SAAT SAPTAAH(七週間)
Date: 24Sept05
Every time a reader starts reading any literature, he expects it to add value to his existing knowledge; either a value addition to the database of facts he has or value addition to the lines of thought he follows. This however limits the writer of that literature to confine his writings to the realms of thrill, adventure, tragedy and such other strong emotions. Contrary to this, I took up the task of writing my mind about a very mediocre life that I spent for the last seven weeks; though I would really cherish the moments I spent there. It is the pleasantness of such mediocre remembrances that brings a smile to one’s face during times of turmoil.
The news came to me as a shock that I had to go to Gandhinagar on deputation for a period of four weeks on company business. Not very pleased with the idea, I prepared myself for the worst (as I was the only one sent from Mumbai). I did my homework thoroughly I set out to face what I called a pang of destiny.
Although the managers & project leaders there were kind enough to help me settle down, I always had an apprehension of what my work will turn out to be & whether I‘ll live up their expectations.
Not only was I away from home, but also without any friend/ buddy who could help me ease into that alien environment; a companion who could be kind enough to listen to any apprehensions I had or any problems I faced. The project I was working on was without any specifications or requirement documentations and no one from that team had worked on this kind of project before. So on the work front, I was the lone solider who had to make his own strategy & win.
Life after office was pretty boring as I had no options but to study for my mgmt entrance exams. The people in office were not enthusiastic enough to attend parties or take breaks; everybody was as boring as me.
Inspite of being the capital of Gujrat, the city’s attitude was that of a small town place; with ‘simplicity’ still a predominant feature of the masses. People frowned at my daily jogging routine & raised eyebrows on seeing my long hair.
The choice of food was pretty limited because eating non-vegetarian food was, maybe, discouraged there. I did encounter people who talked to strangers & gave them their house address just like that.
They say, after passing through fire, the gold gets purified. I could surely find many things within me after I went through this fire of ‘isolation’. These seven weeks-or saat saptaahs-were a dose of independence through which I could channelize my activities & my life. I had full control of what I wanted to do with my time. Whenever I planned for things to happen, I would make them happen. This was because I was answerable & responsible only to the strictest person on me—i.e. my conscience.
In those moments of seclusion, I realized the worth of family, friends, relatives & people in general. Association - the thing which I had been running away from and ranking it as a waste of time; I realized it is importance.
Having finished that chapter, I will still miss those morning workouts, daily cups of beverages (lassis, juices n milkshakes), hours pondering over problems (without the disturbing calls from people), taking my own decisions & not being answerable to anyone, living the life of anticipation- anticipation of the thrill of seeing the final day of this isolation & going back to a social life.
On the whole, it can be rated as boring venture, but I emerged out of it as a better man (at least to myself).So every time I find my life stagnating, every time I find myself wanting to run away from people, every time I see myself getting into a pessimistic attire, every time I feel lethargy creeping into me, I will set forward to such an adventure.
I take such a decision because the Ishaan that is now hates the Ishaan that was then.
