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While browsing through facebook today I came across friend’s beautiful description of this day last year when he got his job. A ‘delloiteful’ status message. I tried to recollect the day I landed my current job with TELCON.

BLANK.

I don’t remember the date, month, not even the day of week. Felt like someone had “obliviated” (refer Harry Potter) the memory. Now that is strange cause I still remember the date when I got the offer letter from JSW (My 1^st job 15^th feb 2006). SO I racked my brain for the memory and then it dawned on me.

The slate is blank cause I want it that way, cause even though the day gave me a victory of sorts it was also a day of Loss.

I had spent a couple of days trying to go through all the MBA gyan and had succeeded in extracting only a couple of productive hours. So around mid day I was all ready with the black business suit and my folder of documents but not much in my brains. The selection process was to be via video conferencing and for that I had to reach Reliance web world at Priya’s. I was near the mother dairy outlet of Katwaria Sarai when my phone rang. It was Rahul Anand, a giant of a man I had befriended in JSW – Tarapur. I was sure that it was just a social call and there were some half formed thoughts in my mind to avoid taking the call as I was trying to focus on the interview, but as always curiousity got the better of me.

I took the call intending to inform him of the interview and promising to call back later.

God had a different plan.

Soon after I said hello Rahul dropped a bombshell on me. In 2-3 short sentences he told me that Bharat Gaikwad had met an accident and was no more. After this the memory has gone hazy.

I remember going very silent for a few seconds, I remember asking him if he was sure, I remember telling him about the interview, I remember him apologizing, I remember disconnecting and I remember screaming in the middle of the road.

I wanted to collapse, wanted to go to Tarapur and see for myself,I wanted to cross check with Atul –in a few seconds I wanted to do a million things. I did nothing. For some time which then seemed like eternity, I did nothing. Then somehow something happened and I moved mechanically to one of the autos parked. I don’t remember what I said, I don’t remember how long it took to reach Priya’s. I only remember that all focus and planning for TELCON had been replaced with memories of time spent with Bharat.

Bharat Gaikwad; the guy who at 35 looked younger than me at times, the guy I had not liked very much at first sight, the guy I used to play volleyball with in that crappy hostel, the guy who had poured beer in a street dogs mouth when he was frustrated with appraisal, the guy who had poured fevi-quick in a lock, the guy who as absolute fun to be with, the guy who was a true friend, and the guy who had an eight year daughter was dead. A road accident had claimed his life His body had remained on the spot for a few hours before any help arrived.

Bharat was many things to many people. Lots of his acquaintances did not like him much, this happens when one is opinionated and Bharat was. But Bharat was also someone who was loved by his friends.

Somehow grappeling with all this in my mind I reached Priya’s. Now am not sure how this happened but as soon as saw Rahul Padia I regained some composure. I guess… sorry in this case I will not hazard a guess. I just don’t know what happened, but somehow as I saw more familiar faces from FORE I started regaining my focus. I did well in the selection process and am today employed with the market leader in CE industry but that day I did not celebrate.

I will never be able to remember that day without Bharat’s death looming large over the memory and perhaps that is why I don’t want to remember the date. Better to have a blank slate I guess.