Money Talks

Its that time of the year again, when, willingly or unwillingly, everybody talks MONEY. The mornings start with prayers asking the mighty one to bless you with more money (health takes a secondary slot for once) and ends with you lying on your bed scrutinizing your bank statements. The workplace is the discussion ground about new policies, taxes, slabs, interests, medical bills, HRA, inflation, budget and probably everything a commerce student studies in his 11th class. Such is the fanaticism that even the girls talk about money saving. Its that time of the year again, its March, its the end of the financial year.

The only people who make merry at this economically energy sapping time are the financial companies. Financial companies - a generic term for every institution linked to money; insurance companies, banks, investment banks, all partners in crime. A survey has shown that the maximum number of ULIP, SIP and other such schemes are launched during the last quarter. The time when the common man (me) is at his vulnerable best as far as the greenery is concerned.

In a country where the Rajas, the Kalmadis are stashing crores of rupees in foreign accounts fearlessly with no one to stop them, the common man acts like an absolute idiot. Producing genuine medical bills for the medical reimbursement, genuine LTA proof for LTA reimbursement, a proper HRA slip with just the slightest of manipulation. And after all this, sleeping in fear or rather getting insomniac due to the nightmares. What a dumb dud a common man is. But the fact of the matter is that this is how the life processes. The poor (a common middle class man in this case) is always squeezed and the honorary citizens (Rajas & Kalmadis) enjoy that squeeze.

But we are Indians. We have a billion Socratic population who dwell in the pools of ethics and principles just because our culture says so. But when it comes to individual mindset, each and everybody knows that ethics and principles do not stand a chance in this mean cut throat world. Amongst these, all those who are able to break the cultural shackles are able to rise in life and they go down in history as Legends (Rajas & Kalmadis).
The rest remain gagged in the bonds of ideals and are commonly known as Common Men.

Reality Check : the Corporate way

His heart was pounding faster than an Alstom AGV, his brain busy in the permutations and combination, his eyes searching for the faintest clue there could be, Ram Lal was in a well of tension. The HR from Alstom had the list of candidates placed in his hand. He started announcing the names starting from Mechanical followed by Electrical & ECE. Ram had his fingers crossed throughout. His name was announced second to last. The leap of victory finally. His Michael Schumacher impersonation showing off his delight. Alstom transport calling.What conspired next was the least he expected.

Reality Check No. 1:

Corporate life always appealed to him. He often dreamt of how life would be at Alstom in Noida with his 'peers'. The first few months were nothing less than awesome. Stay at a 4 star hotel with other GETs, 'mastee' all the time, classes, bunks, it seemed like college all over again. On the day of department allocation, he was least worried. "Alstom transport calling", he kept repeating. But not to be. He was sent to PAC Power on account that Transport dept was full. A kick in the nuts it seemed.

Reality Check No. 2:

Power Automation & Controls (PAC) had a jovial feel about it. Friendly faces, smiles all around. Work seemed to be a synonym for fun. Ram was given the project management profile. Good he thought, maybe MBA is what is in his fate. During the orientation, he was told about the various projects he would be a part of, directly and indirectly. With a victorious feel in his mind, he waited for his first project to begin, directly or indirectly. But not to be. He was free (on the bench in IT) for 6 months.

Reality Check No. 3:

After a wait of about 7 months, Ram was told that he was now the PM (Project Manager for you engineers to comply) of a small but highly demanding project. He prepared himself for the challenge: burnt midnight oil learning the processes, clarified his queries through his peers, made a special folder in his mail with the Project Name. He was all ready to go to his first meeting to Baroda for the Kick Off of the Project. But not to be. He was told that he was new and did not know the processes, so the initial phase would be handled by the 'old' PM and later Ram would pitch in.

Reality Check No. 4:

Ram had gradually 'pitched in' the project. Looking after all the activities. Interfacing between various departments, suppliers and the client. His Boss was delighted, impressed actually with his work. Along with management, Ram was now asked to look after Planning, a major aspect of the department. He knew he was getting the importance, the recognition he deserved, the appropriate work, both in quality and quantity. But not to be. What he did not realize was that he was just being fed before the cruel slaughter. Soon a PM resigned and his 3 projects were assigned to Ram. Game over. Initially he tried, actually performed well looking after all the projects. But eventually it was too much for him. Projects went haywire, chaos and confusion was what followed. Ram became insomniac, high BP was his new achievement. Finally he gave in to the pressure.

Ram Lal was a good man.