2. Interview 1
Seems the home has turned in to flames of fire. Despite having a well-paying job with a reputed company in Ahmedabad, Nishith was preparing to go for an interview for a script writer job in a Mumbai based ad agency. Even though all the members of the house i.e. Nishith's mother, father, uncle and aunt were tired of convincing, Nishith didn't bother. Nishith was firm on facing interview at any cost. All then surrendered and endorsed Nishith's plaea..
Nishith Mehta ...... a 5 ft 8 inches tall fair skinned young man, ... so shy and less talkative that the people living around him and many relatives never heard his voice. People familiar with Nishith's sense of humor kept their ears wide open when Nishith was around so as not to miss Nishith's unexpected humorous comments. The good-natured Nishith never used this skill to impress anyone. He was just enjoying himself. Many people called him Sahadeva because of his habit of giving short answers only if someone asked.
Few days back, Nishit came across an advertisement in the news paper for a vacancy of script writer for a reputed ad agency in Mumbai and sent his application by e-mail and to his surprise, he was called for an interview. Nishith was not convinced to get the job due to lack of any educational qualification for the proposed post and yet was desperate to face the interview. He also had no idea what questions to face in the interview due to lack of technical knowledge required for the job of a script writer. He was also a little nervous for the interview due to his taciturn nature.
Nishith had to board the Karnavati train in the morning to reach Mumbai on time for the interview but forgot to book the ticket due to the hectic schedule. Was relaxed to know that reservation can also be obtained from the current reservation window half an hour before the train departs.. "Let's take a chance in the morning and see what happens, it's true." sigh of relief.
At 4 in the morning on the current reservation window.
"Sir, an A.C. Chair car ticket for Mumbai "
"Sorry, not a single ticket is available"
"Oh ... shit ... what do I do now?"
"Many seats are vacant in the second sitting. If you say so, let me give it to you. ”
"Well.. have me one. .. it's ok.. it's not that hot now a days"
Nishit rushed to the platform and the train was all set to leave.. Taking a water bottle and a magazine from the stall and got into the coach. Five minutes left for departure and only four or five passengers in the coach. All the seats around were still waiting to get warmed. He thought to get down and glanced over the chart list to kill the time. As seen in the chart, most of the passengers in the surrounding seats were senior citizens. "Oh ... let's go for a satsang today" Babbled.. on returning to seat, the neighboring seats were filled and it was time for the train to take off. ‘Satsang Mandal’ also took their stance. The train had now left for journey to Mumbai, the city of dreams.
To finish the quota of unfinished siesta, Nishith decided to take two to four hours of sleep and really felt asleep in no time.
" chai garam, chai garam..."
On reaching Baroda, train stopped and so Nishith's sleep disturbed by the sound of hawkers and he woke up. People used to drink tea to keep awake, but it was tea vendors' noise today, playing role of alarm clock for Nishith.
Tea ... Coffee ... Potato Wafers, Vada Pav, ... Samosa .. Bhel ... Chana Jor Garam .... Khari Sing of Bharuch ..... Idli ... Sandwich .... And yes ... above all, the Karnavati Special Cutlet.... As the train moved forward, the hawkers continued to move to and fro irrespective of the delicious food they vend ...
Meanwhile, one bhajan after another was going on in the satsang mandal. While reading the magazine, the melody of his favorite song hit Nishith's ear.
"Najarke saamne .... jigar ke paas ...... koi rehta hai wo ho tum ....."
Ah ... what a fun song .... Aashiqui's other songs including this one turned Nishith into a hobby of songs years back... The song was sung by a twenty year old girl who came along the satsang mandal ... She had a soothing voice .. She sang on insisting by her mates. It looked she was not fond of singing bhajans. But a senior guy was not so happy with her.
"Hey .. what's all this ? just stop it... will this be called a bhajan? This is just a romantic song. huh.."
"But that's how I feel. I sang with all faith in almighty."
"Where does God's name come from?"
"No .. that's true ..... so let's sing a song that comes in the name of God"
"Yes .. it will work ... move on .."
Then the girl thought for a while and started singing.
"Rama Rama .. Rama Rama ..."
"Ram Rama .. Rama Rama ..." Chorus echoed.....
Now Nishith got the idea from the raga and waited for the blast. ... "Bhajan" continued ...
"Rama Rama .. Rama Rama ..."
"Rama Rama .. Rama Rama ..."
" Kahan gir gayaa dhoondho sajan, button meri kurti ka ..."
Nishith was sure of a blast now ..... a gentleman took the charge ..
"Well done .... after a long I heard something new ... what are the words ?. My satsangi fellow, in this bhajan, the poet wants to say that ... Our body ... is just like a kurti ..... It's just like a cloth .... which does not need any buttons .... and if there is any, I have lost it.. Please help me in searching..”
A crowd of devotees is enjoying the satsang. Meanwhile, a call from Nishith's office. His co-worker had a phone call about a job ..... on done with the phone, Nishith thinks that he doesn't have any particular problem even in his current job ... He has got along well with everyone in the office ... The management is also happy with his work. . He is the most respected one among the colleagues .... Overall, there is no special problem .... but the passion for creative writing is pulling him ....
Now, a boy is coming towards Nishith's compartment, singing in a loud voice, with two flat stones in his fingers and fluttering with each other.
" Pardesi Pardesi.. Jaana nahi.. mujhe chhod ke..mujhe chhod ke ..."
As he gets closer to Nishith, Nishith was getting mesmarised....
"Bhool na jaana.. Bhool na jaana.. Bhool na jana.. ........ Ho o o o o o ... ”
He comes very close to Nishith .. For a moment Nishith feels that the song he sigs is signaling a possible change in his career ... His hand slips into his pocket and with a wide smile, gives the boy a ten rupee note.
The movement in the coach now continues. All the passengers started to head for the door. Still.. Virar has just passed ...
"The next station is Borivali .. But the impatience of our people is unmatched in the world" Nishith murmered..
The time of the interview is coming closer moment after moment. .. But by thinking more over it, Nishith doesn't want to put any kind of pressure on himself .. In a moments it's Borivali statio .. Like most passengers, Nishith's journey through Karnavati is finished here. Since the train arrived on time, Nishith still has two hours
... He goes to the ticket office, takes a local train ticket and boards the local train to Churchgate. Good that the local train is not particularly crowded as it is noon time, or else for outsiders, boarding the Mumbai local train at this time can be a joy to win a gold medal in the Olympics.
After landing at Andheri station, Nishith dialed the office number of the company to aquaint for his arrival and inquired for how to get there. Leaving the station, he catches a rickshaw to reach the office. Eventually he reaches his destination.
The name "Sopan Ad Agencies" Leaves a smile on his tired but hopeful face ... His heart bits stop for a moment ... for the first time he has to face an interview for dream job in a short time. ‘By the time I will step out of this door, the destiny might have written something unprecedented.’ He takes a deep breath and enters the reception corridor of the office.
"Hello .. Madam .. My name is Nishith Mehta ... I am here for an interview for post of script writer"
"
"Okay .... have a seat. .. I'll deliver your message to sir." A response with a plastic smile ...
Nishith sets himself on the Couch .... There he picks up a bottle of 250 ml mineral water lying on the tipoy and observes the office while sipping water. Nishith picks up a magazine from the magazine stand, flips through its pages.
What does he look like when he turns the pages of a magazine? A wax figure dressed in a floral top and black jeans is coming towards him. The young lady with blue sea-like eyes asks the receptionist.
“Who is Mr. Nishith Mehta ... Sir is calling him in ”
The receptionist points towards Nishith sitting on the couch ... The wax figure looks at Nishith and throws a smile .. Nishith also smiles gratefully in response.. This made Nishith melt like wax in no time..
After getting information about the location of the CMD's cabin from the receptionist, Nishith left for the battle ground.....
Continued ....
