An Expert Review

"Impressive re!!! very technical so couldn`t understand much... the J2EE n stuff but sounds good. The entrepeneural thing sounds too good to be true though. The positions u`ve held n all that is very impresiive and i luv the impression that the india vs france match gives!!! sounda like ur majorly made an effort, especially since that is the only concrete thing in the responsibilities part... the others could jus be air..y did u mention kane and abel??? looks to me like there is no scope there... i mean if u wanted to mention something so specifically wouldn`t u wanna mention something that would garner immediate interest and would lead to further questions!! like blogging... thats got scope... the book need not be high-brow philosophy (then it`ll jus look like bullshit!!) but something striking and different so u`ll stand apart in the eyes of someone who`ll look at atleast a hundred people like u. Think about it.... "
- Sanj's thoughts on my CV

Companies are pouring in with their pre-placement talks(A two hour bore orchestrated by the placement committee) and the junta is starting to see green. Summer internship offers are going into SIX figures. PCOM brought out a new rule this year asking people to mention their degree and year of joining which has caused quite a stir among the ABM students and the repeaters who feel this is going to seriously jeopardise their chances. Personally I feel better now than later, no point living in denial. The .4%tile in CAT makes all the difference.

I can safely acknowledge that my programming days are now beyond me. The thought of never being able to write another algorithm is sad to say the least cause this is what I thought I would do for my entire life. New avenues are now opening up. Branding and Advertising look great, but too little money there. Finance is a big NO, Marketing involves too much travel, Operations doesn't involve an Air conditioned workplace, HR(dad feels insulted, he thought a B.Com(hons) from SRCC would get a peon's job) and therefore by selection or elimination I end up with what I started.......IT.

Am not too bothered with the placements, people have started to go mad. Am doing my best to keep peer pressure at an arm's length. I believe money is not a major driver, or am I just kidding myself???

Four nurses.....three male

“Think of helL as a simulation of the corporate world. Just cause your hand breaks, the competition doesn’t stop.”

The last sad post for a while I assure you. No concessions are allowed to enter the gates of helL. No extra time, no easy correction, no remedials....the best I got was Ram Nevaj(BLESS HIM)an attendant who acted as my scribe. It sure was fun spelling H-E-I-R-A-R-C-H-I-A-L, drawing diagrams and explaining what exactly is the symbol ampersand in the midst of a ten minute quiz. I lost four precious minutes in my Operations quiz due to a certain genius who insisted on finishing his tea before he started writing. Government zindaabad. The paradox is that I actually ended up doing better in my quizzes with the broken wrist than before. Beats me how.

I had four amazing people who assisted me through the ordeal, keeping my spirits up, getting me food everyday(I cannot hold a plate you see) and even buttoning my pants. Twenty such days later the end term exams arrived. I did surprisingly well in all of them, well above my expectations. The exams ended on the 15th of September. My place in the second term was assured. I had to take a train to Delhi and a plane from there to get home. The lucknow mail left for Delhi at 10:00pm. A bus was arranged to get us to the station. At 9:50pm, the person who booked my tickets said “Mava dengindhi(Dude we're f****d), this ticket is for the 16th!!”.

A tale of a coconut, a sublime high and quizzes...Part II

" Blurred faces start staring at you like ghosts in smoke. I remember myself shouting that I am losing my sight. Who was I kidding as if Lucifer is going to help me. I have an inkling I will be his most esteemed guest. I was now going deaf. I wondered how it would be to feel my heart stop beating. The feeling is extremely weird when you can't hear, can't see and can't feel but yet, you are fully concious. Water on my face, aah a sensation. have I reached the river that borders life and death? Somebody is screaming.... I have reached already??. The ghosts reappear. Wait a second I am not really dead."

3.4 is the name of our insti band. I personally am not a big fan of rock music and they do not help their cause when they start practising in the H11 common room, only 4 inches of cement separate us and is often not good enough to guard my sleep. 3.4 also happens to be the name of a crossing 3.4kms from helL. The place where a very questionable daba and the liquor stores lie. My first sights after (re)opening my eyes.

Now the spasms of pain started to hit me. My wrist was a gonner for sure and I somehow managed to take off my helmet. Some kind souls.... yes they still exist, got me some water to drink. A familiar face popped up among the crowd. It was Anuj my hostelmate. My loyalties sure are warped and the first thing I managed to utter was “ghaadi kaisi hain??” (how is the bike??). He picked up my bike(still in fifth gear) and we made a few calls to the guys.

At helL, time is everything. The most precious commodity. An extra minute or two are snatched at all costs. Its truly moving when in such a scenario, guys took time off to get me to the hospital, got my hand bandaged, my head MRIed and my bruises dressed. Bhanu and Pandey take a bow. The favour shall not be forgotten.

I started writing this post mentioning that I had just given my second Quiz in MANAC. Quizzes and assignments are your lifelines at helL. You cannot afford to neglect them. Again, a question of warped loyalties, I refused to get my hand cast in plaster. Hoped a bandage would do. A decision I am regretting already. ‘Signature’ was my painkiller and the nights were long and painful. Two brave days and tons of abuse from Mr.Basu & Chick drilled some sense and I got my hand cast.