How Much Did You Score?

So, the board results have just been declared and a majority of our dear students are busy celebrating this annual ritual which is primarily said to be the very base of our entire future. Even the tight-fisted Mr. Sharma, my colleague distributed sweets among all of us as his daughter had scored a whopping 97% in her class XII boards. We all had congratulated him heartily. However his smile soon faded away when another colleague asked him which college is she going to take admission into. Poor Mr. Sharma didn't know himself if DU is going to show any mercy to the non cent-percentors this year. I really doubt the family will still be in their joyous mood going by the look on his face while leaving the office.

Mr. Sharma's daughter is not the only one who would be confused on how to handle this weird phase of life. A lot of students, who have secured good marks are sailing in the same boat. The reason is not just the college admissions, especially in DU but a lot is also because of how we respond to the whole fiasco these results create every year.

Lets take a look at how different people react when your results are declared-

1. The students-  Their reaction can range from a jumping up and down in ecstasy to crying in a corner because their own expectations were not met. But given the fact that you don't sit for the exams alone and that you have class mates too, the drama quotient can vary. Like it happened with Rahul, a boy I remember from my school days. The poor chap had tears in his eyes when i first saw him after the results. Why? because he had managed to secure only 68% in the boards. I tried comforting him and told him he had a lot of opportunities. But then he enlightened me, stating that the tears are not for the 68% he secured but for the 73% scored by another classmate, he technically hated as they both liked the same girl who, he is sure will choose the other boy over him now. Lo batao!!

2. The parents- Studies have shown that the behavioral pattern of this particular species (at least 99.90% of them) tends to become irregular in nature when their wards results are declared. There are few who are proud of their child's outcome, others are disheartened while some totally surrender to how the society expects them to feel. Mr. Sharma, falling in the final category. He was initially happy, felt a bit upset when someone asked which college and erupted into anger when he found that Mrs. Kumar's daughter had scored 97.60% and so had a better chance of getting admission in DU than his daughter. Uff! Ye bade log!!

3. The teachers- The only people on earth who would genuinely be happy with your result are your teachers provided your name is not under the list of students failing their boards. After all, they have all the reasons to be happy. First, they are the ones who taught you the subject, even though you know that your marks are mostly because of the strict accounts tutor your father appointed for you. Second, your success directly adds bonus points to their report card for the next promotion. And lastly, they know they wouldn't be meeting you on a regular basis anymore. Yayyy!!

4. The Media- I know, you are wondering why is media on this list? Ahem, let me tell you, nothing can be hidden from the eyes of Indian media. So, when every one was busy celebrating, worrying or simply going about their business after the board results, a significant number of news channels held debates. Yes! one such channel gathered together a bunch of learned people and argued on whether to let school children use mobile phones or not. That is indeed an important topic to discuss. but think about the CBSE toppers who were made a part of the 5 member panel for that discussion right after the results. The poor fellows were just sitting blank as they probably wanted to enjoy the moment of victory but were forced to jump into those arguments, irrelevant to them at the time. Who is to be blamed??

Chalo, yo toh kuchh log hain. The list is actually endless. We have our friends, neighbors, relatives aur unke bhi relatives. Suddenly, people who did not exist for you and also people for whom you didn't exist, are all interested in the marks you scored. But remember, it will go back to how it used to be, in a matter of a few days only.

Till them, keep calm and partyyyyy!!

English Vinglish????

I was looking out from my balcony this morning and saw two young girls playing. They were busy in there own tini-tiny world, when a young boy asked if he could join in. The little girls didn't want an intruder, so the one with long curly hair, made a face and smirked, "NO! Two is company, three is crowd!" The boy was not the one to give up so easily. He smiled a big one, approached the other girl and said, "What about the more, the merrier?" And then realising that there was no other option, all three burst into laughter.

It was a cute sight, but it some how left me thinking. I had always known that "English" is a very difficult and confusing language. Like, if I said, I found the match! You all would be wondering which one until you can actually see that I am watching TV and the match clearly meant some game, not my partner!

But the level of confusion, this language can create is out of bounds. After a thorough research, I realised, not all is good with the proverbs that we use in our everyday lives, because a lot many of them have an exact opposite available to shut you up.

So, today I am going to list down a few of them in contrast with a few more to help you guys be safe from a situation like the girls and the boy playing down below my balcony.

1. Clothes Make A Man vs Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover:
Now, both of these tell us what to make out from the appearance of things around us. While one asks us not to be judgemental about the outer beauty, the other one clearly says that the covering is what makes the inside. I would never know how I am going to perceive anybody or anything after these two phrases.

2. Best Things Come In Small Packages vs The Bigger The Better:
Of course, a diamond ring is a diamond ring and nothing can replace the joy of receiving one. But then, a Lamborghini is also not that bad. So, I guess the above idioms don't contrast each other. They only mean to assert that nothing in a medium size is good or perhaps, only things in medium measurements are good but if you want better or best, go look for small or big packings!

3. Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained vs Better Be Safe Than Sorry:
No explanations required because yeah! I am confused. It all depends on which kind are you. Whether you like taking risks or whether you believe in walking the trodden path. Whether you are the one who looks before you leap or whether you are the one who hesitates and loses. Wait! Did I just confuse you further? Sorry!

4. Actions Speak Louder Than Words vs The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword:
Well, what to say now? It seems like the great people who had been working day and night to give the prized proverbs to the world were at logger heads with each other. I mean,how on earth do you explain such contradictory phrases? So, next time you want to prove yourself, you will have to write down all that you are going to do but remember, under no circumstances, you are allowed to use a sword!

This is not an exhaustive list, but I do hope it has made you think too. So, don't forget to comment below, what you think about the confusion these phrases have created in our lives and also tell me if you know of more.

At the end, I just wish you all live a happy, healthy and successful life. In short, the life you make it. Till then, what is there in the destiny, will happen!! Oops!

Waiting to hear from you people.
Pragati Gupta

Arre Bhai! 2000 ka change hai kya??

Since this is my first blog post and I am a banker, I thought of talking about the plight of my fellow community. After all, generosity begins at home. So, today I am going to put some (just a little bit, because we bankers aren't used to all the attention) on the recent note-bandi.

It was the fateful night of 8th November, 2016 when suddenly at around 9pm, our beloved prime minister, Mr. Narendra Modi decided that the country has been too ignorant towards the issue of black money and that something needs to be done. So, by the virtue of his great mind, we had to bid good-bye to the root cause of black money. Yes, the 1000 and 500 rupee notes!

The whole nation sprung into action. Everyone was now worried about their fortune collected over the decades. Even my maid took the next day off, citing that she needs to plan and strategize how she will convert the not-anymore-legal-tender she has stored in her one room home from all the hard work she has done in cleaning our house over the past 15 years on a monthly pay of 8000 for herself and her five young children. I had made a mental note of not believing in any of her emotional drama she does every now and then stating she has got no money to even have food.

Almost everyone in the country had sleepless nights, twisting and turning in the bed in fear of this note-ban. While the concerns of the general public was very much genuine and talked about, not much was thought of the bankers who were given the huge responsibility of making this promise of ache-din-in-50days-plan, a success.

But worry not you bankers! Here, I have tried to list down a few (Mind you! Only a few) of all the miseries you had to face with a smile.

1. Bankers in demand or really?

I remember how one of those days, my neighbor's aunt's daughter's second cousin had paid me visit with a box of chocolates. I was overwhelmed until she asked if she could get a certain amount of her old currency exchanged at my branch. Of course! through me. I had very politely handed her the forms and told her the timings for the note swap. I also remember, how equally politely she ate half the chocolates before leaving! She was just one of the long distant relations who refreshed their contacts with me during those days.

2. The 24*7 Banking?

The good old dream of the public to have banks open forever had now become true. Not because the banking industry had experienced some sort of technological advancement, but due to the immense amount of manual work required to be done. Many of us didn't go home on a lot of days as our branches had become our homes. After all, what's the point in leaving for home around 1 at night to again leave home at 7 in the morning? Ab 6 ghante toh bank mein guzar hi jayenge!

3. Personal life, what's that?

Mr. Sharma came with a sad face the other day. When asked, he complained "wife has gone to her parent's home." This is actually good news but on prodding further he confessed, he is sad because all these years he used to wait for this day to come. Now, when it is finally here, he himself is rarely home. What to celebrate? Hearing this, another young colleague had tears in his eyes. Why? The poor guy wasn't getting time to look for a prospective life partner, there being 2 reasons. Number 1- He was working even on Sundays. The only good thing is, it brought all of us together as another family. Oh! you are wondering what's the second reason? Well, isn't being a banker a reason in itself???

4. Mental Counsellors- the second profession?

Yes, you heard it right. The whole episode of note-ban had made each one of us the mini versions of full time agony-aunts. We heard and sympathized with all sorts of problems that our customers faced. From, let me enter first because "Bete ki tabiyat theek nahi" to "Subah se bhooke hain beta", we have heard it all. From, "Mera hi paisa hai, main line me kyun lagu?" to "Bank wale kuchh nahi karte.", we have smiled through all the accusations and made peace with everyone although inside, wishing to punch the person straight in the face. If not anything else, this ban at least made us realize how much patient we can be. Except for a few verbal spats on alternate day basis, there wasn't much scene.

Couple the above with a lot of mental stress, physical exhaustion, emotional imbalance and you will get the perfect banker of today. I cannot say about the "Ache-Din" but the worst days have definitely gone by (at least for now)!

I hope a lot of you bankers would be able to relate to the above. And for the public, who still can't see the hard work we have put in and will be putting for your comfort- "May you get the pride of working in a bank soon."

I wished to write more but then I realized I am a banker and there are two big files pending for financial scrutiny at my desk. I will be back with my next article once I get time again. Till then- Happy Banking!!!

Don't forget to comment below if you liked the article or if you know of ways you and me can make the next one even better. Also, share ideas for the next article (I am too lazy to think by myself and if ever I do, it would again take a turn towards banking)

Taking a deep breathe, smiling and eagerly waiting to hear from you all!

Pragati Gupta