The Savoir-Faire challenges

The Savoir-Faire challenges

Its been a while now since I blogged. I guess, none felt my absence. This fact helped me in repeatedly postponing the activation of what is left of my grey cells. Believe me, it   is essential for writing any stuff that has a remote chance of being read. At least that is so in my case. 

To do justice to my lazy self, I must admit, allow me to provide a few alibis. A vital phase in my existence was concluded and that set off consequences and events which clearly matched the frenzied existence I have had so far.  A fitting finale, if you will!

 I had decided to retire. This meant I had to also close down my house in aamchi Mumbai. Pack up, lock stock, telescope and barrel. Shift base to Hyderabad, assuming that I will be welcomed home by my good wife and daughter. Taking risks was not unknown to me.

 This decision of mine, taken for very compelling reasons, nevertheless was judged by everyone known to me with varying degrees of emotions.

 There were those who found it strange. How could this bloke stop working, they whispered?   Quite a few, now at last, was certain I was crazy. It was reassuring to know that they knew me well!    Some, including my mom, felt that I deserve to now break away from a maddening lifestyle. My good old wife, who is very insightful, kept a studied silence.   

Convincing my employers that I was not joking but actually superannuating took more than few months. It was later that my boss realised that it was a blessing. I entirely agreed with his enlightened conclusion. I told him in as many words.  Many, if not all, in the business team took the diplomatic route, expressing surprise, anguish and betrayal. Few felt that the world would end. Yes, surely it would. A newer, better and less maddening world will arise, I reassured them. These chaps, including the boss, planned a grand send off. Good riddance, my fine and efficient secretary muttered under her breath. I agreed with that too taking solace from the fact that I did make a difference in their lives one way or the other. Its another story that the send- off got postponed due to the effects of gravitational lensing caused by the transit of Alpha Centauri and Saturn   through my house.

Close colleagues did not know whether to cry or laugh. I understood their predicament. The process of assigning and smooth transition was expected to be complex. Instead it was over in a jiffy. The modern day electronic dominance of the work place, the hard ware, storage devises and back up servers ensured that. Transfer of the knowledge of the domain, the business and the people was another matter. But then very few have patience for that. Or probably it was assumed these don’t matter!

Back at the Mumbai house a whole set of tasks stared at me. After staring right back at them for few days I had to act as my son announced his schedule for departure abroad. He had felt that exploring life in far off lands was what he wanted. This meant, those tasks I spoke off had to be attended by me alone. These involved selling off house hold furniture and stuff, explaining to the maid and the cook what I meant by retiring and quitting Mumbai, changing of addresses in the records of entities I was associated with, handling the house owner, settling bills, disconnecting plethora of electronic connections and utilities. Well, the list was endless. It needed multi-tasking skills. My son sympathised though a smile played on his face. The dude however showed his expertise by managing to get good deals for the furniture and stuff on OLS. A task I would have never managed or have the patience for.

The maids, the driver, the security guards and the various worthies who provide support service, soon, like my boss, came to the conclusion that my leaving was a blessing. The very prospect of receiving freebees kept their motivation high. It took few days for them to haggle with each other and allot the entire kitchen stuff, some linen and stuff even I never knew existed in the house, between them. Then with single minded focus each of them, very efficiently, handled the logistics of packing, picking it up and delivering it to their respective homes. At the end of my carrier, once again, I picked up tips on managing situations.

Dear old friends drowned their sorrow by spending few evening hours at watering holes along with me. The nice ladies who were my neighbours said goodbye and wished me luck. I positively imagined to have detected a certain sadness on their faces.

Hyderabad looked like a new place to me. The real estate had spread its unorganised wings, the metros, flyovers and the like had changed the cities landscape, the roads and infra consequently had tried to catch up but failed. The beautiful winter mornings and the equally shivering nights with temperatures threatening to fall below two digits gave me the welcome I appreciated.

Remember, I mentioned Saturn earlier? These heavenly bodies ordained that I must get myself repaired. Some removal of defunct parts, oiling of the other, changing some plumbing etc which the doctors who took over my body, in their wisdom, decided I needed urgently. Wisdom in this case was accentuated by the immense prospect of Insurance hedged, electronically remitted money. Our benefactor and chai wala turned Maharajadiraja had ensured that the traditional Indian way hospitals received such expenses, using the endearing Gandhi’s of 1000 denomination, was replaced by online payments managed by new warlords. I had to pay respects to this new dragon (I do not mean the Chinese controlled payment site as it may result in me being trolled.) as the Insurance company felt I was a nice goose to be cooked and had shown reluctance at agreeing to meet the repair and maintenance medical bills. The fight is on. It could keep me occupied and well oiled now that I am free.

The city of Mumbai had not yet got fed up of me. In fact, it has this very pleasant habit of pulling me back, even if it’s for few days or weeks. In the last instance, for years! I do not mind as this is where people whom I value, other than my family, live. After returning to Telangana country, I ended holed up in Mumbai for more than half of the time during the last few months.

Well, the next challenge is going to try and not imitate the Hyderabadi Hindi. Sweet as it maybe and the  rodas , the logans and kayakarthu’s may sound mysterious and pleasant, I prefer the Mumbai Hindi. That Hindi is a true national integrator and probably I would recommend the people down south to copy paste that into their lingo. Presently, what has terrified me is the fruitless attempt I have been making in trying to get all and sundry here not to verbalise whatever discourse they want to attempt on me in Telegu. My revenge has been in the form of speaking back in Marathi!

Now a little senti stuff.  I feel that I must not keep staring at a door that has closed but instead open a few new ones. Like wise to all of you as the year comes to and end. Have a wonderful new year!