Friends forever

This morning I got a g mail ping from a friend cum former colleague of mine. She wrote, “Hey! Even Kunal has put in his papers. What are you waiting for?” As soon as I read it, I rushed to Kunal and bombarded him with questions; " You did not tell me you have resigned! Where have you joined? When are you leaving?" i asked him. He took me to our usual hangout “The Staircase”. Initially, he was not forthcoming. But as he realised that there is no escaping without answering me; he finally gave up and confided into me.
We discussed about all the offers he had, and decided which one was the best. After the meeting i was feeling a bit uneasy, the trouble is that i can't share these details with anyone, I can't even put it on my blog, because I have promised Kunal to keep things to myself only.

In the recent past, quite a few people have quit and more colleagues have put in their papers. Although new people are joining the team, all good friends are leaving the organization. In fact they too are asking me to change. But I am ambivalent about leaving this place and there are reasons. Sanna’s office is nearby so we have lunch together and return home together. My boss is a great writer, and he is helping me in improving my writing skill. I also share a good rapport with my boss and I am scared at the prospects of what if I get a bad boss in new office?

Well, as far as my shifting is concerned lets see what happens to it. But I am sure as hell that I am going to miss my friends.

One my way to office

"This auto is the cleanest auto I have ever seen”, I said appreciably to the auto driver. “Oh, because it takes me two hour to clean it every morning”, he beamed. ‘Only yesterday my wife told me that her friend teased her,” your husband starts washing that auto without even washing his face” said the proud owner of that stunning auto. That is how our conversation started on my way to office. We talked more about his auto for another thirty minutes, and than I handing him Rs.80 and got down at my office gate.

This is how I pass my time while commuting to my office. Earlier I used to listen to radio but since I have exchanged my cell phone with the basic Noika phone of my brother. I am left with a few options:

1) Sulk about the horrible jam of Delhi (Risk: Getting early wrinkles and dark circles around my eyes)

2) Day dreaming and napping (Risk: Frustration when I wake up to reality; losing my valuable at the red light in case of napping)

3) Humming and singing softly (risk of being mocked because if people notice me they will think I am talking to myself)

Or I can converse with the auto driver. Topic of conversation can range from weather discussion, cricket match (why India is not doing well) to political discussion (how to eradicate poverty and terrorism). Not only my time cut to half while talking to someone but in certain cases these people go to great length to mare sure I am safe. Just like another day when some guys started stalking me on bike and started commenting loudly on the color of my cloths. My auto driver not only gave them a stern look but also sneaked into the middle of the cars.

Once I was standing at the road side to catch an auto than suddenly this bright auto-walla asked me to hop in. I did not have to negotiate on the price though I could not recognize him but this guy did recognize me.

So I had a happy ride to office, but yes I also had some of the nasty experiences with auto drivers. When some of the auto guys suddenly start fighting that he agreed at too low a fair. Or they unexpectedly stop there auto and say they will not go beyond this or their meter abruptly stop working and stuff like this.

Whatever, I still consider “talking to the auto driver” as the best option.