Episode 65 : I am listening

'Azad wants to speak to you', Mama Hyde informed me.

Me? Whatever for?

'Well, he's just finished his XIIth exams and wants some advice on what to do next.'

And I am always willing to play the "I am listening" game.

Chaperoned by his mother, a nervous Azad came in. I could hear his mother telling him there is no need for her to tag along, but I guess every one needs some moral support when you are about to speak to someone held in high esteem in the street where I live.

I am not bragging. I am held in God-like esteem in these parts, so quit laughing!

So Azad and I sat on my parked bikes and I told him to start. I had to bite my tongue from saying 'I am listening' in a Frasier-like voice.

Young Azad started telling me about what his subjects were at school and wanted to know what he could do to get into a good job.

'What do you want to do?' I asked.

Something to do with electronics, something where he doesn't have to study engineering.

A person who doesn't want to study engineering? That's a change!

So I told him about options in electronics, chemistry, biochemistry. And he asked me about Bio-Informatics.

Suddenly Azad stiffened a little and allowed me to go on and on. I was running out of things to say when I heard Mama Hyde exclaim.

'What are you doing here? Let them talk in peace!'

Apparently, Papa Hyde was standing behind me and was listening to us. Azad was already sweating buckets and there is nothing to make a person more nervous than to stand in his line of sight and stare at him. I have used that technique a couple of times in interviews just to see how confident the guy is.

And it breaks them every time.

After fifteen minutes or so of talking, Azad got up to leave. He extended his arm to shake my hand and when I took it, I found his handshake weak.

Must be the nervousness. I wasn't sure I should tell him about confident handshakes then.

I was sure of one thing.

With the kind of options I presented to him, I succeeded in confusing him more than ever!