My Hyderabad Days.

Two days has passed, still in confusion. Just few simple reasons for it, one is, two more offers on hand and other, a valid one. I know nothing about computers and have least interest in learning it. Suggestions were pouring in from all the directions. Most of them were all against my wish, but still thought of considering it. Most concerned one was my mother’s. This time I thought I could go according to my mother’s wish. Because all these days I haven’t done anything in her wish and I am sure I won’t be able to do in future also. On the other side, the joining formalities were bothering me, thoughts popping up whether it’s that necessary to sign a bond and work for a company. With this entire dilemma I left to Bangalore.

My cousin brother has tried many times to brain wash me to take up software job. Though I will be about to accept his argument, the aversion towards computer would pull me back. He tried his level best to convince me, he kept saying how good the company is and tried new bait, onsite opportunity. Though I did not fall prey to his bait, this time I have to consider him, coz I felt he was more meaningful and practical. I was able feel, that slowly I am sliding towards others wish. Next two days in Bangalore were spent thinking about the two years bond and submission of documents. Finally, I made up my mind to take up the job.

In my life I have never thought about working in Hyderabad. Mostly my concentrations was on Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Gurgaon. Because these are the places were activities related to mechanical and mechatronics engineering moving in a greater pace. Next few days was spent in dreaming about the Hyderabad’s infrastructure, Telugu people’s culture, food and what not. None of my friends have been to Hyderabad, so I had no idea of how life in Hyderabad would be. Though knowing that I won’t encourage, my family members were trying out in all ways whether they could contact any of my distant relatives who are living in Hyderabad. I started from Bangalore to Hyderabad with no one accompanying me, as usual. The whole night while traveling in the bus, which is about 12 hours, was spent in dreaming about my future. Most of them forcibly made positive and some failed.

Next day on 19’Th February I reached Secunderabad. Secunderabad and Hyderabad are called to be “Twin Cities”. People here differentiate the city with just one lake, “Hussain Sagar Lake”. City on one side of the lake is called to be Secunderabad and the other side as Hyderabad. For new comers like me it would take some weeks to identify whether he is in Secunderabad or Hyderabad. This would make one realize how good the tag fits for the two cities. As Satyam doesn’t provide any accommodation for their new joiners I made a telebooking for a room in YMCA, Secunderabad. As soon as I got down from the bus my first work is to find out the YMCA hostel and check in to the room.

Though I had language problem, with their body language I was able to guess the route to the hostel. It was just few minutes walk from the central bus stand. My guess was confirmed when I saw big board with “YMCA –Secunderabad, Welcomes You” written on it. Near the entrance there was a big basket ball court on the left and on the right I suppose it was a small antique shop. From the entrance gate I was not able to find out where the hostel office is. As there was no security person near the gate I went in and walked few meters inside, I was able to spot a guy standing near the pavement watching the basket ball game. He directed me into a small lane which took me into the office.

I peeped into the office with a hesitation; man, suppose to be the warden or the manager, sitting on the other side of the table noticed me and asked, ‘yes?’ I entered the room and introduced myself and said the reason for what I am there. ‘What’s your name?’ he once again asked and before myself giving the answer, ‘Prasad, right?’ he said. ‘No sir, Prathap.’ I replied with a more stress on ‘th’ and in a louder voice. I hate when people mispronounce or misspell my name. Once when I was doing my sixth class I pestered my parents to change my name. But later on I found that there was something special in my name where only very few people were called so, especially in Tamil Nadu. The meaning of my name also made me to change my decision to stick to the same name. The warden just stared at me once again and started going through the previous day’s page in his registration book. I saw a guy of my age coming down the stairs nearby wardens table. He kept staring at me on his way down the stairs. I felt as if I have seen him before somewhere, he was dressed in a formal outfit and his looks made me to conclude that he is from God’s own country,Kerala. He then entered into the room that was on the other side of the stairs. I tried to look into the book whether I can find my name. Before I could succeed the warden raised his head and said ‘Sorry. There is no telebooking made in your name.’ which only made me go sick. ‘Sir, could you please check once again? i am sure i have booked it yesterday.’ I said, in a desperate mood. He searched once again and repeated the same. ‘O.K. is there any room available now?’ I asked with an expectation of getting positive answer. But ‘no’ was the reply I got. For the next two minutes I was thinking what shall I do next and at the same time I kept cursing my fate and the company, for not providing accommodation. Though I know that I could get some hotel, my main concern was the quality and budget. It’s a new place for me, where would I find a good hotel which fits within my budget. With a thought that it would be better to consult him, ‘sir is there any good hotel which is cheep and good?’ and he replied without an interest in answering me.

The guy supposed to be from God’s own country came out of the room and approached me and said ‘Hi! , Good morning.’ I replied with a smile trying to hide my desperate mood. ‘Have you come to join Satyam? ‘, he asked. ‘Ya’ I replied with a shock, questioning myself, how come he know that.  ‘Are you able to recognize me?’ was his next question. ‘Ya… I feel like I have seen you at…’ I dragged, just to avoid from putting him in embarrassment by saying plain ‘no’. Immediately he replied, ‘yes man, at SHREDS, in Cochin. We met while waiting for the written test results.’ Slowly my mind started rewinding to one week before. Though I couldn’t exactly recollect everything I said ‘ya…right.’ ‘sorry. I forgot your name…’, ‘Prathap. And you?’ I asked, ‘Sandeep.’ He replied. Then I explained him what was happening for the last 15 minutes. ‘Don’t worry man. I am staying in double occupancy room, and one more bed is free. If you don’t mind, you can join me.’ No one in my position will mind for that. ‘Thanks. I will join you.’ I replied. ‘But, you have one more problem in that,’ I interrupted him’ what?’ ‘The other bed in my room has to be repaired. It’s broken’ he said. ‘That’s not a problem. For the time being I can put my luggage and fresh up myself’ I said.  I carried my luggage to his room, praising God and all my well wishers. On the way to the room, which was in second floor, many philosophical thoughts started flowing in mind. Even one of Rajinikanth’s film dialogs from the film ‘Basha’ came to my mind. Within ten minutes I got ready and we both started to the office where we were asked to report at 11 am on that day.

                We got our offer letters and we were directed to go for a medical test. The laboratory which we were asked to report was just 10 minutes by auto travel. As soon as we reached there we were given a form to fill up and a token number. While we were waiting for our turn we filled up the form and me, looking out for any good chicks. Most of the people who were asked report on 19’th were all selected from SHREDS, Cochin, So there were lot of mallu girls. All the teen age guys have great craze for them. Even if it is school or college when any one of the boys talks about an unknown mallu girl, the others cannot resist from asking her details.

When my turn for the test came, I was taken into a room for general check up. There I was asked to stand on the weighing machine, though I know my weight and height I followed their instructions. Then I was sent into another room for X-Ray and ECG, there they directed me for blood test.  I went cursing all the policy the company have, coz I have my blood tested twice before in the same week. I was able recollect, once my grand mother had said that, ‘these private companies will suck our blood till the last drop.’ Then I added my own thought to it, ‘Though not by work load at least by all these crap policies’. I sat on the chair, turning my head away from the 'blood sucker'. It was a male nurse who a sample of my blood. The work was over in half a minute. I was given a small container with my name and identification number written on it with a Sketch pen and asked to stand in the queue.

It’s the first time I saw people standing in queue in front of a bathroom, which just made me to laugh, but I controlled myself from bursting out. People were coming out with the filled containers; their face was filled with shy and embarrassment, especially girls. Some people moved out of the queue and went to enquire about the quantity that has to be collected, I only wondered how these people get doubts in these things also.  The guy in front of me went near one of the bathroom door, knocked it hardly and came back since it was occupied. Immediately another guy, thought to be acting smartly, ignored the queue and stood near the bathroom door. After half a minute a girl came out and stared at that guy with a fierce look, he was totally confused without knowing reason.

I was able to see the guy in front of me in sigh of escape from the fierce look. ‘Hi!’  i said to him. ‘Hi! I am Prabu.’ He introduced himself. ‘Prathap’ I replied. From his look and English slang one thing I was able to confirm that he is neither a mallu nor a north Indian. Still wondering to which south Indian state he belongs to. To be more formal we were enquiring about our major in engineering, though it’s not the right topic in that place. Our conversation was in English for next two minutes. ‘Which college you belong?’ I asked, ‘Mylam Engineering’ he replied. ‘Where is it?’ ‘Near Pondichery.’ ‘Are you Tamilian?’ I asked him in Tamil. ‘Yes. From Pondichery’ he too replied in tamil. ‘I am from Coimbatore.’ I said with a pride in my voice.

 I always had a great respect and love for my city. Not only for the reason that it is my birth place, but its culture, its tamil slang, coimbatorean’s natural behavior and what not. I have admired each and every aspects of Coimbatore. It’s the city which taught me the good culture and to respect other people. All the good things I posses was given by my city. Coimbatore is the city where one could have a peaceful life. Though it has gone through bad period of communal clashes, it still hasn’t lost its charm and beauty. WHAT IS special about Coimbatore? Ask anyone this and he is most likely come up with an instant reply - the salubrious climate and the Siruvani water. Coimbatoreans are so fond of this water (known to be the second sweetest in the world) that they carry it with them even when they travel outside the city for a brief period. The sweetness has been attributed to the vegetation and rocks through which the water flows through in the Attapady area. The Siruvani dam, located in Kerala close to the picturesque Attapady valley, is the life line of most part of the city. Though it is in Kerala, only Coimbatoreans have the privilege to enjoy it to the fullest.

 We both finished our allotted works. ‘I have met another two tamil friends; let me introduce them to you.’ He said. I went along with him. He took me to the down stairs and started to search for the guy in the crowd. After few minutes he came along with another lean and 5’5’’ tall guy. ‘this is vinoth.’ He said pointing to him. ‘hi! I am Prathap. you are from?’ ‘Coimbatore’ he said. ‘Coimbatore?’ I exclaimed. He nodded his head and asked ‘why?’ ‘even I am from Coimbatore’ I said with same pride. ‘is it?’ was his only reply. ‘which college?’, ‘Karpagam’ he replied. ‘Me from Krishna’. Then next one hour went in discussing about our college, our residential location and the place were we got selected. ‘Now I am staying with my college mate who is working in Satyam. I cannot continue there for long time and I have met another two tamil guys here. So lets all join together and take a flat for stay.’, ‘ok’, I and Prabu replied together. Then they introduced another two guys Vasanth and Ashok. I have met Vasanth in Cochin when I went to attend Satyam’s recruitment. But at that time I did not speak with him as I did not know him before and dint have time to introduce myself. For the next half an hour we three were doing our routine work, searching for good chicks. Boys are always socialistic in these circumstances. We just kept showing to each other the best ones we noticed.

Within next one hour we finished all the formalities. We were asked to report at Satyam Technology center (STC) on 21’st for taking up Pre Module Assessment (PMA). As the number of new joiners was large company decided to conduct PMA. PMA is an assessment that is conducted to check the associate’s computer knowledge. I and vinoth did not bother about it, coz we know that we wont be able to clear the assessment. We exchanged our mobile numbers with Prabu, for future contacts. On the same evening vinoth took me to his friends’ room where he was staying. I was there for another one hour and left to my hostel asking him to search for a house in the same locality.

Next day fully I spent in hostel and roaming in near by streets. On 21’st morning we all assembled near May Fair, Satyam’s registered office. It’s from here the buses were about to pick us to STC.  We all boarded the same bus; all other associates were busy discussing about the PMA and other technical stuffs. Even some were busy in explaining the concepts and programs to others. The whole bus was like a perfect class room. But I and vinoth alone were reading some local tamil weekly magazines and discussing about the hot actress picture it, as if we were preparing for PMA. The next thirty to forty minutes we enjoyed our time to a greater extent.

As soon as we reached STC, we were directed to Satyam Learning Center (SLC). STC is Satyam’s main and biggest development center in the world. STC was developed in an area of around 115 acres. It has two IT centers (development centers), dormitories for the associates, a well equipped gymnasium, swimming pools, cricket ground, convention center, bird parks, deer park and a golf court. It was as if we entered a biggest park in the world. SLC is the training center for the new joiners and experienced associates. It has two wings, West and East wing. SLC can accommodate 2000 associates at a time. This is the first time I am seeing such big auditorium with computer and micro phone attached to each and every seat. We all took comfortable places, not for copying but to have a good look on the whole crowd. It was an online test, the test comprised of C programming, Data Structures, RDBMS and other basic of computers. Though I have read some of the subjects in my engineering, it was long back. So I did not remember any thing. My aim was to finish the test as early as possible. All my answers were based on the very famous rule or theory, “Inky Pinky Ponky…”. After completion of each and every module I was getting my results, at the end it totaled to one hundred and forty two out of four hundred. Vinoth and Ashok scored around 170, Vasanth, Prabu and Balaji scored around 250. Balaji, the new guy, joined our group from Vasanth side I suppose. Initially I did not know much about him. I have seen him once, Vasanth and other guys were saying that he is also willing to join us in hiring a flat.

For the next half an hour we waited in another hall. They announced the results of the PMA, they said with the PMA results the total number of associates has been divided into two groups. But later we found that the grouping was a random process. One group who has scored above 60 percent was asked to join on the next day, the other was asked to attend one week training in basics of computer. Obviously I was in the second group. Vasanth, Balaji, Prabu were in the first group. Vinoth and Ashok joined with me in the second group.

                Some how through a broker we were able to get a 2bhk flat. We were the first occupant to the flat. It’s a newly built on the first floor of a building. Though we were not that convinced with the locality we accepted to hire it just for the reason it is close to Mayfair. The flat was still under construction, some patch works have to be done. But then, considering our urgency, I and Vasanth decided to shift. Vasanth was staying in a hotel near by Secunderabad railway station, along with his father who has accompanied him. The newly hired flat had 2 bedrooms, one hall, a kitchen and an attached bathroom. On the day we shifted just one room was finished, but still there were no fan and electric bulbs. There would be water seepage in roof, that too only when it rains. But unfortunately it rained many times when we stayed there. The room doors were ‘beautifully’ painted with mixed colors of red, dark blue, green and dark yellow, which always reminded us that we are in Andra Pradesh. Once we even had a debate on the color taste of Andra Pradesh people. Still, one thing we were not able to understand was a big window in the bathroom. Window was big enough that two people can go through it at time. Might be the owner would have an idea of making that bathroom into another room, in future.

On that night it was hot and we were not able to bear the heat. Hyderabad is a city were the climate is usually in the extremes, whether its summer, rainy or winter. So we both went to the up stairs and slept in open air. Vasanth is around 5’7” and bit stout structure, from Coimbatore. Though we lived in same city we have never met before. But later we found that we had some common friends. Vasanth character is always just opposite to his physique. He was bit coward. He always feared that, a knife is above his head. If an assignment was given then he would work hard to finish it one day before the due date. He was very home sick. When all my room mates were affected by chicken guinea, he was the most suffered one. He used to be adamant in his ideas. Once there came a discussion in our room, whether Satyam is best or Infosys is best. He supported for Infosys. We all argued that Satyam being a new company in nineties it has grown to level of a billion dollar company. But he …