It was a cold winter night in Delhi. The bare concrete floor was hard and cold. I needed to catch some sleep before my job interview the next day in Gurgaon.
During those days, I was still struggling to get a job in the IT & Software field. All my paltry savings from my low paying private construction job was spent doing my software training. I had finally secured an interview with HCL, a big software company in Delhi. They were going to reimburse my travel, but I needed a place to crash for one night in Delhi. I had asked a friend if he knew anyone I could stay with in Delhi. He said the Rajya Sabha(upper house in the Indian parliament) MP from Sambalpur was his Dad’s friend and he could have his Dad arrange it so I could stay in his MP quarter for a night.
My Dad gave me 300 bucks when I was leaving home. I used to be very sensitive about taking money from my parents those days. I had been unemployed or under-employed for a few years by then, after graduating from college. My father had recently retired from his work. So the last thing I wanted was to still be dependent on him. I reluctantly took the money. Though I had no intention of spending it, I needed some money in case the staying arrangement didn’t work out and I had to find a hotel for a night.
When I arrived at the MP’s house in Delhi, he said there was already a person in the room meant for visitors. I could share the room with him, but there was no extra bed or bedding, I would have to sleep on the floor. I agreed without blinking an eyelid before he could change his mind.
I put on two layers of clothing and socks. I wrapped myself up in the blanket I had brought with me for the train ride and lay down on the floor. It was still very cold. I somehow had to survive the night in the makeshift sleeping bag.
The next day I got up early. Got ready, had hot tea at a nearby stall, took a bus to Gurgaon for the interview. Unfortunately I did fairly badly in the interview, and didn’t get the job. From there I went to the railway station to catch my train back to Bhubaneswar.
After all this, sleeping on a cold concrete floor, failing yet another job interview, I was still happy that I didn’t need to spend the money my Dad had given me and I would be able to return it to him when I got home.
Unemployment.. it twists your mind and changes you as a person. It’s a trauma that always stays with you.
