Postman - no more!!!

Posting on this page has taken the longest of times. Those who know me well, would say, well... this was very much expected... After all, he does have to hold on to the name of "Born Procrastinator"... I wish these people were right in saying that I am being nothing but plain lazy, however, recent times have been nothing but short of organized - hectic - turmoil.

Over the course of the last month, I have learned a lot of lessons, that most people would perhaps not prefer to learn the HARD way... I have met strange people, whose character sketches, probably the most trained minds in Holly/Tolly/Bolly ~ wood may not have conceived so far and seen sides of acquaintances, that seemed far distant from what one might have imagined of them.... Then again, the world is never short of surprises is it... Just as you think you have settled into the lane where everything just cruises by, life is ready to slap you with yetAnotherSurprise just across the bend.

I have to admit, some of these lessons would come as fairly obvious to the large majority of the un-insane that I keep in touch with.... For example, that the best way to learn the local language is to get into a restaurant, eat for a thousand bucks and tip 1 Rupee, or if you are a F.R.I.E.N.D.S. fanatic, then the episode you choose to introduce your folks at home to the world of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. not be the one where Chandler says, "You know when you are at home with a girl and you are doing it, sometimes , images flash by in your mind... like the photocopy girl or even your mum... and you cant stop what you are doing and you just have to keep going and its like you are doing your own mum..."... Needless to say, mum took off the next instant, leaving her "little boy" feeling as weird as the extremeties to which the word can be stretched. Its ironic that probably the only two people who were involved in the enactment of the above scene are the two who will for all instances in time, till Judgement Day, fail to detect any trace of humor in what happened there.

However, there are lessons that do not come as fairly obvious to the normal human mind. Like, just coz you have had clear skies for the last 2 months doesnt mean that you can leave your bike in the company parking on a 3 day trip to your native place. Always be prepared for the worst. Simply put, you take the variables:
a) Clear skies for last 3 months
b) Lots of security at your office
c) Basement parking away from heat of sun and possible winds
Use the function WCS*(variable1, variable2,....) on these.
WCS => Worst Case Scenario
Using these three you get WCS(a, b, c) = 3 x (Heavy Rains the day after you leave) + 2 x (Extensive flooding in the basement) + (Repairs worth atleast 4000) + (Bike that now looks like a cross somwhere between an Nigerian Zebra and a Jamaican spotted cheetah)

Now this bike is special to me for reasons 1,2,3,4...99,100....1001. Perhaps, reason number 1 being the strongest that its the first major purchase of my life from apun ka pocket, from only my second job. I thoroughly enjoy my second job, which is ironic considering that I enjoyed job number 1 a lot as well. The income was not regular, but, job satisfaction was tremendous.

Now the job profile of postman may not seem to match the criteria mentioned above. But what if it were a postman, who had to only deliver mails composed by one of the most special people in his life. Now what if we removed from it the mundanity of only delivering mails, and made it dynamic, say ~ get few groceries, run minor basic errands pertaining to common household and ofcourse have the prestige of being pharmaceutical representative. How could this be even more special? Well, how about if you add to it salary and its associated perks. A special lunch/dinner every now and then. Blessings to guide you and dispel any fear of an oncoming exam/ challenge in your life. Ahh yes!!! And my personal favourite, the story that would ensue once you completed any of the above mentioned tasks. Stories from the not so recent past. Some of a war long forgotten, many of a love that movies nowadays seem lack lustre in front of.

When on June 3rd, 2006 I had to resign from the post to take up the next job, I wondered what would happen to this post. Even at age 86 my grandma, or 'Mithi' as we all lovingly called her was one of the most active people I knew. Two tractors and a crane supported by 30 fully grown elephants couldnt stop her from entering the kitchen and making special food for her grandchildren. The last thing i expected on September 12th, 2007 - was the big man upstairs terminating her license to employ and that too w/o a word of warning. I guess its the last thing anyone in the neighbourhood expected.

They say 'Everything happens for the Best'. There are situations in life where the most optimistic of souls would question that statement. What amount of 'the Best' would it take to compensate for the tears of a hundred people. The greater good seems blurry at these instances. It would take these optimists, perhaps weeks before they could see the bigger picture. Perhaps 'the BIG MAN' was one chef short and decieded to call for himself the best that there was on 'Planet Earth'. Some say, that the most important ingredient in any dish is a touch of 'Love'. I guess its no mystery then that Mithi could cook the best dishes on Earth.

P.S.: This post is dedicated to my Grandma. One of the closest people in my life, and one with whom every moment I cherished. Thanks for everything Mithi. May your blessings be with all of us, till we join you in the BIG KITCHEN upstairs.

Lots of love,
POSTMAN.