Bang: The Crash.

Bang!!!

That was the sound i was supposed to hear, waking up at 5am in the APSRTC volvo bus. Instead, woke up wondering why people were screaming and how come I was getting wet in the rain.

It was a minute after I opened my eyes that I realised:

• Our bus met with a nasty accident
• A dead body lying at one arm distance away from my seat
• My leg was stuck, and hurting!
• There were only 3 people there to help in the bus, the remaining travelers disappeared

Soon I made sense out of the situation and understood that the Volvo had crashed into a stationary truck from behind. The truck came right into the front-left of the bus and was parked touching the feet of the front row passengers. With this impact, the front seats broke and got pushed behind, crushing my right leg. Consequently the four of us from the front two rows were stranded in the bus, screaming for help.

The 3 people in the bus were willing to help, but were actually helpless. They didnt know how to get us out, as breaking the metal seats were almost impossible. The next 45 to 50 minutes I spent in the bus felt like a few hours.

As fimly as this may sound, I was yelling for help. All those who stood around us said that they wanted to help, but could not think of anything to do. Thats when I realised that I had to do more than just yell! I started asking them to take effective action, like try to break the seat, bring a leaver and try up-rooting the seat, unscrew the seat with a spanner, or anything that is more productive than just standing and watching us probably lose our leg.

After an agonizing 50 minutes, I finally got my leg out. My right leg was numb and I was unable to step on it. Got into a stretcher and went straight into the ambulance.

We reached------ oh wait--- before this, I got a photo in the ambulance with my t-shirt red with blood. The guys around me though my injury in my head had made me mad, but I know this was a rare moment and worth capturing. :)

We reached the government hospital, where they took me straight into the room where a man, who looked like the attender, asked where it was hurting. Thats when I showed him my head and he said that there was a glass piece in it. I stayed calm, and asked him to remove it as carefully as possible. Now that the glass was out, he said he needed to stitch it. So in the next few minutes, I had three stitches on my head.

Leg was bleeding profusely, had to tie quite a few bandages to help clot the blood.

As more injured passengers were coming in, I moved outside the room into the corridor, finding myself some place to seat.

We had a helpful guy around, who arranged for a vehicle to take us to Bangalore. This was a 3 hour drive, that took over 4 hours in the morning Bangalore traffic. I had informed my cousins, who were all ready waiting outside Yashoda hospital. Soon as I got off, I was taken straight to the casualty, where I was told that another few stitches were required on my leg. So just before I got the stitches on the leg, I had another round of brief photographs! :)

So spent most of a day at the hospital and then went back to my cousins place, where I was for a week, before I moved back to Hyderabad.

I was in hyd for about 6 weeks, just resting.

Sometimes its funny, just when you think that you have got a hold of things, it all just turns around and surprises you.

A lot of things happen for the first time. My first major accident, first time I was admitted in a hospital, first time I used a wheel chair/crutch and many more. I do realise that none of the above incidents are achievements, but what the heck, they still are my first time.

Glad I am alive, and its time to party hard and live it up! :)

Here is the link to the snaps:

http://picasaweb.google.com/hereiamnikhil/BangTheCrash?authkey=Gv1sRgCMHG1uLT66nkYQ&feat=email#

Leaving Fujairah

I can still remember the excitement in my stomach, wearing my white and blue stripe shirt, while I was walking into Microsol, Fujairah, on my first day of work. This excitement continued for many months.

Sometime in Mid 2009 I started to wonder if this was the right job for me. I let the thought pass by, believing it was just a passing though.

Early 2010 and I again began to wonder whether Fujairah was where I wanted to be.

Finally in April I decided that I had enough learning from this place and it was time to move out. A simple and sensible conversation with my boss converted this thought into an action.

It was first week of May and I had officially resigned. It was time I figured out what excited me.

How much ever I chose to complain about Fujairah, I know that a good part of me today belongs to that place. Before I realized, it was time to bid good bye to Fujairah and the people who are a part of 2 memorable years.
This was the note I sent out to my colleagues at office:

Dear Colleagues,

It seems like just the other day that I walked into my first job at Microsol, fascinated by everything I saw.

Since that day and today, a good part of me has changed. From learning the very basics of how to use box files to being involved in some critical functions for the company, I have enjoyed performing each of these tasks.

Although I was young (well, i still am), many of you have helped me gain knowledge in areas that didnt directly help my work, but has helped me gain a holistic picture of a company. Each of the conversations I have had, in the toilets, in my room, during lunch, are a part of my learning. Well I can write a long chapter on the late coming incidents and the following negotiations with Suresh/Shibu, but I will leave that out of this email, as all was done in healthy spirit

There have been times that I have posed arguments that could have been incorrect and uncomfortable. Also there are times I have not delivered things as promised, my apologies for the same and I hope not to be remembered for those incidents.

Along with many other first times, this is the first time I have resigned from a company.

31st May has officially been my last working day at Microsol. I shall be around for the next few days, coordinating my transition.

I plan to move back to india by end of first week June.

From now on I will be reachable on: nikhil.nair10@gmail.com

Best wishes to all. Hope all your dreams comes true.

Always,Nikhil

Leaving Fujairah did bring a tear in my eye.

Working for Microsol at Fujairah was the best decision I had taken. Similarly, I am confident that quitting Microsol at this time will be remembered as an equally good decision.

Now once again I have the excitement in my belly, as I pack my bags to begin the next innings.

Meeting Mr. Marwan

Last Sunday (well sunday is the beginning of the week for most of us here), a person called me saying he was looking for some solar panels.

After he told me the name of his company, I asked what his company was doing. As soon as he said that they were into real estate, I didnt take them very seriously. Have handled several enquiries where people call and ask all sorts of funny questions, this was surely one among them.

The man on the phone then went on to say that his boss wanted to visit us on thursday. He also asked me to send him an official letter, confirming the visit. He explained to me that his boss should be well taken care of, etc. I told him not to worry and said that we handle several EU customer visits.

Thursday it was and as scheduled, Mr. Marwan walked into our office with his 3 young children, said he was on holiday in Fujairah. He was in the traditional Arab clothing, which was another sign that this entire deal would not be very serious. There have been several meetings where I have Arab men listening to me talk on solar, as though I was a master on the subject. It was only their lack of knowledge that made me look good.

Must admit that i was not very well prepared, as the projector and the presentation was 10min from ready. I asked for a few minutes of the guest. After fidgeting with the wires and computer, i was finally ready.

The presentation begin telling Mr. Marwan about the company, our strengths, solar industry and more. It was only me that was doing the talking, he was patiently listening and acknowledged what I was saying with a nod here and there.

Then I asked my colleague Khalid to take him around for a plant tour, thinking some arabic talk might help. Khalid, as his usual style, explain in so much details, where i had to intrupt and ask Mr. Marwan if it was too technical for him.

Mid way Khalid came and we had a conversation like this:

Khalid: Dude, who is this guy- he knows so much. He is screwing me with his questions.

Me: Common Khalid, I am sure u being an engineer in the line will know more than him

Khalid: Ok let me manage, but he does know a lot!

The plant tour was done with, and I assisted Mr. Marwan into the conference room. There i started to talk on production, marketing strategies, pricing, etc. Thats when he intrupted and started to pick holes in my points. Some of his questions, I replied to, but the rest, he really knew what he was talking.

Then is when Mr. Marwan took off. In the best 20 min he touched upon the following topics:

1. How Production companies must optimise costs by managing over-heads

2. How you over come entry barriers in a country (from sales point of view)

3. How being competitive on price is the key in the long run

4. The potential of the Solar market in Middle east and the UAE's solar plans

While all of this was happening, Khalid and myself stunned, wondering what just hit our confidence. The examples he quoted displayed his depth in knowledge, and I must say i was awe struck.

After 20 min, i paused and asked, "Sir, what does your company do".

He replied, "Have you heard of the Ghurair Gruop in Dubai?"

I replied, " Yes ofcourse".

Here i must pause and tell you about the Ghurair group/family is. They are one of the most richest and influential families in Dubai and UAE. They are probably like the Birlas and Tatas in India, have been in business for almost 100 years. They are into Real Estate (very huge), Food products, aluminum extrusions, and many many more industries.

The owner of the group Mr. Ghurair is the 77th richest man in the world, net worth $2.4Billion (Forbes rating- 2006). A bit more on the Ghurair is available on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ghurair_Group

Continuing:

He replied, "Have you heard of the Ghurair Gruop in Dubai?"

I replied, " Yes ofcourse".

Mr. Marwan: " Well my name if Marwan Al Ghuraih, and i am the chairman of the group".

Lightning had hit! I didnt know what to say for 2 seconds.

However i acted calm, and quickly asked about his interest in Solar.

Then he went on to explain that he has been trading in solar products for over a decade now. He was curious about a UAE solar manufacturer and hence wanted to visit us. He was open to investment opportunities, thats when i said that we have also been looking at financing for some time now.

He asked me to send him the investment proposal, so that he can forward it to his bank in Bahrain, called VC Bank (yes they own the bank). Their family also has a stake in the Mashreq Bank. He said he would be happy to pass on our proposal to his investment people in the banks.

Here we concluded the session. While talking out, I thanked him and told him that i was inspired by what he has to share. Apologized for the shaky start, but again said that it was an honour meeting him. He has a very pleasant smile and said that he would send me an email, since he didnt have his card. I waved bye, while he drove away in his white Merc.

While I was walking back to my seat, I was so happy meeting a man like this. So wealthy, knowledgeable, yet to simple with no sense of arrogance. I read for the next 2 hours all about the Ghurair family, and smiled to myself! I had no hopes that Mr. Marwan would send me an email that evening, simply because he does not need to.

7.3pm, inbox has an email from Mr. Marwan, thanking me for the visit and how we can move forward.

Life can be very exciting, at the most unexpected moments!