From the frying pan into the fire…

My transition from a being a spouse at IIM Ahmedabad PGPX to a student at IIM Lucknow IPMX has been interesting experience. From the Profs at IIMA who planted this mba seed (read keeda) in my mind to the endless interview coaching session folks from PGPX were kind enough to provide ; not to forget S’s incessant nagging and prodding and encouraging that has got me here.

It’s extremely exciting to realise that less than a year ago I attended S’s graduation at LKP and in less than 1 year from now will be attending my own at Lucknow.

The year at IIMA with the endless chai parties, the household management, the kaam waali network gossip and the veiled politics was an experience in its own if not a social experiment. The coming year at IIM L I am told is going to be all this and much more J J

As I trade the midnight gup groups for the midnight study groups, the chaat sessions for chat sessions, the high heels and ironed suits for flats and nondescript kurtas this promises to be a roller coaster year to say the least.

5K

This years Connexion meet was to kick off with a 5k run, needless to say, many of us (spouses) decided to go walking early mornings to get aquatinted with the track. The campus is so calm and peaceful at 6 in the morning that its nothing less than therapeutic. The nicely thought-out route took us through the canopy of trees in the staff quarters to the beautiful architectural buildings of the old campus. Many a times the chirping of birds was the only sound we could here. Our walks turned into a amateur bird watching sessions, with so many different types of birds there, it was truly a visionary as well as auditory delight. I guess the joy of running becomes many-fold in such an environment. The connexion event even before it started helped us “connect” with nature.

Ah to be 20 again!!!

Yesterday night was Dance night at RJM, performances by PGP/PGPX/Exchange students- basically everyone. By the time we reached the hall it was jam packed and bubbling with excitement. We got seats near the end of the audi just next to a group of very enthusiastic guys. Even before the performances began the hooting and cat calls began. The poor guy who was compeering the show really put on a brave face and did the job well. Once the acts began it felt like I was back in college, for a moment all adult thoughts took a back seat -the kaam waali bai, the vegetables to be bought, the press waale kapde, the deadline for current piece of work. All that was there was this moment that we (spouses) were enjoying -clapping and moving to the beats of the songs being performed- checking out the performers and the outfits and oh ya cheering or booing on top of our lungs. The PGP students seemed to be enjoying thoroughly too, there was the usual noisy bunch and then there were the love birds, sitting together arm on shoulder way. It was an “ossum” experience after a very long time indeed.

Passage of Time

Didnt realise that its been 6 months in Ahmedabad -an interesting 6 months at that- seems like the time just flew by. I realised how much 6 months had accomplished when I met baby Krish today, he was the youngest one on campus when we had come in April. This little angel who would do little much but smile and sleep. I remember holding him for the first time. This little fellow has grown into this beautiful baby who smiles and loves to touch and feel things trying to get to know everything. Its like he is the best symbol of the passage of time here, a new life, a new being ready to learn and to explore.

Coffee with S

In Nov after S and I set a date for our wedding, the IIMA results came out, so we had about 5 months in which to get married wind-up our lives in blr and get ready for a whirlwind time at ahmd. I knew from the word go what I was getting into, I knew that he would be completely occupied with his studies, I knew I would be missing out on a lot of mushy stuff newly wed couples do. I was ok with all that or so I thought. We arrived in ahmd in April, 2 months into our marriage, after the initial settling-in the course started full swing, what followed were sleepless nights and numerous squabbles.S and I barely get to see each other, and rarely get to spend quality time together, us time has suddleny vanished. Recently, we discovered the joy of spending just a few moments together. The first cuppa coffee every morning, just the 2 of us,in the balcony of our MSH. The campus is so serene, so calming, the chirping of birds is the only noise that one can hear its the perfect start to the day.We have started re-connecting and finding peace in each other. The coffee together each day brings us closer as a couple. This ritual has become a part of our lives something which we will cherish forever.

I-Day @ IIM MSH Style :)

Shifting to Ahmedabad this year has been a back to school experience in more ways than one. Everyday I am reminded of the simple joys of simple life.All the years growing up Independence day was a day for parades/speeches/songs/flag hoisting, the works. Every year without fail my family would gather to watch the Lal Qila in all its glory, the Prime Minister addressing the nation, the parades and the floats, but in the past few years all this had changed. Life had suddenly become fast paced  and all of us self involved, I remember spending last years Independence day in office trying to finish an important piece - atleast seemed so at that time-of work. This year being at IIM on Independence day was a breath of fresh air. One of the spouses took the initiative to teach the youngsters and put up an awesome show. Many other folks also got involved so the entire MSH was abuzz with excitement on I-day. The toddlers put up an indpendence day theme fancy dress while the little older ones did a song and dance.Snacks and celebration of T-Nite success followed; on the whole the entire Independence day celebration "MSH style" was such a heart warming experience, that it felt like I'm living my childhood again :) :)