Mixed Bag!

My forecast for August was 'It's going to be a hectic month'. And boy, it was and how!

Work-wise it was a blur. Me settling in at the new work place, extremely conscious of how everyone was assessing me, seeing how I'd be able to cope, etc. But all said and done, I've been in so many jobs in so many places that by now I'm inured to the shenanigans of office folk, how they think, how they behave, etc. Of course I'm still naive inspite of trying to paint this 'Oh I've seen it all' blase image that I try to portray, but that's really my defence mechanism. It's almost like telling everyone out there, 'so beware, you can't pull a fast one on me', but inspite of which I do get shocked and surprised at people and what they do or think. Yes, that's why I'm still naive.

But all in all a month where a lot happened and it seems will continue to happen as I walk ahead in 2007.

I'm getting my home re-decorated. Well, let's say that I've started with the civil work of removing, replacing and getting all the tiling and flooring done. It's actually exciting and horrid at the same time if you know what I mean. My poor ma has to be amidst the rubble and debris and dust all day long whereas I have the cocoon and comfort of office. We've been rushing to the loo to my aunt's place who lives 3 floors down. Yes, our bathrooms are just plastered walls and jutting pipes and debris ridden floors. Both of them. Sigh! But both ma and I just keep thinking of how it's going to be and that keeps us going. And honestly it's just been a week since it started and in another week it should all be 'sewn up' as they say. But man to get the loan from a financial institution was nerve racking. 'Loan sharks' is the most apt term ever coined. They're ready to tear you limb from limb, emotionally blackmail you, ask for your accounting and financial statements in such detail, that you finally realize there is no 'free person' or 'private person' in this world. Someone somewhere is keeping an eye on what you do, how much you earn, what you do with the money and that eye is not an eye in the sky believe me. Scary thought and actually worse than the KGB! Sometimes a known adversary is better than an unknown one. You never know who and where and when these all pervasive, intrusive and omniscient 'eye' will pounce on you and make your life hell. The Taxman cometh is like the hangman cometh for sure!

Ok, so waded through deep waters, fobbed off the sharks, emerged triumphant from the Jaws and work has begun. And that's the bottom line.

My business completed its first transaction and that's another feather. I've dug deep for the energy, patience and enthusiasm required of me to ensure that this didn't suffer. And as I go along the business,I realize, no two human beings are meant to be together for long in any relationship. It's tough not to lose my cool and sometime just give up with my business partner. But move on we must. So yes, I realize that in any relationship, be it business, parental, sibling, marriage, love, friends, work, anything, take anything...human beings are inherently selfish and power hungry and insecure. It takes a hell of a lot of guts, courage and compromise for any two people to be together for a while without tearing each other apart. I'm learning and as I walk different paths, am sure even this 'light bulb' moment kind of truth will change. After all, the only truth is, change is constant and death and taxes are certain, right?

Lots of things happening around the world about which most of us are informed. Be it sports, politics, entertainment or what have you. Yes, life's a circus and as Raj Kapoor very philosophically said in his movie, Mera Naam Joker, 'Jeena yahaan, marna yahaan, iske siva jaanaa kahaan?'

So take a glass of whichever coloured liquid that finds favour with you, raise it and say, 'Keep walking'. After all that's all we can and should do. Didn't anyone tell you it's all about walking and not running, jogging, stopping, gasping?

See you at the next turn!