Looking Back

“Hey mate, fancy doing kickoffs with me middle of next month? it depends on when phoenix folks come back to me! Probably by 18th or 19th I deduce” said a slack message from my project manager Raj.

I paused for a moment, this date, 18th September, I will soon be 2 years old for this profession!!

A time-lapse of 2 odd years flashed on an imaginary silver screen right in front of my eyes!

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“ತನ್ನಾವರಣವೆ ಸೆರೆಮನೆಯಾದರೆ ಜೀವಕೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿಯ ಮುಕ್ತಿ”

-       Dr. H.S. Venkatesh Murthy

In the middle of a day, me, a hopeless graduate sleeping beside a dog that I adore so much. A random neighbor who just appears from nowhere asks my mom, whether I got a job or not! My loving mom answers him in a defending tone. Well, what else is left for her?

I don’t want to write every frame that I recall. In my opinion, writing about our problems often makes us biased and an effort to exaggerate things cannot be suppressed!

Being jobless is a slow death. It kills all the positivity left in the soul. That’s when I understood hoping to be optimistic is a disease. It never teaches you to face the negativity you have, instead, it makes you wait till the dawn of positivity! That’s a disease for real!

I paused the time-lapse for a moment to see a message from slack.

“Hey mate! Vous là-bas !” Stuart a French guy from Canada

“Yes, Mr. Stuart I’m here,” I said

“It’s about the afternoon meeting we have. Send me a brief update, it helps me to sync my tone with your music!”

“Wait for my Owl then!” I replied

I resumed the time-lapse!

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“ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮಿ ಚಂದಿರನ ಹೆಣ ಬಂತು ಮುಗಿಲಾಗ ತೇಲತ ಹಗಲ!” – D.R Bendre

At this frame, I saw myself in front of my computer with 4 different versions of resumes. Each one proved how qualified I am, in 4 different areas of work - Development/Testing, Networking, VLSI and Embedded systems.

I opened my mailbox hoping for a response for the emails that I sent to 47 companies last week seeking jobs. I wrote a clear write-up seeking for a reply. I refreshed my inbox. Now I could see hope, included an invitation for an interview. That was my 18th unsuccessful attempt.

August 2nd, just another day, another attempt to get into Mindtree. In the middle of the online test, my phone rang twice.  For the third time, I stood up to shut it down. A pop up on the test window said, “we are closing the test window as you found moving during the test!” 

Fuck, burn that alchemist book which said: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

In that frustration, I dialed back.

“Hey, am I speaking to Mr. Rohith”

I wanted to yell “You ruined my test Bastard” Instead replied in a crisp and an angry tone - “Yes Sir, you are!”

“Hi Rohith, I’m Naveen, calling from a company called IDAMTA. I saw your email for requesting a Job…..

Ok now keep back that alchemist book. Yes, another door opened as written in the book!

And then, a telephonic interview was scheduled. Not sure what made him to consent, within two weeks, 4 telephonic calls and 7 email exchanges I had an offer letter in my hand, with 3 months of no-payment terms!

I had denied similar offers before with 5 and 6 months of no-payment tenure. But it was hard times, I had lost the zeal to repeat the same process of finding jobs. This time I said Yes!

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“ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಕೂಸಿಗೆ, ಕೆಂಡದ ಹಾಸಿಗೆ !”

Working for no money is worse than being jobless. My debts doubled during this time. There was no friend left to take more debts!! It's been one and a half month and the other half is yet to happen, I was completely frustrated every other way.

“Want to join for a coffee?”

“Yes, indeed Sir”

In a coffee shop

“You turned productive in the quickest way. Company has decided to give you a salary from this month”

I was supposed to be happy, but I wasn’t happy because I was about to sell myself for a cheaper price!

It took three months to recover from all the debts I had. Skipping haircuts, sleep more to avoid food spends were ways of saving money to clear those debts.

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“ಲೆಕ್ಕವಿರಿಸಿಲ್ಲ ಜಗ ತನ್ನಾದಿ ಬಂಧುಗಳ, ದಕ್ಕುವುದೆ ಜಸ ನಿನಗೆ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ?” – DVG

Phone rings

“Haa Sir”

“Enri olle trip madana antha bandre hing shock kotbutrala! Return bartha iddini, mathadana!”

Call ends. This was a reply to my resignation.

A slack message pops up.

“Please come”

I started towards my manager’s cabin; he had just arrived from his trip to kabini to settle my revolt.

He initiates conversation.
“Sir let’s keep aside our relationship for a moment. Let’s be formal for this conversation. Heli en problem!”

“Nothing much sir, I think I want some fresh air, probably a change might help me”

“Sir, everyone works for their benefits. Nobody wants to do a charity. If you are expecting anything, let’s talk openly. We can try our best to satisfy you”

“Well, I have an offer with….”

“I don’t want to know what you have, let me know an exact number so that I can talk to the management. The company wants to keep you, Sir!”

I was amused by that open business conversation!

Few mins later, he speaks up again “33% hike plus 30% variable. Will this work for you for one year cycle!”

I sold myself one more time but this time for a better price!

In a tone of agreement, I said: “What’s my position then?”

“Keep what you want! SSE? SD? Ok, let’s make it Senior TC.”

The time-lapse ends.

“Hey Rohith, You still with me?” Raj slacks again.

“You’re not giving a choice, are you?” I wanted to say, instead replied “You get my vote, Sir, count me in for the kick-off”