Turning Point -A Layoff Effect

“Are you a blogger?”. His question surprised me. I twisted my head and replied him “yes, how do you know that?”

Leela Travels, a Kerala bus came to Satellite bus stand in Bangalore. Soon after the arrival, bus conductor started to shout like an amplifier to gather maximum attention of passengers, in the meantime, I hop into the bus and choose the middle most window seat to ensure a comfortable journey. Like someone famously quoted, 'window seat are the reminders of our cherishing moments in the past'. Passengers started to hop into bus. Shouting of bus conductor at outside and passenger’s settling inside of bus filled my ears. However, the unusual incidents happened in the last few days ignore them and started to play like movie scenes in my mind.

My phone started to ring when I was resting in my room after a hectic day at office. It was my manager and before I wish him over the phone he begin with his part. “Tomorrow my manager wants to meet you. You be ready in the morning, rest he will let you know”. Before I say something, he cut his call. Although I felt that was a very awkward call, I gave it less importance. Next day I saw my general manager at the doorstep of the office and he took me directly to a meeting room. He was someone that I have rarely interacted with in my whole 6 years of IT career. To make it more awkward, he ask me about my life and stuffs in a very unappealing way. Since I wasn't working he switched himself to the main point.

“Brother, you are a very loyal employee for us for a long time and we agree on it. However, there are few times when the company is not doing well, we have to take tough decisions, we even have to do layoffs and our company is in such a situation now. Unfortunately, you are on that list. Don't worry, you will get 3 month salary and and all settlement as per company policy. You may choose to work here for 3 months or not, or can find another job. Its perfectly up-to you. I hope you can understand the situation.”

I felt like a dying fish due to lack of water, I couldn't speak a word as I sit there numb. When I came into my senses, I tried to argue with him for a last chance. He patiently listen to me and when I settled, he replied.

“Brother, I am helpless here, you may escalate it to higher level, but, this is their decision. I am afraid, that would be a waste of time.”

I find in a situation where resigning was the only option. After doing the formality, I got out of office the and looked at the main company board. I felt very insecure. That monthly salary was everything for me. On top of that, the faces of my dependents gave me a pain in the heart.

Bus started to move from bus stand. However from nowhere, a young guy ran and hop into the bus dramatically. An approximately 24 year old looking man, was searching for a seat and finally considered my neighboring seat as the best for him. While he was settling there, he gave me a cheerful 'hi'. I turned my head halfway and gave him back one with a not so interested attitude. Since the bus was moving, I started to capture all the last glimpses of Bangalore. Somehow this guy understood and asked me.

“Seems like you are leaving Bangalore forever?”

“Yeah, kind off”. I maintained my not so interested attitude.

He continued as if he doesn't care about my attitude. “Me too, going to settle in Kerala. Where are you from?”

“Thrissur”. I replied.

However, I find something not right with him. Why is an early 20 guy going back to Kerala from a city like Bangalore. My anxiety forced me to to ask him about the same.

“By the way, why are you settling in Kerala? You didn't get a good job here?”

His answer surprised as well as angered me. “I had a job, brother. An IT job in a reputed company. However, that was mostly a mechanical or robotic job where, I do not have the chance to show my creativity. No personal growth is expected. Hence I resigned the job. I sing well and also dance good, and based on that I got an option to associate with a dance group in Kochi. I will be working there now.”

“Are you mad to resign your job for singing and dancing? Here I lost a job and don't know whether to live or die, you left a reputed job and are going to spoil your life in singing? ”, I yelled at him loudly which eventually helped me to let out my frustration of all these recent events. However, it was totally awkward as every passengers were looking at us. He broke the silence after few minutes with an attempt to comfort me.

“Sorry bro, wasn't aware of that”

“Hey, its okay. Sorry, that I over reacted”, I replied.

“This is life bro, life will always give us something new which we never expect. My family was so excited when I get the IT job. But soon realized that, this is not my cup of tea. Day by day, this job frustrated me and I even affected my personal life. I remember how bad I was while interacting with my parents. I had a lot of brainstorming and discussion with many before quitting this job. Yeah, I agree that I will not be financially good with my new job. But, I am sure I will be happy with it.” He stopped his speech with a sigh.

I patiently listen to him and almost agreed with his statement. Expect the less financial part. To clear my doubt, I asked him “what about your further life? A marriage, kids, would this be enough?”

He smiled at me and replied “to live a life in Kerala, you dont need much money, however all these extra money are only need to show off in front of other people. I don't want to live for others. I want to live for myself.”

Although its tough to live like that, I liked his confidence and secretly wished to have such courage.

“Are you a blogger?”. His question surprised me. I twisted my head and replied him “yes, how did you know that?”

With a mysterious smile he pointed at my bag badge and said “I used to read this blog in the past called, Weirdmallu.com. You are a good writer and you use simple language which anyone can understand. Why don't you try your luck in this field?”

That made me smile and I replied him in a positive note for the first time. “Yeah I used to write. I love this process of writing a story. It gives me the exact excitement which I used to get while watching a movie. But yeah, due to work pressure and lack of time, I kept it aside. After all, I cannot earn from theses stories, right.”

He made a facial expression of not approving my words and replied in the same manner. ” Why not brother? All companies need content writers now for their marketing. And it's not a bad idea to concentrate on Malayalam language as interest and importance of Malayalam language is increasing nowadays due to presence of Malayalees all around the world. And who know if some Malayalam directors need your story to make a movie in the future?”. We both laughed at this comment, however that eased my tension and I looked outside the window. To my surprise, I was more thinking about the stories that I could write. I felt happy while concluding the subject and soon I decided and made a promise to myself.

“This phase is a gift by god to get out of my monotonous life. Now on wards, I will live my life how I want to be”.