Some days bring with them such gloom that it lingers long after the day is gone and over. Yesterday was one such day..March 16 2014..I got an early morning message about the demise of a dear ex-colleague .After the initial shock,denial, confirmation,reconfirmation finally it dawned on me that indeed he is no more! A life snatched away too soon...lyrically put..Gone too soon! Melvin was one of the first few people whom i felt comfortable talking to after i relocated from Bangalore. His joie de vivre was infectious to say the least. Nothing seemed impossible for him, nothing seemed too tough to handle, no problem hard enough to ponder,no issue tough enough to be unresolved. He believed he could set things right even when things were at its lowest ebb.I couldn't figure out how but he always had that comforting thought to share with all of us. "Kartein hai kuch apan" !! that's what he always said and boy was that a relief to hear during the stress out work schedule.
I wonder now if the days at work would have been more tedious if it was not for his constant blabbers.I wonder if working in that stress day in day out would have taken a toll on me if it was not for the many moments i used to unwind,chatting with him on varied issues ranging from politics,Hindi songs ,movies,et al. He was a person who could talk to anybody for hours on any given topic and i presume he would somehow manage to steer the conversation to the topics close to his heart so that he could talk for hours. I was amazed to see the comfort and camaraderie which few of the banks customers shared with him,like he was another member of their family. I wonder if those long arduous late hours would have broken me down if it was not for the music he played on his "fire-walled" computer! I wonder if i would have stayed hungry if it was not for his drawer full of goodies and munchies in office.He could break through the most strongest fire wall installed in the office computers and browse all that he wanted to,even download songs in the office computer! He was there around you always saying that he cared without saying it aloud.
He was a good boss to work for and i say this because i never felt like a subordinate working with him. He empowered me to take my own decisions and would happily intervene only if i requested him to.He believed in letting people grow on their own,not policing them at every step.Well he did face brick bats for that attitude but what the hell,that has helped me put perspective to the role of a boss.The short association I had with him has already given me loads of memories. Alas,it ironic that all that is left of you Melvin are memories...and as far as I am concerned they are definitely fond memories! Rest in heavenly peace my friend. Will miss you.
