Ali Asghar 's Blog

I have been planning to blog about this for a week. But dint get enough time. Finally, here it is.

Let me give you a little background of who we are and where do (or did) we belong. We are the erstwhile employees of Wipro (and some who still are working for Wipro). We were deputed at client location, Motorola and since then we prefer to call ourselves Motoralaites rather than Wiproites, for the sheer reason of feeling a sense of belonging and attachment that we felt towards Motorola (at least I did), and the appreciation of their work culture.

We were a team of twelve very Bindass bunch of guys(men) and girls(women) coming from different parts of India. But what held us together was the very fact that we were lazy by nature, jovial and very open-minded, who never ventured into any back-biting whatsoever of any one of us (except for our Managers). We took three (at times five) breaks in a day and chatted the rest of the time. Work was our last priority. To cut  the long story short, after a while (I guess 7 months after I joined) we suddenly realized that we were going nowhere (Pay was the main reason followed by Job satisfaction) in the current job and hence decided to do the unthinkable. Jump!! It started with one taking the lead and the rest (almost half of our gang) followed.

We have been very much in touch with each other since then thanks to the internet and (how can I forget?), telecommunication. But then, we couldn’t resist the thought of not being able to meet up and chat like what we did when in Moto. It all started with Shiv, the great, wanting to have a get-together (not the BBQ party as was planned when we were in Moto, but dint work-out thanks to our support schedule) at his place. After months of planning we all decided to fix up on a date (not before exchanging 100 emails between us to decide and agree on the specific date), the 10th of October 2009!

We all decided to meet up at Shiv’s place at 3pm sharp(as if we were punctual all the time)! So we all got together at not 3pm but 4pm at Shiv’s place. Salma and Naga were late! Naga trickled in by 5pm, while Salma came at 6!! The reason for her being late was that she was preparing cake for all of us (how sweet of her we thought!!). Only to be later surprised at how the cake turned out to be. It was something between a Cake and a Muffin (Allwyn had a better name for that which I cannot recollect now). Nevertheless, we ate it though we cribbed. But Salma, how sweet of you, really!! Arch and Shiv brought the Samosas, Gulab Jamuns (which were yummy) and Cold drinks. And Puru brought along the ice-cream that Jaggu very happily finished in no time! Jaggu just loves anything that’s sweet!

We chatted about old times in Moto and what’s new at Moto and our new workplace. Recalled really funny events and laughed until our ribs tickled and started to pain. No one was spared, not even me! How could we miss the Big B and his Small R when we are all set to make fun and laugh. So they too were mercilessly been made fun of and laughed at in their absence. Yes,we do back-bite but only about our Managers. Then we were discussing (not again!!) on what to do next. Some said that we could have Thai food. Some wanted to go to the dingy resto-bar at Nandhini Palace. But then came Stones from Allwyn!! And there we all were, saying a loud Yes in chorus! The women were a little hesitant, but with little built-up they too agreed and were comfortable with Stones. For the benefit of those who don’t know what Stones is – Stones is a pub cum bar cum restaurant in Indira Nagar, Bangalore. Our gang has a lot of old memories attached to it. So what better place for a reunion!!

Packing ourselves in the car, off we went to Indira Nagar and then to Stones. It is a very dark place with loud music literally blasting out of the speakers. We had to literally scream ( use any other word you know of to exaggerate ) to each other. But it was fun. So we finally decided to order, after doing some Data Mining on the menu card. But Shiv and Allwyn knew what they wanted. They ordered for two pitchers of beer. For those like me who do not know what a pitcher is – a pitcher is a jug containing a quantity of beer equivalent to 6 mugs. Jaggu and Satish joined the bandwagon of beer-gulping-guzzling men.  I along with the women decided to adopt a more sober approach. We ate and enjoyed the music.

After one pitcher, Allwyn suggested why not we play a game!! A game in a pub while you’re drinking!! You must be crazy. But in fact, it was fun. The game was all about spilling-the-beans. We all agreed unanimously. I will not go into the nitty-gritty of the game and its contents in this forum. So guys, you all are safe and you wouldn’t have to kill me! But yes, we shared a lot of things that we dint in the past and wouldn’t but for this occasion. It was heartening (disheartening as well) to know how some of them got together, and how some couldn’t.  By this time, 4 pitchers were done. Jaggu silently drinking in one corner with a “care a rat’s-ass” attitude. He just wanted to enjoy the moment. Does he go to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Ashram by any chance?

Then came along Ravi (Salma’s better-half) and joined the celebration. Salma acting as a strict wife wanted him to abstain from drinking. But men as we are, we do not listen. He said, “Only one mug”. Salma  grinned and kept quiet. He drank not one or two but six mugs and Salma just couldn’t help but count. We then again chatted about a host of stuff and pulled each others’ legs as usual. By this time, eight pitchers were done. Allwyn and Shiv, the key players decided to call it a day. Satish already started to hate the taste of beer. Jaggu wanted more.. Everyone was tight!!

We finally headed to the car park and drove to our places, not before planning for the next meet-up slated to be either in November or December this year (requiring exchange of another 100 emails between us to decide). Ravi and Salma gave me a ride back home. I reached home and said to my friend, “What a day!! One of the best days of my life.”  I then told him the entire story……..