This day last year ..

Back then, I was on campus, working on my Dual Degree project. I could have left campus a month earlier but I voluntarily asked my guide for a month extension to continue on my DDP (read self-rape) Why? Simple. I didn't wanna leave Insti. Mu Sigma (the company I was heading to) had given me a joining in mid-August (that was 3 months to kill) and during my 5 years in insti, the longest I could survive at home was 2 weeks max. and after that I *had* to go back to Insti. And now, there was no coming back! Besides, in addition to a good grade, I might end up putting a paper which would help my "back-then" app aspirations (this was icing on the cake!) There was simply nothing to lose!

Next thing I randomly stepped into my guide's office. He must have expected me to ask for fundaes on how to present my work as "results" in the thesis but I was like -

"Sir, I have some interesting ideas blah blah which I want to work on. Can you allow me to stay back for another month?"

Initially taken aback, my guide who looked a combination of confusion + pleasant surprise agreed! So, I got the permission from my guide, then KBR (the HOD - wise old man figured out that I wanted to stay to put more peace but I somehow managed to put a straight face and say "No sir, Project still incomplete" ) and finally many more formalities later, I got my extension which meant more time on campus, more peace and of course DDP ;-) Everything going clockwork...or so I thought.

The evening of the same day, I randomly checked the placement website. Not so randomly actually. I was doing this frequently ever since Mu-Sigma cut our packages by 25% quoting recession (this was a real shocker - until then I was thinking lay-offs, late joining and package-cuts during recession happens to others!) Anyway that day there was a notice from Mu saying there's an urgent requirement and they want me 2 months in advance from June 1st itself. This was 2 weeks from back-then and I was like what the hell!!! I just got myself an extension in the morning and now, I need to finish up in 2 weeks! Damn those interesting ideas and damn this stupid strat of wanting to stay back! PLAN FAIL! PLAN BOMBED!

The next 2 weeks implementing my "interesting" ideas were seriously hectic! Nowhere close to the peace I had imagined I would put but somehow I finished up on May 30th, 2009 ?(this day last year) and got the legendary nod of approval from my guide to start writing my thesis but I wasn't celebrating. Not yet. I had to join MuSigma the day-after and I'd one frikkin day to empty my room (people who have seen my room will know the enormity of this task!), get my no-dues, finish up formalities and get the hell out of insti! And again, you might wonder if it's allowed to join a company before finishing one's viva...damn, even before writing a single page of your thesis!!!! But somehow all thanks to my guide (he raised an eyebrow when I told him I'm gonna join before my viva but finally gave in!) and some last ditch gladiator effort - I managed to get away!