This is a true story and whatever is described here took place in the year 1999 in a small town in UP, Shahjahanpur, where I lived for 8 years before moving to Lucknow.
I was in class 7th at that time.
....................................................
It was Saturday morning ,I was getting late for school. Half yearly exams were going on. I grabbed my toast from mom and took my bicycle out.
"Rahul...Rahul" I shouted twice . No one answered.
So I put my bicycle on stand and rang the doorbell of Rahul's home.He lived next door to me.
His landlord came out and told me that Rahul was missing since the day before.
"what...!!" i was shocked .Only yesterday morning I had accompanied him from school to home after exam.
I informed my mother about what had happened before hurrying away for my exam, as
it was already 8:15 and exam was to begin at 8:30.
Rahul and I studied in same school and same class but different sections.
He used to be very shy and introvert kind of person.
I won't call him as my friend , we shared a very formal kind of relationship restricted to just borrowing notes and at times playing cricket.
After giving my exam when I returned back, still there was no sign of Rahul.His mother was very upset and had broken down.
Rahul's younger sister was consoling her.
(A quality which I admire most about girls. Even in the toughest of times how easily they seem to have come over with difficulty and take care of others. For her age the maturity with which she dealt with the situation was simply amazing.)
Anyways that was my last exam. There was rumor that Rahul had been kidnapped and thus I was not allowed to go anywhere.That entire day I stayed in my house itself.
His mother told us that previous evening he went to buy some stuff from the nearby market. Strangely he had refused take his bicycle with him.
Everyone one was wondering on what could be possible reason for his disappearance.
And mostly people agreed that he must have been kidnapped but again there was no call from kidnapper yet.
His family had no enemies as such so chance of a revenge due to rivalry was also ruled out.
Two days passed by ,but there was no sign of Rahul. There were no phone calls either.
His father finally informed police.
On Monday night , Rahul's father got a call from somewhere and was stunned to hear his son's voice on phone. He was sobbing and told his father that he was kidnapped and that kidnappers took him to some other city. He had somehow managed to run away and that now he was hiding at that city's railway station.Everyone was relieved to know that atleast he was alive.
But still we didn't know where he was.
This was when police came in picture again. The call was traced to a city Moradabad. The call was made from the phone booth of city railway station.
His father accompanied with Police went to the city , and by the next day Rahul was back in home.
But the actual thing was still unresolved.
Who kidnapped him? Why?
Why kidnappers never called?
How did Rahul manage to get away from them?
But I was wondering on completely different question
"Was Rahul actually kidnapped?"
His statement was recorded by police. The police found lot of discrepancies between what he had told to his father on phone and to what he was telling now to police.
Slowly the mystery unwinded. Rahul was never kidnapped.
He had run away from his home !
Again there was million dollar question ; still waiting to be answered....
Why did he run away from his home?
What had forced a 14 year old kid to take such a strong step?
I think I always knew the answer.
You will be surprised to know the actual reason, as was I.
I knew how much his parents wanted him to excel in studies actually who's parents don't want their child to be a topper.
In fact he was good in studies but not probably the best. He had managed to get a class rank of 6th and 7th on various occasions but had not been able to improve further.
He had told me the previous day (before he disappeared); that he had screwed his science paper very badly and that there was hardly any chance of him being in even top 10 of class.
At that time I thought that it was not that big a deal and these were still only half yearly exams.
But eventually it turned out that it was indeed a big deal for him.
He just could not bear the depression of performing badly in exams and ran away from home. He probably thought that he won't be able to bear the embarrassment when the result comes out.
I have seen it many times that parents put too much expectations on their child and at times it actually becomes so difficult for the child to live up to that. Every parents want their child to be a topper. And the worst thing which parents do is to compare their child with others.
"When Sumit can get 90% why can't u"
"Akash won the essay competition why did not you?"
"Rakesh has got the scholarship what were you doing?"
"Nikhil studies for 6 hrs a day why don't you?"
and there are many more questions like that.
Thankfully in my case, Parents were very supportive atleast in later half of my education and specially during my engineering entrance examinations.
I really don't know who was to be blamed for entire Rahul incident ;
The parents who expected too much from their child
or
The child who misinterpreted his parents expectations.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
14th February
Today is Valentines day and like any other IITian I am sitting in my room in front of my computer changing my gtalk status message every now and then.
Even I had an exam today (mid-semester exam). I tell you their is a secret behind putting an exam on 14th Feb. IIT council does that so that guys will have atleast something to do on V day , otherwise they might go out of the campus and get depressed on looking at different pairs romancing at Marine Drive or Bandra Stand.
I don't have anything to write for this day. I came across this song and liked it very much.In case you also like this song or want to listen to it then follow the link provided at the end of this post.
"The One"
When i saw you, For the first time.
I knew you are the one.
You didn't say ,a word to me but love was in the air.
Then you held my hand and pulled me in to your world
From that on my life has change for good.
Now, i never feel lonely again.
Coz' u are in my life.
Love, How can i explain to u? the way i feel inside when think of you.
i thank you for everything that u show me.
Don't u ever forget that i love you?
Love, i know that someday will soon you'll be right next to me.
Holding me so tight so i will always be yours.
Although we can't be together now. Remember i am here for u.
And i know you're there for me.Whenever i long to be with u.
I just close my eyes and pretend you're here.
I see you,i touch you, i feel you like real.
Nothing can ever change what i feel inside.
How long must i be far away from you.
I don't know dear but i know we're one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vszl-ouK5PI&feature=related
"If you love me only in my dreams, let me be asleep forever."
HaPpY VaLeNtInEs DaY !
Even I had an exam today (mid-semester exam). I tell you their is a secret behind putting an exam on 14th Feb. IIT council does that so that guys will have atleast something to do on V day , otherwise they might go out of the campus and get depressed on looking at different pairs romancing at Marine Drive or Bandra Stand.
I don't have anything to write for this day. I came across this song and liked it very much.In case you also like this song or want to listen to it then follow the link provided at the end of this post.
"The One"
When i saw you, For the first time.
I knew you are the one.
You didn't say ,a word to me but love was in the air.
Then you held my hand and pulled me in to your world
From that on my life has change for good.
Now, i never feel lonely again.
Coz' u are in my life.
Love, How can i explain to u? the way i feel inside when think of you.
i thank you for everything that u show me.
Don't u ever forget that i love you?
Love, i know that someday will soon you'll be right next to me.
Holding me so tight so i will always be yours.
Although we can't be together now. Remember i am here for u.
And i know you're there for me.Whenever i long to be with u.
I just close my eyes and pretend you're here.
I see you,i touch you, i feel you like real.
Nothing can ever change what i feel inside.
How long must i be far away from you.
I don't know dear but i know we're one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vszl-ouK5PI&feature=related
"If you love me only in my dreams, let me be asleep forever."
HaPpY VaLeNtInEs DaY !
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Placement : DAY 7
No more philosophical crap in this post :-)
Well here I am gonna share one of my interview experience.
Companies I appeared --> infinite
Companies which shortlisted me --> finite
Shortlist
(Group Study)
ZS Assosciates
Delloite (Group Case Study)
Lanxess
(Interview)
Sabre
Croda
Futures First
Axiom
TSMG
Indian Oil (Finally Got the job !)
I am here writing about an interview from which I think I learned the most. It was Futures First.
It had 2 rounds of written tests.
The first test was a 6 min test with 40 questions (Ya you read it right 40 Q and 6 min).It was a simple test designed to test calculation speed. It had mostly
Multiplication and Division questions and obviously calculator was not allowed.I think I manged to do some 27-28 questions correctly and was shortlisted for 2nd round of test.
The second test was more like CAT with more weight-age on P n C and Probability and ya there was no English :P.
Some how I qualified this also, and was among last 40 to be called for interview.
I was very excited about this company.The interviews started at 2 am (yes am means in the morning, jab andhera hota hai , na ki jab dhoop hoti hai :-))
My interview started at 2:30 am.
Interview began on a peaceful note with panel (which consisted of 2 people in their late 20's) asking normal HR questions and things related to my CV.
Well after the normal Questions were over it was the time for real ones.
Finally the one thing which I hate the most was asked to me.
"A CHEMICAL ENGINEER : Why you want to work in trading ???".
(I actually had no correct answer for it. I myself don't know what I want to do. At that time what mattered most to me was that I had to get a job , whatever sector it may be.)
Well I gave a prepared satisfactory answer and convinced the guys that I am very ambitious person who wants to be a millionaire and thus trading is the best job for me.
Suddenly the other guy asked me
"Tell me in figures how much u want to earn in 5 years."
Now I was not prepared for that.
I said May be in 10s of crores but he insisted
"No , tell me exactly how much , if not in 5 years then say in 10 years"
As I was about answer it ,the other guy rescued me and he smiled as he said
"Ya we understand you want to be crorepati before you get 30".
I was rather relaxed unaware of the fact that it was just the starter ...main course was still to come.
I was now asked to look around the whole room for 15 seconds.
I looked for , I suppose for 10 seconds only and they began the rapid fire round.
"Whats written on my pen?"
"Sorry sir , I could not see as you are holding it in your hands. Its not visible."
"How many pins are at the soft board behind you?"
"4, Sir."
"Name the colors of the pins."
"Red, Blue , Green , Yellow."
"Name them in the order as they are arranged on the board."
"Red, Green, Blue, Yellow errrr....ummmm... Its Red, Green ,Yellow and Blue".
"Which Company is the AC?"
"Voltas ( I actually confused between Voltas and Videocon and I still don't know which was it)."
"How many switches are in the room?"
"4 ( Again I had no idea)."
But I think it went satisfactory well , though not one of the best. I think I still had my chances.
(Later I realized it was a stress interview.)
Then suddenly they asked me completely arbitrary questions.
"OK Kshitij now tell me -Who is the Governor of Maharashtra?"
"What ???" I almost shouted. Hey this was not supposed to be an IAS interview and why should they care about the governors , I wondered. But finally I said - "Sorry Sir, I don't know."
"So which city are you from?"
"Lucknow."
Who is governor there?
"Mr. T.V. Rajeshwar."
Who is the vice president of India?
"Ohh I knew the name , Sir I can't remember it now. But I know he is a Muslim guy."
I can't believe I said that.
"Did you attend our PPT (Pre-Placement Talk)?"
"No, Sir. I went at the venue but it got postponed for an hour or so and I had some other commitment so I could not wait there."
"Did you visit our website?"
"Yes, sir I did."
"How many offices do we have in India?"
"umm...errr...I will have to count."
"Leave it. Do we have an office in Chennai?"
"No."(This I knew)
"When was our company stated?"
"1980's I suppose."
And this was it. I had failed miserly in convincing him that I was actually interested in the company. Now I knew it was over.
First of all I had not attended the PPT which was a bad impression.
The company was started in 2000 and not in 1980's again a deadly mistake.
As a formality He asked me if I wanted to know anything about the company to which I asked questions I had prepared.
Finally a 30 minute gruesome interview was over.
I knew my selection would now entirely depend on how other people screw the interview.
I was told that the result will be out by around 4 am and will be informed through the placement blog (The normal standard which is followed in IITs).
I had Delloite interview in the morning but I could not sleep at all.
They did not post the result till 4 am and we had an internet ban from 4-7 am.
At 7 am I checked the blog My name was not there. I was disappointed. I hadn't slept whole night and I had a Delloite interview at 9 am.
At times it becomes so difficult, I think probably that was the worst day during my placement season.
Anyways I think I made few mistakes in this interview, which I should address.
First of all , my stress interview did not go very well and in the companies which operate in share market it's a very important think they look for- How well one can handle stress.
Secondly I had a very poor knowledge about the company.
Finally bad days passed and I got placed in Indian Oil on 22nd December.
I will just say here. Learn from your mistakes and don't get dishearten.
Congratulations to all those placed ...
and
All the best to the ones still going through tough times.
Well here I am gonna share one of my interview experience.
Companies I appeared --> infinite
Companies which shortlisted me --> finite
Shortlist
(Group Study)
ZS Assosciates
Delloite (Group Case Study)
Lanxess
(Interview)
Sabre
Croda
Futures First
Axiom
TSMG
Indian Oil (Finally Got the job !)
I am here writing about an interview from which I think I learned the most. It was Futures First.
It had 2 rounds of written tests.
The first test was a 6 min test with 40 questions (Ya you read it right 40 Q and 6 min).It was a simple test designed to test calculation speed. It had mostly
Multiplication and Division questions and obviously calculator was not allowed.I think I manged to do some 27-28 questions correctly and was shortlisted for 2nd round of test.
The second test was more like CAT with more weight-age on P n C and Probability and ya there was no English :P.
Some how I qualified this also, and was among last 40 to be called for interview.
I was very excited about this company.The interviews started at 2 am (yes am means in the morning, jab andhera hota hai , na ki jab dhoop hoti hai :-))
My interview started at 2:30 am.
Interview began on a peaceful note with panel (which consisted of 2 people in their late 20's) asking normal HR questions and things related to my CV.
Well after the normal Questions were over it was the time for real ones.
Finally the one thing which I hate the most was asked to me.
"A CHEMICAL ENGINEER : Why you want to work in trading ???".
(I actually had no correct answer for it. I myself don't know what I want to do. At that time what mattered most to me was that I had to get a job , whatever sector it may be.)
Well I gave a prepared satisfactory answer and convinced the guys that I am very ambitious person who wants to be a millionaire and thus trading is the best job for me.
Suddenly the other guy asked me
"Tell me in figures how much u want to earn in 5 years."
Now I was not prepared for that.
I said May be in 10s of crores but he insisted
"No , tell me exactly how much , if not in 5 years then say in 10 years"
As I was about answer it ,the other guy rescued me and he smiled as he said
"Ya we understand you want to be crorepati before you get 30".
I was rather relaxed unaware of the fact that it was just the starter ...main course was still to come.
I was now asked to look around the whole room for 15 seconds.
I looked for , I suppose for 10 seconds only and they began the rapid fire round.
"Whats written on my pen?"
"Sorry sir , I could not see as you are holding it in your hands. Its not visible."
"How many pins are at the soft board behind you?"
"4, Sir."
"Name the colors of the pins."
"Red, Blue , Green , Yellow."
"Name them in the order as they are arranged on the board."
"Red, Green, Blue, Yellow errrr....ummmm... Its Red, Green ,Yellow and Blue".
"Which Company is the AC?"
"Voltas ( I actually confused between Voltas and Videocon and I still don't know which was it)."
"How many switches are in the room?"
"4 ( Again I had no idea)."
But I think it went satisfactory well , though not one of the best. I think I still had my chances.
(Later I realized it was a stress interview.)
Then suddenly they asked me completely arbitrary questions.
"OK Kshitij now tell me -Who is the Governor of Maharashtra?"
"What ???" I almost shouted. Hey this was not supposed to be an IAS interview and why should they care about the governors , I wondered. But finally I said - "Sorry Sir, I don't know."
"So which city are you from?"
"Lucknow."
Who is governor there?
"Mr. T.V. Rajeshwar."
Who is the vice president of India?
"Ohh I knew the name , Sir I can't remember it now. But I know he is a Muslim guy."
I can't believe I said that.
"Did you attend our PPT (Pre-Placement Talk)?"
"No, Sir. I went at the venue but it got postponed for an hour or so and I had some other commitment so I could not wait there."
"Did you visit our website?"
"Yes, sir I did."
"How many offices do we have in India?"
"umm...errr...I will have to count."
"Leave it. Do we have an office in Chennai?"
"No."(This I knew)
"When was our company stated?"
"1980's I suppose."
And this was it. I had failed miserly in convincing him that I was actually interested in the company. Now I knew it was over.
First of all I had not attended the PPT which was a bad impression.
The company was started in 2000 and not in 1980's again a deadly mistake.
As a formality He asked me if I wanted to know anything about the company to which I asked questions I had prepared.
Finally a 30 minute gruesome interview was over.
I knew my selection would now entirely depend on how other people screw the interview.
I was told that the result will be out by around 4 am and will be informed through the placement blog (The normal standard which is followed in IITs).
I had Delloite interview in the morning but I could not sleep at all.
They did not post the result till 4 am and we had an internet ban from 4-7 am.
At 7 am I checked the blog My name was not there. I was disappointed. I hadn't slept whole night and I had a Delloite interview at 9 am.
At times it becomes so difficult, I think probably that was the worst day during my placement season.
Anyways I think I made few mistakes in this interview, which I should address.
First of all , my stress interview did not go very well and in the companies which operate in share market it's a very important think they look for- How well one can handle stress.
Secondly I had a very poor knowledge about the company.
Finally bad days passed and I got placed in Indian Oil on 22nd December.
I will just say here. Learn from your mistakes and don't get dishearten.
Congratulations to all those placed ...
and
All the best to the ones still going through tough times.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Believe !
Sorry guys but again its going to be little philosophical post of mine.But the reason why I m writing it is that I think it carries some motivational ingredients in it and will bring in some positive thinking.
Well only few days ago one of my friends told me this short story which I liked very much
and thought that I should tell this to as many people as I can and thus how it is featuring on my blog.
First things first...
This story is not my creation.I heard it from one of my friends Ashish Kumar Singh (AKS) who heard it from someone else. This is how good words spread.
One thing more
I will request all my readers to read this post with their heart and make minimal use of their brain :-).
The story goes like this :-
There was a small village in some part of India . It had been 5 years since it rained there.
Everyone had lost all hopes. Then one day a "Rishi-Muni" came there and he told the villagers that they should make some offerings to GOD in whatever form they can (like money, clothes & food etc) and then only it will rain.Everyone in the Village agreed that there is no harm in trying this and also as they very badly needed a good monsoon. Everyone made his contribution. Time passed by ;it didn't rain. That "Rishi-Muni" never came back to that village.
Villagers slowly forgot everything that Rishi had said and started migrating to other places.
In the same village there was a little girl. Since the time she had heard of the Rishi's saying she had started saving money. One day she breaks her "gullak", collects all the money (50 paisa ,1 ruppe coins all what she had) and goes to nearby city to buy some thing....
and what did she buy ???
She bought an umbrella...
When everyone asked her that it hasn't rained in the village for more than 5 years now...and that there is no use of buying it....and that why was she wasting her money.
The girl simply replied "I believe, it will rain."
I actually don't know whether it ever rained in the village or not and the truth is that I don't want to know.
What I have learned from this little girl is that "one should believe in his beliefs".
I now believe in my beliefs more than I ever did and that's what matters.
I will just say one thing here don't loose hope.
BELIEVE !
Well only few days ago one of my friends told me this short story which I liked very much
and thought that I should tell this to as many people as I can and thus how it is featuring on my blog.
First things first...
This story is not my creation.I heard it from one of my friends Ashish Kumar Singh (AKS) who heard it from someone else. This is how good words spread.
One thing more
I will request all my readers to read this post with their heart and make minimal use of their brain :-).
The story goes like this :-
There was a small village in some part of India . It had been 5 years since it rained there.
Everyone had lost all hopes. Then one day a "Rishi-Muni" came there and he told the villagers that they should make some offerings to GOD in whatever form they can (like money, clothes & food etc) and then only it will rain.Everyone in the Village agreed that there is no harm in trying this and also as they very badly needed a good monsoon. Everyone made his contribution. Time passed by ;it didn't rain. That "Rishi-Muni" never came back to that village.
Villagers slowly forgot everything that Rishi had said and started migrating to other places.
In the same village there was a little girl. Since the time she had heard of the Rishi's saying she had started saving money. One day she breaks her "gullak", collects all the money (50 paisa ,1 ruppe coins all what she had) and goes to nearby city to buy some thing....
and what did she buy ???
She bought an umbrella...
When everyone asked her that it hasn't rained in the village for more than 5 years now...and that there is no use of buying it....and that why was she wasting her money.
The girl simply replied "I believe, it will rain."
I actually don't know whether it ever rained in the village or not and the truth is that I don't want to know.
What I have learned from this little girl is that "one should believe in his beliefs".
I now believe in my beliefs more than I ever did and that's what matters.
I will just say one thing here don't loose hope.
BELIEVE !
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