Axe, Rexona, Nivea, Brut, and some nameless deodarants – I could smell all of ‘em and some varieties that I could not recognize. Traveling in a crowded Mumbai train could make you quite a pro in sniffing out deos – not because you want to but because you have to. You don’t have a choice! I am not writing about going on a deo sniffing spree but about Mr. Green Shirt and his MBA…
I was traveling in a local train headed for a suburban station in Bombay and the peak hour crowd was traveling with me or I with them? Does it matter? Nothing matters while you are traveling in the Mumbai local trains as long as you reach your destination. But a li’l something that matters to me is listening to conversations and this day too I happened to lend my ears to an interesting one. Mr. Green Shirt, oblivious of his surroundings, was (with due respect to him) barking on the phone to another ear that was willing to so generously listen to him. To the count of that one ear he added so many others with his barking.
The conversation began with the usual Dude what’s up – nothing much – what about you greetings and pleasantries. The ear at the other end which also had a mouth for company asked, I guess, What are you doing these days?- To which, our protagonist announces, MBA. An element of surprise from the other end - Kya? (what?). Haan yaar, I thought I will do an MBA – bore ho raha tha! So Mr. Green Shirt decides to do an MBA because he is generally bored. Talk about hobbies! The barking resumed again, this time with the details of his MBA – No no, am doing it from a private university. And I don’t have to attend classroom sessions. The ear at the other end is totally confused now and fields him with a barrage of questions. Mr. Green Shirt is calm and cool as always and he embarks on an elaborate explanation. Actually there is this guy who’s arranging an MBA for me. I just need to pay him 40k and I will have an MBA degree in my hands. And no I need not attend classroom sessions. The ear and the mouth might have gasped in unison. Mr. Green Shirt tried to cover up. Actually, I told that guy – it isn’t right and I don’t want a degree without putting in efforts. So he’s agreed to give me the MBA for 21K. I still don’t have to attend classroom sessions. I just need to go and write the exams and he will give me the degree. I guess there was another round of exclamations (if not expletives) from the mouth on the other end. Mr. Green Shirt has answers to all questions! Yes, I didn’t feel it right and ethical to get a degree by just giving money and that’s why I agreed to write the exam. And MBA is not such a big thing. What do they teach in an MBA course? What will they teach me? I know everything about management. I have been working for 3 years now and I have learnt all about management. Its all very simple! To a request from the other end - Green Shirt replies: Oh you also want an MBA. Yes, I will talk to that guy and bargain the rates. Hey, my station is approaching and I need to get down. I will talk to you later about the MBA. Bye!
Two stations went by and Mr. Green Shirt’s “approaching” station never approached. Meanwhile, he got another phone call. He picked up the phone and to some question from the other end, he replied, MBA! Am doing my MBA…
In my mind I congratulated Mr. Green Shirt for his achievements and got out of the train. The train moved on and so did Mr. Green Shirt and his MBA…
