Area Visual Merchandiser Assessment... 24th & 25th Jan 08

It was 3 PM on 25th Jan 08, we had slogged our guts out for 2 whole days and it was time for them to announce the results... Seven of us competed for the position, only four wer to be chosen they said.
One by one they called people in, Surbhi went she conquered, Soma went and she conquered again, Next they called in Sheetal and Sunita who unfortunately didn't make it... Shilpi was called in 5th and she was made an AVM too...
Two candidates... one position... I was not sure what to think, I was given to believe by all my friends and colleagues that I wud clear for sure, but I knew deep within that I had been too nervous during the interview. My heart beat like never b4. Githi was called in next and when she came out with a smile I was sure I hadn't cleared. The only question in my heart was why the hell did they keep me in the last if I hadn't cleared the assessment? They could have ended my misery sooner...
It was 5 P.M., I had had the most intense two hours of waiting (the closest similie is like a husband waiting for his wife's delivery!). I walked in and Vikram(one of the assessors) was sitting on the seat. He told me I had not cleared the assessment and I said "I know". I thought I would handle it well (No emotions and all!) but when he went into where i had messed up and started giving me feedback, I suddenly had tears in my eyes. Area Visual Merchandiser had been a dream forever, I suddenly felt really small!
And then came the announcement. "Hey you've cleared and done well, I was just pulling your leg. Ain't I a gr8 actor?" It took 2 mins for me to let the news sink in. He smiled and said "Yes you have become the Area Visual Merchandiser, congratulations!"
I walked out of the office all numb, didn't know how to feel...? I had gone through such exageratingly opposite emotions in less than 5 mins my heart was not sure what it was feeling... My emotions wer askew. I walked to my colleagues and they all screamed "Congratulations". I was like how did you guys know? and they said they blackmailed the HR to tell them.
I was still numb, went into the rest room for 5 mins and realised just how close I had been to not getting the promotion. Malik (God) had been kind yet again. It was just his mercy that made me get the promotion.
And rest as they say is history... I immediately called Umang, Alakh, Papa, Shikha, My in-laws, Kiran and congratulations and wishes has been pouring since...!! It was as if doors of heaven have opened and decided to shine upon me...

Anyway this is Astuti Bajaj Bhatnagar, Area Visual Merchandiser, signing off... :P

Chennai Aha...!

Ther's no place like home and Chennai is and will always be home! Man do I lurve the city... The smell of the wet earth ('coz it's raining or shud I say pouring), the socialising that happens over morning walks, or simply the family catching up over freshly brewed filter coffee and Newspaper- these are things that a Chennaite swears by everyday. I love the simple living that is so much a character of the city! You donno what you're missing if you haven't gone simple! Ther's simply no complications in bein simple.

Oh and I found the conservatism of the city endearing this time (though I swear while I lived ther I hated it!) People turn to look at you just because you wear leggings with a sleeveless 'T'. Any woman who's short of attention shud just manage to bare a little in Chennai and man-oh-man will all your attention-needs just flyby!

So what did I do in Chennai huh? Went for my final year exams in Mass Communication. Had four papers that I had not done an iota of studyin for... So will I pass these tests? The last one didn't go well, walked out half way and all! But as for the other three I sure hope so.

I caught up with my near and dear ones and loved every moment of it! Like I said b4 ther really is no place I lurve more... Chennai Aha!!!