The silver lining

On November 6th, 2006 I rejoined Bank of America after having taken 5 months off. I started in a new department with a new attitude. Of course, when I arrived in this department, I didn’t know anyone. Correction, I knew Rajesh. I had worked with him in my previous department. Actually, we didn’t work together on any projects, but we worked for the same manager. I knew who he was, but didn’t know him well. At that time, he was a friend and roommate of another coworker of mine, Sachin.

Changing jobs always means finding someone new to hang out with at lunch, during breaks, through the day. Oh yeah, there is some work involved too, but that’s incidental to the social aspect!

Anyway, I got my new seat and was sitting on what I called Contractor Alley. This is where most of the contractors sat. We were stacked right next to each other with our backs to an isle. Here is a picture of Chetana, my neighbor, who sat right next to me on my left. The picture is taken from my seat. She’s within easy reach.

Erica
On my right, sat Erica. A little further to my right sat Vishal. During the first 2 months, November and December, none of us had anything to do. Heck, I didn’t even have a login ID for the first 7 weeks! So, during that time, we just basically talked all day, got to know each other, and bonded. We were close. Over the next several months we became fast friends. You’d always see Paul, Erica, and Chetana. We’d take breaks together, eat lunch together, and usually leave for home at the same time. We had a good time. Sometimes Rajesh would eat with us, but he was really busy at that time, so most of the time it was just the 3 of us in the break room at lunch time, eating and laughing it up. Usually we were laughing about Erica’s escapades and, believe me, she had many.

Sometime around the beginning of June, Erica got notice that her project had run out of money and that she had 2 weeks remaining. Her last day would be around June 8th. Also around this time, Chetana was about to go on vacation to India for 5 weeks, starting June 15th. Lastly, we found out that someone at USCIS has screwed up Vishal’s visa and that he would have to return to India until it was resolved. Suddenly, in the space of about 1 week we went from 4 to 1.

It was going to be a lonely ride for the next 5 weeks until my neighbor, Chetana, returned. As that day approached, I was eagerly anticipating it. It was a big part of my day to talk about our kids and spouses, etc. She was to return on July 16th. On the morning of the 16th at about 8:30 AM she called to say that while she was on vacation, they had terminated her contract and that she would not be returning. I was crushed. Instantly, I felt sorry for myself, thinking, what am I going to do?! I came out of that quickly and asked her if she would like for me to refer her to other recruiters. She said yes.

Chetana
During the next week, I was at my wits end. I was very sad. I had lost 3 people whom I really cared for. It radically changed my days, but only because I let it. I confided in my wife about how I felt and she said that she was sorry for my loss, but perhaps something good would come of it and that there was a lesson in there somewhere. I reluctantly agreed.

Also during this time, my wife was going through some of her own introspection and was very quiet. It was like everyone that I cared about had vanished, not true, but that’s the spin that my mind put on it.

Rajesh
The silver lining for this whole ordeal was that I am learning to appreciate my own company and I have a new friend. Rajesh and I are becoming really good friends, at least I think so. I am some 15 years older than he, but we share a lot of the same ideals and thoughts about life. I learn a lot from him. We have lunch together every day and sometimes we discuss deep topics, sometimes we just sit and eat quietly. So, without this total ‘meltdown’ of my support system, I don’t think that I would have had / taken the opportunity to get to know him as well as I have so far.

Tanas, the KING of Drama!

We had a little reunion yesterday. It was good to see my friends, whom I am sincerely glad that I met. Chetana even brought her son, Tanas, who was full of drama. He was quite bored and wanted to go home and play video games.

So, you see, it was all a matter of how I accepted the situation. Initially rejecting it and thinking that it should not have happened to me, but then finally coming to acceptance and then the world was in balance, once again.

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