Had it been like that...

So someone recently planted the idea of alternate universe in my mind and I started thinking, what would I be, had I gone a different way at some important junctures in my life...

Year 2001, Std XI: I had done well in Class X and decided that I had studied enough and thought of taking a break from it. I had had to change schools because my earlier school did not have +2, and because of this, I lost some very close friends (although later on, I made some very good new ones as well). Hence initially, I befriended some guys who were known to be part of regular street fights and indulge in weed and maybe also drugs (who knows!). I found that lifestyle very different and exciting - not care about studies, roam around on bikes, be a part of a local gang and the thrill of being in actual street fights (with hockey sticks and chains). I must say, I am proud to be the only one amongst my friends who had moved onto this lifestyle but never got beaten up, because no matter how thrilling, I always had an intelligent mind which told me when it was time to start my bike and run away ;).
How did I manage to get my life back on track? Well, one of my new friends got involved in a Police case, a kidnapping one at that, and he pulled in an old friend of mine into it as well. It was then that I realized that if I didn't want to end up behind the locker some day, then I should concentrate on what others say is the safe way to success - clear the IITJEE! Had I stayed with them, I am sure I would have been locked up a couple of times and would be currently working in a call center somewhere. I would have been very unhappy but, I am sure, no matter what, I would have had a bike!

Year 2002, IITJEE: The 4 golden years of my life. I don't know what I would be without it. Let's imagine. I had very clearly laid out plans in case I did not clear the IITJEE. Since I had not taken any other test, I would join FIITJEE classroom coaching in Delhi and then take all the exams next time around. So I would have lived in Delhi when I was 17 years old. That means a bike, clubbing, stylish clothes, maybe lenses and shades, DU girls...hmmm, I doubt I would have cleared the IITJEE from Delhi. So, I guess, I would have joined some other college, maybe some NIT. Having been accustomed to living in Delhi, I am sure I would not have studied, been the founder of a biker's club and would have had a lot of fun in the 4 years of college and would have passed out with an IT job. So I might have ended up in Bangalore, as someone who enjoyed clubbing and loud rock music (as every Bangalorean has to) and might have also had a Bangalore girl as my girlfriend, the "clubber" type! I am sure I would have definitely had a bike though!

Year 2004, 2nd Year, IIT KGP: My plan, after joining IIT was to go to the USA. I had thought of IIT as that, a ticket to the USA. I think I might have been the only person who bought a Barron's guide for GRE in my first semester. It's a completely different matter that I never opened it after that. I think it didn't even stay in my room after 1st Year. A dear friend of mine took it and is now currently in Atlanta, Georgia, doing his PhD! Ahhh, it sounds like one of those stories where one friend sacrifices a lot to buy his friend books and then see him succeed, doesn't it! Hehehe. Even after my 1st year, I didn't know what IIM was, although my brother had already spent a year in IIMA.
What made me decide against GRE? You wouldn't believe it, nobody ever does but it is the truth - the movie "A Beautiful Mind". Having seen that movie, I thought how strange it would be studying without another Indian around, and professors who could be such not jobs (ironic, I know!)Thus GRE went out the door, but had it not, I would like to think that I would have made it to some nice college. Maybe not MIT or Stanford (as no good professor would recommend me ever ;)), but definitely some other nice college (kindly excuse my lack of knowledge of other US colleges, just goes on to show my level of interest in GRE). Having decided to not waste my 3rd year mugging up words, I squeezed every ounce of fun that KGP had to offer and regarding future, the only option left was to do what intelligent, logical and smart elder brother had decided to do... take the CAT! And the best part of those 4 years was that it was all about power, politics, sports, friends and my bike!

Year 2006, CAT: This was the time when I had to choose between many options, but all good. I had record number of job offers from KGP - HLL,ITC, Schlumberger. The last one, although was very rewarding monetarily, had been decided against due to the possibility of living in Nazira (snake infested rig in Asam) or Venezuela (where Slb employees were escorted to the rigs by armed guards) or in the middle of a sandy desert in the Middle east...or even Kakinada for that matter (a small village in Andhra Pradesh, where I had interned). And between ITC and HLL, the recognition and prestige that a Unilever carried had trumped ITC. After a lot of logic had been thrown around, it was down to IIMB or HLL. With HLL, my plan was to work for 3 years, then go to Harvard (which was the usual thing for many IIT grads who joined HLL).
Why did I choose IIM? My brother asked me if I was sure I would have the enthusiasm to study for Harvard after working for 3 years. I was sure I would not! Still, had I joined HLL, as a very good friend of mine did, I would have been making decent money, would have been in India, close to my parents, and would have had no job insecurity. Mumbai would have been my second home and I would be posted in one of those little towns like Khamgaon or Pondicherry, where HLL employees are considered the smartest people around! I might have been applying for Harvard, might have decided against it, like my friend... but I would be happy and would have definitely had a bike!

So I think that although some options did come close, I took the best decision at every possible stage. I sincerely thank all those involved in the decision making process - be it my persistent mother who prides on having pulled me back from the dangerous lifestyle, my HLL friend who made me study for IIT seriously, the Hollywood industry for making me realize how much I love India and being amongst Indians and of course, my brother who knew me well enough to show me the path that best suited me.
How have I fared? I have still not been locked up, I work in a very reputed firm and industry (definitely reputed till some time back ;)), make decent money, play badminton and swim in weekends and am definitely very happy! Alas, I don't have a bike!