IT and Rains....

The dull black unix screen stared at me jesting at the mundane monotony of my hard core corporate life. The taskbar of the laptop screen displayed it was 4.30 PM- our usual time for a tea break, another 30 minutes to go before daily update call with the offshore team. Just enough time to step out of the cubicle for a quick cigarette puff or to grab a bite of the snacks served in cafeteria. As I stepped into the lift lobby, out of the white lights in the work-area, I noticed the tiny droplets of water on big glass window-- a sign that the much awaited monsoon had finally arrived….
A slight smile popped up on my face…I called for the lift, somehow struggling to maintain my professional demenaour. My manager too was waiting for the lift- slight nods were exchanged, as a substitute for the greetings.
The lift opened, and another set of colleagues were already inside it- probably discussing some project related issues…dull and alien to me.
I checked my phone, quite disinterested in the notifications of whatsapp messages , all of them would be the forwaded messages- already read and yet circulated again and again.
The lift stopped, and with all other people, I too stepped out…heading towards the canteen.
As I crossed the entrance door, I could not help but notice the drizzle of first rain- the cool breeze and sweet smell of wet mud—the much awaited arrival of first monsoon was a welcome change ….
I headed for the cafeteria, and the first instinct was to grab a cup of hot tea.
Hot tea, spicy pakoras , and tangy chutney- savoured and served inside the kitchen, or in the balcony, enjoying the cool breeze with family…Essential elements to celebrate the first rains.
The child within me could not resist the temptation of chilly pakoda, and so I checked the menu board on the cafeteria…

Idli sambhar, dosa, upma, khichdi, bread pakoda, samosa, dhokla- all the regular options , even the sight of which makes me go sick these days. I can’t blame myself- 2 years of exactly the same menu is enough to make anyone sick.

Half heartedly , I bought myself a cup of tea, and moved towards the secluded parking area, reminiscing the good old days…
Two of my other colleagues soon joined me, and the conversation set flowing-the awesome mausam was enough to set our mood--the cool winds took mind away to an altogether different direction.
I sometimes wonder, why college memories never tire us…why we always end up thinking about those days, yet each time the topic seems as interesting as ever.
Such conversations make me realize that every engineer from private colleges has the same set of experiences….same incidences of bunks..or calling names to the teachers, or cheating and “hardwork” during exams, or free time and timepasses……
Same with school days and childhood memories- everyone of our age gets excited over the same things,while discussing the gone days.
Every professional clad in formal dressing has a child inside- a child who enjoyed Uncle chipps and chocolates, who played Hide and seek, and got bored during classes, had a favorite teacher or a school rival…

Bringing that child alive, even for a short duration is refreshing.

Refreshing enough to be a reason for smile…

With that smile on my face, I glanced at my watch. It was 4.55. Time to head back for work, to return to the present, the real world…
The world which seems so fascinating from outside….
The world, which in reality remains exactly the same on week days- unaffected by weather, by mood, or by any such factor--- The world of white lights and white collars, the IT world..