Uninteresting & hyper random truths

I have been tagged, for the first time in blog – life. And, with due respect to the tagger, S, I hereby present seven random truths about me. I don’t think they fit into the ‘pearls of wisdom’ bill. However, I have consciously tried to avoid stuff that might already be apparent from this overtly descriptive and painfully personal blog.

Starting with the benign, moving slowly towards the more random and ending with the scariest, that’s the idea for today..

1. For a long time in life (read till 12^th standard), I dreamt of graduating with an Arts degree in English Literature. I wanted to go on and on and on.. up to a Ph. D. in English Literature. I still dream of doing it someday.
2. Despite being touted as a pure blooded multi-tasker, I still cannot smile when I am concentrating on playing the Veena. Family & friends who have graciously attended my performances have given me major grief over this. Really, I am working on it. Well, actually not. How does one work on such things?
3. I am an avid bathroom singer. Just walking in to the loo is enough cue to my vocal chords to start off. I sing everything ranging from classical to filmy to advertisement to ring tone level music in all languages once inside the loo, much to the chagrin of co workers.
4. When I was 10, I got very excited by the idea of having a personal diary. Two months in to it, I stopped abruptly. ‘Cos my cousin took it without my permission and read it. That day, I lost belief in the possibility of privacy, be them in hard copies or soft copies. From then on, my private thoughts have always stayed only in my head, nowhere else.
5. I totally love the fact that I am a Leo and consider it the best gift life could have given me. I have still not been able to figure out whether I identify myself with being enthusiastic, courageous, fiery, faithful and bossy & intolerant (a couple of negative traits, just to not appear pompous :P) because I am a Leo or whether knowing the fact that I am a Leo has made me want to identify with these character traits.
6. I forget to eat and sleep when I am in the middle of something important. No, really. There have been times during IIMB when I was working on this paper (which had weekly sectional deadlines) when Nefertiti had to actually come up to my room to remind me to have food (by then I would have missed breakfast, lunch, dinner and one night’s sleep in a row without having realized it). These days, it does not happen so much, firstly because there is nothing so earth shatteringly important that I am up to and secondly because Mom polices me in to eating and sleeping. If not for Moms!
7. I have this (not so ugly) habit of talking to myself. Cannot be such a bad thing, can it? It all started when I was gearing up for my 10^th Boards. A counselor gave us.. hmm.. well.. some great counseling on the effectiveness of reading out loud when studying for exams. I got so totally sold on the idea that from that day on, I started talking out loud – definitions, problems, solutions, analysis – pretty much everything. I have imported the habit in to office as well where I talk to myself for hours together, fighting out with myself on the look, feel and content of my story boards and excels. My colleagues have got so used to this randomness (initially they used to think that I was psychologically affected, perhaps they do so even now) that they no longer respond when I actually try talking to them!

And, I tag:

Manage & Katrix – they don’t seem to be wanting to update their blogs at all!

Nefertiti – curious to know what those 7 random truths might be

Jo – to just satisfy my ego that I already know all those 7 truths, whatever they might be J

Human Touch

Ehsaan is busy overseeing the preparations this morning. No doubt he is ticking off in his mind all the important parameters including presentation, style & spread as his eyes go over the choice dishes of the day.

Introducing to you Ehsaan, the meticulous, young entrepreneur, in fact the most enterprising businessman I have ever met. To him, quality comes first, things like break-even and profit just incidental. He dons the many roles of Chief Accountant, Front Office Manager and Executive Chef, Kitchens at the Cafeteria, **** Office, Chennai.

The one thing that I missed to add in the preceding paragraph, albeit intentionally, was about the whole love and affection part. This bit definitely deserves a dedicated paragraph. And, also the surprises that are sprung on us in the form of ‘Dish of the day – Chef’s Special’. Let’s take them one at a time, or, perhaps, together, as a package.

So, we go up for tea at 11 in the morning. Everyone orders ‘Adhrak waali chai’s. I call for a lemon tea. You heard that right. We order for tea, having done away with robotic things like the vending machine. We, as a whole, completely believe in the mammoth impact of the human touch on everything including our morning tea. Getting back from that (this time quite) significant digression, once we place our orders, some heated discussions ensue in the kitchens. Out comes Ehsaan’s trusted envoy (whose name I do not remember now). He says, “Saab, adhrak nahi hai. Masala chai chalega?” Everyone at the tea table nods their head enthusiastically. Masala sounds far better than adhrak after all. And, then everyone gets their chai. I do not, at the same time as the rest. Remember, mine has a far more special ingredient than some chindi adhrak. After around 10 minutes in to the chai, the sandwiches arrive – Chise and Vag sandwiches (as they are spelt on the white board in the cafeteria). The other things on the board include Orinj Juce, Lemin Juse, Bel Pure and Samsa (optional dishes – dynamic on an hourly basis –that is why a white board and not a fixed menu – so on and so forth).

Digressions, digressions. Let’s focus. My colleague says, “Arey bhaiyya, yeh toh veg sandwich nahi hai. Sirf cheese hai andhar”, to which the envoy says (definitely ‘pyaar se’), “Saab, yeh hai na, tamatar. Toh veg sandwich hi hai saab.” He walks back, muttering to himself, am sure just these words, “How nice & accommodative (irritating) of these busy (jobless) guys. They just accept (complain & complain about) whatever is offered!” Trust me, he is a really sweet and nice guy, the best you can get around there.

15 minutes down. Everyone is done with their masala chai and respective sandwiches. My lemon tea is yet to arrive. I make a personal visit to the kitchen. “Bhaiya lemon chai kahan hai?” Ehsaan is luckily around. I am quite happy. He will take care now, being the budding, enthusiastic entrepreneur he is. “Madam, nimbu nahi hai.” I am dumbstruck. My colleagues chide me for having inconvenienced Ehsaan and his team by asking for lemon tea in the wee hours of the morning. That is apparently an afternoon delicacy. I go to my desk crestfallen.

Nevertheless, we, the shameless tea lovers return bang on at 3.30. This time, I do not ask for anything. Ehsaan personally makes sure that I get the best lemon tea around the place. Bina cheeni, mind it. I have by now given up trying to explain to these guys that I might be on a strict diet, but I am very particular about having enough and more sugar in my tea. Ehsaan and his mentees have much more pressing issues like presentation, style and spread on their minds. Not such operational issues like sugar and no sugar for them, no Sir.

These days, Ehsaan does not serve us personally any more. He handles only the premium guests, like partners, directors and other heads.

However, he has left us with a rich and experienced team, which follows to the 'T', his presentation style, diversity and more importantly, the spellings on the white board.

Footnote: I have never in my life missed a Vending Machine more than in the past 7 months. To hell with burnt out chais and the human touch!