The Park, Kolkata

Mid nineties, had just started my career. Dropping out of the state buses in blue and white, at the busy crossing of Park Street and Chowrangee, I often took the sub way via the metro rail platform. I suffer from traffic-sycosis. Around 8:30 a.m. the lane had busy office goer jostling to make it on time on the office register. I too was no exception.The first crossing in this journey often made a difference. It was broader than the second one. Often stuck in the same have occasionally on looked the heritage building on the other end of the road. TRINCA 's had a cinematic encryption alluring you to visualize what can happen inside. I had never been to this hot spot of the city, but based on what I read in page 3 news edition my wild imaginations were more sizzling. Sharing the same wall and portico is The Park - a heritage by name. The renowned hotel - The Park and my office then, was on the either side of the historic road of the city better known as Park Street, though now renamed Mother Teresa Sarani.

It was a sultry summer week day in '95 , that by sheer virtue of fate I stepped into this Hotel. A senior colleague of mine had dropped off and I slipped into a seminar on 'Hydro electic Power' to fill up the absent chair. The invite had a long drawn agenda and my section head had sold an elaborate story to convince me why it was an opportunity. Of all that he said I saw an opportunity to see a Hotel that I had always seen from the other side of the road.

Wow! Each step I took was a Wow.. I was consumed by the glamour around. Finally reached the venue and got positioned. The ambiance forced me to act poised. The program kicked-off and key speakers took center stage. Hydroelectric Power was last in my mind. But in closed banquet hall of the seminar I kept watching the decor, feeling the floor, enjoying the corporate look and cherishing the presence. I did everything all alone concentrating in my small world ignoring all the tough energy flow diagrams on the screen and the high density knowledge that the podium had to offer.

During the break took a tour to the restroom. To be honest my dictionary then would have referred that as toilet rather than its westernized synonym. Seeing oneself in multiple mirrors all around could be so distracting. I was unused to such an over exposure. Yet to balanced the embarrassment with utmost confidence turn towards the wash basin with a wish to sprinkle fresh water on the chilled face. Not a meaningful act but it was more to overcome the pain of abundance. Now this was dreadful step that I took.

With all style I gave a gentle push to open up the fixture. My attempt failed. I gave a second try it failed once more. I kept trying. With every failure my exertion and power factor to make the tap work was increasing. Grit and failure together often make you hard worker. At one corner of the the beautiful elite park I foolishly sweat-ed to make a single tap work. All mirrors around me had reflected this multiple desperate attempts, just that it was me alone!

Stopped for a while and looked at my own tired face through the glass wall in front. Frustrated with failure heard a stilettos hitting the floor. She was not an Indian for sure but pretty motherly in look. She pressed the oval fixture on the wall. Even before I wondered what she was doing her hands had soapy foam bubbling up. I was watchful.

Stress-less she placed her hand below the tap and to bewilder me water gushed out in full force. I had been watching her via a double reflection and what I saw was too easy to be believed. Slowly I moved my stressed hand below the tap in-front of me. Success overflew them ....Back to office other participants spoke of the subject, eminent speakers, quality of service , value of hospitality. I was place holder and hence never asked for views seriously. But that was boon in disguise, as I would have felt unequipped , to explain what I gained that day.

Today is different!A week end back was in The Park to take part in an educational exhibition with a purpose. My maiden date with that heritage was itself an education to me years back. Career had progressed and business took me world over - luxury hotels of greater acclaim , airport of esteemed magnitude..I stood educated to act appropriate in foreign land. Small little things that empower you to be confident.

Gyan #31 - Each learning has a destiny , keep learning.