The Lost Pages

On the beaten PATH

(The PATH is the train which runs between New Jersey and New York - the most common medium of transportation for the scores of IT oriented folks living in NJ and working in NY; like yours truly)

Some common things you would notice on the PATH.

1. Everyone has an iPod.

2. Everyone listens to the iPod when on the train. The volume from the headphones is loud enough for everyone else around him to listen to it and dance.

3. During rush hour no one gets to sit. Almost everybody stands.Some prefer to stand even when seats are available just so as to not stand out from the rest.

4. The average train ride for each person is somewhere between 15-30 mins. It gets difficult to find something to look at for this period. You cant stare at other people for long, you have memorised all the ads in the train - so you do the 2 second rule. You look at a person for 2 seconds; not longer so that he doesnt feel odd and then you stare at another person. every 2 seconds you look at a different person and do this in a round-robin fashion.

5. On Monday mornings, you would see people in the train: shivering, shaking, mild tremors,, sometimes froth oozing from their mouths. Pretty common phenomenon, nothing to be afraid of or get worried about. These symptoms can be seen in people who have gone on a trip over the weekend (probably a long weekend at that) and havent had a chance to check their mail in 3-4 days. The oozing stops once they open Firefox at work.

So, on one particular Monday I was with a friend (Jungo) who's an i-banker(ooooo...) on the PATH train to work. Following protocol, I got my ipod and started listening to it. First song, "Maha Ganapatim" techno remix, nice song to start the work week.

Jungo: What song is that?
Me: It’s a Ganesh track remixed.
Jungo: Sounds good.

I am almost sure the desi girl beside us with enough oil in her hair to lubricate a Hummer could listen to the song and was impressed.

Next song, Akon. The iPod was in shuffle mode. Track goes something like "I wanna fuck you..."

Jungo: Is that that Akon track?
Me: Ya.

The "oil lady" beside me moves away a bit. May be its time I stop the iPod. I put it away in my bag and started some conversation.

Me: Jungo, how bout we go to Atlantic City this weekend?
Jungo: No dude...I've got work. Getting f&^*ed at work. If I don’t go to work this weekend, I'm screwed big time
Me: WTF? You talk as if you are working for Men In Black. Don’t work a weekend and Manhattan collapses!
Jungo: Boss, being an i-banker sounds nice to listen to, but the work takes its toll heavily on you boss. Especially when you are an Analyst

People around us look at Jungo, with awe, admiration on hearing the word i-banker. The oil girl moves a bit closer to Jungo. Some of the NYC tourists were clicking snaps too.

Me: Anyways, fuck it. So you are analyst right.. What's next for you career-wise?
Jungo: Well.. Its something like this.. 2 years from now, I'll probably become a Senior Analyst.
Me: That’s big right?
Jungo: Acutally, no. You see I'll probably get married by then. But I'll be spending so much time at office that 2 years after I become a Senior Analyst, she'll leave me.
Me: Hmm... so whats after that?
Jungo: Divorce obviously.. I should probably get a prenupital. Don’t want to give no alimony.
Me: I meant career-wise.
Jungo: Oh that, well, coupla years later I'd make partner.
Me: Wow! Partner! All the fun and money in the world eh?
Jungo: Actually yes, by then, I wouldn't have time for marriage and would be meeting my kids over the weekend.But I'll have a big ass condo on the Upper east side though.
Me: cool..I guess...

and so it goes on... another day at work, life, the usual...

posted by Vithal @ 00:38