I
was happy in India Cements; humour and banter flowed thanks to excellent
colleagues. But that system never gave me a chance. Placed at the bottom of the
hierarchy, a bulldozer for a reporting manager, three persons to a job, and my
impertinent tongue drove me to a situation where I felt walking out was
honourable. Being the least ambitious person, I was content with India Cements
chiefly for three reasons: proximity to residence, Saravana Bhavan lunch, and
job security of a large group. But a cartoon of a manager ensured it was just the writing material for office humour pieces (Damien Bosses).
Six
months of lying idle and the spirit broke. Not even being signed by a
prestigious client in Bangalore in November got the blood circulation flowing.
My mind was clear on this aspect: money though important would not be the
main diet or oxygen. I needed human company in the day. For how long would my existence
linger on friends at the Eliots or Theosophical or interaction with the cook?
Being in a house for a long period of time reduces your own self-esteem to a
pauper and derelict.
I
knew this Abu Dhabi job was in the air, I took an assignment in Kaar
Technologies as a content writer on a ONE month basis. The job came with
inherent incompatibles – working on a software subject and being at the other
end of town. But somehow I psyched myself for my need for human company was
greater and besides I needed a rehearsal for the gulf job. For the first time in 8 years I slipped into a mild depression. Thanks to sister’s support and Manisha I am
on the recovery path.
I
left Chennai for Abu Dhabi in the first week of January with my heart in the
mouth and primal fear churning the stomach. A new place, new colleagues (I must
thank Haider Sheikh in particular) and anti-depressants have got some of the
colour back on the cheeks. It is winter here and the scale goes as low as 10
degrees in the mornings. I am gaining in mental strength and I hope this new
place and new people add something that Chennai crossed out. Quietly optimistic
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