Welcome to corporate world..

Once upon a time there was a potter. He used to make earth pots and his son used to take them to the town to sell. He used to get decent income for his family of four. Soon he became aged and was unable to make pots as beautiful as he used to.. So he told his son to take over his business, and said that he would do the selling work instead of him. Son agreed, but was very worried about his father, whether he should let his father take the pots to town. 'He may over exert himself' his son thought.

Next morning, his son told him, 'Father, lets hire another guy to take the pots to town. We need to hire him just for an year or so. Soon, my son will finish the school and he will join me.' Father agreed to what son said, unwillingly. Son soon hired a person. The person told son, 'It will be very hectic for me to come here again and again just for few pots. Can we convince some more potters to give their pots to me, so that their work is reduced, and my trip wont be futile?' Son thought hard, and agreed to it. He, alongwith the Person, convinced some more potters for this.

Everyday that Person started to come to village and started taking pots to town. Slowly he started demanding that unless certain number of pots are made, he wouldnt come. Whatever happens, potters had to complete their task. Once that Person said to all the potters, that the business would be good at a farther town, so he may need more money to travel, and he may give less money to them for some days. Potters started thinking on the proposal, but they couldnt resist the prospect of good business. They agreed for this also.

The business continued like this, almost two years passed. The father asked son, 'Son, isnt it time to let your son take over the duty of taking pots to town and selling?' Son answered, 'Father, it is not like the old times now. Then, we owned the business.. Now, i have to ask the Person before letting my son do any of this work. And even i have to see whether my son can do the work like the Person, or if he can meets Person's daily requirements..'

Father thought to himself, "Welcome to corporate world!!!"

Hogwarts...

"When superstars and cannonballs are running through your head..." With Animal song running through my head, i was walking towards my uncle's home. Actually i didnt know the way exactly, and i was supposed to be waiting for my uncle to come and fetch me from stop to his house. But owing to wild human nature (courtesy: Animal song..) i just couldnt wait there. And so, i started walking...

On the way i was also looking around, to see if my uncle is coming. That time only the song changed. My trustworthy phone started playing another one of my favorite song - Theme song of the anime Naruto. And i was swept into total rocking mood.. Practically telling, my five senses were receiving stimulus from the surroundings but my brain wasnt ready to register at all. Suddenly i saw something, which brought me back into the world, but not the real world. It took me to magic world of J K Rowling. I know, some of you would have guessed that i saw harry potter movie's poster somewhere; but hello, new HP movie isnt released yet.. No i didnt see any poster, instead i saw a sign post...


I started thinking, how can it be? According to J K R, it is somewhere in Britain. Then how come its sign board is here? And why the sign board? Most importantly, why am I able to see the sign board? I cant be a Wizard.. If i would have been one, i would have got a an owl post long back.. What the hell was happening? Was i left out by mistake? Or was it because of some ruddy house elf (err.. Sorry Hermionee...) that my letter got blocked? But it was no use now, as i had already completed my graduation and was already earning muggle money. Didnt have no galleons or sickles or even knuts to even try to enroll my name.

But, main question was, why is hogwarts advertising its presence? Was there any scarcity of students? Or there were lack of funds? With so many questions in my head, i started looking in the direction shown by the arrow. I couldnt see anything. 'Maybe i am a muggle afterall' i thought and started walking. But wait, hogwarts is in England. Is there any secret passage from here to there? Or maybe a portkey? My eyes suddenly started darting in search of ordinary looking thing.. But alas! There were so many of those items, i just couldnt finalize which to try out first.. With all courage i had left (yeah 'left', coz bus journey in Bangalore eats up most of it) i thought of trying out the most ugliest looking thing, a rotten shoe.. And just when i was gonna touch it, a hand grabbed my shoulder from behind, bringing me back to world, this time, real world...

My uncle was shouting at me, 'Are you mad? This is the dumping ground of this area. What are you doing here?'

................................................

Most used alphabet 'e'

Scene: Cryptography class

'The most used alphabet in english language is e', He kept on. 'This is key point in solving any coded language.' Some of his students noted this down. But he noticed that one of the last bencher wasnt writing anything down, instead was smirking... Feeling offended he asked that student to stand up. He asked that guy if there was anything funny or unusual with his sentence. That was the basic clue to solve almost all the cryptographic languages. But that student kept smirking, and started writing something on a paper.

The student gave paper to him and said, 'Sir, last week i deciphered this code after trying out for 3 days, give it a try...' He took that paper, started working on it. But something was not proper with the cipher, also, he was getting restless because of the student's smirk. Finally, after 1hr of hardwork, and after getting nowhere in solving the cipher; he asked student to help. Student wrote a line below the ciphered paragraph, 'ts mdrn dys sir. mst usd alphbt s nt 'e', instd ts mst drppd alphbt...'

Fr frst tym in hs lyf, he ws spchlss.....

On time...

ring ring... something shook in his pocket. He had not got used to new cellphone. To be comfortable, he had kept the ringtone which reminded him of his old phone back at home. He took out the phone, and saw the number. Thinking, 'Isn't it a bit too early for this call?' he checked the number once more. He was missing his pager, where he used to get instructions directly. He never felt comfortable talking to the other party. Letting other party hear his voice, was like losing a bit of self information. But then, he had to be update with the latest technology.

After few seconds, reluctantly, he answered the call. From the other end, he heard a husky voice 'Its me'. He thought, i know its u, now just tell me the job and let me go for it. But he said, 'Yes.. Tell me.' He got an address from the man on the other end, and also an order that the work should be done exactly at 3:ooPM. He had heard that in this job many clients have strange requests, but such request was even more peculiar. Most of them want their job to be done during night time. But anyway whatever you hear, is not always correct.

After noting down the location (mentally) he started thinking the ways to approach there. So that he will be able to reach there by 3. He planned out everything, and started executing it. He reached nearest bus stop and caught a bus. 'Thank god, its not the rush hour' he thought, 'Otherwise i wud have had to change the plan' He noticed one thing, the co-passengers were curiously looking at him, for he was carrying a strange package. The one who was sitting just besides him, was keeping an constant eye on him, as if he had carried a bomb, and gonna leave there.

After getting down at the desired bus stop (with the package) he hurriedly entered the railway station and bought the ticket. Again, thanking the client, for choosing good time, he boarded an almost empty train. He sat in train recalculating the time, and he found a mistake in his planning. Mistakes was rare in his case, but still it happened; owing to his first on field experience. He hadnt considered the preparation time. Also the time to get away from there, for next job. Yes, there is next job waiting for me, he reminded himself. He corrected his mistake, and this time he found out that he would have to almost run. As soon as he got down from the train, and he came out of station; he started brisk walk.

Finally he reached the destination, just in time. He had 5 mins for the preparations. Plenty of time, he thought. He started unwrapping the package he was holding and took out the thing which was inside. Carefully setting it on floor, in front of the door mentioned in the address, he serveyed it from all sides. Everything till now was looking perfect. Only remaining part was, the last blow. He checked the watch again, 2 mins to 3. Anytime now, his mind racing.. And again, something disturbed him. ring ring... It was 'him' again. To check if everything was in place.

Exactly at 3, He set the timer in the thing placed there. His job was done. He would leave now. But before leaving, one final check.. Everything was just perfect. He was going to get awarded for the first job well done. Then suddenly he remembered, last thing to do. He went ahead and pressed the doorbell. He need not wait to see what happens next. He was informed, only the target will be home, alone. So, he left as soon as he heard footsteps coming towards the door. He travelled a li'l distance and stood there in shadows, appreciating his work. The door opened, and precisely at the same time the timer also timed 0:00. It was time.

The lid of the box suddenly opened, and with a small blast, the woman opening the door was showered with rose petals. She scremed with rejoice, 'he remembered not only my birthdate, but also the exact time..' He saw the intense reaction on her face, and knew by instinct, that her husband had made sure that her birthday would be as memorable as possible, for her. 'Timing..! Need to be on time in this job...' his brain was reminding him. His phone rang again, this time for saying congratulations on first job, tailing with order to come back to office as soon as possible. Next gift was waiting to be shipped.

He said to himself, 'C'mon, hurry up you goddamned legs.. No time to rest. Need to reach on time..'