Life is full of twists and turns. People who don’t
know how to drive themselves through those twists face lot many problems. However,
one needs intelligence, determination and confidence to drive and deal with those
sharp turns. Emotions matter a lot in life but not while solving a problem in
life. This story is about how to handle emotions diligently while pushing
toward your goal, in parallel, whenever an opportunity knocks your door.
Mumbai is a land of dreams for so many people. As they
say, residing in Mumbai for a few years helps you to tackle the challenges in
any part of the world. Hi! Am Ritesh and I am a proud Mumbaite. I love Mumbai more
than how Mumbai loves its popular dish that it has given to the world –
vadapav. I was a happy-go-lucky guy, until I met an angel in a church nearby
Nariman Point, Mumbai; a few years ago. Yep! What you read is right. I met an
angel; she was in that traditional white dress with those trademark white wings
(attached to her backside ribs! I did not check, exactly!). Actually,
that time I was expecting a job promotion from my crooked and wicked boss, who
has this attitude of not giving any positive stuff to anyone whoever reports to
him. Life was dull and job was boring. I realized that I was in need of a
strong positive dose of luck in my life as I was in doubt whether my boss
recognizes my hard work and duly appreciate me by awarding with a huge salary
hike and a swift promotion.
As you know LUCK is hard to get in life. Being an
Indian who shares the philosophical thinking with my fellow Indians by birth, I
realized that there was only one way in front of me – visit all religious
places and make deals with Gods. Ideas are wonderful triggers; the moment you
get them, immediately your mind pushes your body to execute them. So, I started
visiting temples, mosques, churches, etc. Exactly at that moment, when I was
coming out of the Basilica Church in Nariman Point, a few feet nearby the exit
gate I met this angel about whom I was trying to tell you before. I was stunned
and shocked when I first saw her in front of me. At first, I did not believe
her; thought, she might be a part of some fancy dress competition. But then
after she introduced herself in a proper chastised manner, then I started
believing in her words. But, somewhere in my mind I had this question like why
the heck in the world that a white angel with a wand and wings appear to me
while there are so many ardent Christian devotees like Mother Teresa, St. John,
etc. were there? Blasting my doubting thoughts, the angel questioned me, 'why
did you call me?' I was flabbergasted. 'When I called you? I mean I don’t even
know your name.' I said. The angel gave disapproval look at me after hearing my
answer. 'Ok listen! Why you think that God should help you to further your
career prospects?' I said, 'it is because I can do better compared against others.
The only thing is that I never got an opportunity to showcase my skills or
intelligence.' This time the angel gave me challenging look. 'Wow! So, you think
that you are intelligent but deprived of right opportunities. Ok! I give you an
opportunity. Let’s see how you fare.' the angel said. 'If you can intelligently solve the problem while successfully
satisfying all the conditions set by me, I make your career wish become true.; the angel uttered.
Actually, only then I realized that she was here to make a deal with me as I was already in such a state
of mind to do anything to further my career prospects.
Hmm… I was thrilled momentarily but again I got doubt.
I asked her what sort of task I was supposed to do. With a pleasant yet serious
face, she told me that I should not advice anyone to break-up with
the person whom s/he is in love with under any circumstances. But if
you think whatever is happening is not correct, then you have to devise a plan
in such a way that neither of the parties should get neither directly offends
nor hurt.
‘Holy cow! Why the phish in this world that I would
advise anyone to break someone else heart with whom they are in love with? What
is my relation with that love situation?’ I started asking questions. For which
she told me not to think of what I don’t know; when the time comes, details would
reveal themselves and she was not ready to divulge any further details. After
that she asked me whether I was in or out of this deal. Being a person, who is
always in search of opportunities, how can I say 'NO' to this offer? So, I said
'Yes'. I was not worried about the condition that the angel set. Being a God
fearing person, I know that I never do something bad to others.
Then one day, a new employee joined our department. He
got introduced to everyone including me by the HR: Meet John, the new employee!
While I was shaking hands with him, I looked into his eyes and exactly at that
precise moment I saw the Mumbai angel in his eyes for a fraction of a second. I
was shocked. What? Why the angel appeared in his eyes? Does this mean whatever
angel told me as part of the deal, is it really going to happen? But how it
happens? How this guy is linked with angel? So many questions popped up in my
mind. But alas! No answers. However, one thing is clear; the angle has to do
something with John. And from my point of view, John has the key to unlock my
career luck prospects. So, follow John and keep him happy until I receive
further signal from anywhere. My curiosity increased exponentially in John and
his way of life and I started tracking this new guy, John.
John is a sober guy who displays lot of humility at
any point of time when he is surrounded by other human beings. Although he is
in his mid-20s, his appearance (with that dense beard and long strands of hair
falling on his forehead) makes others think that he is nearing 20s. Actually, John
with his goggles ON looks like a fresh faced innocent cute teenager who is just
out of college. After his joining, John became my friend. Within a few days, we
became buddies; started going for lunch, attending parties, etc. During one of
our buddy drinking discussions, I came to know that John is still single but
ready to mingle; the moment I heard this statement from John’s mouth, whatever
intoxication strength I was building up in that drinking session so far has
come down. John might not have understood the impact of his statement. But, for
me, it is something very important.
John, who is my best buddy now, is very emotional guy.
He puts his heart and soul in all the matters of his life [at least from my
point of view!]. He takes things very seriously that are very important to
further his life. At one point of time, I thought, ‘why the hell I stop John
doing something that gives him happiness in life. God knows!’ Then one day,
John called me to share some happy news. He was very happy and told me in his
foreign accent that he fell in love with someone and wanted to marry her.
Today, he wants to propose her but before that he wants me to see his ‘would be’.
I was dumbstruck. Things are happening as per angel’s deal. I told myself that
John is getting married to his love and it is good. I remembered angel’s deal
with me that I am not supposed to break someone’s heart. Why the hell I do
that? And why the hell I go against John and break his heart. In the same call,
John told that he would show me his fiancé. I said ok.
It is evening time. And John took me to a pub. Here,
he wants me to show his fiancé. I was also curious to see her. I adjusted my
glasses and started staring intensely toward the direction that John pointed
out. He is pointing a dark corner where I can see two shades moving into each
other. The view is not clear as people are dancing on the dance floor and the
disco lights are doing their job: ON & OFF at regular intervals.
Technically, I could not see the face of the person who was sitting in that
corner. In hesitation, I asked John ‘are there two people in that corner’. For
which John said ‘No’. I brought her here today so that you could see her. She is
sitting alone in that corner. ‘Wow!’ I said. They switched on the laser beams
to hike the dance floor kick now. The pub is buzzing with dance beats songs.
Literally, we both were shouting to each other to share information. At one
point, they beamed a laser light in to the same corner where John’s fiancé is
sitting all alone. John shoved me to look in that direction exactly at the same
moment. Literally, I saw two white eyes and a set of white teeth and a black
shadow. I told myself, ‘Ritesh! Seriously, you cannot ignore the warning of
your eyes. You cannot see anything. Now, what you tell John about his fiancé if
he probes you about her. Oh God! Tomorrow morning, first thing you have to do
is to check your eyes with an eye specialist’.
As expected, John asked me how was she? Immediately
bringing my interview skills into action (where I answer even those questions
that I don’t know with lot of confidence), I told him that she is looking cute
like a button. What a beauty! Now, I am jealous of you bro! Where did you find
her? She is so charming in the reflection of those laser beams; maybe because
of her vibrant fair skin color. Wow! What a beauty!’ Then John casually said, ‘Nah!
It is not her fair skin but her gold color dress. Actually, she is a
long-legged jet black beauty in a gold color dress and I like her satin black skin verrryy muuucchh.’ ‘What?’ I
ejaculated. ‘You look like a hero with all those teenage looks and your taste
goes against your looks bro! Why?’ Stunned, I uttered. For that John said ‘Donno!
I like unique things in life. And I think she falls under that category.’ ‘Yep!
She really falls under that category alone.’ I told myself.
John dropped me at my place and left to pick up his
fiancé. That night I could not sleep. My inner heart’s voice is waking me up every
time I close my eyes and started asking me ‘Can’t you do something?’ Now, I started
realizing the toughness of the situation in which the angel put me in. I am in
such a position that I neither accept handsome John marrying his jet black
fiancé nor am able to bear looking at my career not going anywhere. It is
almost 4 AM in the morning. I started walking around my bedroom; struggling to
come to a decision on John’s matter. Being an opportunist with an empathetic
heart, I want to do something which further my career and at the same time does
not hurt John’s feelings. Finally, I took a decision. Exactly at that moment,
the angel appeared. She started smiling at me but I was in a serious mood. Then
she asked me, what you have decided? I told her that the only solution to this
problem is to change 'her' opinion. Angel smiled and said you won and
disappeared.
By 6 AM, I got a call from John. He sounded so
fatigued. He is speaking with long gaps. He told me about how his proposal
event went and finally, he said, it got cancelled. ‘Why? What happened?’ I
sounded as if I am panicked. But then he slowly told me that his girlfriend suddenly
decided to go on world tour with her lesbian friend and she told him that she
would decide on his proposal once she comes back.
I ended John’s call with some cajoling words. Exactly,
at that moment, angel appeared again in front of me but, this time with another
deal…
