2 days still to go - but since the day falls on a Sunday this year, hence my office decided to commemorate my (and 3 others') 5 year anniversary today 24th June (Friday) evening itself. What more - my anniversary at my job coincides with my birthday - something which is not just a coincidence - I did have a minor role in this coincidence. So, I turn 29 this year - single, unattached, not looking - absolutely no desire to mingle [till the time I am alive] - but just one burning desire - to be the best. Yes, I have been a dissatisfied creature throughout my life - but thats the way I am. There are 7 billion human beings on this planet - and all of them are different from each other. I am the 7 billionth type - any problems ?
I have been ill since last week or so - running nose, bad voice, daily bouts of mild fever around evening - all symptoms of flu - unshaven as usual. But, still managing to drag myself to work, and getting things done. I have been busy through the day - managing to squeeze time to send one of my ideas to an internal TechFest (just impulsively) - dumped all matter into a 3 page file within 50 minutes !! That is definitely the fastest ever article I have written in my life - yes, I am definitely evolving with growing age. Now, whether that article gets me anything or not is an entirely different question - totally beyond my control.
I have made some of my colleagues vote for that article so that it is visible among top 10-20 of the pile of 180+ articles. Lets see....
And, to top it all - handling an intern alongwith my usual job - yet another first time experience for me. I have been mentor to 3 new joinees - but have never ever handled an intern.
Day passes by - it is around 3 pm. I am banging my head with a colleague over usual stuff - then rest of our team - 4 of us - and the lead also gather. We discuss the things, crack some jokes amongst ourselves - and then someone just pops the question -
"Hey, you are completing 5 years right ?"
I say - "Day after tomorrow - June 26".
Then, other fellow - "Your birthday is also coming"
I say - "Same day - June 26"
3rd fellow - "Oh, you joined on your birthday naa, great !!"
My brain just seems to be getting blank. I can feel fever catching up again. I have never been so badly ill - that too with just cough and cold - as far as my memory goes - may have been in childhood - but not in recent years.
Age catching up ? 29 is not as young as 19 - but definitely much younger and fitter than 49.
We proceed towards the Square - thats what they call it - it is neither a square, nor a rectangle - geometrically, it can be analyzed as to be made up of a number of rectangles probably.
It is the last Friday of June 2011, and it is the monthly gathering of the team. Some 100 people have gathered. As soon as I step in, I see 4 glass crystals on the center table - one of them has my name on it.
Then, a colleague comments - "Dude, 5 year bumps ?"
I - "Come on, I am ageing up. Too old for these things".
Some other colleagues alongwith him smile.
Am I openly declaring myself as old, or am I just gracefully accepting my age ?
Then enters the GM - 2-3 lines of usual greetings. then, intro of new joinees, and new interns. I see a guy amongst the new hires - whom I had interviewed at IIT Chennai last year - the chap was good - lets see how he fares here.
An interesting tradition has developed over the past few years - each new joinee has to stand up on a chair to give his intro etc. And, they don't spare even the 5-year, 10-year, and beyond veterans celebrating their anniversaries.
Ok, the intros are done. Reminds me of my own days as a curious, excited, nervous guy.
Then, the GM starts inviting the 5 year fellows one by one.
One of them is invited, he just takes his trophy - people clap, the fellow is not willing to give any speech, but is made to do so. Just stammers 4-5 trademark lines - have been in this team, it has been great etc etc.
People clap. There is a signed letter from CEO - one for the employee and other for his partner. Well, the fellow is unmarried. So, the GM smiles while handing over the letter to him, and says - "Do hand it to your partner whenever you find her". A giggle from the crowd ...
Next is my turn. I receive the trophy, the same giggles on partner stuff too - well, those partner letters will in 99.999999999999999999999999999999999999% probability being end up recovered from my closets after my death. Thats the life I am determined to live - sorry, no girlfriend/marriage business for me. Its all f***ed up stuff - spending my whole life as a stepany, unsuccessfully trying to please a torture called "woman" - my foot !!!! Enough of nuisance in my life since the time I was born - no more time/space for any feelings/emotions/commitments/relationships/love/marriage/kids and other similar bullsh**. Its just I, Me and Myself - yes I am the 7 billionth type of creature.
Coming back from my trail of thoughts - I am asked for speech, and I readily move towards the chair, holding the trophy with both hands. I look at the crowd and ask - "Ok, so what do you want to listen ?"
Someone says - "Tell us about your 5 years".
Someone else says - "How many bugs have you filed till now ?"
I - "You can check the bugs database"
Some people smile and giggle.
Then, I begin - "I will tell you about the top 5 events in my 5 year career. Number 1 - I have done something which even our GM could not do."
The business admin and some people attract GM's attention towards me - "Hey, he has done something which even you could not do".
I continue - "He could not join the company on his birthday - missing it by a narrow margin of 1 day."
GM - "Ya, my birthday was on a Sunday and I joined on Monday."
I - "But, I did that - I joined this company on my birthday".
I look around at the crowd - some approvingly nodding heads and claps.
I can feel my legs tremble a bit momentarily - or is something wrong with the chair ? No, its alright - perhaps at that moment I had a lightning-fast-forward vision of my life from teenage till the day I joined this company - all moments of desperation, struggles, frustrations, and finally that numbness when I was told by the HR on that evening of January 12, 2006 that I have been selected.
I carry on - "Number 2 - my first checkin had broken the build."
A large number of laughters.
I point to the guy who was my mentor 5 years ago - "He had not told me any damn thing about source control. I did not know about it - I was the last batch to join without any training etc".
People look at that guy, and laugh - he too laughs.
The team admin says - "Hey, your ghost stories ?"
I say - "Ya, number 3 - the mysterious seat right behind me. It was a window cubicle, people used to literally fight for it. But, whoever occupied that cubicle either left the team or left the company within 6 to 8 weeks."
The dev manager asks - "What was the cubicle number ?"
I - "Building 1 - 2nd floor - the window cubicle behind B2-035 - it is either B2-034 or B2-036"
The dev manager - "Ok, I will note that - now I know what to do".
People laugh again.
I - "Number 4 - the short circuits. The wiring was very bad - quite often there used to be short circuit blasts in my cubicle, and that would bring down 6 cubicles power supply - all in one shot".
Too many laughters.
The dev manager - "(Pointing to my long time back manager) - there was a power outage in your room yesterday, right ? (Pointing towards me) He is the man - now you know."
My long time back manager says - "He tests everything."
Laughters again.
I - "Number 5 - I have had 6 different managers in my career. Manager number 5 decided to leave the managerial career path and come back to technical path within 15 days of knowing that I would be reporting to him."
Lots of laughters and clapping all around.
I point to that "Manager number 5" who was standing right in front of me - "He is the manager number 5".
Then, the dev manager again - "And who is your current manager ?"
I point towards my current manager - standing right in front of me - "He is number 6. Lets see."
The dev manager tells him - "Now you know what is your future career path."
People laugh again.
I - "Thats all I had" and I step down from the chair.
Lots of clapping - several handshakes and congratulations from people.
2 other guys are also presented their trophies, and they deliver just 2-3 lines speeches.
There is the usual ceremonial cake cutting - all 4 of us cut the cake - everyone having a piece for himself. Then, the snacks.
There are some talks amongst some of us old timers - sharing nostalgic memories of days in Building 1 - then I get back to work.
That glass crystal is the latest addition to my set of 4 other awards/momentos/trophies (whatever you call it).
Fever feels a bit better now - but a little temperature is still there.
After finishing this blog, I stepped out into my balcony - it is around 2 am - it is a calm night - everything is silent, a mild breeze is blowing.
1 more day left before I turn 29.
Happy birthday to me - in advance.
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