India Parks

The atmosphere of SKCE was euphoric. Victory came naturally to SKCE but today was different. The banners around the college campus read “Welcome Mr. Sunil Verma”. A few students were sporting the INDIA PARKS t-shirts, few of them smoked, but it was KC, nobody bothered. At around 4.30 pm the principal arrived in his white Maruti 800, the smokers vanished in thin air, couples sitting on the benches departed, a whole bunch of professors welcomed the principal at the entrance.

“Yes, he should be here anytime” said one of them.

“Mr. Venkat, is everything ready?”

“Just one second sir”, said Venkat like he was going to announce the success of Chandrayana -2. He went in, switched on the button and came out.

“Look around sir” said the over built Venkat, the Alexander of KC.

The whole college glowed; it was the most beautiful sight. A few bulbs weren’t working here and there, but then this was INDIA, well, that was the point. After ten minutes a couple of helicopters landed on the SKCE grounds. The principal stood there carrying a huge Indian flag colored garland. Beside him stood Mr. Venkat, the Robin of this Batman, the Birbal of this Akbar. Out came Sunil Verma, a couple of delegates followed behind, the principal garlanded him.

“Thanks!” Said Mr. Verma.

“It’s our pleasure sir” said Venkat realizing another comment from him would mean he’d be in the circle of danger.

“This way sir” said the principal and led him to the stage. Around 2500 students had gathered to get a glimpse of their hero.

“Hello all, today is the day! The auspicious day when we have the man who changed the face of the world, we have amongst us the man who actually changed the world map, the owner of the 25000 INDIA PARKS, Mr. Sunil Verma”. The crowd applauded for the next five minutes as Mr. Verma rose up and walked towards the dais. He looked at the students and smiled. It all came back to him, his journey, from Mysore to New York, from INDIA to INDIA PARKS.

“Let’s take a walk around INDIA PARK” he said as he opened a small book which contained notes. He started reading, while everybody listened curiously.

Chapter 1: Pakistan helps India.

America had always excited me, the tall buildings, the wide roads, the big MNC s, the coke and the Burger man. It was my last day at the Indian Institute of Management- Koizekode and I had an offer letter in my hands.

“Wow, Bank of America!” shouted Ratan, one of my friends as he looked at the logo on the cover.

“Yeah” I said almost shivering at the realization. Bank of America, the words kept growing on me.

“Name: Sunil Verma

Age: 26 years

Occupation: Banker @ Bank of America” I said to myself as I took a shower that night.

I came back and had a look at my offer letter again and plunged into my dreams.

26 days later

“Beta, don’t eat non-veg, don’t drink, and don’t even look at those white women” said my mom, when I was thinking of Fried Chicken, Tequila and Pamela Anderson simultaneously.The Airlines had allowed me to carry 96 kilograms of luggage in which I think I had around 20 kilograms of pickles. After making sure my mom didn’t cry anymore I walked to board my flight. I was going out of INDIA; I was going to the USA. It finally hit me. I tightened my seat belt, pushed my seat back, threw a cheap look at the air hostess and slept.

New York! The big apple! The city was indeed new and big. I shared an apartment with five Indians and a Pakistani; Amar, Mithun, Birju, Srinivas, Abhijeet, and Raqeeb, who also worked for Bank of America. I had totally forgotten about India and my mom. I had relished 23 plates of Chicken steak and 2 buckets of KFC which meant around ten chickens had been slaughtered for me. It was enough for my mom to allow herself a dip in the holy water of the river Ganga.

Bank of America was a nice place to work. Plus the people there were amazed by the INDIA- mathematics connection. Raqeeb was brilliant at economics and proved a prosperous intake for the BOA.

2 years later

730 days had passed by since I joined BOA and I was the divisional manager. 126 Americans worked under me, a feeling of victory. I had improved the overall profit of the bank in the fixed deposits section by following a particular strategy that Mr. Shastry had taught us at the IIM. It had worked wonders; I had also written a mail to him thanking him.

But I was not satisfied, I had realized that my method was actually pretty good and I could make good money if I used it for myself. I needed economic support, I got the financial backing from Raqeeb who loved the idea and decided to support me. It was a good add for all the peace lovers and the UN. A Pakistani had given money to an Indian to start business. But still that night two soldiers from each country had died in an inter-cross border shooting.

So then it began, “R&S consultancy”, our cards read as I distributed it among my friends in New York. It was an India Pakistan venture. It was special.