So old..So Senti..So me

This was a mail to Linus on my last day in SBI:

Sentimental
It is what you have always called me so I dedicate what I’m writing to you.

Today March 24th 2007, Saturday was my last day at State Bank of India. I said goodbye to the LHO and I felt numb. There was a typical SBI gesture of a relieving gathering, one which I begged that they wouldn’t because of how embarrassing it could be, where all concerned would look at me with adoring eyes and bid me a gentle and loving goodbye. I know that it was me who wanted out but that didn’t stop me from feeling a little sorry.

June 24th 2006 was my first day at LHO in Hyderabad and strangely also a Saturday. I sat sitting in front of the computer twiddling my thumbs hoping for something to happen. I sat twiddling my thumbs today waiting for my DGM to come.

The first day the first thing I did was go to the Main branch to open my SB account. There was a lean 6 feet 2 inches tall man called Chowdary who opened my account that day. The last thing I did today was close my account at the main branch; ironically it was Chowdary who did it for me.

Today when the lady at the counter said there were too many customers and she wouldn’t close the account a special person helped me. It was a deaf mute messenger who stood there stubbornly till my work was done. He was someone who I saw on and off in the lift and all we did was salute each other in Hyderabadi style.

There I met 2 lady AGMs who I interacted with frequently. Both of them patted me on the cheek. My DGM said “I will miss you on a personal level”. My boss who I am most intimidated by said “No matter what I will still call you when I want to “.

At the gathering I was touched, but I’m too cynical and strangely very hurt by totally unconnected events and unrelated people, to ever believe anything kind that anyone has to say about me.

To all the really nice people of SBI and all the customers I have ever met and to every little thing I have learnt about myself these last ten months….Thank you SBI…and off to another factory.