Time To Leave - Again

For those who don't already know - I am quitting my current job. For those who are wondering why so - I have decided to take up a position with TCS at Kochi. The pay is better, the prospects in terms of career growth is much better, the role being offered is good, and more importantly, my stint at TCS would help improvise on my consulting skills.

I had given my manager at Oracle a slight hint that I would be moving organizations. This was sometime last Friday (20-June-2008). And the immediate effect - he started moving the bugs out of my queue into my colleague Abhiram's queue. Also, he has started asking other people to start "understanding" the intricacies of the products I currently work on. I hate to admit it, but, I would've been a bit more happier if he had informed me that he has relayed such instructions to other people in the account.
And what irritated me more, is the fact that he gave me crappy reasons as to why he has started assigning my bugs to Abhiram. I mean - come on man. How difficult is it to give me the fact? That all you're doing is trying to mitigate risks as much as possible.

Anyways ... After this, I had called up my HR POC (point of contact) and enquired about the resignation formalities. That's when he got alerted of my intentions to leave. As a result, he had come down to Bangalore to meet me today. What resulted was 15 minutes of trying to "maska" my ego and a poorly conceived try at convincing me that moving to TCS would be a suicidal move and Oracle was THE place to be.

But, I think it would be prudent to add a few bits and pieces of my interview with my HR - let me call him AAA for convenience:

AAA: "Why do you want to move to TCS. They won't even pay you as much as Oracle!"
Me: "Actually, they're paying me a lot more than Oracle."
AAA: "What???" (very surprised). "How much are they offering extra?"
Me: "A good 15 %."
AAA: "15% on your current stack of #$#@ laks?" (You must be crazy to think I would reveal my actual pay on a blog!)
Me: "Yeah ... I will be drawing around @!@$ laks there! Plus it's my home town. So, it's a pretty neat pay!"
AAA: "Awwwwwwwwww ... So - you're going to jump for a meagre 15%. Why do you want to do that. Come on ... It's just 15% man!"
Me: (In My Mind) "Atleast it beats the Only-Worload-Hike that you folks are giving me!"




AAA: "Why would you go to a place like Cochin?"
Me: "My parents are getting old ... And unfortunately, they're not keeping well. So, I need to take care of them."
AAA: "Everyone's parents are old and they need being taken care of. But, that doesn't mean you leave your career behind and go!"
Me: (Offended) "What was that again?"
AAA: (Realizing he might have crossed a line) "What I meant is, sentiments are important. But, leaving your career for them - that is not a very smart idea!"
Me: "Well ... I think it is a good career move for me as well. They're giving me a promotion and a hike as well."
AAA: "Oh ... Ummmmmmmmmm .... But, what growth can you possibly have in a place like Cochin. There are hardly any companies there."
Me: "You might want to get your facts right. There are loads of companies there - TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant - to name a few!"
AAA: "Well ... But, your career growth in Bangalore would be much better."
Me: (In My Mind) "Why don't you let me worry about that?"



AAA: "Atleast you should wait for another 3 - 4 months to see if there are any hikes/corrections/bonuses happening here. If nothing is happening, or if you don't fall into the purview of any of the cycles, then and only then should you start looking outside."
Me: "You're asking me to forgo a good offer that I have for something that may or may not happen. And in case it doesn't happen, I end up loosing a perfectly great career option and end up with nothing here as well."
AAA: "Come on man ... You have to be a lot more optimistic than that. If you look at last year - correction cycles and other focal cycles have happened. This year, we don't have any clarity on when or for that matter whether it will happen. But, historically speaking, it has happened. I don't know why this year should be any different?"
Me: "Okay ... So - can you give me some sort of an assurance that I *will* be covered if at all something happens this year?"
AAA: "No ... I can't give you any such assurances. But, I think you should start being a lot more optimistic man!"
Me:" Optimistic eh ... Sounds like your asking me to forgo the bird in hand for the bird in the bush!"
AAA: "Ummmmmm ... Not really ... But, just think about it - Worst case - If you don't get any hike or bonus even after you wait 3 or 4 months, you can hunt for a job, and I'm pretty sure, like you bagged an offer now, you'll get another offer then."
Me: (In My Mind) "So .... You want me to drop this offer ... So that I can work my arse off for the next 4 months ... And by that time you'll get someone to replace me completely and then when I say I'm leaving - You'll can 'Taa taa Bye Bye!' with ease. Dream on bitch!"



AAA: "I think you should wait for another 3 - 4 months before you decide to quit man. I mean it. It's for your own good."
Me: (In My Mind) "And I think you should go jump off a cliff!"


I don't want to seem insensitive, or worse, disrespectful, to AAA, but, neither am I convinced by the pep talk he gave me, nor am I going to change my decision.

So,the way i see it, the nett outcome of this discussion is that although I was planning on telling my manager of my intentions to quit today, I'm simply going to have to wait till Monday (30-June-2008) to "surprise" him.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaappy Birthday To Me

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay ... Sriji - My Sister's Husband - wished me Happy B'day at the stroke of midnight. I am reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally very happy. Atleast this time, unlike last time, someone remembered my B'day!

:+)

Yet Another Birthday

Yup ... That day of the year is here is just around the corner. I am yet another year older. So, come 27-June-2008, officially, I turn 24 years of age.

Ordinarily, I would've been extremely happy about this day. But, this year, strangely, I don't feel anything of the sort.
A couple of reasons why I feel this way are:

1. Last year - Mom, Dad, Bro, Sis, Cousins (in short everyone) forgot to wish me on my B'Day. I had to call each and every one of them in the evening and roast their arses for forgetting it ...
Something tells me, with every probability, it will happen again this year!

2. Somehow, somewhere deep down inside, I get the feeling that I'm getting REALLY OLD!

3. Like my last B'Day, I think I'll end up spending the day all alone!
(It's either that or having to throw a party and get piss drunk, and pass out. I prefer the former - Thank You Very Much!)

4. No one seems to planning on getting me any gifts. "Its the end of the month and I'm broke" being the most common excuse!

5. With Mom & Dad's ruling (sounded more like a threat to me) that one more B'Day and then they'll get me married off - Every B'day now feels like one step closer to THE END!
(I know you might be thinking Linkin Park. I have two words for you - SHUT UP!!!)



Anyways ... Hopefully, given that I have another day to go before the B'Day gets here - I'll brighten up!

Cheeeeeeeeeeers!!!

An Unforgivable Act

Today (23-06-2008), I got a call around 9.30 pm from Sujatha (my best chum). I was surprised that she had called me at this our of the day. Out of the ordinary, but not unusual.
For one sec, I was left wondering that she's probably calling to give me some "good" news
(The news that one would expect from any Indian couple a few months into their marriage).

Me: "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey ... Wassup Suj ... How you doing sugar?"
Suj: "Hi ... What's the day today?" (in a very serious tone!)


This was totally unlike Sujatha ... And so ... I became a little cautious ...


Me: "Ummmmmmmm ... I dunno ... Monday ... The 23rd I guess ... Why ??? What happened ???"
Suj: "Aren't you supposed to do something today ???" (In a VERY commanding tone!!!)
Me: "Whats that ??? Hmmmmmmmmm .... Let me think - What's the speciality of today ??? Is it your B'day by any chance ??? Naaaaaaaa ... I thought that was in Feb or was it March ... "
Suj: "WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN !!!"


By this time she had begun to sound truly menancing!


Me: "Is it your marriage anniversary by any chance?"
Suj: "You bloody fool ... And you claim to be my best friend !!! It's my B'day you Bloody Idiot ... Fool ... Stupid ... Arse ... Jerk ... "

At that point - I had realized one thing - "There was no frigging way I was getting out of this one in one piece!!!"
The only way was to take it lying down!

But, as Murphy's law states - "If something can go wrong - It will".
What happened after that just serves as proof to that law.
(Murphy ... I hate you for coming up with such crappy laws!!!)


Me: "I'm Soooooooooooooooooooooooo Sorry Da Suj ... I didn't go to office today ... And so I didn't get to check out Orkut ... If I had seen your B'day there - I would have surely given you a call and wished you!!!"

Although I fail to understand the logic behind it - That single statement was a bigger insult that me having forgotten her b'day!!!

Suj: "WHAT THE HECK ... I THOUGHT YOU WOULD'VE BEEN BUSY THE WHOLE DAY WITH YOUR DELIVERY DEADLINES AND MEETINGS AND THAT IS PROBABLY YOU FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY. AND THAT'S WHY I CALLED YOU SO THAT YOU CAN WISH ME ... AND NOW - I FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN RESTING AT HOME THE WHOLE DAY AND ON TOP OF THAT YOU NEED SOMETHING LIKE ORKUT TO REMEMBER MY B'DAY ... YOUR "SUPPOSEDLY" BEST FRIENDS B'DAY ... I CAN UNDERSTAND USING A CALENDAR OR SOMETHING LIKE ORKUT FOR YOUR REGULAR "OTHER" FRIENDS B'DAYS ... BUT YOU NEED SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO REMEMBER MY B'DAY TOO IS IT !!! THAT GOES TO PROVE HOW MUCH OF A "BEST" FRIEND I AM TO YOU !!!! YOU STUPID IDIOT !!!"

For the remaining 15 mins that we were on the phone - I only remember saying: "Sorry ..." "You know how much I love you ..." "I am such an Idiot ..." "Please forgive me ..."
(Oh ... And all she was saying was: "I hate you ..." "I will kill you ..." "Don't talk to me ever again ..." "I'm not your friend anymore ... ")

I even tried to talk to Suresh - Sujatha's husband. You know the regular small talk ...
Just to divert the attention from the issue at hand (Me forgetting her B'day i.e.)

But, sadly, that didn't work as well as I had expected!!!
Sujatha caught onto me like a bloodhound on a trail - and tore me apart AGAIN!!!
:(



The very first thing I did after that is to call up my relationship consultant (aka Agony Aunt) - Pallavi - and ask her for tips on how to wriggle myself out of this one.
She's given me some "inputs" and I intend to put them into action tomorrow itself.


Wish me luck folks!

HOT BABE ALERT

It's only today that I realized that there is this seriously hot babe in my building. And the funny part is the way I discovered it.
For the last two days - there has been some water shortage issues in my building. I was actually planning on staying over at my friends place to beat the water problem, when some of my flatmates decided to do something about it and took matters into their hands, and arranged for a truckload of water.

An old lady came around collecting the cash - 70 bucks to be exact - from each house. An hour later, the water had still not come in my house. So, I went to the terrace to see what was happening. That's when I saw her!

Maaaaaaaaaaan ... She is gorgeous. Fair ... Nice Body ... Nice Curves ... Nice Ass ... and most importantly Nice Tits (I am a boobs man!!!). Once I saw her, I quickly jumped in and started running the show (in the hopes of attracting her attention/impressing her i.e.). I don't know whether she was impressed by that, but we did end up talking for over 30 mins (No ... Don't get any ideas people. We were just talking about how to resolve the water problems we were facing!).


But, to give myself some credit, we did do a little bit of small talk - where I slipped in the fact that I work at Oracle. You should have seen the expression on her face. It was like - "Wooooooooooooow ... You work at Oracle ... You must be super smart and super rich!!!" - was written all over it!

I also learnt that she works at this company called Zenith Softwares at Koramangala. And most importantly, she also mentioned that her mom is leaving for Chennai tomorrow and after that she's going to be alone for a couple of weeks.
(I don't know why she mentioned that point, but, somewhere in the back of my horny mind - I'm cooking up a lot of weirdo and kinky theories!!!)


Anyways ... Only time will tell how and where and to what extent this "association" will progress!!!


And before I forget - I have to thank Dr. Karunanidhi (Hon Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) for helped me in this matter.
Confused?

Well ... The reasoning is pretty straight forward:

I met Anu (that's her name btw) because of the "Kaveri Water Shortage Issue" for which the sole cause is Dr. Karunanidhi.
"Jai Kalangar Karunanidhi!!!"

(Being a little melodramatic aren't I)

There Is Too Much Water Under The Bridge

I came across this phrase "There's Too Much Water Under The Bridge" whilst I reading a book recently, and after some googling, found out that it means - "Things have been damaged/spoiled well beyond repair".

I guess its the perfect word to describe things between me and my X-College Sweetheart.
(I don't want to mention her name here, but people who know me well/from college will probably know who I'm talking about!)


We broke up in a very very very (no ... I didn't repeat the very's accidentally) nasty manner.
I guess I have to account that to - confusions between us, the geographical distance between us (her in Calicut and me in Chennai), my insecurities, a "particularly scary" problem - or should I call it a tendency - she had (don't ask me what - I ain't gonna tell!), jealousy on her part, doubts on my part, pressure and tensions of starting a career, restrictions placed on me by my relatives with whom I was staying, my physical needs, etc, etc, etc. (I could go on forever, and I bet she had a similarily long list too!).

Anyways ... All those "reasons" finally culminated in an outburst. Correction - it was more like a NUCLEAR EXPLOSION!

I said a lot of things I shouldn't have, she reciprocated in kind. Which made me say even more nastier stuff - which made her break down and cry.
The Nett Effect - the relationship was doomed!!!


In all fairness, I did miss her a lot and did try to revive the relationship a couple of months down the road. After a lot of cajoling and apologising on my part - we decided to give it another shot.
But, try as much as we might, the most important element in a relationship - TRUST - had disappeared.
As the weeks passed - we fought over sillier and sillier things, and soon the rift between us became so huge, that yet again - we had a disastrous fight and we broke up yet again!
The only difference this time was - the break up was for good!

After that incident, we didn't speak for close to 2 years. I guess we both moved on with our lives.

After around a 2 year hiatus when we finally starting talking (more like chatting over gtalk), things were completely different. I was finding it difficult to pick up a conversation with the girl with whom I used speak for at least 10 - 12 hours a day during college. And the soreness and anger (maybe even hatred) inside both of us was so very noticeable.

Even smallest chit chat sessions would end up in fights - for no valid reasons of course - which were followed by weeks if not months of silence and cold war, and then either of us (mostly me) would initiate an icebreaker chat which would eventually - yet again i.e. - lead to a fight ....
(You get the picture!)


She was in Bangalore for around 1.5 months - for her summers program - and neither I nor her took the initiative to meet up for a coffee. That's a courtesy you give even the most casual of acquaintances when they're in your area/vice versa.

This is when I truly realized how bad things were between us!


Heck - I repeat what I started off saying in this blog - There's Too Much Water Under The Bridge!

Dasavatharam - Movie Review

I went for the movie Dasavatharam starring Kamal Hassan, with my cousin Sriji, on Sunday (15-06-2008). I must mention that we had to take the tickets in Black (For people who didn't understand what that means - It means - I had to pay 100 bucks for a ticket that should actually have cost only 60 because I had to buy it off the "Black Market").


Although the story is pretty average, the movie - on the whole - is fast paced. The music is amazing, screenplay is good and Kamal Hassan's acting is, without any doubt, Spectacular.

Generally, I am hardcore fan of Asin. On that note - let me make things crystal clear by saying - it's not because of her acting prowess but more so because of her A-Potent-And-Perfect-Mix-Of-Cute-And-Sexy looks.

But even that did not come to her rescue in this picture. Not only is the role played by her completely forgettable, she also overacts like mad. The character she plays (or maybe it's just her!) is so nagging and irritating that I wanted to give her a tight slap right then and there in the theater!
(I know it's impossible to do that - but trust me when I say - you will want to as well!!!)


Also, there were a few Kamal "avatars" which had no significance in the play. For example "The Paatti", "George Bush", "Chineese Martial Arts Instructor", "7 Foot Tall Guy", "Singer Singh". I guess he just wanted to beat Sivaji Ganeshan's record of 9 roles.
But, justice be done - each of roles have been played to perfection by Kamal.

This picture is indeed Kamal Hassan's Magnum Opus and once again - Kamal has proved that he is the best actor in South India


On the whole, this picture is definitely worth one (even two or three - if you have the patience) watch!!!

Lonely Again

For the last two weeks, my cousin (Sriji) and my brother (Appu) were staying with me at my Bangalore home. For those of you who don't know - I stay in a tiny 1 BHK all by myself.

And no, I won't be fending questions as to when/what/why I am staying alone! Let's leave that for another blog shall we.


So - Back to the story of the day ...

So, there were three of us staying in my house. Although it was cramped - it was as fun as fun can be.
From Gossip Sessions To Cooking Dinner To Watching Movies Every night To Booze Parties - Maaaaaaaaaan ... It was helloffaa fun 2 weeks.


As the wise say - "All Good Things Must Come To An End", and so did this fun spree. As of Sunday, Appu moved in with his friends at Indiranagar. Sriji has gone for a week-long tour and by the time he comes back, he'll probably have found a good apartment for himself and his family.

I guess this only means one thing - Its back to "Me-Myself-And-My-1BHK"

Cool Cartoon ...

I found this cartoon on my friend KSP's blog. I just loved it so much that I decided to post it on my blog as well.



N.B: KSP - Sorry for stealing your cartoon. No plagiarism intended.