ILP 21st Oct - Part 2

Journey to Mumbai
It was almost the end of week three and we came to know that TCS is conducting a walk-in in Mumbai on the 22nd of August. Also the week after it is having walk-in’s in all the TCS centres across India including Bangalore. We all were confused especially me as I always had money constraints and I don’t want to just decide without knowing. Well finally me and my friend that came along with me decided to go and if nothing happens the will have the Bangalore option open and also we can see the arrangements to conduct walk-in. For that week we all studied very sincerely and I along with some more didn’t go for any walk-in that week. The walk-in was on Sunday at one of the college in Byculla 3-4 stops from VT station, can’t remember the exact station numbers but just 10 mins by train. We started on Friday night by 8 o’clock train. The journey was real exciting and we all were enjoying and reading materials to brush ourselves. We also had rapid fire rounds among ourselves to see where we still lag. We extracted all the TCS walk-in papers from the net and in that some 500 words wordlist we just mug it up. I was just praying that atleast 70% words should come from this list. Finally we reached the destination by 8 o’clock the next evening, exactly twenty four hour journey. We were completely exhausted and felt hungry but before that we need to look for an accommodation for the night. Some of the people went in to see some hotels and when they came and told us the price for a day, we thought not to waste money like that. In fact now if we think that price we might laugh. Well some of them decided to go to hotel and stay there the rest decided a cheaper approach. We went to the VT station and there one of the members from our group went to ask any place in the waiting room just for 4-5 hours. The in charge of the hall told him to come after 12 when some passengers will leave with a train. We 4-5 people went in by 12:30 and all gave him Rs. 20/- and just found the place where we can and laid down. It was really satisfying and that hard floor is at that time heaven for usJ.
We all slept and I was given the duty to get up all by 4. I put the alarm and when I slept I didn’t even knew and that shows tiredness in all. We all got up at 4 in the morning and fresh-n-up ourselves. I didn’t had the bath as I didn’t like the face of bathroom worth having a bath and also I thought that it was just a written test, if cleared then will have interview next day else go back to Bangalore. We all prepared ourselves and the place all our luggage in clock room taking all the documents that is required if we get through the written exam. We all had tea as that’s the best thing we can expect at 4:30 before going for that war. We got in train and went to the venue at 4:55 and surprisingly there was a batch of 3-4 girls already lined infront of the college gate where the campus is supposed to take place. Well as we all are in the same boat, most of our group members started sharing the points and discussing there past experiences for walk-in’s and some belongs to the same college so got very comfortable from the start. It rained the whole night and so it was a bit cold that we didn’t expect during that time. Well the night passed and some of us tried to search for something to eat, but we couldn’t find anything veg out there. By 7:30 it was a decent crowd and we were at the front of the gate ready to explode within. Finally seeing the crowd growing they opened the gate at 8 o’clock rather than 9 in the morning. I was the second to enter the gate and then straight to the examination hall through a series of barred wooden passages. The exam started by 8:30 and we finished by 9:30 and then they told us to wait for 3 hours for the results. The written was pretty good and easy and it made me tense as I thought if that’s an easy paper for me then it must be easy for all. Well I didn’t thought much on that and if someone said this option is correct, that’s not, it only gave you mental stress. During that time in the canteen we had snacks and tea and it gave us some energy. Finally after four hours a person came with the list and told ‘I will be calling names in alphabatetical order’. My heart sank and I told to myself that ‘Abdul if your name won’t come within first five names, then forget it and pack your bags’. And the first name that he called was ‘Abdul Qadir’, at that moment I just closed my eyes and saw the sky and thank The Almighty for this good news. But my happiness faded when two of my other mates were not got selected for technical round. From there I was guided straightaway to a hall and pointed me to a person who will be taking my technical interview. In the meantime they took 2 resume from us that will be used by them to see your curriculum. My interview went fine there were two persons, one was good and trying to make the environment friendly but the other person I guess just came in to check and show his smartness. I told myself ‘What the hell he is thinking of himself’ and then after 40 minutes I came satisfied as I answered most of the question and didn’t even thought to bluff them at any time. After that I was waiting for my results, my friends were also waiting downstairs and they all are also excited about meJ. It was nearly 45 minutes and I didn’t receive my result. Also there were two persons a lady and a bald gentleman. Whenever the guy was coming and announcing the names, the people were going to the next round and when the lady comes she calls all the persons who were not selected in the technical round. I didn’t dare to go and spoke to the lady but went to the guy and told that if you have any information about my result. He assures me to check and get back to me soon. After 5 minutes the lady came and called 5 names and in that my name was also included. My face got a silence expression and I was praying ‘please I don’t want to hear the news of rejection’ and she told that you have been selected and need to go to the next building for the HR interview. I Thank God once again as the good news are coming in suspense. Also that was the time I realized and said to myself that ‘Abdul you finally made it…’. I went to the next building to fill the forms first and there I saw some more of my friends already started filling the form. It was really exciting to be a part of that group but that form took nearly 45 mins to fill and paste the photos but all in all a worth deserving wait. I then went for the HR interview and the panel consists of an elderly man and a nice lady in early thirties. Initially it was going well and they asked us all the HR related questions and then they started asking about my project and which language I did that and all. I was surprised why they are asking such questions in an HR interview. The best part of the interview which I won’t forget is when they asked about the CEO of TCS and I told ‘I don’t know’. The next answer I got from the lady as ‘don’t you think you should come prepared or atleast know the CEO of TCS?’ I then answered in very polite manner as ‘Mam I have come to this interview after got through the written and technical. Before this I gave the walk-in for five other companies and didn’t got through hence this time I concentrated only on the written as it’s not worth to know the CEO of any company if you are not capable enough to clear the exam for that company. Also I was in a view that the HR interview might happen the next day and hence till that I have enough time to learn about TCS’. I don’t know what they have thought after listening but I came out of the room in 25 minutes and then followed to the ground where all others were waiting for me and they just gathered around and were very happy about what I did. They were more confident than me on my selection to TCS and I really appreciate there sincere greetings.
From there we rush to the station collect our luggage and went to catch the train. We were just on time to catch and as soon as I get in I changed my clothes as it smelt like hell and then I got relaxed. In a group of ten I guess 4 people got till the last round. Before boarding to the train, I called my mom and dad and gave them the happy news still 90% about my success. But after that I became very relaxed and the very next day we arrived to Bangalore I was waiting for a week as the HR people told that we will mail you with the result in a week. The coming week all other mates from the Hostel went for TCS walk-in again and they called me telling that here the crowd is nearly ten thousand in number and I thank God it was a wise decision to go to Mumbai. Monday I was expecting the mail but I didn’t came and I got a bit worried, but on Tuesday when someone told that I got selected in TCS, I rushed to the café and when open the mail got relaxed to see my selection letter. We had a party that night and the next day I went to have the tickets for Bhopal and after a twist and turn month I had a TCS job on my hands. I see off all from the station and pray that they should also get a nice job soon as they are also the deserved ones and then I went in and sat on my berth and from there again another journey is about to start :)