In God's Own Country..

After a 6-month long wait, TCS asked me to join them on December 26^th, 2012.The longest period of my stay at home, after 2001, had been finally broken. In the act of thinking about my family, friends, 'what's next', and the 'act of change’ I had put on 5kgs to my weight.  With emotions running high, I was all set for the next big thing in my life-starting my career as an Assistant System Engineer-Trainee.  It was time for me to answer ‘When will you start working?’, ’Did you complete your degree?’, ’Why don’t you try another company?’, and many more. My next location on cards was Trivandrum.

Finally, a new dream had arrived to the land referred to as ‘‘God’s own country’’. The dream was something very new of its own kind. It had no definite form, but was all set to be realized.

 We, (Me and my B.E. college friends), reached Trivandrum on 25^th December,2012. And the journey began.

Lucky me!!!

 After finishing all the documentation and other formalities, I was posted in EIS domain. For the information of all the non-TCSers, EIS means Engineering and Industrial Services. It is considered to be special and fashionable in TCS than other IT domains for graduates from ECE,EE and Mech.

 I had never thought, even in my wildest dreams, that I would be working for Embedded designs in TCS(EIS). I was lucky enough to get Bangalore as my base location. It was all great to have our accommodation within a kilometer from the TCS campus. The series of good things continued as I got 'morning shift' and the nicest of all teams-T170.

Lessons Learnt in Trivandrum (The first 30 days of ILP)

*Believe in Miracles

Getting mapped in Embedded systems (EIS) with Bangalore as base location.

*Never be Pre-judgmental

Me, and my friend were standing in front of the Domino’s (in Tejaswini). We both discussed on what to order and couldn't make a decision.  I thought of asking the lady in the shop to help us out. We were framing some bits in Malayalam to talk to her. As soon as I started with my question in Malayalam she replied, ”How can I help you out, sir? You can choose from the menu and place your order. ” I was baffled and didn't utter a single word after that. Next few visits to the Domino’s made me feel that her English is too good.

  *Honesty is the best policy

 It was 8.30 in the night when we came back after an outing at Poovar backwaters. The excitement for the day was not yet finished when we found out that my friend had lost his cellphone. He tried calling the number again and again. After a few tries he almost gave up. All of a sudden someone picked the call and told my friend to collect the phone from him. He was the same guy from whose stall we had panipuri, the previous day. After returning the phone he said, ”Bhaiyya, main toh khush hoon.Mujhe kisi aur ki cheez nahi chahiye”.

And we have our evening chats in the same stall at least twice in a week.

*A Park doesn't always mean fun.

 

*You are Unique,just like Everyone else

Before coming to this place, I thought I was damn good at few things. But now I feel like the whole world is much better than me in every aspect. Seriously, TCS is a pool of unbeatable talents.

Still, I do console myself that I’m unique, just like everyone else.

*Music unites

I am in one of the most diverse team in ILP, Trivandrum. We have people from U.P., Uttarakhand , Gujarat, Rajasthan , J&K, A.P., Karnataka, Kerala etc

Our team had been to various places during the weekends. We all differ in cultures, languages, states etc.  But Music unites us. Music has no boundaries. As soon as the song starts we all start dancing. There is a sense of oneness among us, unknowingly.

(Next time I listen to ‘Hookah bar’, I’ll start dancing without my conscience.)

 I always like to quote- ‘Without music, life would be a mistake’.

*The most enjoyable part of any trip is its travel.

Trips to Varkala beach and Ponmudi hills with the Group members.

*Spread the Happiness

It was the last day of 2012. We had been to (Roma)Juice center to have some fruit juice after dinner. As soon as we occupied our seats the owner of the shop gave us some sweets and wished us a happy year ahead.

The old guy said, “Actually, TCSers are our main customers. We are planning to extend our shop. So I thought of sharing this happiness. Would you like to have some wine?”

“No. Thanks for the sweets” we replied in a gentle tone.

*Friendships happen…You don’t plan them

*Learning is Fun

During weekends and leisure periods, I have started learning Malayalam and Telugu from my colleagues and trying to be an expert in Hindi as well. Learning a language is great fun. It checks your hold over your mother tongue and English.

I guess, by the end of this training, I’ll be able to speak in broken Malayalam and Telugu.

*Kannada sounds different these days.

I am not an ardent fan of Kannada, but the language appears to be so endearing these days. Kannada songs have taken a dimension these days. Some unknown person who speaks kannada, or who is from Karnataka suddenly strikes a chord and becomes someone whom you are acquainted from ages.

*When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry!!

A mere phone call to my parents informing about my first salary made me emotional. Trust me,first salary feels like heaven.

To be continued (Hopefully)..

P.S.  “I scarcely remember counting upon happiness—I look not for it if it be not in the present hour—nothing startles me beyond the moment. The setting sun will always set me to rights, or if a sparrow comes before my Window I take part in its existence and pick about the gravel.” 
― John Keats

Indeed, Life is all about living the moment to its core.

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