Chapter 3 - Barabanki to BTM

8 weeks of so called trainings were not a breeze, but both Robin and Vardarajan were shaping up quite well. In any case they were battle hardened by 4 years for meanigless drivel that consisted of 8 semesters, 40 theory subjects and 24 practical exams.Somewhere between physics of 11th standard and getting a campus job in 7th semester, a science student yearning to become an engineer gets the balance quite clear - how many marks do i want and how much time do i have to put in to get those marks. It is quite incredible to find that graph is usually flat after sometime, underlining this equilibrium.

Towards the end of training, rumours started to fill in, some Andhra boys were seen chatting about a huge project coming through. And it would not be testing or maintenance. Some train company in southern US wanted to reduce its IT budget into half, math was simple.

Therefore an afternoon coffee break is a natural time slot to discuss the same. I think we will all get on boarded into this project. Based on my sources, this will require more than 300 people to start of with. Vardarajan said with aplomb that is usually seen for cricket commentators when they are inspecting pitch before the match. And are often completely wrong.

Robin would not have cared less but for the fact that he would like to be around the group.

And there is long term onsite involved as well. Vardarajan with a glee that he could not control.

Gauri looked at him and figured out his state of mind. I bet you already have sounded off your cousin to look for accomodation in Wisconsin.

Yes but this project will be in Arizona, Phoenix. My cousin does not know much about that place. Vardarajan fell into the trap.

Both Robin and Gauri almost spilled their small steel coffee glasses upon hearing this. While Ira was shaking her head in disbelief.

So you guys have bought some house related stuff yet? asked Gauri changing the topic.

Yeah over the weekend we bought a TV and dish connection. Some really cool deal, we are getting 300 channels for less than 250 Rs per month. Robin said,

thinking of future challenges like Eenadu Vs Colors skirmish or Pokhri Vs Golmaal statemate between him and his fiercely hyderabadi roommate. It was still a honey moon period, but he knew it wont remain so.

That seems like a great price. We only have some 50 odd channels in the PG. And with 20 other girls, controlling remote is a difficult mission. In fact Ira

had a big fight with rowdy group of girls last night, said Gauri.

Fight and Girls only conjured one image in both the men's cerebrum. Two women, attacking each other, tearing away the other's clothes, using foul language and for an extra effect getting drenched in the rain.

Finally Robin came back from his stupor and asked - So what was it all about? Some moview?

No, Ira wanted to watch News channel.

BBC was showing our home minister's interview, asking him on internal threats to India. But these women wanted to see a repeat episode of Bigg Boss. Ira was fuming, clearly she had lost the tussle. And it was not even remotely physical as the guys were dreaming.

India always has problems, there is nothing new in these news channels. Robin's remark suggested that he too would have sided with people wanting to watch Bigg Boss.

It is not the question of novelty or newness in the news. Question is whether we are aware of some of the more important issues that our country faces. Ira had done this drill several times with her college classmates. She had found no comfort in the fact that most people in her age group dont give a damn.

Terrorism is the biggest problem. Vardarajan thougt of doing some CP (Class participation for uninitiated).

No you are wrong, terrorism is a symptom of a much larger problem the state faces today, Ira countered.

Pakis have hand in all this, basically they have always been our problem from day 1. Robin had heard stories of his grandparents coming from western punjab, now in pakistan. Stories of how many women were raped, men and children killed by mobs. These mobs or groups of rioters known as "balwai" were always the villian in his naani's stories. He had imagined them to be atleast 7 feet tall, dark in complexion and having an axe in their hands, ready to chomp off your limbs with a perfection of rolex watch.

It is always easier for us to blame others for our problems. Though i agree that Pak has been more than a nuisance to us. Have we reconciled and integrated everyone into the mainstream. Ira was warming up to the discussion.

You mean other castes. Reservations are already there for the same. Gauri's two cents on the subject.

No i mean everyone, minorities, backward castes, tribals. Fact remains that we have only changed a wee bit since independence. Integration is still way off.

Regions too. North indians and South indians are also very different. Vardarajan chipped in.

They are different because politicians have been highlighting the differences and using the regional bogey to keep control of their vote banks. But people too have their responsibility. Ira was not sure if she was making any sense with these people but this was her favourite topic so could not back off.

Oops it is already 3 o clock. Quiz for databases is starting for the first batch in 30 mins. And i have not revised it even once, said Gauri killing the debate prematurely.

Everyone proceeded to the training center with mix of residual thoughts of the discussion and probable questions on joins and foreign keys that DB test might include.

As usual, test was quite predictable. All the four cleared the same with little difficulty. While Ira and Gauri left by 6 PM shuttle, Robin and Vardarajan decided to have dinner in the office.

What is our responsibility to integrate this country? Why was Ira saying that people are responsible for the mess we are in? Vardarajan was recounting on he was somewhat taken aback by conviction on Ira's face in afternoon.

May be she means that we should not vote these politicians into power. Robin conjectured.

But all of these political guys are same. I think she meant doing something more direct that elections ,Vardarajan said.

Robin nodded, but more out of compulsion. Neither he nor Vardarajan could think of any possible way a common person to solve these issues.

Lets get back home and our daily fix of Mountain Dew. Vardarajan agreed.

Over past few days they had developed a ritual of going to a small shop near the house. Uncle ji in his 50's kept usual things - candies, sodas, chips, cigarettes, gutkha and served tea till 11 in the night. Business was good with bachelors in that area. Robin had discovered that place by accident and was somewhat surprised by the taste of tea that Uncleji sold. It was not your typical brick red south indian version of tea, but was rather milky, sugary concoction that reminded him of north.

Then there was also this fixation of having Mountain Dew before going to bed at 10 PM.

Since Vardarajan knew Kannada, he did all the talking and ordering. Usual pleasanteries were exchanged and it was informed that mountain dew is not available today.

Tea was the natual alternative.

Yes we will have 1 by 2 tea. Vardarajan confirmed to Uncleji.

Tea arrived, as usual in a tiny plastic cup which one could only hold with nails due to its design.

As Robin sipped it, a grimace was evident on his face. Uncle ji caught that expression and asked Vardarajan in Kannada if everything was alright.

Vardarajan too found it to somewhat strange, may be the milk had curdled or salt has found its way into the tea.

"Arrey chai mein kaun sa dhoodh daal diya hain tumne", Uncleji shouted in chaste hindi, directing his anger at a figure in the kitchen in backside of the shop.

"Lagta hain fat gaya hain, fridge kaam nahin kar raha tha subah se", the figure belonged to Uncleji's wife, who seemed some 10 15 years younger than Uncleji.

Robin had not expected the language of the dialogue. So he asked, where are you from Uncleji?

From UP,Barabanki to be precise. Uncle ji replied.

Quickly tea was replaced, old taste reappeared. Robin was still interested in his new found regional connect.

For how long you have been here? Robin quizzed on.

It has been 25 years. Now this is our home. Uncleji now had his wife besides him.

25 years back, what brought you here? There was no IT walas, no growth in this city, what exactly brought you here?

Caste. said Uncle ji. Caste brought us here. You see I am from a low caste while my wife is from family of Thakurs. We met in an inter college and wanted to marry. But Barabanki was not a place where such a union could take place. So we ran away from our homes and landed here 25 years back. Our kids are now grown up, both son and daughter are working in Karnataka govt offices. You see both of them have learnt Kannada and we also had backward caste certificate given to us by government. Life has been good since eloping with my wife from UP. Though we miss UP, this is now our home.

They had blended in perfectly said Robin while on their way back to house.

No, they have been integrated, Vardarajan corrected.

Chapter 2

Karl Marx and Appam

Both woke up quite early. Perhaps due to nervious energy of getting ready for the first day at the office. They got into a Factware bus from outside the apartment complex. There were others, from their demeanor Robin could make out that crowd was divided among 3 groups - experienced folks, new joinees from south and worst lot - new joinees from places where South India is a black hole. Places like Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP. Places where kids may or may not remember lessons of geography, likes of huge land mass of Gondwanaland, but would certainly take their parents' best descriptions of South India - place is called Madras, they all eat with bare hands, lick their arms when sambhar drips, put lot of coconut oil in their heads and are all vegetarians.

Bus took some time to come out of throes of BTM, into Hosur road where it joined an entourage of other Factware buses heading towards electronics city. Almost seemed like all the tributaries of the ganges were hurtling towards the endgame - an ocean. They reached at the bus terminal at 8 AM.

Robin and Vardarajan stood in line to get their temp IDs done. Both were little astonished to find the long serpentine queue at the counter. Robin remembered - "we only recruit the best from the best" line that HR fellow made atleast 5 times during the college recruitment drive. Either he was making it up or India suddenly started producing excellend engineers. Something made Robin feel it was not latter.

Armed with temp IDs that looked more like placards, new joinees were ushered into a large auditorium. Crowd was making even a large auditorium at Factware burst at seams.

It was large because Vardarajan had caught a certificate in the lobby that stated recognition of Factware bangalore as largest private sector audi in India.

Some HR fellow started the proceedings, talked about the agenda of the day and the next. There were addresses planned for each of the business unit, Sr VPs would talk about their

group and kind of work they do. Banking, Insurance, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Technology R&D - they all seemed same to Robin. He was not sure why Factware was not structured along technologies - C, Java, Oracle etc.

Thankfully, all of the joinees were excused for a breakfast. Somehow regional gravity was making folks make their groups enroute to the food court. Gujjus and Bombaywallahs were seen together, so did folks from 4 southern states, hindi wallahs were few and far between. Robin stuck with Vardarajan.

Yet another queue at the breakfast counter. Idli Vada combo is the best pick, said Vardarajan. 18 bucks for 2 idlis and 1 vada instead of 12 bucks for idli and 8 bucks for Vada if taken seperately - was his logic. Robin did not protest. He was actually distracted, doing lot of people watching ahead of him in the line.

One particular figure seemed interesting. A girl with should length hair stood some 4-5 places ahead of him. Talking non stop with her accomplice, who looked a lot like other girls in the food court. Petite, braided hair, spectacles and a look which screamed - I am a local. But the first girl was somewhat different.

Was it her salwar suit, strange red with a yellow dupatta. That color combination seemed like a flag of some country, Robin was not too sure. Her hair unlike her friend's had an air of abandon and she had a complexion that made Robin remember most interesting part of an engineering student's hard disk- hot slideshows. Robin had gigabytes of beauties - both Indian and International. Laetitia Casta, Pam Anderson, Naomi Campbell and everyone's fave- Jenny McCarthy. Indian regulars were Aishwarya, Maliaka, Rani, Sherlyn etc. But Robin also had a large exotic collection of southern belles, made him feel like a connoisseur. Ramya, Rambha, Jyothika, and ofcourse Silk Smitha. Yes this girl's complexion seemed a carbon copy of Silk Smitha's, especially that shot from Sadma where she is wearing what seems like a short skirt while talking to Kamal Hassan.

There was another thing on her back, was a tattoo but Robin wasnt sure of the figure. Was it a....?

Line moved on and both took coupons for the food.

Both the girl and her friend sat adjacent to Robin and his only companion in the new city. And then an unlikely thing happened - Vardarajan spoke first. Are you from Hyderabad? No, we are not said Silk Smitha. I am from Bhilai and she is from Kozhikode.

"My name is Vardarajan, from hyd and this is Robin Nirula from Delhi."

"I am Ira Menon and this is Gauri Nair"

So is your native Kerala? asked Vardarajan

Yes, my father is in govt service, but i do go to Kerala every year to visit grand parents from both sides.

Aha, that explains your complaint to the food court guy about no appams in the breakfast. Vardarajan was in self congratulatory mode after putting 2 and 2 together. Robin wanted to ask what is an appam but he stopped himself.

"Did you go to same engineering college" Robin finally opened his mouth.

"No, we just met yesterday at the PG place where we are staying. Its in Koramangala."

Motely group of four walked back to the auditorium, fully expecting hours of boredom that beckoned them. None of the speaker denied that commodity. One after the another they all showed a hockey stick curve, how proud they were to be part of "it" from the beginnings, which in IT means 1992 - the seminal year when for the first time starting salary of the best govt concerns were matched by IT companies. Robin was thinking about number of options each of these buggers had and what would he do with that kind of money.

He was not alone, Vardarajan was too thinking of the same. Currency was different - how many flats in Bangalore?

That was at their back of the mind while having lunch with the girls. Gauri and Ira though differed. It is not the money that is driving them. They like working in Technology. They are passionate about their work, clients and shareholders.

I would not like to work in an IT company if i have this kind of money- Robin declared. I will start on my own.

Vardarajan too chipped in - Me too, One of my cousin's friend is working for Factware and has also opened a consultancy in US.

What does he consult on? Gauri asked.

He provides sub contractors on H1B to companies in US. Vardarajan said, quite matter of factly. His company gets 80 dollars an hour and gives 20 dollars an hour to the employee. He and his wife make the difference.

Great but i did not have that kind of business in mind, Robin snapped Vardarajan's line of thought.

I will open a series of thematic lounges in Delhi and Mumbai.

What sort of themes? - Ira was interested.

Havent planned, but it would be a dark mysterious lounge where rich and famous would spend thousands. I have also thought of a name - Hawas.

What is hawas? Gauri asked

Vardarajan had an idea but did not want to risk it. Ira was amused but controlled herself.

She gave a "I ll tell you later" look to Gauri and they continued eating their lunch.

May be we could all go to a lounge in Bangalore, I ll get some ideas on decor and ambience. Though he said it with a straight face, it somehow was not convincing to the girls.

Day 1 and 2 passed with an occasional mishap. An absentee speaker, rumour of a brawl between 2 new joinees and someone snoring in one of the sessions.

We need to find accomodation this week itself. Policy says we cant remain in the guest house for more than 5 days. Vardarajan reminded Robin.

Do you guys plan to be in a PG? Gauri and I are quite ok with this place.

No, we want an independent place. Where we could get in our furniture and stuff.

But do you have any stuff with you?

No, i am talking about a month or 2 later. When salary comes. To be accurate, Robin was thinking of credit card once it comes through.

Vardarajan agreed gingerly, he thought about the difference in the rent.

Finding a house in bangalore is not a problem. Almost everyone is a house owner willing to give their house to software engineers. And yet it is a supplier's market. 10 K for 2BHK, 10 months advance, water electricity seperate, no non veg cooking. Plain and simple rules that were also embossed on the rent agreement.

Both Robin and Vardarajan knew of the financials of renting a house in Bangalore and so had come prepared. Mr Reddy was their new landlord and in no way related to Mr Reddy who was the owner of Factware guest house. Robin could make out this is no coincidence.

Money changed hands, last minute instructions were handed out by the owner and voila - Robin and Vardarajan had roof over their heads.

Its is a fantastically located few hundered meters from a temple, perfect from vaastu perspective and has vitrified flooring. vardarajan was enthusiastically explaining his new abode in the city.

Great, so lets celebrate your new house. Ira was already bored with monotony of the PG.

Deciding place was a big problem. Took 2 days for the four of them to agree. Failed candidates included - potluck at new place (by Vardarajan) and new Mohanlal movie(by Gauri).

KS, newest and perhaps hippest lounge was agreed upon. Adjectives about the place came primarily from Robin. Ira had an idea behind the name KS of the lounge but she did not want

to tell the same to Gauri. Varadarajan enquired about how expensive it would be. 1000 bucks in cover charges, per head. Girls are covered.

What are cover charges?

It means that you can eat and drink upto 1000 bucks without paying extra.

And what if i dont use the limit?

Robin had no answer. Clearly this guy needs more education than i anticipated, he thought.

So it is friday 7 pm sharp. I ll sms the address tonight.

He was itching to use his party shirt, a darkish purple zodiac that he had bought in his 7th semester thinking he will get lucky with that dame from LSR college. But he did not want to think about her.

Vardarajan slipped into his usual weekend gear, white shirt and jeans. He would have continued with his ritual of rounding it with sandals till Robin told him that club walas wont allow sandals.

Then i ll put on my office shoes.

Ladies were on time and they proceeded to the 10th floor of the building where lounge was housed.

Gauri had lost her specs. But rest was more of the same.

Ira however had transformed, a black knee length dress and some make up. Did wonders to her, Robin thought.

Drinks were quickly ordered, rum and coke for Robin, mocktails for Gauri and Vardarajan and martini for Ira.

Why are mocktails as expensive as alcoholic drinks? asked Vardarajan.

So that lounge make money from teetotallers as well. replied Ira

It also does wonders to promote alcohol. Robin was getting into his witty groove.

Theme was retro and seats began to fill in with more restless group of people getting into the mood of enjoying weekend.

I would lose the DJ, have recliners for everyone, free drinks to women, karaoke nights and have a large viewscreen with FTV running on it. Robin had his ideas and rum was making them flow.

But why Delhi? Ira asked.

That city has taste and most importantly lots of money.

I agree with the money part, not quite sure on the taste. Ira was no Delhi fan, but she somehow liked this fellow.

Music was at its loudest and few pioneers had already starting dancing on what could be technically called a dance floor. Girls were making eye contact with each other which suggested that neither wanted to take the lead. Vardarajan was still permuting the numbers that total upto 2000 they had given at counter.

Robin was waiting for the right song and some kick from his 4th peg of rum. 4 was seminal when it came to pegs. He had seen many introverts in his college become debating heroes after 4th, confessions of first kiss, daring wagers on asking a girl out, list was long. There it was, DJ did him a favour and started Staying Alive by BeeGees. This is my favourite song, lets go.

Ira responded and the two sashayed their way to middle.

He was not too bad, had dabbled in jam sessions in colleges, marriages, impromtou hostel parties and even jaagrans. Every north indian is a real life manifestation of Yash Chopra's song and dance hero. Atleast Robin was.

Ira too had her share of dancing in her school and college days. They could both see Vardarajan and Gauri egging them on from their seats.

Fourth peg had indeed made him float in the air. He wasnt sure how many drinks Ira had taken but guessed she was not far away. Evidence was the fact they were among 4-5 people who remained on the floor while DJ was playing Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd. Hardly a club number. More music followed, Gypsy Kings. Much better to dance on.

As they did their crude attempts on Tango and Salsa, Robin noticed that tattoo again.

Isnt that a sickle and hammer? he shouted in her ear.

Yes, my father is a trade union leader at the steel plant. Ira said unapologetically.

Robin felt a lump in his throat but carried on dancing till the closing hours of the place.

Would you like to have breakfast tomorrow, Kerala style? Ira was not sure of the response but asked anyways.

Yes, very much. Robin wanted to control his exuberance but alcohol was getting ahead of him. As long as there are appams.