Shakthi Towers Chennai
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Still smile come across my face when I think about my arrival at the Chennai Central station some 5 years back. In the early morning on a hot summer day of July. I still feel stupid when I think about my luggage I carried in from Kolkata to Chennai. Enormous. One small guy, with five bags. I was never able to figure out how I managed those bags I that lengthy journey.
Ask me, what was not there? I have to think for some time to find out what exactly was not there. From Shirts, Pants, T-Shirts, Shoes, in fact I have brought a muffler also with me (I myself don’t know how it came to bag). That time I didn’t had a big enough bag with me caused that five bag luggage. One bag shoe in it, one bag all daily usable Banyan and T-shirts, one with food, and two bags full of new or almost new cloths and some books. But I managed.
I was horrified to see the room my friend, Santanu, took me in Madurai Mansion, exactly opposite of Chepak Stadium Gate. I never saw a living/bed room so small. With one window. Better to say, it was a ventilator rather than a window. But it gave the necessary Oxygen to me and my Bengali room mate for the next One and half years to stay alive. I am only 5 feet 4 inch tall and the given bed was perfect for me. But my taller friends had lots of issues with that bed. It had an attached bathroom (Rs.200 extra for this facility). 24 hrs water, only on Saturday and Sunday. In weekdays, it was morning 6 to 9, afternoon 12 o 2 and evening 5 to 8. But the chillness of that water was able to take away the agony of the outer heat of Chennai and gave us a new energy to walk down to one of the Bengali hotel, where after all days work we, some Bengali friends, used to meet and chat about global warming, Indian economy, future of IT industry and etc. etc. And the conclusion is “dhurr shaala, deshtar aar kichu hobe nah”.
But one big relief that first few weeks I was staying with Santanu, in his rented house in West Mumbalam. On that very first day I have tested “Pongal” in Saravana Bhavan. It’s an all mashed rice and daal with cashew nuts, green leaves, black chili pepper and more than enough Ghee in it. Eventually this Ghee part had made me eating this stuff till this date. But other than Saravana Bhavan, I was not able to test or smell Ghee in Pongal in the coming 5 years, in any part of Chennai.
Pongal may not be a complete dish without “Vadai” or “Medhu Vadai”, a fried junk food with a hole and I like it hot. Interestingly, in last 5 years I never saw how to put that Vadai into the hot oil, while making a hole inside it using only 1 hand. Now, if I need to take my breakfast outside, I ask the shop keeper whether Vadai is available or not. If it’s available then only I will take Idle or Pongal as my breakfast.
That first morning in Chennai has given me lots of new things, perhaps for the 1st time.
1. I saw a well dressed office going person taking RUM instead of Tea.
2. Tea is costlier than Cigarettes.
3. Girls, who are driving two wheelers, are totally covered. The only thing you can see is their hair.
4. No taxi stand.
5. Auto and Autowala (Auto driver). Unanimously, the most dangerous, horrific and intolerable living creature of Chennai.
I went to my new office with friend on the very day I arrived in this City. That day I came to know about 1 great thing which, all the teams have. No one refer to that thing in their life time and people remember about that thing only when some update need to be done. That also, if audit is going to happen next week. That great thing in called PCM (Process Control Manual). I took 3 days to read that Problem Management Manual book along with Murugan, who joined the same day with the same team I joined. For your information, I didn’t remember a single word of that book on the 4th day.
It was a good and big team. So many seniors were there. I was confused. But didn’t had that much trouble as there were some people who used to speak with me in Hindi. At that time my English was more like Hingish or Banglish. I met new people, from different parts of India, from different culture and language. Immediately Naveen and Saravanan became my friends. May be because they both knows Hindi. Slowly I mingled with all other team members and other colleagues. 1 guy took some time, Saifullah. May be that’s why he is still in contact with me and we share a good friendship.
Before our friendship grew, some painful nights I had to spend with Saif monitoring ATM, KIOSKS, NAC, HOSTS & some Links and giving answers to his new new questions every night. Just because of his questions I learnt quickly. Saravanan introduced me with all other teams those who sit in 2nd floor of Shakthi Towers, eventually those teams are still there. Naveen helped me to know the names of all the Girls and Women working in our building. Rajan with his heath tips. Satish with his knowledge of Chennai roads. Anitha, my 1st South Indian Sister.
Last but not least Kutty Jairaman. All anger, disagreement, attitude and polite smile when manager is around. I still recall the cold war between him and Rajan. In between Saravanan and Naveen got pissed off because of this unwanted tension. Satish and Saif was senior so they didn’t got involved in this. Specially Saif, at that time people was scared to speak with him. In fact, the Switch Support from YCS, who sit in 5th floor of the same building, was kept themselves in alert all through the night if Saif is in night shift. I don’t know why.
There was another poor guy. Big Jairaman. I still believe that guy was a good guy, but his temper spoiled his career.
Krishna, my team lead. Never spoke to me personally. Never taught me anything. All he speak, either with Pramila or Anand or Desikan. He was a polite man. By seeing his face no one can tell in which mood he is in. Always a pencil in his hand may be he was always ready to explain but I never asked.
With this team I was for an about tow and half years. With each and every passing time I made new friends. Some are still in touch. With some people I am still working in my current organization. Some are in abroad. But the time I spent in that old building, with those guys was a golden time. It was fun going to 2nd floor Rajan Shop and having Poison (Tea) and cigarette with all the friends twice a day. Taking Breakfast in 1st floor Master canteen and lunch in 3rd floor Polaris canteen. The food was great. Every day the dishes used to smell and test as same as the day before. Every day Rajan was out of change and very next day he forgets that he has to give money back, unless you shout at him. Short time memory loss.
There is lot more happy things to share about my tenure in Shakthi Tower. In fact I have hardly any bad memory from that old place. It has given me good friends. It has helped me to survive in Chennai. It has given a hope to me to grow in life without being having a technical qualification and classical vocabulary.
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