Just A Kid!

I thought he was just a kid. Chirping nature, more attention to others than to what he was doing (not that he was bad in what he did), new-fangled fashions even in the formal work environment (I had never seen him outside work), getting clarified each and every thing everytime he started to work, having interests that rarely matched that of people who had worked with me, he seemed the perfect example of a modern corporate employee. We all should have noticed at one point or the other the variety in one's thoughs die out or get reserved as one specializes. This reminds me of the time I had been to one of my cousin's place for an entrance examination who was then a medical intern. He was brilliant in physics during his high-school days and speaking about light i said him how a green leaf in maroon light will appear black. The reply to that came as - "well! you need to get out ideas of your mind to get in new ones". I dont comment on the validity of the statement but it has stayed with me.

Coming back to the kid here, he seemed like growing restless with time. I imagined how work can be different from academics and how the new kids get bored so very easily. And then one day he put down his papers. What followed was a series of discussions with him, the HR, his supervisor and me - everyone wanted to know the reason for this small stint (he was an achiever afterall). The ones I could understand were that of him being uneasy with the location. I put across a raise, a movement to a higher post (I couldnot offer him a location change as there were no headquarters there). His final words were "I do not want to be disrespectful sir, but I think it is just he correct time for me to move". Days passed without the HR managers being successful to make him stay and came his final day. It was raining and I went out for a smoke that afternoon. He was there too - I had to go to him for a light.

Apparently he had finished all the formalities."There is someone, I know I will never be able to get her, but whatever time we have, I want to spend it with her. Things you say I will get - they might be a little delayed but will come to me one day. This time, once gone, will not." I nodded and thought about the time I was building a career - I knew she was mine, so much that perhaps I had taken her for granted. I was busy in my own dreams and visions. I dont even know if she wanted to be a part of all that. Time was gone, not even remembered anymore - lost and gone - today I have everything else I had aspired for - everything else but her. We stood there and smoked, I had nothing to speak nor did he. Funny how so many years get finished within the time half a cigarrette bruns. As we entered the floor, Ron met us. Among other things he spoke to him, how he will be missed and how he had done a good job. "Same here sir, but Oh! thank God you are not my manager, because the way you explain things - its just very very very verbose, you see!". We all had a good laugh. He was just a kid.

Song: Queen of Hollywood ...