Life is full of surprises.
We do not know what is in store for us.
In the last decade and half, I have been commuting to my
place of work on my two-wheeler (scooty/scooter). The moment I get on to my vehicle,
irrespective of my moods, I start singing or whistling (yes I do). But the rides are not always pleasurable, particularly
in traffic jams. I avoid riding through
the main roads to escape traffic and keep discovering new routes through
residential areas. Many such roads are
narrow, bumpy and crowded. Driving on
main roads is more pleasurable than driving in residential colonies, due to
speed constraint.
Last monsoon, while I was returning home from work on my
vehicle late in the evening, I was caught in a bad traffic jam on the main
road. To escape, I entered into a
quasi-residential colony. My God! The road was flooded and all vehicles were
stranded on the road. I was completely
drenched, stuck and could neither move forward nor go back to the main
road. The water level on the road with
several potholes was rising due to continuous and heavy rain. After a while, the vehicular movement stopped
and there was a rumour that a live electrical wire was snapped. I was so scared and worried how I would reach
home safely. Though I don't have any
desires in life, I don't want to leave this world while I am still productive,
particularly before my parents. Though I
am agnostic, at that particular moment, I remembered the “Gajendra moksha” episode
from the Bhagavatam and addressed to God; “the same manner in which you
saved Gajendra, grant me
moksha from this situation, from this traffic, from this route, from
riding the vehicle and from this organization. I am fed up.” I was at that stage very unhappy at work and
was looking for a change desperately. I
somehow reached home that evening safely.
Soon after this episode, a new organization came up near
our house and I contemplated to walk-in and look out for a suitable job for
me. Surprisingly, I got a call from their office inviting me to attend an
interview, after they saw my profile on a job portal. I was so happy and started day-dreaming;
going to the office by walk, coming home for lunch and reaching home before
sunset. They were very impressed with me
and after several levels and rounds of interviews, sought time to give a formal
offer. I thought, God had heard my
prayers and was creating an opportunity for me to work close to my home. I
waited and waited for the offer and one day, I received a call, offering me a
very low salary and I could not accept it.
I continued with my efforts to get into another
organization and I landed in my present job. This monsoon, I am not riding on
my vehicle to work. The location is very
far away from my home. I need to travel
by train to work and travel to the nearest railway station by bus or an auto
rickshaw.
Life is funny, still beautiful.
The journey continues.......
