried my eyes out on the first night.
Slowly started accepting. Missed Maa and people immensely and finally learnt to
eat alone. Joined GYM and stopped going after a week. Started bonding very very
well with Amit and Abhimanyu surprisingly. Sejuti introduced me to the girls
and I got people to talk to after the day. I learnt to use washing machine! Had
my first ever washing powder, scrubber, shampoo, biscuit, vim shopping. Almost
made plans to resign every alternate day and Abhimanyu always calmed me down. June
was also when I started to feel scared because Amit speaks pure Bihari at times
and I started picking those words. I also started to understand little of
Marathi because of the dear roomies. Visited places alone, did things alone,
listened to songs alone and all the love around made me super jealous in June.
Got relocation money, variable pay and felt rich for 2 days before I booked one
million flight tickets! Barua’s prophecy almost was true but then, things
changed and I was a little happy.
July- 10th had me crying alone and drinking with
office people, the first ever professional party where no one cares what you
drink, how much you drink. In the evening when I was telling THE story to
Sejuti she said ‘tui ki ektu kadbi?’ and I got calls from Ankita and Isita and
Susmita and Barua. Guha constantly pinged if I was fine. Such great friends I
made! Well! July was also when I
travelled to Kochi and it was my first travelling alone, in all these years.
Met people, met aunty, and heard a forever known voice over the phone. Lovely
food and place and a bad news. I had a good time and there is a post on that
already. I started gaining weight. Again got back to GYM for a week and finally
left the idea completely. Started planning for Goa seriously and wondering if I
should cancel Maa’s tickets to Bangalore and visit Kolkata instead. Office kept
on frustrating me with its politics and dirty boot licking all around. Promotion
not before 2 years was/is the rumor and I hated everything.
August- August was when I travelled at 2 in the morning to
Shivanasamudram and I so loved the night ride. It was also when I went to
Mysore with the Infosys-Infosys-Infoys-Infosys chanting auto walas everywhere.
There was HUGE scene with sign forging and I finally went home for birthday.
Maa hugged me teary eyed at the airport and the 4days passed in a jiffy and I was
back to the land of show offs. The girls started to cook every weekend and I
started gaining more of weight. The consistent missing and love and losing
continued. So did the office woes.
September- September was when Goa happened and Mangalore
happened and I shall write separate posts on both. However, the Goa night scene
which I don’t remember and which I am ashamed to give details of, gave me the
best of people in my life. The less I say the better it shall be however, the
KDC friends, for you, a thousand million times over. Thank You! One million
photos are there to talk of the happy times and no photo of the actual times of
warmth. The Thank You mug that I sent to the guys was not even an inch of compensatory
gesture for what they did. Not that I want to pay off for the genuine
friendship. Wait for a separate Goa post! Mangalore was a tiny little fairyland
in the middle of nowhere and if my life continues like this I might shift to
Mangalore Infosys at 40 and live alone. Wait for a separate Mangalore post. September
was also when a new heartbreak happened by the same old person inadvertently.
September was also was when the same person gave me a little hope
inadvertently. In reverse order. September was when Chowdhury tolerated my
drunk calls, September was also when I loved so much. September was also when
there was little confusion in the group. September was also when I started
counting my days for Pujo.
October- The little of October that is gone has been spent
checking Fab India kurtas which would be of no use of course. Also, everyday is
a struggle because they might cancel the leave, like they did for Barua. I was
almost ready to resign today over Lync right after they almost cancelled
Abhimanyu’s leave. Such slavery man! However. One Year it is! Had this job not been there would have
been no male ego, no being not-good-enough thought and no main aur meri
tanhayee drama. Good thing or bad, Happy Anniversary. High Performance? Delivered?
Year 2 Begins!