Dr. Anahita
My obstretician was not chosen by me but for me, by the IVF clinic. Dr.Anahita, the tall bawee. When I told my father, he said he had had a run-in with her. Apparently, she was a social activist for environment and filed PILs against the people who put up outdoor hoardings obstructing trees or some such thing. She had gone into his office and threatened to file a PIL against his organisation for allowing these hoardings. Gutsy lady. But I was a little wary that she might not be kindly disposed towards me because of her fight with my father. I need not have worried. She was absolutely professional and never let any of that come in the way of our doctor-patient relationship. She was unfailingly kind, supportive and encouraging throughout the pregnancy. She was not fussy at all, didn't make a big deal of me getting a dental x-ray or skipping the glucose tolerance test because of major nausea. She rushed to the hospital late in the night (or early morning rather) and quickly put together a very good team for my emergency C-section very ably. Thanks to her quick action, everything went well. She advised me to seek help for postpartum depression if I needed it and gave me a number a psychologist for it. She asked me to give her a call every birthday of the twins to let her know how we were all getting on. Thank you Dr.Anahita, for helping give me my beloved boys safely. I will always remember and be grateful for your help and support.
Saturday, 4 February 2017
Gratitude diaries 17
Sydenham
Unfortunately, I don't feel as attached, humbled, awed or grateful to Sydenham, where I spent much more time, than IIM A. Five years. Certainly it was far less intense experience, so this is understandable. I will always regret the fact that I wasted five years that I spent at Sydenham, doing nothing more interesting than reading books (which I had borrowed from CCI library). This was time I should have spent studying, learning or at least meeting and working with other people through the various societies. But I didn't. Like everything else in my life, I never took advantages that Sydenham had to offer, to develop myself. Can't blame Sydenham for it though. But I do wish that I had gone to a college like Xaviers, where I could have learnt more interesting subjects and through better teachers. Well, Sydenham was my choice, and it was not a very good one. But I am grateful to Sydenham anyway. For giving me Aban and Kash. Who have been my best friends and the people I most count on, since I was fifteen years old. I am happy that we had all that time to spend in each others company, go to movies, restaurants and build the foundation for a friendship that would last all our lives (hopefully) and would sustain us through the ups and downs. Thank you, thank you Sydenham for Aban and Kash! I am so grateful !
Unfortunately, I don't feel as attached, humbled, awed or grateful to Sydenham, where I spent much more time, than IIM A. Five years. Certainly it was far less intense experience, so this is understandable. I will always regret the fact that I wasted five years that I spent at Sydenham, doing nothing more interesting than reading books (which I had borrowed from CCI library). This was time I should have spent studying, learning or at least meeting and working with other people through the various societies. But I didn't. Like everything else in my life, I never took advantages that Sydenham had to offer, to develop myself. Can't blame Sydenham for it though. But I do wish that I had gone to a college like Xaviers, where I could have learnt more interesting subjects and through better teachers. Well, Sydenham was my choice, and it was not a very good one. But I am grateful to Sydenham anyway. For giving me Aban and Kash. Who have been my best friends and the people I most count on, since I was fifteen years old. I am happy that we had all that time to spend in each others company, go to movies, restaurants and build the foundation for a friendship that would last all our lives (hopefully) and would sustain us through the ups and downs. Thank you, thank you Sydenham for Aban and Kash! I am so grateful !
Gratitude diaries 16
IIM A
After all the angst I have expressed about IIM A- how difficult it was- how grateful I was to people who helped me through- it must seem like I hated the place and was happy to rid of it. However that's not how I feel towards the place. I have never felt or will never ever feel that I belonged at IIM A. Maybe it is the imposter syndrome. But I have, even in my darkest hour, appreciated the beauty of the place. I love how it looks lit up at night, especially the Louis Kahn Plaza or the iconic LKP. And the Harvard steps. I never failed to be awed by these sights. I never fail to feel over-awed that I have got to be a part of this place, this experience. Gut-wrenching though it may have been. Cruel as this place seems to be, when I was at my lowest point, someone or the other, a fellow student, a teacher, always helped to pick me up and set me back on my feet. For this I am grateful. And of course, having the IIM A tag has opened many doors for me, which it would have been difficult for me to open otherwise. I fully acknowledge that and I am grateful for it. It is a pity that I have not leveraged my association with this place to the fullest. But that's my fault, not that of the insti. My experience of the insti was extremely private and solitary- I never shared in the camaraderie that the batch mates shared with each other as a group. That's why- the reunion didn't work for me. I need to experience the insti alone- for that's how I always experienced it. I am grateful for my IIM A experience. Thank you IIM A- IIM A ka tempo high hai!
After all the angst I have expressed about IIM A- how difficult it was- how grateful I was to people who helped me through- it must seem like I hated the place and was happy to rid of it. However that's not how I feel towards the place. I have never felt or will never ever feel that I belonged at IIM A. Maybe it is the imposter syndrome. But I have, even in my darkest hour, appreciated the beauty of the place. I love how it looks lit up at night, especially the Louis Kahn Plaza or the iconic LKP. And the Harvard steps. I never failed to be awed by these sights. I never fail to feel over-awed that I have got to be a part of this place, this experience. Gut-wrenching though it may have been. Cruel as this place seems to be, when I was at my lowest point, someone or the other, a fellow student, a teacher, always helped to pick me up and set me back on my feet. For this I am grateful. And of course, having the IIM A tag has opened many doors for me, which it would have been difficult for me to open otherwise. I fully acknowledge that and I am grateful for it. It is a pity that I have not leveraged my association with this place to the fullest. But that's my fault, not that of the insti. My experience of the insti was extremely private and solitary- I never shared in the camaraderie that the batch mates shared with each other as a group. That's why- the reunion didn't work for me. I need to experience the insti alone- for that's how I always experienced it. I am grateful for my IIM A experience. Thank you IIM A- IIM A ka tempo high hai!
Gratitude diaries 15
The last but not the least of my close friends at IIM A was Deepak. Deepak was Naveen's friend and I got to know him through him. Three of us often spent time together, went out for dinner etc. I remember in my second year, on Valentine's day, three of us went out for dinner- three friends celebrating friendship. Deepak was also in many of my study groups. He was as supportive as Naveen and helped me through a lot of my hard times. Through him, towards the fag end of the my stint, I also became friends with few other people in his dorm. Those friendships did not last long, but the one with Deepak has. Deepak has been a true friend, always ready to help, even after the insti. He has helped me in job search, and even helped my husband. I feel comfortable asking him for help. I have not been able to return the favour in anyway, alas. A couple of times he has asked me for help, I wasn't able to help him, but generous person that he is, he doesn't hold it against me. We don't stay in touch often, but it's always nice to catch up when we do call or meet each other, once in a while. I feel lucky to have a friend like him. Thank you for everything, Deepak.
Wednesday, 1 February 2017
Gratitude diaries- 14
Apart from the three girl friends, Alka, Shrutika and Vidya, there were two other friends who completed my inner circle of trust within the insti. Naveen was one of them. Like Vidya, Naveen and I were in the same section and in a few study groups together. Naveen was a very kind person. I sensed his kindness early on and felt comfortable with him, inspite of being generally wary of the guys in the insti. It was very reassuring to have Naveen in my study groups. He was an engineer so not really averse to all the quanti stuff (which I was absolutely terrified of). He would take on the responsibility of the quanti stuff without making the others in the group feel as if they were worthless freeloaders, which many guys in other groups tended to do with those of us who were quantitatively challenged. His kindness inspired trust and I felt comfortable spending time in his company. I could let my guard down and share my fears and angst with him and he was fortunately not uncomfortable with my complaining and tears. He would take me out for a dinner or drive sometimes and help distract me and cheer me up. His support meant a lot to me. Thank you so much Naveen for being my friend and helping me through the dark times. Your help and support was a big part of my ability to pass that difficult first year.
Gratitude diaries 13
Vidya was another on my close friends in IIM A. Unlike me, Vidya did well and had good grades. We were in the same section and in some study groups together. I felt comfortable being around Vidya and she was unfailingly encouraging to me. She was a year younger to me and appeared to me very naive and innocent, unworldly sort of. Because of this, I felt oddly protective towards her, even though she didn't need my protection. But I felt happy if I could do something nice for her. I remember one particular early morning group work meeting to prepare for a presentation later in the day. We tended to be stressed and nervous before presentations, but on this instance, on seeing a guitar in the room where we were working, Vidya took it and started singing and playing the guitar. That was so nice- a welcome respite from the pressure and it helped us calm down and smile. She was a positive person, not prone to worrying as much as I was, and was a good influence on me in that respect. Thank you Vidya for your friendship and support.
Gratitude diaries 12
My time in IIM A was pretty difficult. In hindsight I know that everyone's (bar very few exceptions) time in IIM A was tough, it's designed to be that way, but at that time, it felt as if mine was the worst. Thankfully I had a few good friends whose support carried me through. Shrutika was one of them. We stayed in the same dorm (hostel). So we spent a lot of time together. Alka and Shrutika were my besties in the insti. Shrutika was a Maharashtrian like me and from Bombay, so we had that in common. We also shared a love of reading. I have probably spent a lot of time crying on Shrutika's shoulder about my poor grades. She never failed to provide comfort. She was quite maternal in that way- I felt absolutely comfortable crying and complaining to her and her very presence would sort of make me feel better. I am sure she must have found me tiresome, needy and depressing at times but she never showed it or made me feel unwanted. She had a lot of friends, and she knew I was lonely, so even after she got into a relationship, she always tried to include me in her outings, which was so sweet. We also enjoyed eating out a lot and spent many an evening eating in Topaz to avoid the horrible mess food. We always ordered cheese naan and corn tomato bharta and ended the meal with vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. She, I and Alka shared a close bond, all being from the same dorm, and enjoyed each other's company. Alka spent more time with boyfriend though but whenever she did join me and Shrutika, we had a great time together. Thank you Shrutika, for your friendship, encouragement, support through the IIM A years- I'd never have made it without you and other few friends. But most of all, thank you for all the shared laughter and fun times. So happy that we're still friends!
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