~a smile that changed it all~

On 16^Th November 2009 I met my angel. I still remember that as a media coordinator for the 19^Th Asian Table Tennis Championship, I used to go to the media center to hand out the results. Which was an extremely tiring job. 

A senior journalist from one of the leading newspapers of India sat silently in the media room working on his laptop. and why am I mentioning is because out of all the journalists and anchors sitting there it is he who made a difference in my life.

The most amazing thing that I would like to tell you all about him is that... he always managed to acknowledge the work anyone did, irrespective of how big or small the job at hand would be.

As a week long event, everybody was busy doing their work and almost everyone had a deadline to meet. Also, as in a workplace,there were also a lot of conflicts, ego clashes and misunderstanding but he actually seemed unaffected by it. His aura was tremendously positive!

 Little did I know that there would be someone actually acknowledging my work and it was none other than this 'Angel,' who always managed to pass on a smile and 'thank you,' irrespective of how busy he was.

His positivity and generosity inspite of knowing that I was just an amateur media coordinator was overwhelming.

I don’t even think that he is aware of the transformation he brought about in my life.

My this 'Angel,' somehow made me realise that irrespective of the individual we are, there is an immense happiness in the way we come across to people. He has taught me that acknowledging someones work and passing on a smile to someone might be just an act for us; but it actually may help the other person who might needs it more than us.

Those six days I saw him talking to everyone in a very humble manner and making the other person feel happy. Not to forget, he also made it a point to cheer-up anyone who looked gloomy.

It was only on the last day of the event that I spoke to him and thanked him for his patience and kindness. That was the day when I learnt his name is Rakesh Rao and he is the Special correspondent for The Hindu in New Delhi.

On the day he was leaving Lucknow, he told my father that, "your daughter has it in her and one day she will make you proud." And my believe me... my father too could not escape sir’s (that’s what I call him) positivity and was totally charmed by him.

I met sir again when he came to my hometown in Lucknow the last December. Not a thing had changed since the last time I met him. He still wore that infectious smile, the positive vibes and that humbleness which is so rare.

What he taught me in life has not only made me realise the value of a smile and acknowledgement but today it  has helped me to be more matured and optimist.

While writing this piece, I am actually fell like I am embarking upon a journey of rediscovering myself and the essence of a good behaviour irrespective of the mood swings or the work load we have.

I thank Sir for showing me the light and sharing his positivity to the extent that, today when I look back to the day that I wanted to end my life... I actually go back and erase those sad moments.

The past year has changed the person I am and the way I perceive things. Today looking back to those days, all I can say is that... sir brought a wave of change in my life, making me matured,responsible and above all giving me a reason to smile... Once Again.

Thank you, Sir!

(P.S. this blog is dedicated to my sir, Mr.Rakesh Rao.) 

   

Out in the real world!

Out in the real world!

What happens when you are fully prepared for your ‘first’ beat reporting as a trainee journalist and end up facing rejection?
It was the 28th of July 2010, I was all excited about my first ever beat reporting day. I reached the Sports Authority of India (SAI) office, armed with all my hurriedly-done research and questions for the Bangalore-based athletes preparing for the Commonwealth Games.
Before long, I realized it was not my day as nothing went my way.  After all, with great difficulty, I managed to reach the SAI office but before long, I was rudely asked to leave. No courtesy extended, none asked for .
Indeed this bitter experience, humiliating to say the least, taught me a few lessons instantly. Never take a situation for granted. Never expect officials to be courteous, all the time. Expect the unexpected and be prepared to face the worst.
The curt words of the SAI official, “Sorry, we can’t entertain you. Please Leave!’ still hurts. I had never faced such a situation and that was another reason for me to feel completely helpless. For that moment, all the hard work I had put into my research and homework appeared meaningless. But I guess… in the practical and ruthless world, one needs to be tough enough to deal with such harsh treatment. Clearly, on that day, I was not ready to deal with such a situation.
Dejected but not disheartened, I went ahead to do another story. But even when I was planning a new story, a question came to my mind. Aren’t we journalists are just like other working individuals? Like other professionals,  we, too, strive for excellence, within the given time frame.  So do we deserve to be treated like this? Perhaps not.
It did become clear to me that indeed it takes all kinds to make this world. My story and deadline meant very little to that SAI official.  I was left wondering whether I expected too much out of that official? Perhaps yes.
That day, really taught me the first lesson of my career starting as a journalist and that is…  no matter how prepared you are, be ready to face the most unexpected circumstances and come out stronger. I guess,  out in the real world, Darwin’s theory of the ‘Survival of the Fittest’ still holds good.
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