Five Days in IAF - Part 2

I cleared remaining tests. I got a technical officer position in IAF. My activity was to help the pilot officer in MiG-29 aircraft. I was very much pleased. My first assignment was in IAF spy aircraft. That was my first day. I wore uniform given by IAF. I entered in to that aircraft and touched the aircraft floor with my hand and kissed it. Pilot officer had shown my place. There was a radar screen in front of my seat. He briefly explained my duties.

The air craft took off after some time. I was watching outside from the window. All of sudden there was a beep sound in my monitor. It displayed some mysterious object was coming fast towards our flight. It was coming so fast. It might strike our aircraft at any moment. I reacted quickly and warned pilot officer. At first glance, he was not sure what was that thing. He changed the direction of aircraft and tried to go fast and away from that object. Soon we understood that the object was a missile. Whatever we do, we cannot avoid it.

My screen was showing only 60 seconds remain before that missile strikes our aircraft.

Pilot was trying to accelerate the flight. The missile was approaching.

45 seconds remaining…

I got an idea. If we aim our missile towards that object, then we can escape the collision. I told the pilot about my idea. He smiled.

30 seconds remaining…

He started aiming our missile towards it.

15 seconds remaining…

The switch which releases the missile got jammed. Pilot was trying hard to pull that switch down. But that was not moving an inch. I was screaming the pilot.

“Common”, “Common” …

5 seconds remaining …

Pilot was using his full strength to pull the switch down.

2 seconds remaining…

Switch went down.

1 second…

Missile got launched.

“BHOOM, BHOOM”.

Next Day.

In the newspaper, the front line story was “IAF MiG-29 collapsed on Himalayas. No one survived from that crash. IAF was claiming that was just a training exercise”.

* * *

FIRST DAY.

I woke up suddenly. That was my dream. (The dream was not exactly same. It was quite similar like above.) I was darting my head around. First few seconds not sure where I was sleeping. Gradually recalled that I was in IAF campus. I looked at my watch, it was 3:30PM. I became conscious that we need to report at 4:00PM in office. I was seeking for my friend. He was sleeping on his bed. I got angry, and shook him and woke him up. He woke up and asked what happened. I felt like to kick him. I asked what the time was. He looked at the watch on the wall. He remembered what I told last night. He apologized for forgetting that he should wake me up. Anyway, we need to rush otherwise we could not able to report on time, I said. We immediately took our towel from our case and rushed towards the rest room area.

It was freezing outside. Already many were in that rest room area. Few people were brushing their teeth on the common wash basin. I looked for an empty shower room and entered inside. My friend also did the same thing. After some time, we both finished the shower. We were shivering like anything as we took a bath with cold water. Like us, many were shivering after their bath.

We wore t-shirts and short. Finally, we could able to reach the office exactly at 4:00PM. In charge guy was already at the office, waiting for us. I was thinking whether this guy slept yesterday or waited whole night for us.

In charge officer looked at all of us and said “Good Morning, Gentlemen!”. We all said, “Good Morning, Sir!”.

He told us like.

“Today you all need to appear for Intelligence/Psychological tests. We are dividing you totally 6 teams and each team consists of 10 people. First, we will give you an obstacle. You should provide a strategy plan to overcome that obstacle. You need to think smart and come up with the best strategy plan”.

They divided us into six small teams. My friend was not in my team. The In charge officer asked us to sit in a hall. That hall has just roof but no walls. Chill wind was coming inside. I observed some maps in that place. A different officer came inside and greeted us. We also greeted him. He said, he was going to explain the obstacle that usually military people face during their war. We will spend half an hour time and come up with a strategy to solve it. We need to choose one leader in our team. He would explain about our strategy on behalf of our team. The officer started explaining it with a stick on a black board.

When he was explaining, I felt as watching a Hollywood movie. In many war related Hollywood movies, a military commando explains the war plan on the black board before going to war. The situation was exactly same. I did not understand thoroughly what he was explaining on board, because of my condition. I wore a short, which comes just up to my thighs, and outside weather was freezing. My situation was as I was sitting in a fridge. Whenever officer looks at me, I smiles at him and shook my head as if I understood everything. I examined others, remaining members in my team are from north India. They were not facing the problem like me. Maybe they have used to this climate. They were listening interestingly.

The lecture was over. The officer gave one map to us and asked us to come up with a strategy plan. A tall guy in our team declared himself as a leader. He told his strategy plan to us. I was thinking, how IAF officers could ask a military strategy plan to engineering graduates. What we know about it. I tried my best to understand what others were saying. My turn came; my leader asked about my strategy. I mixed last two guys plan and told the same thing.

We then started analyzing (fighting) whose strategy is smart. The officer was observing us on one side and writing something on a piece of paper. The boys observed that the officer was writing something, so they started yelling more and tried to show him that their plan was better than anyone. It continued like that for half an hour. The officer said time was up, and we need to come to one conclusion. We wrapped up discussion and came to one conclusion. When officer came, leader guy explained our plan. During that time, officer was writing something on paper. I was thinking that leader guy will defiantly pass this test.

After that officer told us to have breakfast and asked to return to that place again. We went to the canteen and had breakfast. All guys in the team were talking something in Hindi. I was not interacting much with them.

We returned to that hall exactly after an hour. The officer told, we need to take some Psychology tests. He gave a question paper to everyone. Those questions were given to test a candidate reaction in some problematic situations. One sample question was like this.

“You are working as a technical officer in IAF. You got introduced to some strange guy. He asks confidential information related to IAF. On return, he is willing to give some expensive item to you. What you do? Do you accept that bribe and provide confidential information to him or do you refuse it? “

I thought what kind of psychology question was it. Who would answer it like “We accept it”? Any common sense guy would know what to answer.

I answered all questions in 10 Mins. I looked around. People were thinking a lot and answering questions. I also got doubt probably they were not expecting straight answer to these questions. Maybe I would rather answer as I will try to investigate who was the big boss behind that strange person.

I already answered all questions, so I decided to adhere to the same answers.

Test time was over. Officer collected papers from all of us. I noticed all guys in the team were extremely confident. Similarly, he conducted some other tests.

All these tests are over before the launch time. The officer told today tests are over. We can go out to city after 3:00PM. We went to canteen to have launch. I met my friend in canteen. We discussed about these tests. I told him, I felt like a watching Hollywood movie during commando incident. He laughed like anything.

After launch, we changed our clothes and wore normal clothes. Exactly at 3:00PM we came out of the IAF campus. I thought as I released from a prison. Outside I sensed that I had so much freedom. I started envisaging that it is not an easy task to stay inside that IAF campus though they offer everything for subsidiary prices. We did some shopping. My friend was better in speaking Hindi than me, so he bargained in few shops with his little bit Hindi talent. I laughed looking at his conversation with shop owners. Totally we spend 3 hours at outside roaming city. We decided to visit Ghats and Varanasi temple tomorrow.

We returned to IAF campus. While entering I felt like entering into jail. As usual we had a lovely dinner. I spoke with my parents some time. Some people watching “Top Gun “movie. I thought they had that movie only and showing to all new batches again and again.

Some people told us tomorrow tests are physical, so we would better prepare our self. We spoke some time and slept thinking what are the tests we would need to go-through tomorrow.

To be continued…

Five Days in IAF - Part 1

I never imagined that I would get a letter from “Indian Air force” stating that I cleared written exam, and I need to travel to Varanasi to have further tests in the air force campus for five days. If I get through those tests, then I could be part of IAF. Indeed What I did during those five days? Why I became a software engineer rather than IAF officer ?.

During the final year of engineering, I was seeking several possible options to get a job immediately after my college. I wrote bank PO exam, appeared railway recruitment test. I also attempted DRDO exam. Like these after several attempts, I realized it was not an easy job to get a government job. So gradually I lost interest and started concentrating on GATE.

One day my friend showed me the announcement from IAF in the newspaper. They were looking for dynamic final or just completed graduates from engineering for IAF officer position. First I didn’t show the interest, but because of my friend. I applied it. We both got a letter asking to appear written test in the city. I thought that was waste of money going to the city to appear for the test. I told the same thing to my friend. He didn’t agree. He forced me, after some fight I decided to go just to check my luck.

We reached the test center. There were around 200 students attended the test. They had asked all general science questions and some simple math questions. I had a habit of reading science related magazines, so I felt all those science related questions are familiar and answered them well. Fortunately those organizers told they were going to announce the results there itself. I was not much interested about the result. Due to my previous experiences, I had an opinion that, these government exams are just a joke. I was thinking that people are pre-selected. Whatever the exams or interviews they conduct are just for name sake. I told the same thing to my friend. But he had some hope. We waited until evening. Finally, they had announced the results. Totally 50 people they had selected among 200 people. The irony here was I got selected, and my friend was not able to make out. I was surprised. I didn’t believe. Somewhere inside slowly I started developing hope that I might get placed in IAF.

My friend was very upset. I condolence him and said this is just written exam, there is a lot ahead in your life to achieve. Whatever I said, he could not come back to normal. He looked normal outside, but I know he felt heartbroken. The organizers said that all selected candidates are required to come to IAF campus in Varanasi. In that campus, they will conduct few more tests, and after that, they would select the final candidates. They will provide the second class train ticket from our place to Varanasi. They will send the full details in a letter, in two weeks of time. I told to my friend; “See there are many tests after this. I’ll defiantly fail in one of that, so it doesn’t make difference failing here or in Varanasi”. My friend was still not convinced. We returned home.

I didn’t tell this to my parents straight away. I was waiting for the letter from Air force. Two weeks over, but I didn’t receive any letter. One more week was also over, no letter. I told to myself; it was all fraud, so no needs to bother much. After one month, they had sent the letter. I see AirForce symbol on the envelope. That was totally unexpected. I didn’t imagine that. In that envelope, they had given letter saying “Congratulations for clearing the exam, please come to Varanasi for further tests”. They had also given address and second class train ticket. I told about this in my home. It was like a festival at my home because of the name IAF officer. My mother, father and other relatives, behaved as If I already got the job. I told them clearly that I just passed the written exam still lot of tests I have to clear. But still they were happy. There is also one more reason for their happiness; I’m traveling to Varanasi, which is a famous spiritual place in India. Every Indian wants to visit that place at least once before they die. I got an opportunity to visit that place so soon. In fact, I have not traveled to the north side of the country before, so that was the first time.

The travel date arrived. My mother & father, some other relatives, came to the railway station to give send off. When train started, I saw tears in my mother eyes. She was worried that first time I was going such a long distance alone.

I reached the place after few days of journey. I can’t speak much Hindi. Somehow I managed to get the taxi and reached air force campus. I showed my invitation letter at the gate, and then they allowed taxi to enter inside. I thought the premises would be some think like a college. But I wondered by seeing actual thing. Inside it was like a mini town, so many houses. All houses are for air force employees to stay with their families. I got down at the main office. By that time, there were other students at that place. It was given strictly in the letter that I must report at 8.00AM. I reached the campus around 7:30AM, and felt I was too early. But I understood I was wrong after seeing all those students, who came much before me.

Exactly 8:00AM, one officer came from office and said “Good morning! Gentleman”. We all said good morning. He asked us to stand in a line, there were totally 60 students. We formed 6 lines, 10 in each. He introduced himself, and said he was going to be in charge for our team. He congratulated all of us on clearing the exam, and told that during our stay here, we would be going through the some series of tests. Tests would be physical and mental. There would be a possible of injuries. Tests would start from morning 4:00AM to evening 3:00PM. After 3:00PM we are allowed to go outside to see the city. Every day we should report to him, morning sharp at 4:00AM. He also said we need to sign on a paper, saying we are all willing to give the physical tests and, IAF is not responsible for deaths or any major injuries.

I was blindly listening. Thinking about physical tests, that to starting from morning 4:00AM. I never woke up before 7:00AM except during exams. I thought let me see what kind of physical tests they would conduct. They gave badges to all of us. Numbers from one to sixty was written on that. They also gave 2 pairs of shorts and white t-shirts. Our In charge told us, we should wear this during our first 4 days of training. In final day, we should be with formal dress. He said, “Today is your first day, so spend your time to roam our place. We have plenty of shops inside this campus, if you would like to shop you can do it. There are also paid phones; you can talk to your parents. Tests would start from tomorrow”. Finally, he shouted, “Dismiss” and went away. Some other air force officer came and took us to show the campus, we were standing in a line and seeing all the places. He was explaining that; all Air Force families live there; they get all grocery, wine, electronics with subsidiary prices. After seeing all those shops and houses, I was thinking how lucky to be an air force officer (Later I changed this opinion). They have a loyal life there. Few students bought some items as the price was very less. Some talked over the phone. I also called my parents and informed them, that I reached the place safely. Mostly the students were from north India, luckily I got an Andhra guy in that group. I introduced myself to him. He was also looking desperate about someone to talk all these things. We had a long chat. That day they didn’t allow us to go out of that campus, so we spend the whole day roaming inside campus.

In the night, they showed us the place where we need to sleep. It was a big hall; a separate cot is provided to everyone. Bath rooms are common to all of us. We left our luggage at our place in cot. I noticed there were already few groups in the campus, who were taking the tests. During dinner time, they had prepared several items, like Naans, chicken, mutton, vegetable curries etc. I was surprised the way they were treating us. I liked that food very much. I didn’t know that time; there would be a lot of physical activity we would be doing at the time of test, so this sort of food indeed required every day. They also showed movie “Top Gun” in another big hall. I and other friend were thinking this place was no nice. After some time, our in charge guy came to that room, asked “How is the food Gentleman?” We all yelled and said “Excellent”. He told us, we need to report him at the office exactly 4:00AM tomorrow and he left. After watching the movie, we went to sleep. Before sleeping, I asked my friend to wake me up in the morning before 4:00AM. I had insisted him not to forget. He said OK. Due to a long journey, I was tired, so I slept immediately.

Did my friend stood on his word?

My real five days journey starts from next day.

To be continued …

40 Rupees

I just BLANKED OUT in that situation, and my whole body was shivering. I experienced blend of panic and felicity. I had been dreaming about the day like that. But when it arrived, what did I do?

I don’t remember exactly how old I was when this incident happened. Probably I was 10 years old. My school was located quite far from my home, around 1 or 2 kilometers. I had to walk daily to reach the school. On the way, I had to cross the (old) bus stand before reaching school. During lunch time, I used to go back to home and have lunch and return.

That time, I was very interested on toys like small motor cars, helicopters etc. My parents were not ready to buy those kind of toys because of the price. I used to dream about like playing with varieties of toys. I was thinking, ones if I get a good job and have my own money then I would buy all these kind of toys from all around the world.

In the afternoon after having lunch, my mother gives daily 25 paisa so that I can buy road side food in school. Some time, I keep all those 25paisas and make it as a rupee to watch movie. If any relatives come to my home, than they used to give 2 to 4 rupees. That was maximum money that I had at any time.

One day I was returning from home after having my lunch, I was about to cross the bus stand then I saw that. A 20 rupee note folded on the ground. It didn’t take much time for me to recognize that it was a 20 rupee note. I took it and kept it in my pocket. While keeping I felt, that is not a single note, actually two 20 rupee notes. That means total 40 Rupees.

For sometime, I BLANKED OUT. My whole body was shivering. I experienced blend of panic and felicity. I looked around; nobody noticed me taking that money. My legs were not moving towards school. I decided not to go school. I was just walking on roads. I might have checked my pocket 100 times, to see if really I had that money. Slowly after 10 Mins of the walk, I started thinking. What I have to do with this money? What if I go back home and give it to my mummy? No way, she would take everything and gives me 1 rupee. Then what to do? Though I had seen many notes like this before, but those are not mine. This is totally mine, 40 Rupees. Oh my god how blessed I’m today. I can do many things with this money. Those were my thoughts.

First appropriate thought that came to my mind after blank period was to buy some toys. OK! Let’s go to one of the famous toy shop in my town I thought. I walked all the way to that shop. I went inside; there were so many toys. I had inquired the price of few motor cars; the shop guy looked at me from top to bottom and told those were very costly. I asked how much it was, he said one was 20 rupees, and another was 45 rupees. I was happy; defiantly I could afford to buy one car. Shop guy thought I was thinking, so he showed some other cheap plastic toys, and asked me if I had interest on those. I got angry; I checked my pocket one more time. I could feel the money; I was about to remove that money to buy. But I had thought, what if this shop guy thinks after seeing this much money. What if he doesn’t believe that this money is mine? It is better if I come with my friend, so I would have some company to say that this is mine. I told to shop keeper that I was actually inquiring for my friend. Me and my friend will come here after some time and to buy it. Shop guy smiled at me, and he gave a look like I never buy it. I returned from that shop, and I decided to buy 20 rupees car ones I meet my friend.

My friend was also in the same school, but different section. I thought of going school after school hours, so mean while I was roaming streets thinking what to buy with remaining 20 rupees. When the school time got over, I went to school and, I took my bag and met my friend. He was inquiring why I didn’t come to school as he looked for me during the break. I took him to side and whispered whole story in his ear. First he was surprised. He didn’t believe; I asked him to keep his hand on my pocket, and he noticed some folded notes were inside. He asked again how much it was. I whispered him “40 Rupees”. He asked OK, let’s keep this with us. We can use it to watch movies. I said no. First I’m planning to buy a car toy, I told. After arguing some time, we both agreed to buy a car first then remaining 20 rupees to spend for movies. We started going to that shop.

After some time, we reached shop. Same shop guy was there. He was astonished after seeing me, because he was not expecting me. I was happy that I was going to buy that toy car. I showed the car to my friend. He ones again asked shop guy about price. He said 20 rupees, he was trying to bargain. But shop guy not agreed to reduce even one rupee.

My friend asked him to pack it. He took that car out. I touched it with my hand. I was very happy, in a moment I can play with it. After packing shop guy had asked money. I had put my hand in my pocket and removed it. I shocked to see what I got in my hand. It was not two 20 rupee notes. It was my leave letter; I kept it in my pocket couple of days back when I was not feeling well. I thought of giving that to my teacher, but I forgot. I quickly checked my other pocket; the other pocket had a HOLE in it. Nothing was there inside. I searched several times looking for money, but it was vain. My friend reacted quickly and told to shop guy that we had lost money. He asked us to go back to our way to search for it , If we were lucky we could find it.

We left the shop. I was still in shock. I did not understand what happened. My friend asked me whether I really found that money on road. I said yes; then he asked me to which pocket did I kept it. Then I realized; I actually kept it in my right pocket which had a HOLE. It might have dropped somewhere. But so far I was checking my left pocket and thinking my leave letter as 20 rupee notes. We went to the bus stop area and searched again, no luck we didn’t find it.

We tired of searching it. We sat in front of a shop. My friend started laughing, after some time I also joined him. I didn’t lose anything except half day school. We started going back to our house, on the way we were talking about where did that 40 rupees missed, who might have found it. It was really mystery that I don’t know where did I missed it.

Part time job

This is one of the unforgettable experiences in my life.

When I was doing engineering, I thought of doing any part time job so that I can use it for my expenditures without much pocking my parents.

Beside of my room, there was a small tutorial, and they used to take tuition for class 1 to 7th. I decided to ask the tutorial head to get a part time job in it. One day I did that, the tutorial head asked what I was doing; I said that I was doing engineering. Then he said, "Ok, you can come here from tomorrow onwards to teach Mathematics to class 7th and Class 5th and I would give you Rs.400/- per month, timings were evening from 5PM to 7PM". I was extremely happy and accepted the offer. He came close to me and said, "See this place is rural and class rooms are on road side so anyone could see what you were doing inside and there are many girls in the class room so keep that in your mind". I understood what he was trying to convey. I said no problem.

Next day evening I went to tutorial exactly 5PM, tutorial head introduced me to class 7th students as I was a new math teacher, and he had left. There were about 20 students in the class; I could feel that they were from low middle class family. All students were exited after seeing me, and they might keep thinking how I would teach maths. As a routine, I inquired names of all students and gave short tutorial on how maths could be used in day to day life. From next day onwards, I started teaching from the lesson where the previous teacher left. It become my daily routine that after college, 2 hours tuition and then room. It was quite different experience. I also started teaching lessons to class 5th students. I surprised that they had unusually tricky maths. I had to do some homework in my room before going to class. Otherwise It was difficult to solve on the spot. So I used to take class books with me to my room and started practicing it. Even my engineering maths, I’ve not practiced that much.

Sometimes, the girl students in my class room used to greet me on the road, but boys were different, some are like rebel and some are very soft and shy. One day I was outside of my room with my roommates, then a girl student was going on the road, and she had noticed me and said ‘Namestha sir ( Good morning, sir)’ , and she went. My roommates were laughing like anything and teasing me saying ‘oh! Teacher, Namestha sir’. Students understood that I was leaving in that room, and they had started coming to my room to clarify their doubts. Even girl students used to come, and sometimes they also bring some food along with them. I was afraid, if it was a boy then no problem, but a girl coming to bachelor room was not acceptable. So one day in the class room, I told them not come to my room, and asked them to get clarify if they had any doubts in the class itself.

One month past, tutorial head called me and gave Rs 400/- and said, "You were teaching nicely, be continue like that". That time I was happy, went to room and celebrated my first month payment. We went to film and had dinner outside.

After three months, one of my local friends came to know that I was doing this part time job, so he impressed and introduced me to a new guy, who was a partner in a tutorial where they used to teach intermediate students and provide training in EAMCET. He said he could give Rs 1000/- per month if I had joined in that tutorial to teach intermediate students. I realized it would take more time of me and teaching to intermediate students was not an easy job, so I refused it. After few days, I met him again in a tea shop. This time he gave another proposal. He said I had to teach in "Schedule Backward cast boys hostel" for class 10th students, and I could receive monthly Rs 500/- from government as a salary. That hostel was very far from my room, and I had to teach in morning times. I thought since this was boy’s hostel, so I could teach them freely also people were from scheduled backward cast, if I make them pass in class 10th then I could get some satisfaction as I did some social work. I discussed this in my room and one of my other roommate agreed to cover my current job.

I met the hostel warden. He told me that students were afraid of Maths and earlier many had failed in that subject, so I had to make sure that, that time they would get decent pass percentage. I said I would do my best.

Next day morning I woke up around 5.00AM. It took half an hour for me to reach the hostel on my cycle. I reached hostel around 6.00AM, the moment I went inside, still some people were sleeping on the floor. They had a spacious room, and each student occupied some part of it. Each student had a suitcase where they had all their belongings. In the same room, Black board was there on one side of the wall for teaching. Some students had recognized me, and they asked other sleeping students to wake up. One student bought chair to me. Some other students started combing their hair before coming. Finally after 15 mins all students were gathered. Most of them were wearing worn and dirty clothes, and they looked as if they did not had nutrition food from past several months. I inquired their names and from which place they had come to the hostel. As usual I told them how influential maths is in daily life.

From that day onwards, it had become my daily routine to go to the hostel and wake up all students and teach maths. Many students were showing so much interest in learning that subject, but it was a challenge for me to teach to set of students who were duffers. In a month, I had a very good relationship with all students. Some reason I had a very satisfaction while teaching to them. It was not as I teach only maths, I had discussed some general subjects and conducted some competition and gave small prizes to them. I understood that they were not getting good food in the hostel, and how they were getting treated inside. I was really help-less in that regard as what I could really do, except teaching the subject. I told them some motivation stories and make aware of them that they could change their life through higher studies.

One month past, hostel warden called and had given me 500/- check. That check had come directly from state government, I felt so thrilled after receiving that amount as my monthly payment. Maybe it was because I was teaching to people who were treated as secondary people in society, may be it was because I was getting so much satisfaction during this job and top of that I was getting paid. Unlike my first 400/- I did not spend this 500/- check. I kept it with me.

Days were going; students were used to get ready before I reach hostel. I used to teach some techniques to remember some of the maths formulas to them. Finally, public exams time came; warden requested me to come even in evenings so that I could quickly revise entire syllabus. Public exams were started, first few exams I did not go to the hostel and before maths exam, I went to the hostel and briefly explained all important problems. I was so tensed during the exam thinking how they would perform it. After the exam, I went to the hostel and inquired what questions they had asked in the exam and how did they perform. Mostly all students performed well; After all exams were over, I went again and had a friendly talk with all students. We had a long chat on different subjects. It was not a surprise that they had so many fantasies about girls; they had asked so many questions like how many girls were there in engineering college and how the girls’ looks like etc… I answered them. All were wished me that I would get a good job after my engineering. Next day I met warden and he gave my last check and said, "You had done a good job". At last, I took farewell from all of the students and went back to room with a mix of feelings.

Network Business

When I was doing engineering, there were several colleges in our state, but there were no propositional jobs to all out comers. So like some of my friends I also worried what I need to do after engineering if I do not get any job. That time I entered in to ‘Network’ business because of one of my friend. It was a clear lesson to me by doing that part time job. When ever I remember those days, I wonder how I was doing all those things.

I was in 3rd year of my engineering, that time I got to know network business through one of my classmate. He was already in that business quite some time and earned some money. I and some of other friends got inspired knowing that we can get some money by just spending 2 hours daily. The business concept is extremely straightforward, before joining I need to deposit some amount, so that the company will provide some products which I can use in my day to day activity. I need to convince others and make them join in the network by paying deposit amount. Who ever joins in the network through me, will be under me. Those new guys can introduce some other new guys and chain goes on.During this process when ever any new person join in my network, I will make some money. That time I did not think anything, I just thought spending 2 hours daily, and just ‘convince’ others to join in this business; if they join I can make some money. Later I realized how difficult it was.

My classmate who introduced that business used to show us some demonstration videos. In those videos, they used to show some of the top ranker speeches, also inspiration stories of some of the leaders who have grown in a short time. Continuously for 1 week, we had seen so many videos. We were like totally brain washed and strongly thinking that what ever we were doing is right and totally believed the concept.

After joining in that business, I first started explaining this concept to my room-mates. Totally we were 4 guys in the room. I started with my best friend. I honestly believed this network concept, so I started with him like this ‘we are not sure whether we get jobs after college, so we need to do some part time job by just spending 2 hours daily. Instead of wasting time with unnecessary talks, we spend on this, so that we can make some money. If others decide to join then OK, otherwise there is no loss to us. We are getting some stuff for deposit so even no loss to our money.’ He was convinced, and he agreed to join. He was the first guy in the network.

We together started speaking with other friend’s explaining about this concept. It had become daily task, after college we stop talking about other things. No movies, no time-pass things, speaking and speaking about this business.

We together convinced other room-mate and made him join in the network. My other room mate, who is particularly accurate in spending money not ready to join because of deposit, we had prepared plan, like a list of people with whom we need to talk, and if they are not convinced we used show videos to them. Slowly my network started growing, Around 15 guys were joined. One fine day my other room mate was also willing to join the network but he does not want to spend time. He wants to be like sleeping partner. I assured him that I would join some new guys into in his network. During this time, many conflicts raised. Everyone in my network wants that new-comers should be in their network. It had become a difficult task to me to resolve those conflicts.

We got summer vacations, before going to home-town we promised that we would continue to do our business even in our home-town by working full time. I do not know about others, but I took it dead seriously. First thing is I prepared list of names that I need to meet and talk about this business. First I convinced my best friend in my home town and made him join in my network. Then we together tried to meet all friends in my town. I became proficient in explaining about this concept. I surprised to see that I had that much communication skills. Despite our effort, many not willing to join in our network. They used to say, ‘ya! We know this stuff, this is all rubbish’ and some used to say ‘not now’, some used to say ‘if it is free then I can join’. Some even gave some token advance just to skip us. Some even avoided us without contacting. With high difficulty, my network grown up-to 30 members, but all were become passive members. They were doing nothing from their side to join new comers. I slowly started realizing how hard to convince others. My summer vacations were over, my progress in home-town is not that much.

I returned to college and all persons who were in this business met and tried to see how we had done at their hometown. Except me and my leader classmate, none of other guys had done nothing.

6 months ended, I slowly loosing interest in this. Initial 2 hours had become so many hours, even in college I used to spend a lot of time on this business. Some of my friends used to ignore me, because of this business. I realized this is not my work; I can not go back to each other back to explain about this. I understood that I had lost what ever deposit that I paid. At least around 100 guys should be in the network to earn some money. I also made others loose their money.

I stopped talking about this business in room. Even my room mates also, resumed our old conversions again like on movies, started spending time again on roads and movie theaters. I fully left that business, felt immensely happy after that. Only regret that I had is because of me around 30 people joined in this stupid business. The lesson that I learned here is ‘It is extremely difficult to convince others’.