Holi 2008 - Manjulika !

The day Mar-20-2008. Just a normal day, Office was open as usual, though there were lots of offices that were closed or gave an optional holiday. The usual traffic problem was not seen..as they surfed their route to Office. Just the same routine...but then lets not forget that tomorrow (Mar-21) is Holi. There were rumours that there could be some surprises on the floor. Some already, equivalent of a AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) had decided to work from home or take the day off to escape the "surprises".

Well, the day started off work as usual. Though some folks were spotted carrying into the offshore Development Centre (ODC) some shady packages. Who knew what they had inside them ! Some more were spotted wearing quite old shirts/T-shirts and coming to office. Now the inquisitive human mind was already curious....what was going on ? Some came up to ask, when were the 'surprises' planned - so that they could pack up and start an early long-weekend !

The morning passed on, the lunch time came an went....no surprises. Folks started wondering if the surprises were just a rumour ! But was it ...then it happened ! At ~3:30 noon, suddenly on the centre-table packets of colour (gulal) started appearing. There was quite a lot...and it came from all corners. Now we knew, what were those 'shady' packets that were smuggled into the ODC. Thus the Holi celebrations started ...with the formal 'Happly Holi' celebrations. And then it picked up intensity !!!

But did we have all participating ? News came that some of the project folks were hiding in the Conference room and 'seemingly' having a meeting on migration. But..unfortunately they were on the same floor, so it was not much, to get them into the 'holi' mood.

Another project (on the same floor) made a hundred metre dash and all of them could be seen hiding in their Project Lab. They were spotted hiding behind their CA/Sierra boxes. Another, project had also brought the 'shady' packets, but after seeing the intensity of the Holi celebrations :-) made a dash out of the ODC...and ran helter-shelter. And last of the lot, the 'it-u-can't-beat-them-join-them' - were the most silent lot. They seemed busy doing the office work, but once they had gulal on their face - they joined whole-heartily into the Holi celebrations.

Thus the celebrations went on for the next one-hour, gulal was sprayed, re-sprayed and re-applied yet again. Washing the colourful mug did not help- as it more gulal would be applied. Thus after ~1 hrs of fervent Holi celebration - by which time-it was ensured that everybody was at least 90% unrecognizable, the Holi celeb came to a closure. It was a gulal-gulal every where, but no where else to apply.

Folks could be seeing making a run for the rest-room (well, off-course don't look at the once white marble floor tiles) to retrieve back their original mug-shots and get the United Colours of Benetton off their faces. Off course the best mug-shot of the Holi celebrations went to .....Manjulika (of Bhool Bhulaiya fame).

Quoting comments received from (as far as) Canada (!!) after looking at this mug-shot -"Wow nice pics, specially the Manjulika one, if I see in the night it will scare the hell out of me".

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Hah ! So much for Holi celebrations.... Word was send out to the folks hiding in the Lab, Rest room (!!!) to come out of hiding.....

Wishing you a Happy Holi 2008 !

Time does Fly

It was a normal Saturday. Everything was a at ease, when I alighted from the train at Trivandrum. Had a suitcase at one hand and a letter in the other. The letter said that I was to report to Hotel Philips International, near Medical College. Well luggage in tow and spirits high, I set for 'Philips International'...I was to check into an international hotel ...expected at least 4-5 star ! Took an auto and asking folks along the way finally found my way to the Hotel. But, wait must be some mistake - from outside the Hotel did not look of International standard at all ! It was a *3-star !! Well, welcome to Trivandrum.

Well, such was the case...went in and checked in at the counter. A choice was given on whether I wanted a road-facing room (lots of sunlight and fresh air) or an inside room (no pollution). Well..i took the more brighter room. Lo and behold..the sun was beaming into the room ! All the other rooms in the aisle were closed and Not a living soul around on the top two floors ! Well, refreshed, made the call home, had a lunch and had an afternoon siesta.

Evening, still all the rooms on the floor were not occupied ! Did I arrive at the correct place ? Stood at the balcony watching the lazing Saturday crowd stroll by (I was on the third floor). Then saw a living soul from the lookout. Was in a typical lungi (at half-waist) standing near the Hotel entrance. Looked a typical mallu thinking what to do next, but wait I looked closer. There on the T-Shirt was printer "IIT-Chennai". Thus I met Bala - the first person of my batch. Then in the late evening 3-4 more trickled in. We had dinner together and shared who's who late into the night.

Sunday...well, nothing much to do. We lazed out way into the restaurant opposite to the Hotel Philip's International. It was called - Chincoo's...we sat down to have a late brunch of appam-egg curry and a tall glass of team. Ahh...From that perch we say, more folks arriving in auto's. Some had the same surprised look on looking the Philip's International. We had to hide our grin's later in the day when we introduced ourselves...1 day seniors to the Hotel. Sunday noon, my hotel rommie arrived...with the opening intro "My name is Munaff, Abdul Munaff" :-) By Sunday night, the Hotel was full...we had folks from all part of India, an eager and excited lot.

Monday, we dressed to our very best - formal was a must. Certificates and the joining letter in hand we took the shuttle to the Training camp. We were duly showed the way to the Training/Induction hall. The clock stroked 9:00 AM. Col. Nair walked in, looked at the eager crowd and gave a huge grin, and said "Welcome to TCS". That day was March-22-1999.

Time does fly. Project came and project went. Got to know people, new experiences, new friends were made, old friends were lost (though the search is always on). This week, we the batch of T-75 complete 9 year(s) on Mar-22-2008.

Three cheers to that ! Time does fly....