LUCK vs LOVE!!!!

I was looking at her as if I were mesmerized. Her dressing, way of talking, her smile, her confidence levels were more than impressive. It was then and there I decided that I wanted to be like her. I still remember her name. She was Richa Sharma, an HR from Genpact. She was talking to a large crowd of students in the college assembly hall about the interview process and the job profile. She was very fair, bubbly, had a really beautiful smile with dimples and she was wearing spectacles which added to her look. She was wearing a navy blue chudidhar. I hate navy blue color as I wore the same color uniform for almost 12years for school!!!! Moreover in our colony almost every kid went to the same school as I, so I used to see the navy blue color dress not only in school but also in the whole of our neighborhood.  So, I kind of got fed up with the color and every time I see someone wearing navy blue, I feel it’s a uniform!!! But today, I all of a sudden loved what she wore. The NAVY BLUE dress. Saru was taken aback when I said “She’s so pretty. Her dress looks good, isn’t it?” She simply said, “Since when have you started liking navy blue color and navy blue dresses?” I looked at her in surprise and thought, “GOD, she knows me sooooo well!!!” I never told her specifically that I disliked navy blue color or the reason why I disliked the color. But even then she knew me so very well. After my mom and sis, it was Saru who knew a lottttt about my likes and dislikes.  That might be because of our long company for years together. I just said, “Don’t know why but I like the color today”, saying this I again focused my attention to what the HR was talking about. Observing that I was looking at the HR with admiration, Saru said “Don’t tell me you are in love with the HR!!! Hahahaaa”. I said, “Not with the HR, but I love her job and the confidence with which she is carrying it.”  We were sitting in the last but one bench. I was sitting in between Swapna and Saru. Seeing I and Saru murmuring, Swapna pinched me and said, “We are sitting in the last bench and not able to hear the HR properly. On the top of that you both are murmuring!!!!” I looked at her and sighed. Both Saru and I diverted our attention to what the HR was talking about. She was almost done with the introduction of the company and opportunities for us in the company. She said before she goes ahead with the details about the interview process, she’ll take a break for 10mins, and students who were interested to attend the interview can stay back and the remaining people can leave. The HR had clearly mentioned that if the process required, we need to work in night shifts. Hearing this, most of the students were in a dilemma whether to attend the interview or not. For a moment even Saru and Swapna hesitated. When they asked me if I would attend the interview or leave, I told them that I'll attend the interview and if I get selected I won’t decline the offer just because I have to work in night shifts. I knew deep inside that for an early bird like me, night shifts could be the greatest challenge. But again I'm very determined and can adapt myself to changes that are hard but at the same time mandatory. So, I was firm that I’ll attend the interview. Swapna’s sister was already working with Genpact and I heard really good stuff from her about the company. I always look for challenges and different experiences. Night shifts offered me these two. Why then should I step back? I knew convincing my parents for this would be difficult but definitely not impossible.  Moreover the pay was alluring :P :P!!! I could see no reason to say NO. Swapna and Saru also decided to attend the interview. After 10 mins, the HR was back. The assembly hall was almost 50% empty as many students left. The HR addressed the remaining students and explained about the interview process. Oh my gosh!!! There was a JAM session first. Just A Minute. We had to speak on a topic given for at least a minute. Now there was a shiver sent through my back. I never had stage fear while I was in school. I used to say pledge, read thoughts, articles and news in the school prayer. But that was almost 5yrs back and the most important was, I knew almost everyone in school. Here in my graduation, I didn’t even know my classmates properly. In our class there were 6 girls and more than 40guys. I hardly knew 5-6 boys. That too hi and bye types. Ours was a girl gang and we never entertained any boys in our gang. But now, there were so many students from different streams and sections. There were only 8 girls in the whole room and remaining all boys. I was scared, only for a while though. It was not the time to think of all the guys in the room or to get tensed. Everyone was shifting to the back benches to avoid talking on the stage first. I don’t know, what prompted me, but I went and settled in the second bench from the last bench. Instead of being nervous all the while, I thought I would be relieved of the tension once I complete my turn of the JAM session. And I'm glad that I was right.   The HR gave us two topics, of which we had to choose one and talk about it for a minute. Both the topics were really very simple. The topics were: My role model and my best friend. The HR herself said the topics were easy to talk about and she was expecting only two things from the students. The accent and the confidence with which one spoke in public. The content or the quality of content was not important. She gave us two minutes of time to jot down points on a sheet of paper. After the three girls sitting in the first bench, it was my turn. All the three of them spoke about their best friends. My legs were shivering as I walked on to the dais, but once on stage and after introducing myself, I lost all my fear!!! I didn’t look at the sheet of paper which I took to have a look at if I didn’t remember any point. I spoke about my role model, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. I received a prize from him when I was in my 6th standard and I adored him ever since. He is a down to earth person and very friendly with children. I spoke about how he made it up to the President of the country from being an ordinary newspaper boy. I explained his qualities which made me choose him as my role model. In fact, I talked about points which I didn’t have in the paper I was carrying. I didn’t realize how quickly the one minute passed; I was interrupted by a buzzer sound which indicated that my time was over. As I started getting down the dais, there was applause. I was the first student for whom the crowd clapped. It made me very happy and boosted my confidence. I came back and sat in my place. Saru said, “You did a great job. I'm sure you’ll clear this round.” Hmmmmmm. One by one all the students completed their turn. It reminded me of the elocution competitions in school. There were 57 students who attended the first round of the interview, many of which spoke really very well. The chances of I getting selected seemed to be the same as the chances of I not getting selected. I gave my best and decided to face the worst with a smile. I didn’t leave the interview unlike others who when heard of nightshifts, left the interview without even giving it a try. In that sense, I was already a winner. So, I decided not to take it to heart if I didn’t clear the round. The interview started at 11 in the morning, it was already 3 in the evening. The HR said after 20mins she’ll announce the results. All the three of us went to the tea stall which was exactly on the opposite road of our college. Saru and I ordered a cup of tea each. Swapna had this good habit of not drinking tea outside. Even Saru and I don’t prefer having tea outside but today we didn’t have an option. Moreover the tea stall was very tidy when compared to many other tea stalls. That’s mainly because; even our lecturers came here regularly for a cup of tea. So, the owner maintained it neatly. Saru finished her tea. Whatever it may be, I don’t drink my tea fast. I let it cool for a while, and then enjoy every sip. Ahhhhhh, how much I love tea. Even today though there were only 5mins left for the interview results to be out, I dint want to hurry. I was rather enjoying the tea. The stall owner used cardamom flavor and it was one of my favorite flavors of tea after ginger. I felt like drinking one more cup of tea, but the look in Swapna’s eyes scared me . We paid for our tea and left the stall. After I had tea, I felt refreshed. A thin air of confidence that I'll get through the interview surrounded me. The auditorium was in the 3rd floor; I ran over the stairs without even stopping at one step and reached the auditorium. The HR wasn’t back yet. I sat in the last bench. I closed my eyes and for one last time told myself, “Its ok even if I don’t get selected. After all I gave my best.” After 3-4 minutes Swapna and Saru came. (They were coolly walking up the stairs while I came running!!! :P). Seeing I close my eyes and hands folded, Swapna asked “hey dumbo, you alright?” I opened my eyes smiled at her and said, “I'm ok. Just anxious about the outcome.” She smiled and took my hands in hers and said “Don’t worry. You’ll get selected. Genpact will be losing a really good candidate if they don’t select you.” Haha. How sweet of her to say that? I just looked at her, blinked my eyes and said “Thanks sweetie.” Meanwhile the HR came. She looked as fresh as she was in the morning. Very graceful and ever smiling. She took the mike and just said one word, “Anxious?” everyone shouted “Yes!!!” She then said very diplomatically, “Every one of you has done really very well. How I wish I could take all of you for the job? But you know my limitations, right? So out of the 57 candidates, we selected 11. And they are……. She started announcing the names. When she announced the first 3 names, I was fixed that I didn’t make it as I was among the first to talk and my name wasn’t still announced. For a moment it hurt me like hell, then I told to myself “Its ok its ok its okkkkkkk!!!” But what do I hear all of a sudden? My name!!!!!! Swapna and Saru said “Hurray…Congrats baby”. GOD, I was overwhelmed. I wasn’t in her list till the last and so I lost the hopes. But gosh!!! I was so wrong. After announcing the names, she asked the 11 of us to get ready for the second round of the interview. It was the telephonic round to test our communication skills, listening ability and basic phone etiquette. It was almost 4:30 in the evening. Every one of us looked pale as we were there from morning. The HR told us that the telephonic interview would be for 20mins for each student. Two HR’s from Genpact office would take the interview from the office campus. Our college had provided two land line phones for the purpose of interview. At a time two students would be assessed from two different phones by two different HR’s. But the two HR’s who were supposed to interview us over phone were held up with work in their office and they would be back after an hour. I asked Saru and Swapna to leave as I saw no point in asking them to wait for me for next 3 hours. They said they’ll wait for next half an hour. I had least idea about what they’ll ask in the telephonic round. I didn’t want to think too much about it and get tensed. So, I started talking to Swapna and Saru about the usual girly and gossip stuff. After about 20 mins, Saru and Swapna decided to leave. I went with them till the bus stop and bid them bye. When I came back to the assembly hall, I saw that two guys were sitting in two corners of the hall and were talking in phone. I went to the adjacent room, the HR was there with remaining students. I asked her what was going on, she said the interview has begun already. Oops, so I was late. After a good 10mins the guys came back. The HR called next two students to go and attend the call. Time flew. The students who attended the second round of interview were made to sit in a separate row. The guys were sending the questions as messages in mobile that they were asked in the 2nd round to the girls who were sitting next to me waiting for the their turn of telephonic round. There were only 4 girls including me and remaining were boys. I knew none of them as I was from a different stream. All the 3 girls checked out the messages in their mobiles and started discussing the questions. They were whispering to each other so that I cannot hear what they were talking. Silly girls!!! They felt so insecure. I didn’t want to trouble them, so I shifted to other bench and sat alone. Suddenly I heard a hiss. I turned my head and saw that a guy was calling me. He didn’t know my name, so he was hissing in order to get my attention. When I asked him, “What?” He whispered “What’s your name?” I gave him a ferocious look and asked “Why?” he said “Simply. Give me your mobile number, I'll send you the questions.” Ahhhhh, that’s a cheap strategy. I said I dint want to know the questions. He said, “Don’t worry. I'll erase your number as soon as I send the message.” I said firmly “I said I don’t need that. If you insist I'll have to tell HR about what’s going on in the class between you and the remaining girls.” The guy was stunned at my response. Then what? How could he even think I'll give him my number to know the questions which would for sure vary from candidate to candidate? Cheap jack!!! I heard him say to the guy beside him, “She seems to be a tough cookie. Very head strong attitude.” I felt like giving him the tightest slap ever!!! How dare he judge me? Idiotic fellow. I just ignored his words and diverted my attention to the HR who was busy sitting on a chair and doing some paper work. After some time, she asked me to go and attend the call. I went to the room where I was supposed to attend the 2nd round of interview. I lifted the phone, closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breathe. I then said, “Hello”. I heard the HR other side, “Hi Ramya.” Then after a brief introduction from me, she started asking questions like what do you know about Genpact? Why would you like to work with Genpact? What are your strengths and weaknesses? I answered everything perfectly. I talked casually yet confidently instead of getting tensed. After 10mins she said, “Here is the last and important part of interview. I'll give you a topic on which you have to talk for 7-8mins non-stop.” I said “Ok.” She took few seconds and then gave me the topic. I started talking about the topic. The topic what I heard was “LOVE”. I started instantaneously “Love is the purest form of emotion. Love is what drives the universe. It is a misunderstood concept these days. It is an essential ingredient of life, but not the only ingredient…..etc etc etc , I went on blah blah blah. The HR didn’t utter a single word all the while that I was speaking. I paused only once in between just to hear her reaction, she simply said, “Go ahead.” I continued with all that I could think of at that moment about love. After some time when I had no words, and when I felt I almost talked for 8-9 mins, I stopped talking. When I couldn’t hear the HR, I said “That’s it. I'm done.” After I spoke for a pretty good time and after hearing to me without interrupting me, I thought I had done a really good job. I was quite sure that I spoke very well without searching for words. I expected the HR to say, “That’s nice” or “That’s good” or something similar. But to my dismay all she said was, “Ramya, I asked you to talk about LUCK, not LOVE!!!!” Oops. Oh no!!!!! I was such a jackass!!!! I didn’t even confirm what topic she gave me before I started to talk. As soon as she gave the topic, I started to talk talk talk and only talk. The most ridiculous thing was all the while I was talking about the wrong topic and even the HR didn’t bother to correct me!!!!! I then asked her, “Do you want me to talk about the right topic now or do I leave?” She said, “If you can talk, that would be great. It’s your wish.” I wanted to leave no stone unturned to get selected in Genpact. I after few seconds started talking about “LUCK”. After 3-4 mins the HR interrupted me midway and said, “Thanks Ramya. You can give the call to next person.” That’s it. I felt sooooooooooo very bad for making a complete fool of myself!! I cursed myself for not confirming on the topic before I could speak. I came back to the room and asked the HR, when’ll the results be out for this round? She said “We’ll display them on your college notice board tomorrow morning.” I said “Thank you” and left the place. It was 7 in the evening and was already dark. I started walking towards the bus stop. I was literally crying. I took out my hand kerchief and wiped the tears rolling down my eyes. My first interview was a disaster and I was totally responsible for everything!!!! Fortunately I didn’t have to wait for much time, I got a direct bus to go home. I messaged Saru and Swapna to be at the bus stop. They both responded immediately and asked how the interview went. I said I'll tell them once I meet them at the stop. They said OK. I was just remembering how the whole thing went. It was funny but cost me lose a good offer. I consoled myself and started thinking of other BPO offers. I was damn sure I'll not get selected for Genpact. I was lost in thoughts when I reached my place by 8:10. Swapna and Saru were waiting for me in the stop. I got down the bus. Both of them looked into my face. It was expressionless!!!! Neither disturbed nor happy. They asked me what happened. Swapna brought a chips packet for me. We went to the park behind the bus stop and I, while munching on the chips told them about how “LUCK” and “LOVE” played with me!!! Both of them burst out laughing when they heard about my stupidity and they started putting all kind of expressions that I would have given when I faced the bouncer. Saru said, “I'm cent% sure you would have opened your mouth wide open when you learnt that you spoke on the wrong topic for 10mins that too with so much enthu!!!! GOD, it’s so funny”. Seeing them laugh at me, I also felt it was funny and not serious to be mood off. I went home happily, had my dinner. My dad asked me about the interview. I said I did OK, not that good. He said “That’s your first shot. Glad that you cleared 1st round. Let’s hope you’ll clear second round too.” I just smiled and said “Thanks dad. Let’s hope for the best.” I then slept.
I as usual woke up at 5:30 in the morning, taught tuitions from 6 to 7:30 and left to college at 8:15. After we got down the bus and started walking towards our college Swapna and Saru asked, “Shall we just check if you cleared the interview? We’ll go to the office room and check the notice board.” I said I wasn’t interested. So, all the three of us went to class room. After our first class, the lecturer left. The second period was a leisure one. All of a sudden one of the guys came into the class and came up to me. He said, “Congrats Ramya”. I didn’t even know if he was from our class or not, I asked him “For what?” he was surprised and said “Are you not aware that you cleared second round of yesterday’s interview with the highest score?” What??????????? I was totally unaware of it. Saru asked the guy, “Who told you?” He said “You girls are funny. Whole college knows about it. It’s displayed on college notice board.” The 3 of us ran to the office room and saw the notice board; I could see my name on the top of the list with a score of 8.5.” That really was the most pleasant and unexpected thing I least thought of!!!!!! It was one of the proudest moments in the whole of my graduation days