Not the best experience, by far....

After giving dear Gurgaon a fair run for 2 whole months, with forced optimism and the like, I've finally realized that however I look at it, this is not going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Originally, I believed that once work took off, everything would fall in place. Then I realized, this particular workplace resembled a train more than a jet plane. You keep chugging along, picking up speed just to slow down for the next stop. There was, and is, no scope for anything taking off.

Then the place itself. Prohibitively expensive to stay in, it gives you the feeling that you're in a Shakespearean play, particularly, Much Ado About Nothing. It is, ladies and gentlemen, a wasteland. Someone, somewhere, thought they could pull off a Dubai. Sorry, not happening. There is no water, no electricity, and no roads. The entire place is just 3 roads. The rest is suburban. Sub-sub-urban. Think Salem, not Tanjore/Trichy. Electricity is leased at 5.75Rs a unit flat, water tax is almost as high and to top it all off, there isn't any electricity for at least 7 hours a day. Not to mention, absolutely no concept of public transport. For what this fuss, then? For development that will come in 15 years, probably when pigs fly and England win a world cup.

The biggest disadvantage, however, is how not happening this place is. Come weekend, what do you do? Sit at home and sweat while you get a weekend bonus of 10 hour power cuts. Or, alternatively, go to one of these amazingly repetitive malls and laze around while utter boredom makes you go buy clothes.

The companies have an untenable cost of operation. The employees have an untenable cost of living. The place is not renowned for it's quality of labour and most of the workplace is invariably imported. The proximity to Delhi seems like a petty excuse to live in Gurgaon. It is like living in a hut, consoling yourself that the mansion is just down the road. It makes more sense to go to a Tier-II city and make use of the land and infrastructure it already has.

Of course, not all of my ire is the fault of the place. The company, or lack of it, is equally irritating. Stuck with guys that are, granted, very nice and all, but whose idea of fun is sitting in their PG and saving up money that they earn during the week. They do not want to travel to Jaipur, nor do they want to sample the famed chat in Delhi. They do not care for sight-seeing nor do they care for coffee. It is always too far, or too hot, or too expensive. The truly tragic part of it is that I, being me, am incapable of doing any of that alone. Without company, it seems, frankly, a waste.

I have exhausted positive intent, at least for the time being. How much can you grin and bear the irritation that is heaped upon you day after day. After a point of time, Facebook gently reminds you that it cannot substitute for hostel, and that you are veritably alone. The world cup, with all its color and fun, comes in 90min spurts (which are unkindly interrupted by the power cuts). National SMS and chatting helps, but even if you are freaking Larry King, you're gonna stop being entertaining after a few weeks non-stop. Books offer solace, sparingly.

I doubt if I'd be proud of this rant tomorrow, even an hour from now. Whining is for sissies, would be one of my mottos, and I would still stick by that. But somewhere, something breaks, even if temporarily. Maybe there are people who are leading lives less rosy than mine, maybe there are others who are staying alone, others who can claim to have gone through this and handled this better. Pass judgement if you will, but I assure you, this summer has been an unmitigated disaster.