NEIGHBOURHOOD

ALONE @ JOBERG


It was another Tuesday filled with usual office chores. On my way back home, as a part of my daily routine, I called mom. Mom never wanted to know how costly ISD was in South Africa. So, as a part of my unpleasant attitude, I hang up the phone after two minutes. I knew that my mother considered herself lucky to receive a call from me everyday and would never be disappointed with me being boorish. Hence it did not matter either to me or to her when I disconnected the phone in an uncanny manner.



I entered my room, switched on the lights and dressed myself in a t-shirt and shorts. Ah! I was so comfortable without my corporate attire. Everyday, this was the time we I relished being me. I switched on the laptop and silently sat down to study. Yes, it was 64th attempt to begin the preparation for GMAT exams. I had quit 63 times but after two to three days of every failed attempt, somehow I motivated myself to books. That was a phenomenon and I was proud to be a part of it.


It is impossible for a software engineer to stare at a laptop and not to browse the internet. Phew, off went the mobile cover and within a minute of my study sessions the internet explorer was set to work. “http://orkut.com” – I typed as fast as I can. The sky blue screen flashed and being a curious human being, I scrolled down to look the latest updates of my friends.


‘Kuheli Sen updated her status message – “Lord let me live till I die”’ – I was flabbergasted. My sixth sense suggested that Kuhu was not well but the other five restrained me from calling her. I did not even have her phone number until last week. It was a more than 2 years when I last called her. Last 7 months at Joberg were really tough ones but somehow I managed to patch up with her again and as a result of me being good, I was rewarded with the phone number.


Like a wise man, I concentrated on the OG data sufficiency guide for the next two hours. For a geek, the best way to kill time is to sit down with the quant. I was not a geek but quants always appealed to me and so did the dinner. If you are at onsite and a good cook, your fridge will always be stacked with scrumptious food. Mine was no exception and the grumping stomach set me off for dinner. I had chilly chicken and parathas for the dinner along with salad and yogurt as the desert. Foodies say that the best feeling is after you have had a stomach full of food. I was at my best after the dinner and logged into the internet. http://orkut.com – I typed in and Kuhu’s status message was again at my site. The laptop battery helped me to overcome the situation by signaling – Low Battery. I was forced to switch off my laptop as I was too lazy to plug in the charger.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

PRELUDE

To marry your girl, a job, a house, a car and few overseas assignments wont suffice. There are a few essential qualities needed to woo the girl you love. You have to quit drinking even if you drink socially. You have to quit smoking. You have to restrict your food and above all you have to convince the girl over her parents even though she is deeply in love with you.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

*** This is a sequencial story for all my readers. It will come in chapters. Comments welcome ***
-- All characters in thsi story are ficticious --

THE STORY IS FOLLOWED UP IN THE LATER POSTS