A Month of Lies

365 Days of F(ib)B-ing- Chapter 3

Day 21- January 21

‘Featured on local news channel for ToastMasters Club speech’.

How cool is that? Ma asked me to get the clipping and video. Some local channel ran it under headlines ‘Local gal wows ToastMasters’. I am so thrilled and flattered. While not exactly celebrity status, it is still something. I am glowing. I am so pleased and excited. Thank you, God!

Day 22- January 22

‘Basking in the glory of making local news’

How can I not? Sourabh found out from his wife — she has seen me at a project party — and promptly emailed the entire account about my appearance and speech. And the attention that followed (he is an influential Manager) was enormous and overwhelming and wholly enjoyable. I love this. For once, I am glad about this incessant emailing and updating.

Day 23- January 23

‘Overtime’

I am never preening myself again. A simple success, personal, of course, and I let it sway my head. Now I am slogging like a slave again just to keep up with the stats and stay on par with Jessie’s work.

Why, oh why, did I have to idly enjoy all the throngs of people who came over to say Hi and try and grab some second-hand attention. I should have been smarter and a lot more humble about this.

I am just grateful that it was my turn to double-check the team stats and I found that I was trailing. It brought me crashing back to earth, it did. For once, I am thankful for the team stats we create for our two-member team (counting only the working people) and the task of double-checking it once a week on any random day by each team member.

Now it is a race against time to finish off my work and some more.

Day 24- January 24

‘Sleeping off the day!’

I totally deserve this. So, here I am happily snug in my bed at home and not with Ma — Pa for the weekend. Sad, but unavoidable. I really need my rest.

Day 25- January 25

‘Eating Ragda Patties**’

And enjoying it so very much. I do so love junk food.

**Ragada Patties is a popular Indian street food made with potatoes and is the local version found in Mumbai

Day 26- January 26

‘Happy Republic Day!’

Nothing much except loads of work. Oh, and I pinned our National flag on my heart — you know, my tiny Indian flag brooch — as a mark of respect.

Day 27- January 27

‘Overtime again!’ 

Sad, but true. Our project deadline is January 31 and everything has been on track and schedule but apparently, all the managers and their bosses decided they need to showcase excellence. This means two long-suffering minions — namely Jessie and moi- will have to complete four days worth of work in two days.

Why is senior management so insufferable?

Why do these stupid brainwaves occur at the last minute to these people?

Day 28- January 28

‘D-day fast approaching’

Hahaha! Another of my suggestive posts.

No, Dear Diary — I am not getting married.

Just that Jessie and I need to roll out the entire phase by tomorrow. What were my managers thinking? Probably they were not thinking at all. Got until tomorrow to finish all this work — and my own stupid goal of surpassing Jessie…

Probably will need to settle for being equal. That girl is super-efficient. I want to cry…

Day 29- January 29

‘Avantika feeling relieved.’

Truer emotions were never felt.

Day 30- January 30

‘Lunching with Jessie’

Yes. After all those hours we put in and all that stress we shared, it was only inevitable that we are able to at least tolerate each other for an amicable lunch.

Ok, I was so exhausted; I had no strength to rack up any other decent-sounding post. Plus, I needed the food and she was leaving for lunch. Coincidence plus tiredness plus laziness. And she was looking pretty nice today. Grr, she always does.

Day 31- January 31

‘At month end Account Birthday Celebrations’

At last, enjoying such a do without worrying about all the pending stuff waiting to smother me when I get back to my desk. Takes all the fun out of attending account-level social dos. Seriously, I am not even feeling excited.

Just relieved, which just goes to show how pathetically work-filled my life has become. Ah well, life goes on.

Anyway, here is my update for the month as it draws to a close.

Dear Diary,

As you witnessed, I have religiously updated you every day about my daily activities. Sure, sometimes I have been extremely concise as if I were about to be taxed for each word but I HAVE been coming to you every single day.

As for my Facebook updates, I managed to add a unique post every day as well. While even I would have liked the quality of those posts to be a lot better, more intellectual, and really witty, maybe both, I am still glad they were distinct if not extraordinary. I shall cut myself some slack and hope I have better updates going forward.

Overall, it had been quite challenging, even frustrating but totally amazing that I wrote every day for a month. How cool is that! I am really onto something here.

Well, Dearest Diary here is wishing we both continue to see each other every day and our communication improves as each day passes!

Au Revoir!

Hope you are enjoying Avantika’s shenanigans on social media. (Remember all is not what it seems!) The previous episodes can be found at: