The Double Game

Again, dogfight decides to post something that has substance…… so here goes. Could be lengthy.

Do we really have to play it ?? Be one person at work and another at home. Or maybe show so many different faces to so many different people. Business is Business and family life is another thing. It’s an age old question. Where do we find the answers ?? We live on this earth to make money or do we live for the sake of living, orrrrr we earn to make a living ??

At the outset I’d like to say the person I’m gonna talk about would be a hypothetical one with a bit of reality intertwined. If any one feels its good movie-worthy material, grab it dude…. NO hard feelings. NO need of any credits. After all inspiration has to spring from somewhere isn’t it (If not from you) heh heh….

Business is Business. It means profits, money. Money Money Money. Money is his God. And it blesses him with belongings, relationships and of course The (rotten) eeego. Each day it’s a case of Lies, Half Truths, Disfigured Opinions, Cut Throats and Kick Backs. No love lost I should say. How the hell can we live like this in our personal lives ?? We do need to look more descent as there’s a lot at stake. Family Values,Respect etc.. etc..

The way business takes place it is near impossible to be sincere, honest at the same time be profitable in business and make money. He gives it all to cut a deal. How many lies, how many threats and persuasions, under hand commissions for the deal to get through. After all it ensures his survival (also his employees and his family) Which of these issues were at the back of his mind when he struck the deal. Maybe one, two or none of them. We’ll never know.

However, he does business professionally. He does not take part in petty personal feuds or jealous ass kickin. Only morons who pose a real threat and are at his throat would be dealt with. And the kick is boxed artfully with no traces left behind. It’s like the Cobra. He attacks only if provoked. No shitty actions as we see a lot in SL. There’s no point in engaging in them. No apologies. Coz its nothing personal Its just business. Sometimes he willingly delays someone and apologizes for protocol sake. He doesn’t give a shit. And the other also knows that it’s just protocol. And there’s nothing he can do about it other than accept the apology.

Now here’s a small business trick. You didn’t hear it from me. Okay ?? Some businessmen leave no traces and have no personal assets to their names. This allows them to vanish craftily. They get a vehicle on lease. (It’s an Operational Lease and not a Finance Lease where the ownership is with the lessor and maintenance is also done by the lessor.) All his purchases are done by credit card and the bill settled later. He would not own any local bank accounts and will not reveal the Foreign Bank Accounts. All traces leading to his money is nicely hidden. Furthermore, he would have another car to a relative’s name and the house belongs to the spouse. Thus at any moment he would say tata, bye to the Bank and Leasing Company and he’s free to leave all and his family and go into hiding provided he has the balls, bats and stumps to be so damn ruthless.

Sometimes his life is in danger. He deals with brokers (intermediaries who expect commissions from both sides for setting up the deal between the buyer and seller) and at times, the broker is given the boot. Hell freezes over when they come looking for him to kill or strip him off his money. These kinda rotten ropes are a norm to him. He also takes all the precautions to associate only with the right people and cut all contact with people who do not associate to him strategically. He also makes sure that his business dealings would in no way hinder the operations of his most reliable contacts.

I find it real hard to balance the two persons. I am not so open to such extreme business dealings. However we have to do the day to day chores of being the nasty guy. Anyone who is working, would agree with me, in saying, we aren’t completely honest at work, and we try to save our ass from certain situations. It is terrible where you can’t open up and talk to a person and you have to hold back so many details, and not be sincere and also talk at arm’s length. Sometimes in our personal lives also we have to take part in this kind of ass protection. Gone are the days where we meet a guy, chat for a while and suddenly become life long friends. We can’t blame anyone for it either. Brings to my memory the movie Road to Perdition. How a hitman's son witnesses what his father does for a living He also had a beautiful family which he loves so much. It kills him to see the effects of his actions hitting back at his family. Great Movie.

Well, I say again I was referring to an imaginary, phantom character (reffered to as ‘He’) Hell, its not me. I wish we could stay without playing the game. That’s what we should strive to achieve. (of course try to be the better person of the two) We can’t change the way the clock of the world is turning. That also does not mean we need to do all the beastly stuff that we feel we need to do to survive. Somethings wrong in the world or is it the way it was meant to be ??

On a different note I just happened to search for “self-deprecation” in Urban. Was very much amused by some of the definitions of the “self-“ words. Check ‘em out on your left hand side when you visit the above URL. (if ur up for wasting some time)

Set an Example – Who ME ??

NO WAY !! Being the eldest in the family is not easy, believe me. We need to act responsible as the younger are always on the watch to copy from us. All our Hideous, Notorious, Mischievous, Shady deeds have to be covered up. A slight mistake would come down hard at me with the additional “look, you need to be an example; the younger would follow you in doing the same” advise. This is crazy. Can’t they look up to someone else ??

I’ve noticed if I utter the (your’s truly) “F” word once (accidentally), my sister would have tried to say it a ten times later. Might seem no big deal but over here it’s not a norm to hear it. And there’s this moron cousin of mine who’s not yet 18 who is staying with us. I’m told he tries to follow my ways. Wot the hek !! I normally prefer the uncivilized style. Jungle Law !! Of course I know how to behave. I balance it out in maintaining discipline in quite a lot of areas. But I enjoy the “I want to live, laaaaike animals” theme. Be a bit Barbaric and so on. Be the normal ragged rowdy person…but, with a difference, knowing where to draw the damn lines.

I hate to look the prim and proper, clean shaven, hair combed, pimple-less face having, Sales Executive or Insurance Guy. I have some friends whose girl friends see to that they trim their finger nails, dress well and so on. They do have the “Well Looked After, Cared For” look all over them. Heh heh I don’t envy them…. At all…. and me, Total Opposite. Who the dawwg !!…. I sometimes think whether it is too much of disciplining that makes me like to be very care free.

Thing is, people and these younger morons need to learn the basics of discipline. We learnt it the Hard.Tough and Painful way. So I know when to adjust when I feel I’m heading off course and that confidence that comes with it of knowing you could always revert to the Correct Path incase you drifted a bit. The basics should be Rock Solid. Also then there’s no need to copy or be someone else. You can be your VERY OWN SELF. I have only one piece of advice to these people who look up to me, DON’T. I’m a terrible example and don’t grow up to be like me. C’mon dude Get Real !! BE YA SELF!!

Yeaaahoooo.... wot a weekend can't get any better than this. Almost missed the last wicket also. Barely made it in time. I've got a pic of the awards ceremony - Thora Captain receiving the Hon. D. S. Senanayake sheild (taken from the Grand Stand) will try to put it up. Thinking of uploading some photos. If time permits and I can dig them out of my Mob.

Two in One

I was to post them separately. But, couldn't find the time. Its a bunch load of crap that happened to me. Don't read unless you're bored to death. heh heh So here it is.


Saturday

On a Saturday I was walking on the road to go for classes suddenly I stepped on a Katussa.- Cameleon (with my left leg) The lizard jumped in the air (outa pure shock !!) and when I was bringing my left foot forward he was about to land on it. So I swung the left leg in the air and after a while regained my balance. Can’t remember the last time I swung my foot and successfully kicked a Goal !! People behind must haves thought I was in a circus. The lizards are supossed to attack when provoked. I dunno how I escaped.

After I came home and had dinner, I had my usual glass of water. Then I shook the cup to wipe out the water. It slipped and knocked the sink. Then it bumped on the sink and defying my valiant effort to catch by one hand, it fell on the ground and went to pieces. Aiyoo…. my Seylan Mug. (Seylan Bank in Sri Lanka started “Tikiri” Savings Account for small children in the good old 90’s and when the saving reached a particular level they gave all kinda gifts) I used this for about 10 years. Actually I broke my own Seylan Mug and this was my Sister’s mug which I started to use. She ain’t aware of it I guess.) I was very very upset. sob…sob…. sniff sniff…. woof woof !! Even my mom noticed it. I should have been happy because I had received a letter for a Job Interview in a reputed Company. I never get hurt for things. Even If I’m heavily criticized or someone did some shit thing to me. But this made me really upset.

I know this sounds really Baby-ish. Wot the hek to do?? I miss my Seylan Mug. I still go looking for it outa habbit. Ok ok enough crap. Sounds soppy is it ?? anyway I didn’t cry. Hahahahah huh huh haaa !!



Stealing the Wishes

Been verrrrrry (yeah veri as in ‘cut wela’ almost) busy these days, so was too lazy to sit and transfer my million Terabytes of thoughts through the keyboard, into the Blogsphere. Anyweeez, I managed to gather some thought to Jam the keys. So here it is.

One day this week, a Director from one of our constituent companies came to our office. He wanted me to do some work and I managed to do it pretty quick. Before he left, he met our boss and came out of his room and said, “Thanks Machang” then I looked up and I saw him looking at me. So I said, “No probs, you’re welcome” (of course thinking the Thanks were for me). Then he sorta frowned. To see, he had thanked Boss and not me. Whoa.. take it easy dude……..

I remember another incident where I went to school for an occasion. Some of our friends (including me) were talking to one of our former Masters. He as usual was asking about each ones progress and career. When we were about to leave I got a lift from a guy who was a bout to do his A/L’s in a weeks time. While we were getting into his car, our master said “All the best”. AGAIN !! I said “Thank you sir” (again thinking he was wishing me good luck in my future endeavors) To see he had wished the guy who was to do his A/L’s. Then sir was signaling as if “not you men, that bugger” shit, dammit…. I’ve done it again !!

I think it’s a fundamental problem in my Brain’s processor. My reflexes are so damn quick I act before I think or process the situation. It’s embarrassing at times. It helps at times when a speeding crow comes right at me to duck in time. Also, to avoid the sudden obstacle on the road like falling branches, trishaw maniacs and the random punch from a pedestrian trying to open his / her umbrella and so on….. delete files in the computer without thinking, open up the wrong files in a hurry can be added on to it. How my diagnosis, Pretty accurate huh ?? Only problem is I still haven’t taken action to rectify the situation.

More Humourrrrr....

Here we go again, Another funny incident finds its way to Dogfight!!

These are true events…. Not *based* on true events…

BEHOLD....

Suddenly, my colleague and I were called for a Board Level Meeting. (at work) Apparently our company is hookin up another to form a new one and they need a presentation done. There were coupla people inside the Boss’s Room. Some looked like they are suffering from Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease. (now I’m going crazy trying to explain them) So one director from the other company drew up the idea of the companies merging, he drew one circle, then another intersecting the earlier circle. Then he drew an arrow and said “now this is the new company” and tried to draw a big circle. The pen stopped writing !! Thunder struck me thinking “oka hariyanney naa” (this merger is not gonna work.) Now he’s hissing the pen in all directions but it still wouldn’t write. He says “I don’t believe it I bought this only yesterday from company X” (A very reputed pen dealer in SL who also happens to be a client of our own company – so the joke doubles and triples) By this time every body was laughing at him. Being the joker I am, I found it very hard to keep my cool and not to laugh like a fool at this certain Big Shot dude and also due to the fact it was a top level meeting. I also didn’t want this merger to sound like “Heart Break Hotel” But I cracked up and LMAO !!!!

It happened to be today was our bosses B’day (not to forget my Grand Parents’ Wedding Anniversary and my colleague’s Parents’ Wedding Anniversary) So cake was served but the other director buggers didn’t know about Boss’s B’day. They were clueless and curious what’s with the cake. I was imagining if these guys took that cake they’ll sure end up in Hospital with Blood Sugar Levels (It was Chocolate Fudge!! from the FAB) Boss didn’t spill it out until they slowly asked us and got to know the detail. Then one of the buggers (coupla feet broad sideways, bit like Obelix) slowly slipped into another room and started whacking the cake. Apparently he is supposed to be a party going dude. I can’t imagine that. He must be going to Night Club in Sarong and when he does a 360 degree swing the entire dance floor must be getting flushed away like flies.

So we were taking down notes about the products they deal with. While listing down “X, Y, Z, B, …..manufacturing equipment, industrial raw material…..” someone remarked “Blood Diamonds”. Another asked “Machang you watched the movie ??” another said “no machang”, another said “superb acting no ??”. I was getting pissed off here because we were going out of track. Anyway I was finding it very hard to laugh at these people anymore. Now got a lot of work also to do. So back to work. If Sloth was here, he’d say “Back to chat, hyak hyak hyak”…...

Random Jokers

I normally meet this type of people all the time. Here are some of the stories.

One day I was going to the nearby shop to get a balance they owe to my mother. This was at about 8.45 p.m. It was dark then I saw a guy coming in a push bike with something like a cigarette in one hand. I was looking at him but was thinking about something else. While passing, he asks me “Aiya meka Joint ekak. Awulak naa neda ??” (Yo, I’m smoking a Joint, Okay no??) I didn’t answer him. He went passed me and several times he was shouting “is it ok ? is it ok ?” mad bugger, wot the hek do I care…

Then another day I cross the road and in the dark I see an old man. He looks a bit familiar too. But he seems mighty outa balance cocked. He comes to me and says. “mallee mang beelaa, kaatawath kiyanna epaa” (bro, I drank today. Please don’t tell anyone) I told him I have urgent business and went on my way. Crazy Old Fool !!

And then, the best one. I got into a bus in the morning and got a seat. An old man (again, Dammit !!) was sitting next to me. He asks me whether I am in the Army. (Whoa, what makes him think like that) I started laughing (others in the bus also laughing by now as I was dressed up to go to work and it was very clear I was in office attire) and asked him what made him ask me so. He said because I was carrying a big bag. (I normally swing across my shoulder a quite big bag. But its 75% empty. Heh heh) He went on telling me that there’s no Independence right now but there was Independence before we got Independence, D.S Senanayake was good another one was bad and blah blah.. cough.. cough...

Then he went on to ask me where I live. I normally give wrong answers to avoid unnecessary trouble. So I thought I’d say a name of a road (road J which is close by to the actual road where I live), but then I thought I’d say the truth. Then he says he lives in road J. Phew !! Then he asks me about my family and everything. I just gave vague answers and didn’t go in detail. He said he should know my family and asked whether I know Mr. N (who is a very close relative of mine) I said, err yeah I think must be quite a distant relative. (simply because I wanted this man to shut up and leave me alone) Then he asked me who my Grand Father was. When I replied he says “Ahh I knew him very well…. wait…. what child, Mr. N is a very close relative of yours no” I was stumped for a duck at that moment.

Then for about 45 minutes he was talking to me about various things from saving my salary to how girls should not perm or straighten their hair. FOOOF !! I’ve had enough. He did ask me whether he was annoying me. Bloody Hell Yeah…. He was damn loud, and the whole bus could hear. And OH…. I noticed there was an old Lady seated right in front of him. I was wondering whether he was trying to impress her by blabbering about his achievements (Naaki Kukula) Yet didn’t shut up after she got down also. So he doesn’t fit the description.

This old man in the bus happens to be distantly related too. (Later I found out) awww shit…. Somehow, I was very tensed, with a lot of responsible work on my shoulders (and also doing the rounds in my head) for the day. He sorta helped me to take my mind off the work at least for a while. Other thing is this Sirasa TV is making fun of people and recording secretly (they reveal later) for a TV show. So its dangerous, have to be careful and shouldn’t get get caught for it. Heh heh !!

I still wondered what made him actually think I was in the Army (apart from my bag, I was having a very short hair cut and must’v looked like the skinny Army Private on his way home)