@ Home.........

Lunch time again n we were on our way to cafeteria. The menu, now almost by heart -- darted for the nth time in my mind. Suddenly a pang of jealousy struck me as I saw a lucky few carrying Tiffin carriers for lunch. (I do bring my lunch occasionally:-)) Home made food…... flavored with mom’s love. The good old school days rush to my memory. As quoted by my friend “we have forgotten how it feels being at home”.

Being @ home was never a privilege to me till my 15th birthday. After the flurry of board exams and the much awaited issue of results, I was going to my junior college. Well, the same old school and we were gonna ornate the clan of super-seniors there. But this year, there was a change. I don’t have to start from home an hour after the day break and I won’t be coming back just before dusk- for, I was going to stay in a hostel. I was no more a day scholar. The thought was exciting at the beginning. I was going to start a new life, new things in life always excite me and at times, I have felt the excitement undergo an early death. There was lot of shopping to do (and I love that part). Then it was all packing. Remorse crept into my mind as I was emptying my cupboard. I didn’t like that feel anyways. My belongings were tucked into a suitcase. On the d-day; me, my bed and my suitcase-as heavy as my heart and few drops of my tears found our way to the dorms of St.Josephs convent. I was trying to be brave. I am grown and I should not be crying. It took me some effort not to break down when my parents left, leaving me in a world full of strangers.

At least school was not new to me. Same teachers and quite a bunch of new faces- new classmates-all geeks:-)!!!!!! In spite of the excitement of being back in school, there was the solitude, being away from dear ones. I had an urge to take my usual school bus that would drop me right in front my home. But I was going to a different abode. I had to adapt to my new habitat-a niche shared by me and a set of new friends…Food was a real challenge. Our taste buds went through a series of tests with all weird combinations of food. I repented those meals I rejected for no reasons, in spite of my mothers pleas and threats. I was forced to hog stuff that I would have never thought of eating. There was nobody to wait for me with steaming coffee and snacks in the evenings. Food lacked the aroma of motherly love. It the hostel food that killed the much-acclaimed food critic in me (my mom no more believes the way I judge her food these days).

I was dying to get back to my people. It was a long wait- weekends…. I even skipped entrance coaching classes on Saturdays and rush home on Fridays. Now I longed for vacations so that I could stay with my dear ones. There was a time when I used to long for vacations that would free me from the austerity of home to the leisure @cousins places. But now I didn’t want to go anywhere.….. There were days other than weekends that I just had the sudden urge to go home and I just did go, there were times that my mom felt like seeing me and she came and took me with her, there were times when my mom had come all the way to give me a share of my favorite dish that she cooked. My place was still at my reach.

Two years went by and it was board exam and at the end of it was a long vacation-perhaps the longest one that I have ever had. I was back home- back to the pleasure of ‘being @ home’.
The pleasure didn’t last long. A few months and this time it was college. It took me away from my dwelling; this time-distance was a real villain. Weekends could no more take me there. Excitement of going home after a gap of six months (after 1st sem exams) gave me sleepless nights. Each time I went back, I felt like a guest. I did enjoy a lot of privileges –from menu that listed all my favorites to a full control of the TV remote control. The routine continued- the excitement of going home and the tear stained farewells.

Days have changed-college became office. After work, getting back to a place where I have no one to wait for……..my new abode. I am afraid I have forgotten how it feels to be ‘at home’……

We Shall Overcome.......................


This has been a very remarkable week, one that would be etched in our memories for a long long time…… We underwent shock, tremor, disappointment and all the worst feelings a life time can offer. We were stared at; laughed at, misinterpreted… as few hands stretched to console us, many others tied their hands back and made sly comments on –‘how they would turn us off if we ever went to their doorstep, seeking employment’ (as though they were the only employers on earth!!!!).

The news of the chairman’s resignation came as a jolt. It was one of those normal days….I was at my desk, doing the regular chores. There comes this mail, with the news of resignation. I was at doubt as I had received a mail of same nature, few weeks back. I felt it was another bogus, but I was wrong. It was the bitter truth and to make matters worse…. the resignation letter revealed more dreadful things. A flurry of mails, communicator buzzing with chat sessions, a frantic search in the internet to get more of the news. Workstations came to a standstill and the air of uncertainty became dense… We were at peril!!!!!!!

Answering the anxiety of dear ones was not that easy, still tried to convey my optimism to each of them. Discussions were going on at every nook and corner. But there was a rare sense of unity. Smiles conveyed a strange sense of understanding, it said, “I know exactly what is running in your mind, don’t worry”. The day went on as usual, as reality sank in our hearts and there was nothing we could do about it… We decided to call it a day and walked towards the gate, blissfully unaware of the commotion at the gate. We have become the subjects of ‘breaking news’ in the channels & the headlines for the next day in papers!!!! The media swamped the entrance… making our exit difficult. Somehow we escaped the crowd and headed home…. unsure of the future that stretched ahead of us….

Our living room was tense; seven pair of eyes-glued to the television screen, and seven minds - disheartened on seeing the name of the company being tarnished. It was a post mortem on a being in its flesh and blood and still very much alive &breathing….. They spoke of us as we were non-existent… Satyam is not just a single person/entity- it is not just few buildings of brick & cement- spread across the country and the world…. It has much more to it… Satyam is the dream and hope of 53,000 of us and our families. It is the very fact that brings identity to the huge number of us…. It is the bridge that connects us to the outer world… we are Satyamites……very might of Satyam…

As we tried to be positive and optimistic, a remarkable number of people did their best to make us feel ‘cared for’. People whom we held with a great regard, proved they are not worth the respect. They were the tempest, all set to put off the fire we have in our hearts…. They enjoyed every minute of our disaster and few so-called ‘fathers-of IT’ in the country reminded us that “we are not even a competition” to their firm. Well, we didn’t know that and will sure keep that in mind. We felt extremely happy when the same ‘father- figure’ said not to take in any of the Satyam employees in his organization and that he ‘wouldn’t touch a tainted company like Satyam’. Hats off to the support you showed towards us in such times of difficulty. We shall remember you all our lives for your ‘ethical’ behavior and the grandeur you showed in each of your comments on us.
May your firm surge higher on top of our rolling heads, and all the best to you…..

Another strong supporter was the media…. Such creativity & ethics!!! You should be highly revered for the kind of moral you showed in reporting things in their ‘true sense’. You will never know how ‘comfortable’ our lives have become because of you. It would be highly ungrateful if I don’t appreciate the efforts of the ‘Times Of India’ in conveying our true feelings to the outer world… on the very next day after the Chairman’s resignation, you promptly put a picture of two of our colleagues- ‘covering their faces in shame’ and leaving the office cos of the fraud committed by our chairman. It might be a printing mistake, cos we’re sure that you know that’s how ladies travel on these dusty roads- their faces covered in scarf to avoid dust & sun. And on a daily basis, you remind us on the difficulties we face each day- as members of a tainted family…. Your concern in our well being has been very touching!!!! Looking forward to such continued services….
Moreover, as we walk towards the office entrance, we feel glorified to be in the lime light- cameras focusing on our faces and reporters rushing to hear our comments. We have never felt this important all our lives. You people ‘make our days’!!!!!

How can I stop thanking those banks who cut our credit limits- they didn’t want us to over spend. They were trying to advice us- not to be extravagant and pay proper attention to our personal finance. Such care is overwhelming. Thanks ICICI & HDFC. By the way, we do have salary accounts at your banks right? We shall remember you the next time we get a credit card.

This is a glimpse of the lives of each of us- the employees of the much talked about Satyam Computer Services Limited. We are the much talked about population of the country- terrorism & elections sidelined. You have the right to criticize, comment the way you like, write about us the way you like… do anything that please you. Please do remember that troubles are never biased. They don’t stay with a person/ an entity for ever. It will be on its round, covering people from all walks of life. When trouble comes to us, don’t think we will shy away. We are a bunch of intelligent people, who can think and act. We don’t need your sympathy. We the pillars of Satyam-who has been taught to be a leader ourselves, cannot be written off.