Friday 12 December 2014

Swachh Banega India

These days everything begins at home. Earlier people used to say that charity begins at home, but these days is everything begins at home. Every human being learns from his/her elders. So if elders do charity, then a person will learn to do charity and if elders do bribing and cheating, then a person will learn that. Similarly sanitation and hygiene also begin at home. Sanitation and hygiene, according to me is a habit which one built over the years. I remember my father put the habit of washing hands before eating in me. My father used to scold me in the beginning if I don't wash my hands before eating the food. I was too small and at that time I didn't really understand why is he forcing me to do that. As I grew up, then I understood that my hands encounter a lot of dirt daily and if I eat with such dirty hands, I will fall ill or I will catch some infectious disease. I just realized the importance of sanitation and hygiene.

One more instance taught me the importance of hygiene in my life. Most unhygienic things to eat in this world is pani puri. Pani puri vendors put their hand in that flavored water and only they know from which and how many places that hand has come from which is going straight in that flavored water. Once a pani puri vendor in our area got cut on his hand while cutting onions and he was making pani puris with the same hand. He had tied a cloth on that cut as it was bleeding, but that piece of cloth got wet by going in flavored water again and again and it came off. So he was making those pani puris with that bleeding hand. That pani puri vendor was HIV positive and due to his blood went in that water two girls got infected with it as well. See how some unhygienic food was enough to take away the lives of two girls. This instance taught me the importance of sanitation and hygiene in my life more than anything else. Sanitation and hygiene keep me healthy and fit. It keeps me away from the infectious diseases which helps me to concentrate completely on my work and day to day activities.

I am lucky that I have got proper sanitation facilities, but there are a lot of people in India who do not get that. It has been over 6 decades since we have got independence, but even today, almost 597 million people are defecating in open due to the lack of sanitation facilities. There are lots of villages in India, which do not have even a single toilet. So people defecate in open without worrying about how unhygienic it is and it causes them some serious diseases. People can't afford to have toilets in their houses, but they should come together to have at least one common toilet in the village. It's not only defecating in open, but factories and people dispose waste water in open grounds where children play, which can also cause some serious health issues to them. People here are illiterate, they don't know what sort of diseases they will catch if they don't dispose wastage properly or if they defecate in open. People are not aware of the consequences of these things. It is very important to make people aware about the importance of sanitation and diseases caused by not taking care of it.

India is one of the youngest nations in the world. It has the potential of becoming youngest super power of the world with the amount of talent and skill our youth possess. Unfortunately, our youth is living in a unhygienic atmosphere at the moment which will decrease their efficiency, concentration, etc. In short our future is in a danger due to lack of sanitation facilities. NDTV and Dettol have started cleanathon to make India clean and hygienic. On 1st October swachh express took off with the objective of creating awareness about sanitation and hygiene through videos, flyers, posters, street plays and hand washing sessions. This swachh express bus will cover 400 villages across 8 states. It's a great initiative by NDTV and Dettol. Let's join hands with them and together take a step forward towards clean and hygienic India. I think we have talked enough about it, now it's time to act. So those who want to act and want to be part of this initiative log on to http://swachhindia.ndtv.com/

Saturday 6 December 2014

Pre-Marital Sex.

Pre-Marital Sex is a top trend in this nation at the moment. The reason I used the words this nation because it is a normal thing in a foreign land as their culture is like that only. Indian culture is very different from them. If premarital sex is normal there, then their men also have children from two to three wives which is not acceptable in our culture. Indian culture is very rich, but I don't know why Indian youth is behind adopting that foreign culture. If it goes on like this then our culture will get vanished within 20 years.

By this time you would have understood that I am against premarital sex. It is a big big no from my side to premarital sex. The reason is simple that ultimately you are cheating a person with whom you are getting married by doing premarital sex with someone else. Everyone has physical needs, but you should have control of it. Ultimately, that physical need will be satisfied once you get married. You just need to hold on till that time.
It is fine to have sex before marriage with the person you love, but what if something doesn't work out and you don't get married to that person. You will be cheating the next person coming into your life by hiding it out or by telling a lie. What if that person comes to know about it from an outsider that you had sex with someone else before marriage. He/she will feel cheated. Even if you tell the truth to next person in your life then to that person is going to feel cheated. No matter if he/she accepts you later on with it. So it is better to hold on till marriage, even if you love someone. If your love is true and not lustful then you guys can definitely hold on till marriage.

Premarital sex these days has become fun. Boys and girls think it's just part of fun, but it is totally wrong according to me on humanitarian grounds. Just imagine the person who really loves finds you doing sex with someone just for the sake of fun. You can have fun, but when did sex became the part of that fun. It could be fun in a foreign land, but not here. According to me it is an immoral act and stop doing it just because everybody is doing it and it is a cool thing to do. It is not a cool thing to do I you are doing it because everybody does it. Persons' feelings are attached to it and you are just playing with it.

I urge to boys that stop playing with girls' feelings by doing sex with them just for the sake of fun. Boys, understand a simple thing that you can get away easily with this thing, but a girl's life is destroyed just for the reason that you wanted to have fun. She can never tell this to anyone and if she says it or gets caught, then questions over her character are raised. So boys please stop using girls to satisfy your physical needs at least those girls who are serious about you and want to marry you. It is surprising that these days girls also do premarital sex just for fun. Girls are superior to boys in every aspect. Girls are emotionally stronger than boys, girls don't take that much time to move on, girls have fatal attraction which they can use it anytime to do anything. These things make premarital sex real fun for girls. Girls, you also stop playing with the feelings of those boys who are serious about you and want to marry you. They're very few boys remaining who stand by their words. So stop using them to satisfy your physical needs.

Above all premarital sex describes the character of the person. So there is no need to get too desperate to have sex before marriage. I am saying it again that if your love is true then you can definitely wait till the marriage to have sex. According to me premarital sex is an immoral act. Even the court of law in India has declared premarital sex 'immoral' and I stand by that.

Talking about true love, read a great mystical love story by Poonaam Uppal. Buy it on flipkart Poonaam Uppal's True Love - A Mystical True Love Story on Flipkart.

Saturday 29 November 2014

Let's Clean India

On 2nd October 2014 Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched by the government of India. It was started by our honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi at Rajghat, New Delhi. Our Prime Minister himself cleaned a road at Rajghat to start this mission. This mission is covering as many as 4041 towns to clean roads and infrastructure of the country. This mission has been undertaken with the objective of 'Clean India' by 2nd October 2019 as it is Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birthday. Our Prime Minister wants to gift 'Clean India' to Mahatma Gandhi on its 150th birthday. I think it's a great mission. We have been humiliated enough on the world level because of the dirt in our country. The best example of such humiliation is commonwealth games which were held in Delhi in 2010. Hence, I think it's time to clean our nation.

There are lots of places in India, which needs cleaning. I think the dirtiest place in any town is a railway station. People do everything on railway station. They eat, drink, sleep, urinate and take a bath at railway station. On one hand, we have the kind of people who find a dustbin at station to throw the wrapper, bottles etc. after eating and drinking. While on the other hand, we have another kind of people too who just throws wrappers and bottles on the way at the station and this kind of people are more in number compared to the earlier kind of people. Though the people have started finding a dustbin after this Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

I travel by train daily and I know the amount of filth people create at railway station. One morning a man was taking a bath and on a railway track. Railway cleaners saw him do that, but didn't say even a single word to him. He put his clothes on the pipeline and was quite enjoying his bath. A crow came, took his underwear and flew away. A crow did that work which even railway authorities were unable to do. Even a crow wants our country to be clean and supports Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Railway track is not a place to take a bath. Indian railway provides you a waiting room where you can take bath free of cost. It is better to take a bath there.

Some people are incorrigible and I feel really sad about it that people don't understand their responsibility towards our country. It's time to raise our voice against it and we have freedom to do that. If a crow can raise a voice in its own way, then why can't we? If you see any such instances on railway tracks or at the station, then inform about it to the authorities. If authority don't do anything then go to a higher authority. Do everything you can to make our country clean.

Raise your voice against it and you are not alone in it. Montu is with you guys. He was silent till now like you guys only but #AbMontuBolega. Speak up and be heard with Strepsils #AbMontuBolega and for that you can win vouchers as well. Just log on to http://www.abmontubolega.com/ and do it. You can do this on Facebook and Twitter as well. Strepsils have provided you a great platform to raise your voice. So don't be a silent spectator raise your voice for a cleaner India.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

#ToiletForBabli

In India nearly half of the children face a serious health threat. Have you ever wondered why? The biggest reason for that is open defecation. Due to the lack of sanitation facilities 597 million people of India are still defecating in open. Yes, I was surprised too by seeing this number. After all, we are living in the 21st century and this number is huge. Here children don't live in a hygienic atmosphere that's why they face a serious health threat.

India is one of the youngest countries in the world and nearly 35% of our population is below the age of fifteen years. These children are the future of  our country and unfortunately future is born and brought up in unhygienic atmosphere. It is a big worry for our nation. Lack of toilets and the lack of hygiene amenities are giving rise to ailments. It is also the reason for feeble health. If the future of our nation is not healthy, then how will our nation progress? A big worry! Not only kids people of every age group are affected by open defecation. Let's see how?

Kids- we discussed above how it is harmful to them.

Youth and mid age people- lack of toilets creates unhygienic atmosphere and that unhygienic atmosphere causes lots of diseases. These diseases reduce the efficiency of work and increase their expenses of medication. Which makes life really tough for the poor people.

Old age people- old age people already have lots of issues with their health and open defecation just adds to it by giving them more health issues. Unhygienic atmosphere may also cause them some serious and fatal health issues.

The most affected by open defecation are women of our country. Open defecation doesn't only cause health issues with them, but also bring their safety under scanner. It is sad, but true that we are living in a country where some men become animals and take women for granted. So it is not really safe for the women to defecate in open. How a woman who is not allowed to show her face in front of the elders can defecate in open. It raises the questions over the dignity of women in our country.

Imagine the condition of a small girl in our country. Every morning she has to go on the search of the place where she can defecate safely as we don't have enough toilets in our country. The trouble doesn't end here health, safety and dignity issues follows her while doing that.

There is one such story of a small girl named Babli who lives in a small village in India. Babli goes in search of the toilet everyday so that she doesn't defecate in open and can keep our country clean and healthy. We can't help Babli as we don't know where is the #ToiletForBabli?

Let's come together and contribute towards this issue of our country. You can bring about the change in the lives of millions of kids, thereby showing your support for the Domex Initiative. All you need to do is “click” on the “Contribute Tab” on www.domex.in  and Domex will contribute Rs.5 on your behalf to eradicate open defecation, thereby helping kids like Babli live a dignified life.

It is a great initiative by Domex. This is the least we can do to improve someone's living and it won't take much time. Just go to the website of Domex and contribute to this cause.

Thursday 13 November 2014

#MumbaiDiary

Day 2 (Day 1 of training)

I was up early the next morning and was ready for breakfast by 8:30 a.m. Training was about to start at 10 a.m.  I was witnessing new faces in restaurant in the morning. I was having my breakfast and an old aged short man came and asked 'You got your room? Everything is comfortable na?' I nodded to him before seeing the i-card of New India on his shirt. He was the most senior memeber of support staff of the company. He had a big smile on his face and he left after I nodded him to his few more questions. Soon I was joined by my room mates and the group of Gujarat. We finished our breakfast and headed towards the banquet hall of the hotel where training was held. Being a marketing guy I was analysing marketing strategy of the hotel and the ambience is most important part of marketing as far as hotel is concerned. So here is the review on the ambience of banquet of the hotel.

As soon as I entered into the banquet hall, I thought I have entered in 20th century from 21st century. Management of the hotel still used those bulbs with yellow light which were being used in banquets in 1980s and 1990s. The lighting made the banquet look dull. Apart from light the choice of texture on wall was also very depressing. Imagine how does a room looks with dark pink and brown texture under that bulb light. It was obvious that not even a birthday party was held in that banquet hall. Only meetings and training were held there. Meeting se yaad aaya that I saw Arvind Kejriwal in the same room last day. Being the permanent member of association of last benchers I chose to sit on the last table.

Training started at 10 a.m. exactly. We welcomed DGM and and HR head of the company. DGM told us about history of the company and then HR head asked for the introduction. I was introduced to fourteen new people academically. Only I was an MBA, 13 were engineers and one guy from surendranagar was B.Com. There were four air-conditioners in the hall and all four were on me. So by the time introduction was over I was frozen. Thank god! There was a break at 11:30 a.m. and as I got up to go out I was unable to walk properly. It was my left leg's muscle. It was because of that fall at station and cooling of AC made it an ailment.

After the break it was a session of interaction in the class. The activity was like that one topic was given to the group of four and we have to discuss it for 40 minutes. After every 40 mimnutes group and topic changed. It was a great idea. It helped us to get along with each other quickly. It was great to know all of the colleagues. Basically all the people were from either Maharashtra or Gujarat. Gujarat candidates were from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surendranagar, Mehsana and Sidhpur. While Maharashtra candidates were from Mumbai, Kohlapur, Nasik, Pune, Sangli, Aurangabad and Jalgaon. Rest of the whole day was about interacting with each other and it was a good session.

First day of training ended at 5 p.m. and we were thinking of going out. It had rained all day long but it stopped at 4:30. We planned to go out at 6 p.m. and headed towards our respective rooms. At 5:30 p.m. it started raining again and it didn't stopped then. We decided to stay in our rooms only. We were given the time table of training in the morning and I was going through it in the evening. It was full of all the types of general insurance. The word insurance itself is a bore imagine how boring will be its types? I am kind of guy who search for funny things in every situation. So I decided in my mind that I will try my best to make these sessions fun or these sessions will be soporific.

Insurances were about to begin from day 3 of training but next day was a session of motivation, team work and customer satisfaction. So I hoped that it is not going to be that boring.

Monday 10 November 2014

#MumbaiDiary

I got a job in New India Assurance and training was held in Mumbai. It was 17-day training from 1st september to 17th September and I had to report there on 31st August.

Day 1:

On 31st August I reached Borivali at 12:50 p.m. in Karnavati express. Company's hotel was in Andheri, so it was a mistake. I should have gone till Mumbai Central and should have come to Andheri in local but a person learns from his mistakes only. It was raining on that sunday morning and I was in the city of dreams. It was for the first time that I had to spend 17 days there. I was ready to explore the city which never sleeps.

Train dropped me at platform no. 4 and it was raining really hard. I had no protection and had two heavy bags which contained the resources for 17 days. So I just wanted to reach at hotel first before enjoying such a beautiful rain. I climbed up the wet stairs to get out of the station but while climbing down the stairs at 1st platform, I slipped and went down sliding last 10-12 steps. Couple of nails of my left foot was uprooted and I was in some serious pain. I came out of station and started finding the auto rikshaw. I was told not to give more than 150 bucks but auto driver straight away said 400. I started with 100 and noone really agreed to my price. I wasn't finding the auto rikshaw easily. After wandering for 20 minutes and seeing the rain finally I agreed to give 250 bucks to one of the auto drivers.

I thought rash auto rikshaw driving happens only in Ahmedabad but I never imagined in my dreams what's going to happen next. Auto rikshaw turned into a roller coaster and I had a 15 km roller coaster ride. That auto driver in Mumbai doesn't only broke the standards of Ahmedabad in rash driving but he took it to a next level. I finally reached the hotel safely.

I took my luggage to reception and told my name and the name of company. Receptionist checked the list of NIA and my name was not there. Could I ask for a better start? Fall-down, roller coaster ride and then missing name. What a start to the new journey! I showed the appointment letter at the reception then he alloted me the room. The room alloted to me was on 4th floor and it was shared by three. I kept my luggage in the room and was greeted by one Maharashtrian guy from Kohlapur.

On my way to Mumbai I was in touch with a guy from gujarat and he reached there before me. He was alloted the room on 5th floor. So after setting my bags in my room I went to meet him. Along with him two more people from Gujarat were there in the room. It felt like I was among my own people. We went for lunch and by then rain was stopped. It was very difficult to find good restaurant in Andheri on the first day. We settled with street food in the end. I came back and found out that third room partner was there by then. He was from Mumbai only. Lucky guy. It was time to clean that bloody shit from my fingers. I cleaned it up and rested for couple of hours.

In the evening one senior manager and HR head called all the candidates in the restaurant. It was a batch of 21+1(me) but only 13 were present there. I was bit surprised by that number. In that session everybody was introduced with place of placements and at the end of it timings of training were announced from monday. At that time my both roommates were exploring Andheri. They came back in the room after that session and we went for dinner. Then I went to bed after thinking how eventful day it was and was looking forward to training next day.

Monday 3 November 2014

Theory of Expectations

Expectation. The most hurtful thing in this world and I am trying to write a theory on it here. First, how expectations are born? As far as I think expectations are born in every relationship you make. If you are a businessman then your expectations would be regarding goods/services and payment from debtors and creditors etc. Similarly if you are working somewhere then your expectations will be from work, salary, fellow workers etc. As a human being you would expect from family and friends(including boyfriend and girlfriend) mostly. Apart from that every Indian expect that team India will win every single match.

According to me among all those expectations what hurts the most are the expectations from family and friends. Family and friends to which you are attached to always hurt more than any other relations. People have different types of friends like by the way friends, best friends etc etc. For me friend is a one with whom you can share everything freely and can rely on. So I will talk about those kind of friends only. Friends help whenever you are in need that's when the expectations rises from them. You will always feel that I have someone who will stand by me everytime but what if the same friend just kick your ass when you need him/her the most. Oooh! that creates pain in ass.

Suppose a friend of yours who has been with you all the time all becomes a diplomat all of the sudden and kills your expectations after taking it to the top just to be in the good books of someone. It will hurt no? I am sure many of you would have gone through such instances. Ok Let's take one more example suppose there is someone really special in your life and you give him/her the utmost importance. So that person who matters the most in your life suddenly starts avoiding you. He/she start hiding out the things, lies to you every now and then and ignores you completely. How will you feel then? You might not have expected this from that person but it is happening and you can do nothing about it. It hurts like hell. I consider if you can't live upto someone's expectations then don't give birth to them.

Now family, according to me, you are incomplete without your family. Family supports in the worst times of life when noone's around. Let's take an example to understand it. Suppose, you need family to settle down in life. Here too expectations arises when someone give birth to them and someone from your family assures you that they will help you to settle down in life. After assuring you they take six months of your life and then says now we cannot help you find someone else. Yes that feeling just kills you from inside. You will not get that time back, you will not get those opportunities back which you lost in that period and you will not get that effort back which you have put in during that period. Everything will be done and dusted by then and you have to begin all over again from zero. Again I would just say that if you can't live upto someone's expectations then don't give birth to them.

After having such experiences I have made very strong walls around me. I don't really allow everyone to enter into that walls. If I allow anyone to enter then that person is really very special for me. I hope none of them will ignore or cheat me ever. I want to reach the stage where I don't need anyone's support EMOTIONALLY or otherwise to move ahead in life. I am working towards it and hopefully I will attain it soon.

The theory of expectations according to me is that if you can't live by someone's expectations then please don't give birth to them as it always hurt a lot when you kill those expectations.

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Game of blogs: as it happened.

When I got mail from blogadda for the registration of game of blogs I was in train to Mumbai. I was about to begin my new job from next day so for that there was training conducted in Mumbai for 17 days. I read that mail and decided to register as soon as I reach the hotel as it was a great opportunity for me to get along with other bloggers and learn some or the other things from them. It was going to help my aspirations of writing a book which I was planning for quite some time.

I reached Mumbai and got busy in knowing new colleagues, roommates and training and forgot about the mail. Then twitter reminded me of that mail again after 4-5 days. I registered myself on blogadda next moment, but by then I was bit late for it. The next day I came to know that teams are prepared, the characters are announced around which story is to be made. So I thought I had lost this opportunity as well. Blogadda invited Meghna Pant on twitter to interact with its users. In that session I asked her a few questions and forgot about game of blogs.

Next evening there was mail from Anmol Rawat. It was a forward from blogadda that I am replacing one of the inactive team member in his team. I was really happy that finally I am a part of game of blogs. I still remember I mailed Anmol thrice until Prerna added me in the group that much excited I was. By the time I was introduced to the group everything was decided group name, which way the story will go etc. I just had to do my part. In the group everyone was an excellent writer and everybody was new to me as I am not an avid reader. It was a challenge for me as I write about my personal experiences I never made a story around five chracters. I always had a story and characters all I do is just change it a bit all the time. Moreover, I realized that I am not as poetic as they all are and my imagination also stops at a certain point. Ok, now let's see how the journey had gone round by round.

Round One:

By the time I joined the WhatsApp group round one was started. All the people Anmol, Preethi, Tina, Soumyaa, Ashutosh, Prerna & Ramanathan accepted me in the group graciously. I didn't know what they had planned, how the story will go and all. I tried to know that in the group. It was Soumyaa first who texted me next day actually she wanted a help as some chaos was created in the group and I was really sorry that I couldn't help her as I didn't really knew what they have planned.

Anmol sent the mail and explained me the way story was going to go and which part I had to write. I was really surprised by his imagination and his ability to play with characters. He gave an excellent start to the story. Now the challenge for me was to give words to his imagination. Apart from that to find a time to write as during training I was surrounded by so many people and I was finding my corner to sit and write. So I decided to write it at night when everybody(including my room mates) sleeps. Then I have to find a day in training when it doesn't matter if my mind is not active. So I chose a day of accounting which was strength. I stayed awake a night before and wrote my chapter of first round. I gave my chapter for editing at 6 a.m. so that our editors Tina and Preethi gets ample time to edit. Moreover I only had my mobile on which I had to do everything which was bit difficult so I gave Tina the admin rights of my blog to make necessary last minute changes and she still has those admin rights. this is how round one got finished.

Round two:

By the time round two began, I was back home with the letter to join immediately at Anand branch of the company. Anand is one hour away from Ahmedabad that means I had to do up down. So the first week goes into finding out trains and all. When I was busy in this Preethi was giving her day and night to the story. She did the research and gave the alien touch to the story. It was really tough round for me as daily commuting and getting use to the new things use to drain my whole energy everyday. I got my part to write on from Preethi and I decided to write it in train. You can't write in train until you have got the window seat and in the morning I got that and I began it well. I carried on with it in office as well but when I reached to the last part I didn't got the seat in train. Everytime I used to think of something I was being pushed by some or the other person in the opposite direction and my phone was about to die as well. So I finished it anyhow and handed over to Tina again. She certainly was my life guard in this journey. Preethi was the one who took the story forward in an superb manner and as a result we got second rank in the second round.

Round three:

It was the best round, it started when I had five days off in a week. I was ready to give my everything to the content which I had got from Preethi and I tried my best to reach the standards which Preethi wanted me to get to. I gave it one whole night but it did not impressed Preethi much so I gave it another five to six hours to it and then submitted it our super editor Preethi then she made the changes and gave back to me in some other format altogether. Preethi's research on aliens was superb and while writing my chapter of last round I actually started believing in it as a reader. I think that's the power of our story.
I feel I have contributed the least in this team effort and I was the most silent member in the group as well. I actually started talking about other things in the group after the completion of all three rounds. Now I want to put some light on everyone's contribution in this.

Anmol- the person who makes his living from writing and an aspiring author has given his nights on this story. Writing, editing, submitting extra chapters, bringing everyone together and leading from the from the front he has done everything. Dude, the leader is one who directs the team performance in one direction and you did that well. So don't run away from that.

Ashutosh- a student and a mad cricket fan like me. He contributed in the best possible manner he could have. His chapters were awesome. Ashu, thanks man for that Samar wala tweet and I hope you will change the password of your account soon.

Preethi- an author, that itself is an achievement. While I have only given my couple of nights on the story she has given her every night to it since it has started. She forgot her bad health, she even worked on her anniverssary. Preethi, you are the strongest pillar of our team and you truly deserve to win this.

Prerna- a co-owner of the PR company(if I am not wrong) and huge fan of Deepika Padukone. She is the admin of our group and her contribution is also commendable. She is going to call Deepika on our book launch. Prerna, I know I have talked a lot against Deepika in the group but I know what it takes to reach at that place where she is now so don't take it seriously.

Soumyaa- a student who changes her DP every half an hour. She has worked on the story after coming from Garba in Navratri. It shows this girl's commitment and dedication towards the task. Soumyaa, I know how tiring it is to work after dancing so slow for hours. Good job.

Tina- a marketing officer in Brittania and a huge Hrithik fan. While I have made all the excuses above about my work and all she is the one who mixed her work well with this task. She worked on it while travelling, in the office, while driving etc. Her commitment is also commendable. If I get drained as a person after working then she too but she kept it aside for the story. Tina, I know how tiring it is when you do both things together so great job done and thanks for being my life guard.

Ramnathan- Ram sir has been more silent than me in the group but I know he did his job well. So I won't be able to say much about him. Ram sir, sorry for that.

In the end, I just want to thank blogadda for giving me such wonderful friends from whom I have learnt a lot. I hope to adopt some qualities from them and apply it in my life and my writing aspirations.

Sunday 5 October 2014

BlogAdda Game of Blogs: Team ByLines - Chapter 22




Read the previous chapter here 

Chapter 22

The song of the plants had changed into the sound of chirping birds - their morning raga. Cyrus was lost in thoughts. The information that Haides had conveyed was disturbing his otherwise calm mind.

Cyrus watched Aryan who was sleeping on the chair next to him. Midway through his talk with Haides, he had send subtle thought suggestions that had sent Aryan to sleep. The pupils that were moving left and right under his closed eyelids told Cyrus that he was dreaming.

Cyrus smiled when he understood that he was starring in a rescue drama that was running in Aryan’s mind’s eye. He wished it was as easy as that- A small confrontation that would send the gray aliens running for cover. It was time Aryan got out of his dreams and helped him equip human race to face the catastrophe that would catch them unawares.

“Aryan, Aryan, Get up. It is ten in the morning,” Cyrus called, and Aryan slowly opened his eyes. He took a moment to adjust to the strange surrounding. The visuals from his dream had disoriented his perception of reality. But the presence of Cyrus jolted his memory immediately.

"Are the gray aliens going to arrive in seven days?" asked Aryan, remembering the conversation he had heard before he had fallen asleep.

"Yes," replied Cyrus, as though that was a simple declaration.

How did it get so late, so soon?” murmured Aryan, willing himself to think and be brave. But the thought that he had just a week left to live, left him shattered. But not only him, the whole of human race would face its end.

"We didn’t anticipate this. As winter arrives in the southern hemisphere in June every year, a vortex of winds develops around the pole and isolates the polar stratosphere. When temperatures drop below -78°C thin clouds form of ice, nitric acid, and sulphuric acid mixtures. Chemical reactions in the clouds release active forms of CFCs depleting Ozone, and almost immediately the ozone “hole” appears over Antartica.

Over the course of two to three months till September, approximately 50% of the total column amount of ozone in the atmosphere disappears. This year the losses have approached 90%. Antarctic ozone hole has become the largest ever till date. The gray aliens are planning to utilize this opportunity to maximum," Cyrus said, conveying the core of what Haides had disclosed.

“Isn’t there a way to stop them? And why are the people of the world not yet aware of it? Our space agencies have powerful telescopes that watch out for threats like asteroids that might arrive even years later. Why then are they not preparing people for this catastrophe?” asked Aryan, voicing the many questions that were popping into his mind.

“The type of space travel that the gray aliens adopt is far different from what humans know and perceive. They simply stop existing at one location and begin existing at another location. It is like; one moment they are there in their planet and next moment appear just near earth. How can any telescope detect that?” asked Cyrus.

“But how can that happen? In all the years that I have studied astro-physics and done my research on aliens, I have never come across any such knowledge. Can you explain how they do that?” asked Aryan, eager for any new piece of knowledge.

“Do you really need to know now? We have far more important things to discuss Aryan,” said Cyrus, waving off the question.

“Please, do explain Cyrus. Otherwise, I will continue racking my brain trying to figure it out,” pleaded Aryan.

“Ok, I will try to make it simple. Man thinks of objects as existing at a location. The gray aliens think of location as one of the properties of an object. If you look at an object as if it has a frequency-equation as its signature, it has a component that represents the location of the object. What they do is that they change the location component of the equation of the object from ‘location A’ to ‘location B’. Within a moment the spaceship stop existing at point A and start existing at point B,” explained Cyrus.

Aryan blinked trying to digest the seemingly simple explanation that Cyrus gave. It was still Greek and Latin to Aryan. But how could one change the location component of something as vast as a spaceship? And what was the technology that they would use to accomplish that? Questions after question kept surfacing in Aryan’s mind. Cyrus shook his head reading Aryan’s many thoughts.

"Aryan, time is precious now. Every passing second is important. I promise, I will answer every single one of your question once this danger passes. Yes, undoubtedly we will find a way out of this danger. But for that I need help from every single source that I can think of. More than anything, we need to make Tara realize that she is Clariota. She is someone who is capable of facing any number of gray aliens single handedly," Cyrus said. From the way Cyrus spoke confidently about Clariota, Aryan gleaned that hope was still shining bright.

“I am ready to do anything that will help Tara; I mean Clariota, realize her powers. Tell me Cyrus, What I should do?” asked Aryan.

“I have made the visuals from Tara’s past from my memory into a video CD, something you can play in their house. It has hidden messages embedded in it that will cause Tara to remember that she is Clariota. All you have to do is to convince Shekhar, Jennifer and Tara to view it. If she views even half of the recording, she will become ready to be awakened again. I can then go ahead with her awakening. The shield that she has built to block the telepathic communications with us will wither down due to the subtle codes embedded in the video recording,” said Cyrus, and handed over to Aryan a VCD that looked like any other normal CD.

“What if this fails?” asked Aryan.

“You won’t fail. They will be ready to believe you,” assured Cyrus.

Aryan got up, ready to leave. Just then, a panel on the wall slid open revealing an arched opening. Cyrus smiled as though he had seen someone whom he was eager to meet and murmured, “We are saved.”

Aryan stared at the opening waiting for someone to emerge.

Cyrus rushed towards the arch and exclaimed.

“Welcome back Great Master. I am so relieved.”

Aryan blinked and then shook his head as though to clear his head.  Cyrus was talking to thin air.

Read the next Chapter here
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 “Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”

Friday 26 September 2014

Blog Adda Game of Blogs - Team By Lines Chapter 15






Read the earlier chapter here.

CHAPTER XV

“This guy is your neighbor and you are telling me now?”shouted Jennifer.

“How could I know he is the same Aryan Ahuja commenting on Cyrus’s blog!”

“What does he do, how does he know so much about the aliens?”

“I have no idea... he had moved in two months back” said Shekhar nodding his head.

Shekhar remembered the day when this new neighbor had moved in the next house. The movers and packers men had trouble moving his packages about which he was very particular. He had come down to their house that very evening to introduce himself. Shekhar couldn’t recollect what he said he did for his living. He had moved in alone without a family. Shekhar had often noticed Aryan going up to his terrace to fix his DTH satellite dish in the evenings. 

Was it DTH satellite dish or something else? 

“Should we find out about him in the morning?” asked Jennifer.

"Shekhar, what is it about Aryan and Cyrus? " Tara came down then after bath.

 "Nothing Jennifer wants to meet him for her project." Shekhar said, trying to make it sound unimportant.

"Don't fool me . I heard your conversation. So tell me everything," Tara said, sounding edgy with frustration. Tara pressed her temples, trying hard to ignore the headache which was plaguing her. Her world had changed after Cyrus had started his weird act. What was it that he wanted? 

And what was these two trying to hide from her?

Shekhar who couldn’t tolerate even a single line of worry on Tara’s face made her sit near him and gathered her in a hug . Then he started to answer all her queries patiently.

Leaving them to talk things out, Jennifer came back to the guest bedroom on the second floor. 

She could see Aryan’s house nestled between the thin strips of garden. 

“That is a well-maintained garden for a bachelor,” she thought aloud.

She brought her tripod and placed it near the balcony. Jennifer fixed her Nikkon D800 with the long focus lens and placed it on the tripod. This should work for now, she thought, connecting the wires to her laptop.

***

The iPhone rang loudly... by the second ring jenny’s fingers reached the snooze button automatically. A minute later she opened her eyes and looked at her phone.

“eeks..” Jennifer sprang up and sprinted towards the small table at the corner of the room.


----------------------------
Update: read the next chapter here.

“Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Blog Adda Game of Blogs: Team By Lines: Chapter 6


Read the Previous Chapter V here.

CHAPTER VI

“Roohi…Roohi,” her class teacher called, while she approached Roohi in her typical strut.

Roohi didn’t hear her voice. She was floating in seventh heaven. It was the first time she had topped her class. Her teacher patted on her shoulders bringing her out of her reverie.

“Congratulations for making it to the top this time, Roohi. I knew you were always smart. But to beat the topper by ten marks is remarkable.”

Roohi was all smiles as she said “Thank You Ma’am”.

“Keep it up Roohi” said the teacher patting Roohi’s cheeks.

The class bell rang. All her classmates shouted, cheered and dragged her towards the school canteen. They were demanding a treat. And she was only too happy to spend her pocket money.While she was rejoicing, a lone girl stood near the entrance to the canteen- the ex-topper. Roohi could feel the envy in her eyes. Roohi’s pulse was racing and she could feel the hate waves emerging from the bespectacled girl. Roohi could almost read her mind. The girl must be thinking of strangling her for usurping her coveted position as class topper.

She ignored her and turned to watch the smiling faces of her friends. Roohi felt like she had been crowned as the winner of a beauty pageant. It felt nice to be on top.

Mumma will be happy with the report card. And Pa and Cyrus would surely give more chocolates..

Roohi smirked and made a mental note to talk to Cyrus that night about all that happened in school. She already liked him, he was like a brother she never had. She couldn’t wait to head home.

***

"Mumma, is dinner ready?" asked Roohi in a cheerful voice. She was bubbling with happiness.

"Yes sweetheart, get to the table & call Cyrus Uncle and Dad as well,” replied Tara. When they sat at the dining table, Roohi had brought her test papers along with her, in hope of earning some extra chocolates.

"Well done Little Einstein! Your performance in the Math test today was splendid. So, you will get two chocolates before the meal & two after it," Cyrus said, and gave two chocolates to her.

Tara sniggered while watching Roohi munching the chocolates happily. Shekhar was engrossed in his own thoughts not being cognizant of what was happening around.

"I have found a room nearby my office at Churchgate, so I will be moving there tomorrow” announced Cyrus, while dipping the soft chappatis into the dal.

"Why? Why are you shifting? Are you facing any problem living here?" Tara enquired.

"No, no there’s no problem living here. But as I said, I wanted a place to stay until I found a room of my own," Cyrus said.

"If you don't have any problem then why do you want to shift? You could live here till your internship gets over. It is a matter of just two weeks. Right, Shekhar?" Tara turned towards Shekhar for approval.

Such hospitality from Tara amused Cyrus. He knew that they wouldn’t allow him to leave. He was merely being formal.

Shekhar heard Tara’s question. He was busy analyzing those moments from last night to ascertain how his manuscript had turned into ashes. Lost in thoughts, he was pushing around the food on his plate and had not eaten anything.

Cyrus looked at him when he didn’t respond to Tara. Perceiving that he was expected to answer, Shekhar stammered "Oh y-y-yes,” without any idea as to what he had agreed.

Sensing that something was wrong, Tara stood up from her chair and went closer to Shekhar. "Are you fine, sweetheart?" Tara placed a kiss on his forehead. Sweat glittered on Shekhar's forehead even though the AC was in full blast. It worried her.

"What's happening Shekhar, are you alright? Do you have a fever?" Tara enquired while touching his forehead. His temperature was normal. What was wrong with him? She wondered. Shekhar moved Tara’s hand away.


"Don't worry, I am ok." Tara was puzzled by Shekhar's behavior, but gave him a hug.

"Darling, you are working too hard. Just give it a rest", said Tara massaging his shoulder.


Roohi had finished her dinner and was now enjoying her chocolates. Cyrus couldn’t take his eyes off the pair. He tried to interpret what was going on. His face remained stern but he kept gazing at Tara without blinking.

Update: Read the following CHAPTER VIII HERE 


“Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”

Thursday 3 July 2014

CarTrade.com: A Sudden End to Journey

In April a new clause was added in cartrade-Honda tie up that forfeited amount will go to Honda auto terrace. Due to this auto terrace managers started putting fake entries, false information, etc. to obtain the amount of the forfeiture. On the other hand, they were selling the cars through internal setting to show the sales to Honda management. Hence all the genuine dealers lost faith in the auction & our team was trying it on small garages who cannot afford to lose any sort of money.

All of my customers were either forfeited or were not getting the cars. It had become the job of creating enemies by taking the money rather than creating a healthy business relationship. It was the time, even I lost the faith in the auction. I wasn't pushing the clients to buy it, I was appealing to simply those who were interested. In April I brought only one cheque & that too dealer told me not to deposit it until there is a call from his side. I even exhibited the negative side of the auction to one of the dealers who was approached by the team as I was supposed to face everything here not they. My management was on the safe side as they were sitting in Mumbai not here in Ahmedabad. I would have been in a big big trouble if I had continued to make fake promises to dealers.

My plan was to do the job for four to five years, then I was exiting to start my own business to fulfil my dreams. I might sound bit arrogant here, but I don't think I can achieve my dreams with an yearly growth of 10-15%. Paa knew everything what I was going through so on the first sunday of May Paa & I discussed everything & on monday morning I mailed my resignation. It was quite a sudden end of the journey, but on that sunday paa told me one thing 'Let's give it a shot to your dream' & that was it for me. Then I was relieved by the company by 20th of may. I will never forget cartrade for two reasons, one they give me the freedom to play in my own way & other they showed lot of faith in me & I am grateful to cartrade management for that.

I am also grateful to the whole team of cartrade sales department in Ahmedabad specially Hiren sir, for standing by me throughout & Mukesh Bhai & Nilesh Bhai for being there to help me whenever I needed them. Piyush Bhai, Himanshu, Prashant, Kuldeep & Bhavesh Bhai also helped me in the beginning, so thanks to you guys as well. Now it's time for my own venture & I have been training for that since 20th May.

I am going to give birth to a clothing brand this year. It is not the right time to enroll into the market. The market is all time low at the moment, rotation of money has stopped due to various factors & there are no signs of boom either. The odds have always been against me, but this time I am firm on my decision & not much worried about the odds. I know I have to be extra careful at every step & I think I am prepared for that. A lot is at stake in this venture its not only my dreams, but it is going to involve my whole family. It is almost like everything or nothing so it is going to be a really hard time for me. If I failed at it, I will back to that 10% growth. But over the years cricket has taught me that 'you will be remembered for the performance you have given in crucial time.' So I am prepared for that crucial time. Hence fingers crossed & let's see how I perform in the crucial time.

The End.

CarTrade.com: Golden Period

On 30th of december I convinced that customer to register & he gave me the cheque on 31st december. What a way to end the year. I got the cheque at 5:30 so the banks were closed by therefore I submitted it on 2nd January & my score was 1. In those 4 months after the end of every month, I used to think I will be sacked this month but company kept faith in me & I am always going to be thankful to company for that. I don't think any finance company would have waited that long for me. I would have been sacked by the end of second month there.

I begun the january on high by depositing the cheque on the second day of new year. I didn't knew there is a twist in the story. On 5th of january I received a call from that dealer that 'cheque I had given you has bounced due to insufficient balance come tomorrow and take away the cash.' I went to take the cash the other day but he said he don't have cash now come tomorrow & it went on for next 15 days. I knew he is not going to give me cash by then. My score was 0 again & again I had a feeling that I will be sacked by the end of month but I was firm that I will make another sale this month. In between I blocked that dealer's account & started hunting behind another one who was interested.

Again company had some different plans for me on 23rd of january they ordered me to go to Valsad & Navsari for three days for the auction which had no future. So there was no meaning in staying there for three days. I came back next day & got the cheque from the dealer whom I was hunting for. If I hadn't gone to Valsad & Navsari I would have got the cheque that day only. This time I made sure that cheque has cleared & not bounced. Finally my score was 1 & ended the january with a sale. It was that time my hard work was paying off.

On 2nd february I collected 2 cheques in one day. One came because of my effort & other came because of Hiren sir. Thank you sir for that. I collected revenue of over 42000 in one day. It was a some kind of record, I felt of smacking those cheques on the face of that RM but I believe that actions speaks larger than the words & 42000 in one day spoke everything on behalf of me. It was a month of celebration my career touching new high, cousin's wedding, goa tour everything happened in that smallest month of the year.

Among those sales the one I made in january, I lied to that dealer that you will get the cars easily which was not true at all about Honda auction. I did it because I was in desperation to get off the mark but from second sale onwards I was very more specific & 80% truthful about the terms & conditions of the auction. I carried on well in March as well I sold couple of registrations in that month as well. So it was good going but I tried to sell banks auction registration more than the Honda Consumer Auction.

The tie up of our company with Honda stopped the incentives of Honda auto terrace managers which they used to get by selling used cars. So obviously they were not going support rather they were trying everything to make this auction a big failure. They were not allowing the cars to dealers rather they were selling them via internal setting. I had fight with those managers of Honda auto terrace as they were not giving cars to my dealers rather they were forfeiting the money of them. Some of the dealers had won over 100 cars in the bid but they didn't get even a single car. It spreaded in the market like a viral so other dealers have no trust over me.

To be continued...

CarTrade.com: Honda Consumer Auction

After the two months the score was zero. All I had found was the reasons of not registering, I was not being able to convince any of the dealers to register. Product also wasn't beneficial for dealers so that they buy or register. So the company launched a new auction which was Honda Consumer Auction in third week of october. In that auction consumers (dealers) can buy that cars which comes in exchange of new cars from new car dealers. It was already going on informally used car dealers were already buying the exchanged cars from new car dealers.

I found this auction OK & finally something good for me. I took a sigh of relief & I thought I can open my account with it but in that too I wasn't shown the whole picture. In marketing it is the rule that you have to show only the benefits of the product to sell it but I feel you should also know the side effects of the product so you can cover them up nicely. In my case clients used to show me the side effects of my product. So I use to silently listen them & use to agree with them. If I knew those things earlier then I would have prepared counter of that to cover it up but my company has some other plans with me. Every day I used to come up with a new side effect from a dealer & it went till the end of October.

This auction also brought 'Ek Villain' of my journey & that was Relationship Manager of my region. Every story have atleast one villain & the villain of my story has arrived with this Honda Consumer Auction. I have to report him daily & he was totally a nut. In the begining he gave me the format in which I have to prepare my daily report & when I started reporting he said your format of report is not proper. I didn't 'invented' that format, you gave me that format. In first week he started getting on my nerves & I was in constant touch with Hiren sir & I use to tell him everything about that nut.

A seminar was arranged for the dealers in the end of october to present that new Honda Auction. So couple of days before the seminar that nut told me invite the dealers by personally visiting them but 2 hours later he told me to stop visiting & start calling. So I did that but to prove that he was really a nut after one & half hour again he called me & said stop calling & start visiting. He touched the height of my patience that day, it was really frustrating day for me. Moreover it was the time of diwali the boom period in every market & industry & most awaited period for every one to earn some money. So the dealers were not really interested in attending it. I feel it was the worst time for any kind of seminar but it happened. AVP of our comany & head of Honda came to give that presentation & very few dealers attended that seminar. It turned out to be a good seminar for me atleast as Hiren sir there said everything to AVP about the behaviour of RM with me. It was an eventful end to an october.

November passed pretty quickly. First ten days passed into the holidays of diwali & remaining twenty days passed in getting the mood of business after that long break. It felt like straight away december has arrived after october. The score was still zero after three months. So that nut RM was behind me like anything. He used to get my on nerves every now and then but the water went over my head when on one december morning he abused me. On that day the way he talked with me like he has bought me against that salary they are paying to me. I was literally thinking of changing the job as soon as possible but thanks to Hiren sir again who took that matter to HR department & HR head shown him his limits. I feel god was watching that I was making some serious efforts & he helped me there through Hiren sir. Finally in the other half of december I found the market where dealers were purchasing banks repossessed cars & in that market some of the dealers were already our customers. So that was the actual target market for me. I visited those old customers, took refrences from them & visited new dealers in that area & finally I found a customer who was interested in registering on our website for the bank auctions.

To be continued...

Monday 23 June 2014

CarTrade.com: Struggle

After that long training I came out of Tata Motor Finance office & called AVP for some leads but he said that 'you have to do cold calling. Moreover you will get some help from Hiren Shroff.' Hiren Shroff - senior sales manager of Gujarat who took my interview. I called Hiren sir but he said that 'I am in a meeting & I will call you in a while.' I did cold calling earlier during my internship but at that time I had an open market & here it was limited upto car dealers only. So to find those leads I used google as it always help. I found the list of dealers on just dial.

So I started visiting the dealers as per just dial & after visiting couple of dealers I reached narayanpura, hub of used car dealers in Ahmedabad. I started making calls there & four dealers one after another said that they are registered on cartrade. I knew there is different department of sales but I didn't knew that registration of both sales & auction is different as I was given very long training of 10 minutes. So I might not have remmebered it. While doing 5th call I finally met Hiren sir at that dealer's place. Hiren sir is a sindhi so he tried to bring me in my comfort zone by using it. He talked to AVP about my calling & asked what were his plans about me. It was sweet of him that he did his best to bring me in my comfort zone from day one. So this was the first day of my cold calling.

Then next whole month went just in making the script to use while approaching the dealers. I accept that I was very slow in that case. In that month I got to know that auction's registration is done seperately & it has nothing to do with registration of sales. In between I got my first salary. First salary is special for everyone it was special for me too. I can't express in words that happiness of first salary. As they say its pretty hard to earn first penny & last penny of life & after working for two and a half months I got my first salary so the happiness was on the next level altogether. It was the best part of the company that they pay to their employees on time.

It was time to know flaws in the product. In the next month as I started approaching the dealers, I came to know that from these kind of auctions dealers doesn't get any help from the banks. Moreover dealers don't even get the complete papers of most of the vehicles they buy in the auction. Ofcourse it wasn't discussed in that long training. In short there was not much benefit for the dealer in registering for the auction. So it wasn't a cakewalk as it was described by AVP. I discussed whole thing with Hiren sir as I wasn't being able to sale even a single registration.

He then adviced me to approach kavadiwalas as they will be interested in buying salvage vehicles from our auction. So I started visiting kabadi markets of Ahmedabad but there was a big hurdle in the sale of registration & that was their backwardness in the field of technology. They believe that internet is chaos as they don't understand most of it. Finally couple of kabadi walas shown some interest in registering but they kept me running around them. They had no intent to register but they used to call me thrice a week & used to give me another date. Tareekh pe tareekh was not going to go for much time. It was a learning curve that my first two prospects did this to me. Then it was the end of second month & sales was zero in this month too. All of the sudden management started new kind of auction in the third week of october which will be discussed in the next part.

To be continued...

Wednesday 11 June 2014

CarTrade.com: Beginning of a new Journey

On 16th August 2013, day after independence day I joined CarTrade.com. Finally I had a job. As what I had earlier was a mere fraud. I worked in a fraudulent outsourcing firm in which they fetch money from clients to give them business in return but they give nothing in return. I think that was the worst nightmare I would ever had. On one side it was toughest phase of my career but on the other side it was a good thing to happen at the start of my career. It eventually taught me that this world is not good with good people. Moreover it gave me a push to choose the next company wisely. My life was hell, societal pressure was piling up as people were thinking that I am retrenched from this job.

In between of all this I gave the interview for CarTrade.com twice. I wanted to be a part of Automobile sector as cars always brought a sense of excitement in me & I love cars. I was selected for the sale of used cars but was posted in auction department. CarTrade.com is website of MXC solutions pvt. ltd. Where mainly the sell of used cars is done. CarTrade.com works as an agent between the used car dealers & customers. It takes commission from the dealers if their vehicle is sold through them. Similarly in the auction of banks re-possesed cars, if the car is sold through cartrade then cartrade will get the commission from the bank or financing company. Now being part of auction department I had to sell the online registrations for the auction.

This job gave a big Babaji Ka Thullu to all the people who thought I am retrenched from the job & I am going to get another one. Before pointing a finger or laughing on anyone's failure or rather an unsuccessful attempt just try to understand what he/she has gone through. Now back to the first day of the job. My first day of the job accidentally became first day at job. On 16th August 2013, I called HR head to know the dates from when I am joning & my reporting place. She said that I have to contact Assistant Vice President for that as I interviewed by him. So I called him around 10 a.m & he told me that live TATA Motor Finance auction is about to begin at hotel silver cloud & I have to be there. So in this way it became my joining day.

I reached at hotel by 11 a.m & auction was not started by then. As the auction was not started AVP sir explained me that we organise the open auction for Tata Motor Finance every month. He introduced me to the Tata guy & told that he will train you & guide you about how to approach the customers, the benefits the customers get from us & where to go in rural gujarat as per the auction. I still was ambigous about it so I asked a brief introduction until the auction get started. The way sir explained me it looked like a cake walk & suddenly my chest became broader with confidence. One of the most important thing I came to know in that briefing is that CarTrade doesn't have office in Ahmedabad. Finally auction began at 12:45 & it was first auction I was witnessing live. Before that I had only seen IPL auction & ofcourse I was comparing both the auctions for the time being. Auction went on till 7:30 p.m & AVP has to catch 8 p.m flight. So he was in lot of rush & in that rush I asked him about what I have to do next day & he said 'call that Tata guy' while signing off. So this was my first day at office not knowing what I have to do next day but I was happy that finally I have a job.

Next day I called that TMF guy & he said that he is going at yard auction today & I was instructed by AVP to go with him. I went him & yard was out of Ahmedabad in some village which was surrounded by various industries. It was totally different auction from what I witnessed on the first day. So from first two days I made a perception that I have to visit rural gujarat only when auction is organised there. Next day I met that Tata guy at his office to get some training & I thought it will be a proper training a person will be standing by the board & will make some drawings to make me understand the structure, target customer, approach to those customers, benefits of them etc.

On the contrary that Tata guy just showed me one piece of paper, it was a letter pad of Tata Motor Finance & on that No Objection Cerificate was written & he said 'this is the biggest benefit we give to the customer'. That's it! My training was over. I asked him about how online auctions happen but he doesn't had even an access to those. In total I was trained for ten long minutes. After that training I knew that I am not going to get any help from this guy, I am on my own. Can I ask for a better start to my career.

To be continued...

Sunday 27 April 2014

Anything for cricket

For a cricket maniac like me cricket is above everything & IPL is a carnival of cricket where cricket is celebrated to its fullest by the players of all the nations with unity & equality. IPL gives very heavy dose excitement to me as I love to see my favourite players from different nations playing together. So I remain quite excited for every season of IPL. Moreover I have done some crazy things to watch every single moment of IPL.

It is an incident of this year only. Till last year I was pursuing my MBA so I used to be at home to watch each & every ball of IPL but this year it was different I was at work but the excitement was same as it used to be in earlier years. On 16th april 2014, I was at work & IPL 7 was about to begin. At 6 pm pre-match show begun & for the first time I was missing the opening ceremony of Pepsi IPL in 7 years. I never missed opening ceremony of IPL in last 6 years no matter if I had exams or any other important work I watched every bit of it.

Here I was doing my work & there was no tv around to watch it. So I missed the opening ceremony. I finished my work by 7:30 pm & I was dying to watch Pepsi IPL but my timings of factory were till 8:30. I decided to watch it on starsports.com using its 'deferred live' feature where I could see the live match with 5 minutes delay only but my phone's battery was about to die & unfortunately I forgot charger at home that day. My phone's battery died at 7:50 & match was about to begin in just ten minutes.

I was only left with one option that to go home & watch the match but I was alone at factory here as chachu was out with some work. I was waiting for chachu to come so I can leave for home. My wait was of 15 minutes & those 15 minutes passed like 15 years. Chachu came at 8:05 & the moment he entered I was ready to go home. I took the permission from him & left for home. It normally takes half an hour to reach home from factory but on that day my excitement was at such a high level that I wasn't been able to drive at normal speed. I touched the speed of 110 km/h on my bike where normally I never go beyond 60 km/h. I took crazy ride that day to reach home just to watch Pepsi IPL. By god's grace I reached home safely that day & watched whole match calmly after that. Thank god I had 'Deferred Live' feature on starsports.com & the charger to watch the Pepsi IPL from next day.

This post is a part of  <a href="http://starsports.blogadda.com" target="_blank">Cricket just got better! Activity</a> by <a href="http://www.starsports.com" target="_blank&quot;">starsports.com</a> in association with <a href="http://www.blogadda.com/" target="_blank">BlogAdda.com</a>.