I continued working there for nearly two years. Everyone had advice: “A rolling stone gathers no moss. Stick to one place.” But why should a stone gather moss? Can’t it remain thin? And if this were applied to today’s youngsters? I worked for 33 years in one financial institution, while youngsters today seem to work in 33 institutions in just one year!

I was given significant importance, almost as the second in command. The painters and fabricators listened to me. The work was heavy, but that didn’t matter; however, my relationship with the Head turned sour, though it was not my doing. I’ll leave it at that. It was time for a change of job, and my mother was jittery. “What if you resign and don’t get another job?” she worried.

Then, one evening, I was waiting at a bus stand—bus stands and opportunities seemed to go hand in hand for me. A boy I knew from my typing institute days was on a crowded bus and shouted, “Hey! The bank I’m working at is recruiting people. Apply immediately!” Wow.

And how do things work out? The old gentleman who ran the typing institute was very fond of me, and his grandson was a senior officer in that very bank—the bank where I was about to apply. An added twist: one of the tutors who taught commerce subjects at the institute was also an officer in the same bank. I was determined to tell the Head of the advertising company the whole truth. Relations were strained, so perhaps he saw my departure as good riddance. He referred me to a senior sports journalist at a leading newspaper whose brother was another senior officer in the same bank. How was it that everyone seemed to work at the same bank?! I met the journalist, who was very helpful and promised to pass on his recommendation to his brother.

I sat for the entrance test. The papers were tough. “Three apples and four oranges cost Rs… Five apples and six oranges cost Rs… What is the cost of each orange and apple?” Complicated questions like these. There was an essay on a place I visited; during my school years, I must have written similar essays at least three times a year. I surmounted the hurdle of this tough test of wisdom and knowledge, and with recommendations pouring in like the Courtallam Falls, I landed the prized job. I stayed there for 33 years without resigning once before finally saying goodbye to my career.

After returning from a place where schooling was not the best, my elder son completed his last two years to pass out of the 10th standard. We have two main types of schooling systems: the Central Board, where reportedly scoring high marks is difficult, and the State Board, where it is easier. Carefully considering my son’s future, I decided to enroll him in a State Board school. Even now, I’m not sure if my son fully agreed with this decision. Perhaps he reconciled reluctantly, feeling he had no choice.

I was casually discussing this with one of my fellow officers, and he was disappointed. When I told him the high marks my son had obtained in the 10th, he was furious. He almost called me a madman and pushed me to seek admission in one of the best and top-rated schools of that time. How could I do that when the admission process had already been completed in all schools? My friend literally pushed me to be bold enough to talk to the Principal. My parents and wife took my son and met the Principal, who admitted him without hesitation. And that changed his future.

To be continued in Part 3.