Lately, I have been addicted to riding my bike (Yamaha R15) everywhere I go, be it to work or just outside even to do the most smallest of things. I never knew I would like riding my bike so much. Previously, I would shy away from riding the bike, was afraid that I would hit someone or crash the bike or something nasty would happen. But thanks to my brother, wife and my parents, the fear of riding the bikes on the streets of Mumbai is going away. However, there are still challenges when it comes to riding the bike on slopes. This is one area where I need to improve and improve quickly, if I am to take the bike for long distance rides. However, so far I am just enjoying the freedom it provides.. just getting away from any place, at any time I want and not being dependent on anyone else.
Flight to Mumbai
I was in Chennai for a system roll-out on Thursday and Friday along with RK. The system roll-out went well and everything was going smoothly until our time for departure from Chennai. Our flight to Mumbai was at 19:55pm and hence the cab was arranged for 17:30pm. We managed to finish our work by that time and the only thing left was taking out cash from the ATM. There are 3 ATM’s outside the office all in the proximity of 5 mins. We went to the first ATM and were informed that it was not functioning, so we went to the 2nd one and it turns out the same was also out-of-order. Finally we turned to the 3rd ATM and found ourselves waiting for 10 mins before we could finally withdraw cash. It was already around 18:00 pm when we finally started for the airport. We felt that we were running late since it took approx. 1 hr to get to Chennai airport and counters closed 45 mins before flight departure.
RK wanted to go AAVIN and get some milk products before leaving for Mumbai. We were in two minds: to go or not to go. We looked at the watch and decided let’s go for it. We still had 2 hours for the actual flight departure and decided to take our chance. So we went in the opp. direction to the airport and drive for about 10 mins until we reached the shop only to find out that they were out of stock. We gave up and decided it is best to head straight for the airport. Chennai traffic can get really bad especially with the Metro rail work going on in some parts of the city. There were a lot of intersections where we were just crawling through the traffic. At first, I was very hopeful that we will reach within time. However as time went on, my hopefulness was turning into despair. One eye was constantly on the watch observing the time very closely, counting every minute. Finally at around 19:15 we reached the airport. RK had already signed the receipt for the car driver and a few precious seconds were saved.
As soon as we got down from our cab, we started running towards the terminal. As anyone who is aware with the Chennai airport, there are two departure gates and terminal entry is right in between the two gates. So we saw were the Spice jet counters were and started running towards that direction. We entered the terminal, and headed straight for the counter. We were probably amongst the last few people to check-in. While the airline person was preparing the boarding pass, he informed me that the boarding for the flight had already started. This was probably the only time when I have been so late without actually missing the flight. After collecting our boarding passes we were extremely relieved as there was no way we were going to miss the flight.
Security checking at the Chennai airport is a very cumbersome process. The CISF personnel, who are in charge of airport security, are extremely slow. There was a very long line for security checking. While waiting for our turn to come, we heard the final boarding call for our flight to Mumbai. I nearly panicked, I was like when will this line move forward. Finally, I put my luggage in the scanning machine and went through the security check. Before that, I could see RK arguing with the security personnel and I was like “Oh no.. something has happened”. I went through the security check and found RK standing near departure gate. I asked him what had happened, and why he was arguing with the security personnel. It turns out, his baggage tag fell down somewhere in scanning machine and he was explaining to the security personnel that there was no way he was going back to get the tag and go through the security procedure again. Well the security personnel heard him out, took another tag, stamped it and asked him to proceed further. In the meanwhile our bus, which took us to the plane, arrived. We looked at each other and had a hearty laugh about the whole thing.
80-20 rule
So after a very long time, I have decided to start writing again. I am going to use the 80-20 rule which is currently being used by a lot of people. Spend 80% of time doing what you have to do and remaining 20% of time doing what you want to do. There is a huge difference in doing what you have to do and what you want to do. I am just trying to do what I should have done a very long time. To resume writing.
I could have written this on my old blog, but I want to take this as a new beginning and see how things go from here. Lately, I have also started to read a lot of books. Reading and Writing were one of my passions as I gave them up in pursuit of something else. Always giving excuses that there is no time, and that I am very busy etc. I have realized that if you really want to do something, you will always find time for it. So I am determined this time to keep writing and reading and not give up on things which I want to do.
Mental Anguish
Lately, I am undergoing a lot of mental anguish where I am constantly thinking about the things that are happening in my professional life. It has reached a point where I am now mentally stressed out and just feel like leaving everything for a while and heading out somewhere far. I have also been thinking about how my life has taken shape over the last decade. The opportunities I had and how I let it slip out of my hand. Just thinking about all those things is making me feel really sad and stressed out. There are so many things which I want to do, but I am not able to do because I am so dogged down with the current obligations. Almost half of my pay goes in paying the EMI's and I am yet to buy a house. Every morning I wake up just thinking about all these things and saying to myself that things will get better. I know, only I can make them better, however, I dont know why I am not even trying. Whenever Geeta tells me to do something abt it, I say I do not have the time. I always keep putting things away even though those are things that I should be doing. May be I am too used to living this way. May be this stress is an integral part of me. May be I am too afraid to take a chance to change things for the better. I dont know.
Trip to Aarey
Finally got myself registered for PMP mandatory training at PMI Mumbai Chapter. The PMI office has moved from Wadala to Royal Palms in Goregaon which gave us (me and Geeta) to explore Aarey Milk Colony. The whole place looks really beautiful during rains, the green and gray complement very well. We decided by checking out some sample offices/ flats in the building where the PMI office is located and took some pics of the view from the same. The next we decided to walk down the Aarey road and it was worth the walk. On the way we saw some amazing trees, snails and also went paddle boat riding in the Chota Kashmir club. While boating, it started raining really heavily and it added all the more the charm to the place. I havent been boating in a really long time and really had a good time with Geeta. I really feel lucky to have someone like her in my life as she helps me rediscover myself. There have been a lot of changes in me, which has led me to exist and not live my life. These times with her make me live my life again. Hoping for such times to continue for a long time to come.
Long time no write
It has been a while since I have written anything. There are a lot of things which have happened which I would have wanted to share, but due to too much work pressure have not been able to do the same. Lately I have been working like there is nothing. It seems like I have been demoted from a manager to a worker class employee. The current project which I have been working on is going on from last one year with no sight in the end for the same. I am finally realizing that transitioning a project of this magnitude (15000+) employees is not a piece of cake. The entire project has just kept me busy with no time to pursue anything else. I am finally writing after such a long time because of persistent efforts of my fiancé who has been insisting I write something. Even this post I am writing while traveling in the flight and now in the taxi. I am not sure if it is just me or even others in mid-management level are also going through the same. As of right now I am hoping that I keep writing more often and write on more subjects other than just work.
My thoughts...My story 