As I zipped through the expressway at 90 kmph, with the mellow wintry sun on my face, my life seemed to be on a cruise towards a greater good. Just about the right number of cars on the road, no impediments of traffic lights or speed bumps, I seemed to be racing towards my goal, my office workstation with no competition and everything looking great.
It didn’t last long though, soon a black Skoda whizzed past me, changed lanes, and got in front of me. Fair enough, there is someone ahead and above me to hold me in my place and pace always. Happens in life and in work. But no, after entering my lane, the Skoda decided to slow down. And I had to brake to avoid the possible rear-ender. Ah, just like my career, you get comfortable in your position, you feel certain that you are racing towards that goal of making it to the next level, there comes an intruder in the shape of a new hire, to inject new flesh and blood and ideas and motivation to the crew who had perhaps become too complacent in their lanes. I missed seeing the Skoda creeping up in the other lane, I was not looking at the side or the rear view mirrors. Always a mistake not to pay heed to the subtle hints being dropped by the management or not mingling thoroughly in the grapevine. Maybe, I had got complacent or too sure of myself after all.
Lesson learned. Mirrors are there for a reason. Always be on the watch out for who is catching up with you or being shoved ahead of you.
Feeling rejected at being relegated to a slow speed, I decided to change lanes. I often have, when one lane has been obstructed, with so called fresh infusion of heads with new ideas, I change lanes. People do, so nothing wrong in switching over to a faster lane. For a while, I seemed have made the right decision and was able to even outpace the Skoda and get back to my zipping speed. No, I didn’t give that smug smile, which I had a mind to though
Not for long did it last, this lane also slowed down. And to my dismay, I saw the Skoda and all the other Hondas, Hyundais, Tatas, Lexus, Citroens, Marutis and Mahindras, zoom past me in the lane which I had switched from, while I stagnate in my choice of lane. My career is stuck again, this time I did this to myself.
But I trudge on, how many lanes can you keep changing, maybe the same fate will befall me in the next one too.
Muttering and clenching my teeth, I rally on. Not giving up and not heeding to the others on fast track in their lanes and careers. Everyone comes into the world with their fate predefined. Mine is to overcome all obstacles, more than the fair share necessary, I tell myself, thrown on my path and keep moving ahead.
Soon all the speed and brouhaha of others come to an end, as we reach what seems like miles of backed up vehicles. I edge my way around Hondas, Hyundais, Tatas, Lexus, Citroens, Marutis and Mahindras, two wheelers, buses, goods carriers, and inches by inches, I make my way again towards the front. Pushed by honks and pulled into the tiny gaps which appeared ahead, I finally, after which seemed like hours, reach the end of the traffic jam and find a clear unhindered path ahead of me.
One would think that now my career would again be on fast track. But no, as soon as I reach the front of the jam and give a sigh of relief, everyone else took advantage of the pathway I had created and overtook me and raced ahead, leaving me behind again in a slow moving lane. Now is that fair, granted that people behind and around me, encouraged me through constant honking to keep doing what I am great at, and granted that those ahead paved those tiny entry points, but shouldn’t there be a reward for me at the end. Or is it what I did is expected and I am supposed to selflessly lead others and let others overtake me and bear the fruit of my labor and I have to be magnanimous about it.
I finally reach my office. Car park full. Obviously. It was I who had created the path which all others took and raced ahead of me. I hand over my car and key to the attendant and head towards my goal, my workstation.
My colleague looks at me quizzically.
How come you are so late? I had seen you zip past me long time back. Did you take a detour? Did you go somewhere else?
No recognition, no reward for my toil.
Oh let me just stick to my lane and see where life takes me.
TheEbbandFlow 