Once upon a time there lived a girl in a town named Howrah,West Bengal, who dreamt of being in the Filmfare awards……. 22 years later her dream came true and that too as a MIP guest. She was chaperoning the Miss India’06 batch and it was one of the events they had to be a part of. At that point of time she was not aware that the people behind this event would become her buddies in a year’s time. And the guests who she was looking at for the first time out of the silver screen would become her daily dose of genuine gossip and the faces she would bump into every now and then.
Yes things changed for her on the 22nd March when she was interviewed by Shaheen n Raj in the tiny Indiatimes chat room. I still remember how street smart I had been to take a train from Santracruz to Churchgate and then a cab to the TOI, VT building. It was the 1st time when I smelt the polluted air of Mumbai like millions out there entering into this big, bad city of dreams. Somehow I just knew this is my home and I will get the job at Shoot Talent Management. I knew nothing else …I knew no one….all I did was picked up my Footloose red bag with minimal clothes and hit the roads of Mumbai on 2nd April and was welcomed by 2 most wonderful people on Planet Earth – Dipti & Sabir.
It’s been over 2 years now. Everyday when I cross the Empire Mills on my way to office I remember the day I told my friend, ‘how funny is this place, with all offices in the name of mills and compounds!!’. God immediately thought of playing the most humorous prank…lets get this girl here!! Zoom was not my office but it was where we sat and continued until we realized it was more a part of us compared to many other Zoom employees. Hence we had a huge issue and heart break when we had to move to Times tower.
Sometimes its fun when you sit back and think what all you have conquered in your recent past. Ila laughing at my stupid comments, Raj listening to my drab lovelife, Tapan giving in at my ‘point’, Sonia confused at my confusion, Shirin & Poorvi’s similar cries for the irritating models, Anjana’s 10 000 queries…. I believe we all had our share of personal bonding along with the 24/7 mobiles ringing with stress and personal space scattered everywhere.
In the midst of my professionalism, I’ve goofed up many times, got blasted and saved even more times, lost my cool, have abused and bitched, even once got drunk and puked…..but I have learnt a very big lesson…. “No matter what, Life goes on!!!” There were people and emotions that came in and out during these 2 years but nothing really stopped. Even if it did it’s was momentary. Keeping all such moments saved in my memory, I bid thee farewell…. Life has to go on!!!
Take care ……if destined will meet again
Big HUG and a broad SMILE (payal style)
Payal Dass
9867585336
dassspayal@gmail.com
