
Anyways, let's move on to the next part of the Chennai story. This part is called 'The Rat Race'.
I entered my office at 8 in the morning. There were very few people in the office. I went to the library and started reading Harvard Business Review magazine. I was enjoying it and didn't realize that it's already 10 a.m. I rushed to the office and it was full. People were working with full force. I tip-toed towards my project manager's cubicle and asked him, "Sir, can you please grant me a leave for 2 days on 17th and 18th June? I really wanna go home. I haven't been home since January." He said, "Alright, leave granted but let me tell you something. That guy working there... he hasn't been home since 1 year 10 months. That guy there.. he hasn't been home since 1 year 6 months.. It's just the beginning, so I am granting you leave." I felt relieved that he granted me leave and he is a nice straightforward fellow who can give me an idea about the future. As I walked to my cubicle, my head spun. Every person, every damn person working in my company had a ponch! Oh my God! They don't have time for family, they don't have time for exercise, they survive on junk food to work for hours. I just had a glimpse to the rat race.
In the evening, I shifted to my new PG. I was excited. Finally, my final room. I happily had it cleaned, unpacked my baggage and set up everything. Just as I was about to sleep, I saw a rat race, again. This time, literally a rat race. There were 2 rats in my room who were racing! I wanted to cheer them up if they were my friends but they suddenly disappeared. I had to sleep with lights on. I didn't want to be nibbled by rats while I am sleeping. In fact, I don't want to be nibbled by rats even while I am awake.
Guess what, we have a spectator here. While I am writing this, there is a huge lizard on the wall opposite to me. There is bio-diversity in my room. Wow! Isn't it amazing? I have tears of happiness in my eyes. All animals (including me) living under one roof; Rats, lizards, flies, mosquitoes, ants, sometimes dogs also enter this PG. And to add flavor, it is so hot here that I have to live like Mowgli in the room. Let's rename this part as... "The Jungle Book"