Hi everyone, if you have reached this blog by mistake, it may not interest you, as the narration is all about a travel experience & wedding ritual.
A word of caution : The entire blog is written on a lighter note, and does not intend to hit the sentiments of any individual.
On 26th Nov 2012, when I got an email from MBlessy (Cookson's Embassy) with the subject "Sales, Production and Operational - Team Building Meet - Jan". Read thro the contents -
"business review, outlook 2013, new product introduction on 25th & 27th".
Oh! no schedule for REPUBLIC day- really Patriotic! Decided not to give a miss
In a couple of days, a designer "Peacock" invitation landed on my table. I opened it to
find Mr.Koshy inviting me for his son's wedding on 26th January.
Tring.... Tring...... I called Blessy and asked her,
1. Are you sure Mr.Koshy is heading a meeting a day ahead of his son's wedding ?
2. Will he be free to discuss sales, numbers/targets & about companies/customers ?
When she answered in affirmative, I asked her the travel plan -
She replied "Starting on 24th & return on 27th - by train-Allepey Exp - you may bring your family".
Day to day activities kept me postponing the booking till 7th Dec. Another mail from the Desk
of Richard that read "Prepare a Deal-making event / case encountered with your customers for discussion during the Sales Meet 2013 at Alleppey. At least one such case study is compulsory for discussion for each one of you". Whoof ! the dealers meet & deal-making events are gonna take the sheen out of the wedding - what an idea - Sir-ji!. With the thought that "An idea can change your life", discussed the events with family and booked the tickets for onward journey . I never book the return tickets. Its the wife who decides (depending on her leave availability) either to extend the holidays or finish of as per schedule. (Thumb rules of life!). Fortunately, daughter's school and her assignments made us fly to Chennai on 27th.
Days run quick....fast-forward to 24th Jan.
While driving from our home to Central, I keep telling my wife about the people she is gonna meet and be-friend in the next 2 days. Since she kept asking me who / what / How type of questions I was explaining her each person in detail. Women generally remember other ladies they meet by their style / accessories / robe they wear.
Mrs & Mr.Koshy , Ashley, Sneha & their respective families - obvious they are got to be on stage most of the time.
Mr. Richard - the man who made Cookson show its "Vishwaroopam" - spread out of India to west till Egypt.
Mr.Govinda Raju, Mr.Srinivasan, Mr.Rajeshwar - they are like Julius Caesar, Alexander and Napoleon - "VENI, VIDI, VICI" kinda people. They keep attacking !
Mr.Kannan - The "procurement"-sarathy of Cookson
Mr.Shanmugham - The IT-man.
Wifey : What about Julie, Blessy........?
Julie and Sabita are the Pillars of Cookson. Having seen the emails Blessy needed no intro - she understood that she is the organiser.
On dot 20.45 the engine tugs the 22 bogies out of platform 6 and we meet Kannan and Shanmugam first. I concluded my intro part, saying that other pillars Mr.Kumar, Mr.Velan, Dhanasekar had started a day earlier, we are supposed to meet them the next day. Meanwhile, the TTE examined the tickets and collected the difference of fare. The railways had revised the passenger fares w.e.f 22nd, but the service level remained the same. The whole night went sleepless, fighting a decisive battle with insects and rodents.
The next morning train arrived an hour late at Allepey.
