Client # 1

My First Client

Baniyas

To start your work, one needs to have a solid backing of his family, either in terms of money or sources. My family backing started when my brother in law introduced me to his friend. I was in college at that time, doing my thesis project. I did not realise then what I was getting into.

Since he was introduced by my brother in law, I did not have any other option apart from accepting him as my first client (as if I would have said no otherwise). It all began one fine day when I went to his home. He had one younger brother who was unmarried, his wife and kid and his parents. A family that I have never been able to understand nor would I ever because I do not want to waste my time in doing so.

I was sitting at his residence in front of his baniya father, who was talking to someone on phone about some good work done in making a new diary for Dipawali. GOOD WORK - it made me laugh and sent me in a state of shock. I was like, 'whats he talking man'. The good work was that somebody made a diary and explained about the 'cow' in that. 'A COW'...... Now come on do not say that since I believe very strongly in Hindu Mythology that I have to take something like that pretty lightly. Its actually shocking man and makes you feel what kind of a family they are? Anyhow they were a typical baniya family, where the women in the house are house wives and the men do all kind of work outside but once inside the house they become decent and pretty obeying. What I mean to say is that they are all decent and great men inside the house, no non vegetarian eating habits, no drinks, only religious talks but when they cross the gate of their house, butter chicken is my favourite, classic regular pittaa hoon main, bhai royal challenge (RC) se better Indian daaru koi bani hi nahin, yaar woh ladki to nagina hai nagina, tum usse daekhte nahin ho kyounki woh gareeb ghar se hai. Bullshit - I think thats a small word. In front of his wife, darling aaj to maine sirf ek bottle beer pee hai, but in reality the great man had a complete half bottle of signature whiskey in fromt of me.

Ladies of the house - great women - banyanies, simply great. To the world they show that they are highly religious, will call the sants and the mahatmas to their house for purity but amongst other ladies they will show their real class. Would not leave an opportunity to bitch around and other ladies stuff.

Anyhow the work started well but ended in a disaster. I am not going to explain that. Had it not been my first project, I seriously would not have felt one bit bad about it. Anyhow its all over and I am totally done with it now. I never liked those people. I never appriciated them or their deeds. Someone who does not appriciate your efforts and goes on to the extent of using you to the limit just because you are new to the profession, is not my kind of a client. Even though the world runs like this but I somehow cannot accept that. I appriciate those who have caliber and the fire to do something, something that I had then and have till date.

People

Five and A half Year

Out of college and job in January 2002 with the future in front of me, I had to play a double role - 'to be the Architect of my professional life and to be a professional Architect'.

Five and a half year is not a long time in any profession. First five years they say are very important for any professional. They can make or break one's career. I dreamt of making it. But this 'make' did not come easy. It came with many challenges, enormous obstacles, frustations, happiness, pleasure, faith, confidence, strength, etc. On the top of it, it involved one very important aspect that no one can run away from . . . . . . . . . . . PEOPLE. It is the people that I came across who are the most important feature of my profession. The way I handled them or in better words got better of them is the key to my success. In my eyes the most important people in any profession are the clients. They really do hold the biggest key. Here, I am trying to write a few words about the various clients I have come across over the past five and a half year. There would be no names in all my posts for the sake of keeping a secret of their identity. The description would purely be my interpretation of these people, what I feel about them after being a small part of their life and they of mine.

My humble apologies to all and anyone who might not like what I write. But still I will try not to induldge in writting anything that hurts someone's feelings.

Sumeet
September The 20th, 2007
16:04 Hrs, New Delhi, India.