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.
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