Three nights - Two days

Let me not create a suspense in your mind with such an eye candy title... it's just that with so many bloggers, it was really difficult for me to get a proper Blog-name that suited my story. So guys, don't be disappointed if you find that this is not what you wanted to read!

As I am done with my verbatim disclosure (see above), I'll put it in a clear sentence - this blog is all about my two day visit to Bangalore. This started with my management recommending my name for the CALS (Center of Assessment for Leadership Skills). Although I was expecting to be sent for it after an year or so, I was a bit surprised with the timing.

My little niece, Ammu had completed nine months of her existence on this planet. As is the tradition in Hinduism, before a baby completes one year, we shave their head. Even I like to shave my head frequently (as I consider it to be one of my hairstyles!). We planned to go to Yadagirigutta - a pious place dedicated to lord Narasimha Swamy on the 17th of January. It is around 60 KM from Hyderabad near Warangal Highway. I had even clubbed my week-offs to go there so that I'd have one day to take rest after the drive. Even I had a desire to shave my head (apart from the religious factor, I feel I look good in that look - am the only one with that opinion :0).

On January 14th, my Associate Program Manager, Ayush Misra handed over a paper and it's photo copy asking me to sign on it. After I signed it he joked "Chalo tumhara property meri ho gayi" (Your property is mine!). It was my invitation to CALS. I was asked to attend the CALS program on the 17th of January 2008. I was a bit dumb-folded. I always wanted to attend this as this will be a mile-stone in my career. But it also was on the day that we planned to go to Yadagirigutta. Later when I informed my family, they had different solutions like planning it on another day, canceling the trip this month or even hire a driver (as I am the cab driver for my family!) and go as per schedule. Later on, after much discussion, it was decided that we post-pone the trip to next week.

We then started our hunt on who else are going to CALS. To be honest, I was least interested to know who else is going. But as the search was going on, even I was a part of it. We also wanted to know how we were going. Sundaram, the guy who was heading the Quality department in Hyderabad center was also going to attend the CALS. But it was Manager CALS. We heard he was going by flight. Unfortunately for us, we were still Supervisors. We were also shocked to hear that there was no availability in Trains and Buses. We became a bit paranoid - 500 plus kmts in a cab???

People who came to know started congratulating us. But I had a long time mis-fortune syndrome. Whenever I revealed something before it happened, it would never happen. I know you might think I have gone crazy. But, trust me it does happen to me. I kept quite regarding it.

On the night of Feb 15th, we came to know that Facilities had finally got hold of a bus. We were elated. But not for long. No one had the tickets and no one knew any further details. I went to Ayush and asked him regarding the details. He said that they are still finalizing and asked me to wait till the end of the day. The problem was we were supposed to report at the Assessment center by 7:00 AM on 17th. My shift ended at 10:30 AM on 16th and there was no news of the timing we had to board the bus. Finally, we got the timings. The bus will be starting from Lakdi ka Pul - Kesineni Travels at 8 PM. The journey to Bangalore from Hyderabad takes at least 9 hours via a Super fast express bus.

I got it all packed up and was ready for the trip. Since I was the only one in my family to drive a car, I couldn't take my Wagon R. Instead, I booked a Taxi cab to report to my residence at 6:30 PM. On the way to the Bus stop, I picked up Praveen Talla. Talla, as we fondly call him by his last name, was one of the participants for CALS. I knew him for almost two years. We were a part of the second batch of Tech process. He remained in the Tech process while I moved to the pilot batch of the Chat process. He later on became a Supervisor in the Tech process and as a part time Supervisor for the Chat as well. At the beginning, I used to envy him and found a bit embarrassing to adjust with him. Later on, I found that he had no attitude of becoming a Supervisor. I then found a true friend in him. You never know the various dimensions of our life!

We finally reached the Kesineni Bus Terminal. There we found Sathish DS waiting for us. I and Sathish have opposite seating bays. Whenever any agent or Manager calls anyone of us, both of us look at each other and to see if it was Sathish or Rathish who were referred to!

We spoke to each other and found the final count of people going to CALS. It was Ahmed Bin Taher, Azmuth, James, Praveen Talla, Sathish, Sri Laxmi, Urmila and of course, ME!