yup yup yup.....U guessed it right. I somehow managed to convince the fellow sitting on the other side of the Glass box (Counselar) that I would be of some use to the company if I travel onsite to the "US of A" and got my Visa stamped... yaaaaaaaaaay.... To tell u the truth, I was a real bundle of nerves out there. Goodness, I have never seen myself in more pathetic situation. I could not even speak properly. Words were just NOT coming ou my mouth.
The day started as usual, only difference was that I bunked office. (",) I had a very bad dream last night...so, I was just circling the room nervously not know what to do... I didnt want to do exercise...didnt want to brush ... bath... nothing... It was this feeling I just not able to explain. After a few dizzying circles I settled down and brushed my teeth. I waited till everyone left and had my bath. Then I sat down to memorize my Justification letters and stuff. It was tougher than I thought. I was so nervous that I could get the difference betwwen an Immigrant and an Emmigrant. (".)
somehow mugged up the whole lot of 8 pages (Now, thats a lot of pages considering that you are terribly out of touch from mugging and that you are in a rather edgy situation). Anyway, I mugged up the whole lot and around half past 12 I started getting ready for the Battle (what are u smiling at...yes it is a battle...). I turned around to see my " B R A N D N E W "Louis Phillipe" lying peacefully in a corner. I took it on my hands...ripped the cover off...pulled out all those damn pins they stick into that lovely piece of cloth and peeled of those lables. Apart from the ripping, pullling and peeling, I was very delicate to my shirt...after all 1000 bucks is a lot of money... I wore it and admired myself...(Dude, you make this shirt look good...hee hee...No I was not telling that.....just trying to make u think that I am handsome and stuff... (",) ).
Ok, I dressed up and looked outside the balcony and I was in shock to see that it was drizzling outside....(Me: Noooo...not today) As if the rain gods took pity on me, it stopped after some 2 minutes. I wanted to take a taxi to the Counselate..but ended up taking a bus...just for the heck of it.
Now, my appointment was at 3.30. But I reached the place at 1.45....u know...just in case....And to my surprise, they allowed me in (Guess they really wanted me to go to the US of A to develop their country...lol) Anyways, I was in. The interview is supposed to take place like this. You pay all the DD's and stuff and you are made to sit in a row of chairs. When your turn comes, your Number will be called out and you have to go to the counter specified. Since the rush was very thin, I was asked to straight away go to a counter. Now, I was actually looking forward to meet an American Guy and I was all prepared to answer his questions with my best possible American accent (To impress him...Hee hee)....and guess who I encountered....a fat...nose poking guy who had the nerve to make me wait while he happily poked his nose. He got all my documents...and three one by one back at me... Now I was boiling hot...For Heaven's sake, he even threw my Degree Certificate as if it was a piece of scrap or something.... if it were not for those menancing guards...I would have ripped him apart...or atleast give him a cold stare or something. Now, throwing the Degree certificate is one thing, now he threw even my visa application back at me. I was like ...."What the....Is this a joke or something...He has not even asked a single question"... Now he stared at me and said... "Go"... I was still standing there, perplexed, refusing to even bat an eyelid. Then he repeated "Go Inside"...and I still stood there... Only after a couple of seconds did I realize that the actual interview is yet to come.
So, I proceeded further inside and I came to this big room where there were close to 12 counters and everyone was looking tense inside...and I heard all kinds of American accents. aaaaaahhhh...so this is the Interview hall . I took one of the empty seats and waited for my turn. I was called out and I ran like crazy (I was still nervous). I didnt even bother to look around if anyone was staring me. And now, I took out the Justification letter and again went through it again...u know...like last minute revision that we used to do back in our school and college days. I started to look at the other counters. There was this one lady who rejected two applicants in a row... This made me still more nervous. (I think I am like this guy in Five Point Someone. The one who breaks down when it comes to facing a viva).
Soon my turn came and I was facing the interviewer.
Int: What's the Client's Name.
Me: 3M
Int: So, what are u going to do at HM...
Me: (HM...whats HM....I didnt say that...) Uh....3M, sir
Int: Ok, so what are you going to do there.
Me: We have finished Unit Testing.. We are going to System Testing.
Int: What are you going to do there ?
Me: (Is he deaf or something).. We are going to System tes.....
Int: Sir, Please tell me what exactly you are going to do?
Me: (Man, I am a gone case... @@*%^%#$ I am a gonner for sure...Anyway, I ll give it a try and vomit whatever I mugged up) Sir, I ll be getting the Design Docs from Client and give it to the Offshore. I ll get the doubts clarified, put forward by the offshore team, by the Business Users.....
Int: Pay your DD at counter No.1
Me: " :blank: "
Int: Take the receipt and pay ur DD at the counter...
Me: (Wow....did I just make it....Did I actually get the Visa.....)
Bewildered, I went to the counter, gave the DD, got the receipt, came out....and I still it has not got into me....Gues I ll beleive only when I get the stamped Passport in my hands...
Well...That was my day. Now, If you have really read the entire story....Hats off to you...I respect you... (",). See ya.... Great day.
Urs,
:.: Balakishnaraja :.:
