Moving to Dubai was a difficult decision which I took sometime early this year (in April). It was difficult, because I had to leave the newly wedded sister and brother in law, with whom I hardly spent any time. Still I did.
I was always lucky enough to go to school, junior college, my first job right from home. My parents always wanted to settle down in Hyderabad, which was difficult for me, but eventually I also moved. I was at home with parents, my sister was just few minutes from my house, I had job with India's number 1 company, developed great friends circle in very small time, everything was perfect. I thought this is it, now I am just going to live in the city of Nawabs forever.
Then an opportunity from City of Gold invited me. Because I will never compromise with my comfort or what I am entitled to, I decided to switch. The saving that I would be able to make by going to middle east also pushed me to take the hard decision. I thought I would live there for at least 2 years.
Plans always look good, because first they are plans and second we make them. With heavy heart, packed the stuff and started for the new journey. I have a rule for myself, which is, whatever the place, situation, people I would have, I will not judge them at least for 3 months. That's the minimum time I have always set for myself before arriving at a decision. 3 months passed, and I could not convince myself that it’s the place for me for next few months or years. It was then, every month was last month for me in this gold city.
Memories from the day when I started are still crystal clear. Even the day before I was not aware that I would be flying, such was the planning and management. I should have guessed from the situation, but we are not perfect, and I failed to notice. I started and landed in a completely unknown place. I was having severe migraine when I landed, and wanted to just go to room and take a nap. But I waited for about 1 hour for roommate to come down. That was horrible start.
We went out in the evening, and he was so kind to make me aware of things around. The very next day I had to report at work, that too at 8. I started at 7.15 and took the cab as I was not having the NOL card (this is the card that is required for travelling in bus/ metro/ tram). I reached office at 7.30. That was the first and last time when I took coffee and cookies from the Starbucks downstairs. First day at work. I noticed mostly Indians around in office, and my team completely was from India, and 2 of them from my own place. Tammudu's. I told myself, it cannot be any better than this.
Work started, expectations kept rising. I used to start my day at 5.30 in morning, and would end with checking the facebook feed at 11 in night. It was more than a month, and I was feeling exhausted. Sometimes during weekend when I wanted to come to office I would not get public transport. So I decided I would move near to office, to save travel time and make some personal space for myself. It was then I met wonderful roommate with common interests. Now with the travel time I saved, I was making frequent phone calls back to home and sometime to friends. I started going to movies, and weekends were fun. This made me feel better and I was settling down. I would go to office after dinner sometimes to make my next day better. Things were moving with few untoward incidents. I was confused, whether I should let this continue. It was wonderful company of team mates, and many consultants in office who would just say hello, exchange smiles, share talks and make you feel like a small beautiful family; that kept me moving. One more friendship happened to me, and we started going for evening walks, movies, chats, breakfasts, and dinners in the lawns. Everything looked perfect and still everything was uncertain. Personally I hate uncertainty. I wasn't seeing it getting changed. One evening I got a call, it was another opportunity, back in my home country. It looked better in one aspect, it was certain/long term. For me that’s the only thing what mattered. I was confused between everything here which was uncertain versus promising new opportunity. Followed were few more disturbing stuff, and then I said I deserve better. This called an end to this journey.
We miss only good things, and there's a nice list, that I will be missing.
Ordering the breakfast early morning, and enjoying it with colleagues (the whatsapp group and Jumeriah view)
The morning and afternoon coffee breaks and chats around pantry
Vasant bhavan lunch, and walk followed under the shades of those trees and cool breeze
Dinners in the lawns under open sky, evening and morning walks in Greens
The Paragon dinner, and weekend movies/ chats with roommates
And all the wonderful friends..
Life has to move on. And these wonderful memories give you strength to face the next unknown!!!
Om Namah Shivay!!! Hum chale Swadesh…
No comments:
Post a Comment