A perfect life...yeah whatever...

The Other day, while sipping on a cold coffee at Barista in Mumbai, I was meeting an old friend. Quite a character as she managed to attract the maximum attention in her hey days and even today does not seem to be bothered as far as attention is concerned. Currently doing some research work at an MNC she makes frequent trips abroad. Posing before foreign monuments with firangs walking in the background makes you wonder what is the camera supposed to capture most. I presume these are all arbid statements that even if put together give an impression of a meaningless collage than a defined modern art, but then writing in itself does not necessarily has to follow a set pattern (Deepak....where is this blog heading, get back on track..yes yes I will now)

Getting back, she seemed disgruntled with her current job (nothing new, Even Lord Krishna was bored of his job of hunting down papis on earth and found ways to amuse himself..... my apologies to the almighty if he didnt like my sarcasm) and was in pursuit of something creative. Like acting. "Acting is not everybody's cup of tea. Sure you are beautiful, smart etc etc, but then there is more to acting than merely looking like a doll." She made faces and said, "You are just jealous" I was mum or may be I would have grinned with sarcasm as I usually do when people comment on me being jealous.

I went back in time to find out an instance when I really found somebody's life close to perfect.

It was one of those late nights at Mumbai during the rainy days of October 2006. I was waiting outside the HSBC office at fountain under an umbrella. Marvelling at the beautiful building I managed to catch a glimpse of the big shot of HSBC - Ms Naina Lal Kidwai. I smiled and bowed my head in acknowledgement of her presence. Reluctantly she smiled back, trying to find her driver to her Honda Accord. As she passed I said to myself, "kya baat hai".

Those were the few days that Mr. Shagun ((k)night rider in Delhi) spent with HSBC. Dev was also working in the same office. Shagun used to give us a lift back home. As we boarded his car, he lighted a smoke. As we shared the somoke on the rainy day, I asked, "what are you waiting for? Lets leave." "No, yaar I am waiting for one of my seniors to join us back home". Here onwards I very distinctly remember the entire conversation. It went like this -

Amit( Senior of HSBC) - Hi Guys. Hope I didnt keep you waiting.

(Even at the end of the day, Amit was impeccably dressed, with gelled hair and was smelling musk. And of course who can forget this "Big Swinging Dick" not carrying a laptop)

Shagun: Sir, how did u get so late?
Amit: Actually Naina ma'am ke saath meeting thi. Some strategic issues you see...
All of us in chorus: Ohhh
Amit was not too old as I had thought he would be. Probably a couple of years elder to us....

Journey begins and Amit open his laptop, attaches the Net USB. Three years back net USB was a luxury. Shagun is ever curious with anything that happens around him. His curiousity could range from how to drive his sales force better to the best SPAs and massage parlours in Delhi. Even while gyrating through the busy and unruly traffic in Mumbai, he managed to catch a glimpse of what Amit was doing in his backseat.

Shagun: Sir, What are you doing..

Amit, With one of his eyebrows raised, pursed lips, carrying the look of a National Security Guard having zeroed in on his next target, was mentally pre-occupied with his Microsoft Outlook.

Amit: Did you say something Shagun? ( I was like grr.....)
Shagun: Sir, What are you doing..?

Amit(still in thoughts): aaaactually, I am expecting this very important mail.... (I thought to myself, "Of course we dont expect you to surf porn while going back home") ....(Says to himself)...there you go...

Shagun: Sir, so you are coming to that sales meet on Monday??

Amit: No...I am a little tied up

Shagun(Shocked, petrified...): Why???

Amit: Well, I am going to China this Sunday for a roadshow..will take about 15 days..

All of us in chorus: Ohhhh..

I tried to change the topic...

Me: So, Amit where do you live?

Amit: In Vashi

Me: (Smart Ass, finally something to pull him down) Must be quite a distance, Locals are really crowded you know.....

Amit(Cut me in between): Actually, My Swift has gone for servicing and Locals are a little claustrophobic...so...

All of us: Ohhh...

Dev: So, How big is your apartment?

Amit: Its five BHK..

All in chorus: WHAAAAAATTTTTT?

Amit: Yeah, its the latest apartment that has come. Its got a gym, a swimming pool, a small garden and the apartment overseas a small hill and we are able to see the sunset...if we reach in time that is...(and he let out a very very huge laughter that was oozing with sarcasm..)

Me: The rent must be very high..

Amit: Rent?? No No, We own the apartment

All of us in chorus: Howwwww??

Amit: Well the flat was damn cheap at about Rs. 60 lakhs. I had about Rs. 20 lakhs as my last year bonus from ICICI, my father pitched in with another Rs. 20 lakhs and we got a loan of about Rs. 20 lakhs....

I said to myself, "So, thats a real easy math...hmphhhhh"

Me: The EMI must be very hard on you and your wife..

Amit: No No, We got the loan at a very subsidized rate from ICICI and .....(gives a wierd pause..) My wife doesnt work..she works part time for an NGO...

All of us: Ohhhhhh..

Amit: Actually before marriage I told her- you dont need to work after marriage. work-life balance gets really upset...you may work if you want...no compulsions....and...rest is upto you

Me: Arranged marriage????

Amit(Takes off his spectacles, wipes it with his handkerchief...smiles): Love marriage, we met at MBA...dated for a couple of years.....then looked like it was getting somewhere.....then one day I popped the question...and we are happily married for the last two years...

All of us: Ohhhh..

Amit: Shagun, drop me there..I will catch a cab from here.......

Amit: Yeah...thanks guys..it was lovely talking to you guys...all the best....shagun see you in 15 days......

As he walked off with that laptop hanging from his shoulder, All of us shouted in chorus: I need a smoke......

Shagun never met him again as Shagun left the job in next week and is doing very well for himself these days in Delhi.....But given his exploits in Post grad and Grad is still very much single and longs for company every weekend night...

Dev got married in January 2007 and is still happily married with a small baby....not excited with his current job though....

As for me ....Well in 1998 my life was just perfect, since then its always been that elusive "99"....never quite there where I am content and happy......

Amit's life did seem quite perfect and unbelievable didn't it.....Life is like this roller coaster...moving up and down.....When down, you are waiting for that momentum to take you back up there and when its up there, you are living in this eternal fear of if the next roll of wheels will take you downhilll.....At least it better than staying stationary.......Is anybody listening out there??