FROM A COMMONER TO A KING and back

I have spent every day of my life for the last 3 years, like a commoner in a kingdom, getting dressed in my official uniform, taking my bike out of the residential parking lot, following the same road and attending “just another day”(JAD) at my job in Mahindra & Mahindra (Swaraj Division). The daily details of my work were blurred but I knew it was a monotonous routine in general (typical commoner style).

 Then one fine day my life took a turn when a positive result turned up from out of the blue- a chance to study in one of India’s premier Rural Management institutes, a chance to be a student again, a chance to be among bright innovative minds once more and a chance to escape from the JAD routine of my job. The day I put my intentions on a piece of paper and revealed it to my (tor)mentors of 3 years, I was a happy man. I felt all the right emotions running through my mind and body. I didn’t feel the need to listen to anyone or do any work. I felt like a King.

From a commoner- who would work his posterior (read “you know what”!!) off, I had become a temporary king, a king for 2 months. The feeling was overwhelming at first. It suddenly felt like I had been given a license to know my subjects (read “subordinates”) better, to know how I had touched their lives, to get a feedback on what role I had played in this short span of 3 years- a span which seemed gargantuan and never ending to me somehow from their perspective seemed ephemeral coz of their 35 years of experience with one job. Even my (tor)mentors seemed to lack the same sting as before. The world seemed to have turned on its head. For instance, In the days when I used to be a commoner, whenever the boss laid his eyes on me he would remember some task that needed my immediate, undivided attention. The work that I would be involved in at that point of time, whatever it may be, would be considered utterly useless as compared to the new task assigned. The funny thing is, if he were to see me again during the day the task previously assigned by him would be rendered utterly useless and this whole new task would gain “God status”. This was a cycle that was common in every commoner’s life. But now in my 2 months reign the boss would just look at me and give a smile (which I consider a Kingly treatment in Slave-Master dynamics!!). I was given a party fit for a King (my farewell party) by my subordinates and by my bosses now but back then when I was a commoner none of my petty triumphs were things worth even mentioning, leave alone celebrating.  

As the days went by, sorrow filled me for 2 reasons- My days as “King” was numbered and I was going to miss my Kingdom. I knew I was not gonna be a commoner in the new place I was going but I knew for sure that I wouldn’t be a King either.

But then again I became King only coz I had my days numbered!! (Oh the Irony!!!)