Two sides of the coin

Monday-a long day of training, that too at two disparate- and very distant from each other-venues.

9 a.m and the madness had begun. Innumerable mails to plod through as the server had been down for two consecutive days and then two meetings one after another. Checking the agenda and getting the facts and supporting documents in place…..all in all, a more than busy day. Sharp twelve and off to the aforesaid locations (sadly, not the exotic locales that the word ‘location’ normally conjures up). In a dilapidated cab that had seen better days, where the almost non-existent air conditioning left little to the imagination: the humid heat of the sultry August afternoon literally got under one’s skin! A long drive- sans music-as the cab didn’t have a music system and ninety, torturous minutes later, surfacing from the circuitous route at a God-forsaken place called Pitampura. Off again, two and a half hours of interactive, fun-filled training later, to destination point two near D.U for a repeat performance. Take 2 and finally free (phew!).

6.30 pm. Winding my weary way home. But not before stopping on the way to pick up five kinds of fruits and other stuff for a fast and pooja to be done the following day. Not to forget the stop-by at the taciturn tailor’s, to pick up clothes for the selfsame occasion.

9 p.m. Finally, reaching home, thanks to the erratic traffic of this great city.

Tuesday 7 a.m. The day began pretty much as usual; except that there was no customary water and lemon tea by my side as I sat reading the newspaper. For it was one of the two days in a year when I fast-and a fast meant without food or water for 24 hours. Though it isn’t half as difficult as it sounds, if one could keep quiet and not tax one’s vocal chords unnecessarily. A luxury, unfortunately, denied to those in my calling! But if one manages to tweak one’s schedule for a day, the need for drinking water can be managed.

The first thing I did on reaching office was to remove the inviting bottle of water that is thoughtfully placed on each work station every morning. A personalized bottle with our initials, a gesture deeply appreciated on other days. But today, it was best out of sight (though not out of mind for sure!) The demo for a client needed to be finalized and the next few hours were spent busily pursuing that objective. Checking the presentation for errors, if any and duly rectifying them when spotted was what I focused on. The next few hours were well spent in the dry-run, the only challenge being averting my gaze completely each time laden trays of tea/coffee and assorted biscuits passed under my nose.

Two fruitful hours of animated discussion and one emerged from the hallowed precincts of the conference room suitably enlightened about the future of training in general and soft skills in particular.

6 p.m. The rest of the day went past and I somehow managed to edge out of a last-minute meeting and get into the car to head home and perform the pooja before sundown. Another en route halt ensured that readymade gujhiyas (sweets that were painstakingly prepared for Teej by chirpy housewives, amidst a lot of bonhomie and banter, in the good ole yesteryears) were bought and I was finally home at 6.30 with just enough time to dash upstairs, bathe and change into a new saree ensemble, which had been specially readied for the occasion. All preparations were hastily made and the pooja performed in the fast-forward mode but without skipping any sequential step.

7 p.m and it was over and I rose from my seat feeling satisfied at a deed well done, a day well spent.

TV and music saw me through the rest of the evening, till it was thankfully slumber time and I called it a day, a little earlier than usual.

The next morning brought in its wake an early shower, donning the same saree ensemble-bindi, bangles, jewelry et al-a customary short pooja, a token donation and the touching of mom-in-law’s feet to seek blessings and the ceremony was complete. Next came the long-awaited moment- descending on the dining table and gorging on the lavish spread: hot puris, spicy aloo chana sabzi, gujhias, halwa and a steaming cup of tea: a veritable feast after a literal fast.

D-day: Wednesday. The client proto we had been agonising over had to be presented at a formal meeting with them.

8.45 a.m ; I was ready in my grey business suit (string of pearls and matching ear-tops complementing the get-up) hair swept back with a neat clasp, laptop firmly placed on the left shoulder, the black folder with the hand-outs in hand. The metamorphosis was complete as I descended the stairs towards the waiting car………………...

The case of a split personality? No, the arrival of the new-age corporate Indian woman!!