UPSET STOMACH

This happened in Maldives in 2005. Shortly after lunch I started feeling dizzy. I could not walk. My hands and legs were feeling weak. My mouth was getting dry. I thought that there was something seriously wrong with me. I called a friend who came over immediately. He asked me whether it could be due to an increase in blood pressure since I was taking a tablet for hypertension. I told him I wouldn’t know whether there was an increase or decrease in blood pressure. Suddenly I felt like throwing up and rushed to the bathroom. That’s when I realized that it could be due to an upset stomach. Another friend had called for a doctor who came over and checked my blood pressure and pulse. He told me that both were normal and that it was a good sign.

I was admitted to a health center and given a saline drip and a tablet and syrup for acidity. A few hours later I was normal again. I then thought about what I had for lunch that day. I had cooked some vegetables including potatoes and tomatoes in a pressure cooker to speed up the process. I think the vegetables were overcooked and that caused the problem. Till that day I thought an upset stomach was a minor problem. I never knew it could make a person feel so seriously ill.

GOOD YEAR

Goodyear, Shastri Junction, Kollam

PLUM CAKE

The most popular cake in Kerala during the Christmas season is the plum cake. All the bakeries sell their own version of the plum cake. 

WHITE LEATHER SHOES

I had my first holy communion with my elder brother at a Catholic Church in Sembawang, Singapore. We had to dress up in white for the occasion. White clothes were easily available. In those days we used to wear white canvas shoes to school but my father wanted us to wear white leather shoes on that day. So we went from one shoe shop to another looking for white leather shoes. Most shops had leather shoes only in black or brown. A few shops did have white leather shoes, but they had them only in adult sizes. At last, we came to a shop which had white leather shoes for children. They were expensive. My father bought them.

At church, I noticed most of the others were wearing white canvas shoes. I could not understand why my father took the trouble to get us white leather shoes. I am sure he wanted us to be well dressed for the occasion. Later on, when I began to understand how some of our relatives speak, I realised that another reason could be that he wanted to avoid listening to their sarcastic remarks.

After the function at the church we went to a studio and got a photograph taken. Then there was a party at home. I never wore those shoes after that day.

RP MALL

RP Mall, Kollam

SALES INTERVIEW

During the beginning of my career I was working in the Sales Department of a dealership. At that time I was called for an interview at a large multinational company. In India, even if there are only a few vacancies, organisations receive a large number of applications. I think it is due to the large population in the country. Applications are screened and some candidates are called for the interview. When I reached the venue, I noticed there were about hundred candidates. Later on, I came to know that there were only two vacancies.

They conducted a written test which included English Language and Product Knowledge. After the test results were known, half the candidates were asked to leave. The rest of us were divided into groups and given a topic to discuss among ourselves. They wanted to see how we speak. After the group discussion, half the candidates were asked to leave. Then there was a preliminary interview with the Product Manager, after which only five candidates were selected for the final interview with the Regional Manager on the next day. I was lucky to be among the five.

When I arrived for the final interview I noticed my application was on the Regional Managers table. It was very brief. At that time I did not even know how to send a proper application. He asked me ‘Is this the way you send an application? Don’t you think you should have given us more information about yourself?’ He asked me several questions but the one I remember most is ‘How do you know that your sales is increasing?’ I told him that if my sales for a product is Rs.100,000/- for one year and it is Rs.200,000/- the next year, that would be an increase in sales. He asked me ‘Is that the only way to look at it?’ I said ‘Yes’ since I did not know of any other way to look at it. Then he told me ‘Suppose your sales for a product is Rs.100,000/- for one year and the total market for the product is Rs.200,000/-, you have 50% of the market share. Next year you may sell for Rs.200,000/- but the market for the product may have grown to Rs.10,00,000/-, which means you now have only 20% of the market share. That’s a loss in market share.’ I told him I was working for a dealership and that they did not conduct a market survey. He said ‘If they don’t do it, you should do it.’ He told me that they would inform me if I was selected. I knew that I would not get the job, but I learnt something. I learned about the market share of a product.

SHRINE

Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, Tuet, Kollam