“Gave up already?” – she asked with a soft smile. I looked at her with puppy eyes and confessed how I have always aspired to be like her someday. Her reply was a lesson I etched in my mind forever.
“Why be like me when you can be the best version of you. It’s ok to be politically correct but it’s important to learn when and how to voice your opinion too. Life in corporate is nothing less than a game of snakes and ladder. Whenever a trap is sprayed out, learn to throw your best dice. And if some day you are bitten by troubles, remember, the game isn’t over until you reach the final spot.” I was grasping every word that came out from her end.
“My journey to this position hasn’t been a bed of roses. Life is never a hunky-dory ride for anyone. But I believed in one motto. ‘Be like a swan: serene on the surface although probably paddling like hell to stay afloat beneath.’ Don’t let people swoop in their opinions and cloud yours. Learn to judge it for yourself. Believe in everyone but trust no one but yourself. And once you are back home, dust off the corporate woman in you and mingle in the awesome gift of life: your family. “She walks away with a compassionate smile.
She parted a new perception and energy with me in a 2 min conversation. I then, muster up my courage and brace myself to carve out the best version of me. Corporate, here I come.
Aashka Kotecha falls into the famous "Geek + Writer" category. Employee of a leading MNC by hard work and a storyteller by passion, her thoughts are a blend of Reality and Fiction. A binge-watcher and a tea lover, she believes in taking life, one sip at a time. She has won various literary awards during her educational phase. Going by the pen name of Aashka Ki Khwahish, she has written stories and articles of all size, shape and perceptions earning a title of versatility. Born with a gift of gab, she is open to a conversation on a spectrum of topics. Drop her a ping on Instagram @aashka_ki_khwahish.
8