Accident...and the hullaballoo...

Excitement...thats the key word! Want loads of it in my life and got loads of it today.

Picture this...the beautiful (i like to add irrelevant pieces of information) Archu crossing the road in her beautiful wine-red Wagon R, an auto approaching at high speed, the auto swerving to avoid hitting the beauty (rather, the beauties!), the auto toppling!!!! Gathering mob, Archu shivering in car, somehow backing the car, running back home to her husband's arms, explaining things in tears (it could have been just a tear too) and with a shaking voice...hoping that things would end, because no one got hurt, but oh how wrong! Police, arguments, demand for money (money can take care of so much of pain!), sympathisers, advisers, well-wishers, on-behalf-of workers and what not!! Whose interest is being watched and who is watching it??? Confusions!!!

Have been analysing things the whole day. Found it difficult to understand what i could have done better. Should i have stayed backed on the scene? What if I or my car was bashed up? Noone can say. One can only guess. But advises are plenty.

Thought i was a good human being till now, but was made to feel that everyone is blessed with greater quantities of humanitarian feelings today (a lot of people seem to be enjoying challenging my self-concept these days), the autowallah, the policewallah, the rider, the friends, the colleagues, everyone.... People and their opinions can do a lot of things to you, no matter how independent and unaffected you may think you are. Not that I didnt know that. In IIM, I realised the same thing. Really great people are those who retain their confidence when everyone else has given up on them. Would love to meet some like that or better, become like that myself one day. What did Kipling say about that,"...if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you...". Remember a dialogue by Jackie Shroff in some movie i saw long time back. He makes it big from being nothing. Says in an interview, " jab appan kuch bhee nahee tha na, tab bhee saala itna hee confident tha..."

What other lessons?

Like CAT, there is no static strategy to deal with such problems. The strategy should be dynamic, depending on the place, its culture, the people involved, the support system in place etc. Thats where speed comes in. You have to understand everything fast an devise ways and means according to the diktats of the situation.

If there are too many people handling things for you, you might not be able to put in the desired pressure. There has to be one key person leading the pressure and strategising on your behalf. Choose one you trust and be in touch with him directly. Remember, others are only helping you and its ultimately your problem. So please take charge while still feeling grateful for their initiative. If you take charge, you do not in any way show that you are not grateful for their support.

Know the right people to please and appease. Very important. Handle them and your work is done with minimum effort.

Neways, let me tell you what i enjoyed today...

I enjoyed my feelings, though they were hardly pleasant. It was surprising to feel myself shivering and was strange to hear my voice shaking. I like all this stuff about genuine feelings...They are true and truth is very exciting! Remember how excited I get about excitement?

My mind was working and here was something i was really thinking about. Something that could involve me. Involvement also is a great feeling.

I enjoyed the fact that people came to help me, without my asking or expecting anything from them. Thanks a lot people!

Life's experiences, good or bad, are to be treasured and enjoyed and I enjoyed today's experience. It was a different day and i have been looking forward to different days. The beauty of such different days lies in the beautiful anticipation they create for a new, normal day, which otherwise would be just normal...