Friday, January 27

Just an hour and a half

Its been quite some time since this last happened. Today reliving those moments I suddenly felt as if something long forgotten had come back to me. It was only a matter of one and a half hours beyond normal time, but it brought back so many memories, that the discomfort it caused escaped attention. It was totally unplanned, as such things usually are. But it was also unavoidable, as sometimes these things are.

Staying back after office hours, working that extra hour, can be so invigorating. I never knew it before today. Invigorating not in the physical aspect of it, but the mental. Stepping out of office set in motion a series of memories, some pleasing, other not exactly so.

My last job involved late hours and reaching home at 11pm was 'usual'. Driving home with the cold breeze playing through your hair on the almost empty streets, was something I really loved about my old job. The tension, physical and mental both, of the entire day was lost before I reached home, all fresh and ready for anything you said. There were days when there would be some colleague driving along and the non-office chat lead to many a wonderful friendships. Even in office, as the world around you gradually prepared to go to sleep, you were busy and excited for that was your peak time (I worked in a newspaper and newpapers start bustling with activity only after 6pm). The evening tea and snack, the gossiping and giggling, the teasing and laughing........ even as you keyed in your stories for the day......... it was all so wonderful. And as the hours passed by we all looked forward to going home and the excitement of it (I sometimes wondered if we were schoolkids!) led to work gaining greater momentum and so also the chattering. It was as if your brain had changed gears and was roaring at full speed. And if it was someone's birthday......... cakes and samosas and pav bhaji........ those were some of the immemorable days of my life.

I remember going out for my first dinner date with 'him', when I was so caught up in office that he had started wondering if I would ever make it. It was fun! I was dying to leave and 'boss' would not let me go. And so I played a little trick. I was carrying a different dress to be worn for the date (now this in itself was so unlike me that I had almost forgotten I was carrying it. And the look on 'his' face when he saw me in a different dress was simply a kodak moment!) So I quickly changed into it, adjusted my hair, packed some of my stuff and with the most innocent look on my face asked boss if there was anything more for me to do that day. Well, he got the hint and finally at 10pm I left office for my historical date. (Now that is a different story and will tell it some other time.)

But today as I left office I couldn't help feel that happiness all over again. Actually I am not fond of working late hours. I like to do my work on time and leave on time. But today was different. The work was suddenly alloted and with not much experience in that particular thing, it proved to be though task in the pre-lunch session. My best friend and I work together and sit next to each other, which meant that between us we had a 100 questions to ask of our boss. After a lot of to and fro of mails and files, we finally settled down into the thing and though I still have a lot of questions, they can wait till Monday. Today I have other things to look into, especially my Pensieve!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was not going to comment on this blog after what you wrote about me in comment section of Suyog's blog.

It was only the reference to "cakes and samosas and pav bhaji" in the office that we have worked together and the subsequent bout of nostalgia it brought about that forced me to comment. That and also I remember vividly the dress you wore that day of your now (in)famous date that forced me to. Hmmm. Wonder what 'he' has to say about this.

Manasi said...

Chetan: Well thank you for this magnanimous gesture of commenting here! I need to find to new ways to keep you away from here, the suyog's blog trick doesn't seem to have worked. ;
Knowing that your first love is food, it is no wonder you were lured by the mention of those wonderful birthday parties in office. And neither does it surprise me that you remember 'that' date. It was afterall historical, I was dressed up for a date and you have a decent memory!

Bhupi said...

liked the way you attended your date, i like such excitement in life....

Manasi said...

bhupi: Right there! What's the point in going out on a simple date without anything 'happening'. It has to be cherishable and such things definitely add a lot to those wonderful memories.

Bhupi said...

totally agree with u on this.

Manasi said...

Suyog: Hmm.... is it any wonder it spilled out over 'food' ;)