I am 46 years old with only one wife :) & two sons. I am badly in need of a second Queen. I am not kidding. Let me explain you why...
I am seeing my life as a chess game. When I was a young boy, I had all my powers - soldiers, rook, horse & bishop. I was energetic and was prepared to face any challenge in my life. I had challenged God - "Come! Let's Play the game of Chess!!". God started the game choosing white. Initial moves were done carefully & meticulously with the help of my parents. Game went well.
When I was 23, I started my career as a programmer in my native place Madurai. Later I quit that job to start an export business partnering with my friend. First, we planned to export carbon, manufacturing from charcoal and later we understood that it needs investment in crores and so we dropped that proposal.
God knocked me down. I lost some energy. I lost my rook in that move.
Next Mango export. Unfortunately, the flowers fell off prematurely due to heavy wind.
I lost some more energy. I lost my Horse.
Third cardamom export. A government officer who is supposed to sign our application asked to include his daughter as our partner. (Don't think differently, just as a business partner :) As we have to split the share into three, we dropped that idea too.
I lost my bishop.
We both dropped the whole idea of exporting.
I took franchise of an online learning company in Madurai, investing 18000/- Rupees. I earned 54000/- in months and I felt very happy. I snickered at God, sticking my chest out and holding my head high. But God had a different plan. My happiness didn't last for long. I got married.. and that too with my lover and I used the money earned to boy thali and dresses for my register marriage.
Opened a computer training institute and closed the same due to a recession in IT. Opened an Abacus training center and closed the same due to competition. Worked as a computer science teacher in a school and then switched to IT again as a programmer. Back to square one.
Now I am standing here as an IT Manager - with one queen and two soldiers (My wife and two sons).
In Chess, if a pawn reaches the other end, the eighth square, we can get extra power - even a Queen.
My elder son is in 2nd square now. There are 6 more squares to move, I mean, in the next six years he will finish college and go to a job. He will be the additional power, the second Queen after six moves.
I know very well that God can always win with a check-mate whenever he wants. But he is dragging the game. I think He enjoys playing with my life. I would always think God is snickering at me uttering the words of Winston Churchill -
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
I think GOD is having many surprises in store for me.
Thank you.
Started my career as a programmer, then I quit my job to start an export business. My friend Kathir read an article about activated carbon and its demand in the market. He asked me to come to his home at Tirumangalam(Madurai) at 6 am. I reached his home on time but he was not there. Around 7 am a person entered in to his house but I was not able to recognize because he was totally black with a black dress. I was able to recognize that person as Kathir only with his smile. His teeth looked sparkling white in the completely dark face. There was a layer of charcoal in already dark skin.
"What happened.. Kathir? "
"I spent the whole night burning coconut shell in a pit (to limit oxygen supply). Lets take this to the activated carbon manufacturing company based at Tuticorin"
"Sure. Take a bath and get ready.."
We both
Thinking that we can earn in crores, we spent a whole night burning coconut shell to prepare charcoal and went to Tuticorin to meet VVV group owner to know how to convert the charcoal into carbon. He was a cool guy. Without disappointing or discouraging us with his words, he just opened the door next to his cabin and shown a very big manufacturing unit.
"Sir, what is this?"
"This is the one which converts charcoal to carbon and it costs in crores. Your charcoal sample is very good. I want to have you as my supplier and you can earn in hundreds for each kg of charcoal you supply"
I lost my rook in that move.
Next Mango export. Unfortunately, all the flowers fell off prematurely due to heavy wind. Mango grove owner said that he can't supply mangoes.
I lost my Knight/Horse.
Third cardamom export. An officer with signing authority invited us to his home to sign the papers.
"I have seen your proposal. It was good. I am a govt servant and I can't do any business.
Kamala! Inga vaa ma. ippadi utkaru..
Thambi! This is Kamala, my daughter. She will be your partner. Is that ok for you?"
(Dont think differently. Just a business partner :)
I lost my bishop.
We both dropped the export business plan.
I had taken franchise of an online learning company called eGurucool.com. I have to market schools in Madurai and collect students' contact details and in return, the company would create a free website for them. For each school signed I would get 1000 Rupees. I had signed around 54 schools and got Rs. 54000/-.
I hold my head high and looked at the GOD with a snicker. But God had a different plan. My happiness didn't last for long. I got married to my lover and I used the money earned for my register marriage.
Opened a computer training institute and closed the same due to recession after twin tower crash.
Opened an Abacus training center and closed the same due to competition and low margin.
Worked as a computer science teacher in a school and then switched to IT again as a programmer.
Now I am standing here as an IT Manager - with one queen and two soldiers/pawns(My wife and two sons).
To conclude, I want to know how many of you know the rules of chess game.
What will happen if the Pawn reaches the other end.. you know?
My elder son is in 2nd square now. There are 6 more squares to move, I mean, in the next six years he will finish college and go to a job. He will be the additional power, the Queen after six moves.
Sometimes, when I fed-up, I would think why GOD is not finishing the game with a check-mate.But life is thrilling. GOD may have lot of surprises in store for me. I would always think that the GOD is snickering at me uttering the words of Winston Churchill -
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
Thank you.
I am seeing my life as a chess game. When I was a young boy, I had all my powers - soldiers, rook, horse & bishop. I was energetic and was prepared to face any challenge in my life. I had challenged God - "Come! Let's Play the game of Chess!!". God started the game choosing white. Initial moves were done carefully & meticulously with the help of my parents. Game went well.
When I was 23, I started my career as a programmer in my native place Madurai. Later I quit that job to start an export business partnering with my friend. First, we planned to export carbon, manufacturing from charcoal and later we understood that it needs investment in crores and so we dropped that proposal.
God knocked me down. I lost some energy. I lost my rook in that move.
Next Mango export. Unfortunately, the flowers fell off prematurely due to heavy wind.
I lost some more energy. I lost my Horse.
Third cardamom export. A government officer who is supposed to sign our application asked to include his daughter as our partner. (Don't think differently, just as a business partner :) As we have to split the share into three, we dropped that idea too.
I lost my bishop.
We both dropped the whole idea of exporting.
I took franchise of an online learning company in Madurai, investing 18000/- Rupees. I earned 54000/- in months and I felt very happy. I snickered at God, sticking my chest out and holding my head high. But God had a different plan. My happiness didn't last for long. I got married.. and that too with my lover and I used the money earned to boy thali and dresses for my register marriage.
Opened a computer training institute and closed the same due to a recession in IT. Opened an Abacus training center and closed the same due to competition. Worked as a computer science teacher in a school and then switched to IT again as a programmer. Back to square one.
Now I am standing here as an IT Manager - with one queen and two soldiers (My wife and two sons).
In Chess, if a pawn reaches the other end, the eighth square, we can get extra power - even a Queen.
My elder son is in 2nd square now. There are 6 more squares to move, I mean, in the next six years he will finish college and go to a job. He will be the additional power, the second Queen after six moves.
I know very well that God can always win with a check-mate whenever he wants. But he is dragging the game. I think He enjoys playing with my life. I would always think God is snickering at me uttering the words of Winston Churchill -
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
I think GOD is having many surprises in store for me.
Thank you.
-------------- UNABRIDGED VERSION
I am seeing my life as a chess game with GOD as my opponent. When I was 23, I had all my powers - soldiers, rook, horse & bishop. I was young, energetic and was prepared to face the challenges in my life. I had challenged GOD - "Come! Let's Play!!".Started my career as a programmer, then I quit my job to start an export business. My friend Kathir read an article about activated carbon and its demand in the market. He asked me to come to his home at Tirumangalam(Madurai) at 6 am. I reached his home on time but he was not there. Around 7 am a person entered in to his house but I was not able to recognize because he was totally black with a black dress. I was able to recognize that person as Kathir only with his smile. His teeth looked sparkling white in the completely dark face. There was a layer of charcoal in already dark skin.
"What happened.. Kathir? "
"I spent the whole night burning coconut shell in a pit (to limit oxygen supply). Lets take this to the activated carbon manufacturing company based at Tuticorin"
"Sure. Take a bath and get ready.."
We both
Thinking that we can earn in crores, we spent a whole night burning coconut shell to prepare charcoal and went to Tuticorin to meet VVV group owner to know how to convert the charcoal into carbon. He was a cool guy. Without disappointing or discouraging us with his words, he just opened the door next to his cabin and shown a very big manufacturing unit.
"Sir, what is this?"
"This is the one which converts charcoal to carbon and it costs in crores. Your charcoal sample is very good. I want to have you as my supplier and you can earn in hundreds for each kg of charcoal you supply"
I lost my rook in that move.
Next Mango export. Unfortunately, all the flowers fell off prematurely due to heavy wind. Mango grove owner said that he can't supply mangoes.
I lost my Knight/Horse.
Third cardamom export. An officer with signing authority invited us to his home to sign the papers.
"I have seen your proposal. It was good. I am a govt servant and I can't do any business.
Kamala! Inga vaa ma. ippadi utkaru..
Thambi! This is Kamala, my daughter. She will be your partner. Is that ok for you?"
(Dont think differently. Just a business partner :)
I lost my bishop.
We both dropped the export business plan.
I had taken franchise of an online learning company called eGurucool.com. I have to market schools in Madurai and collect students' contact details and in return, the company would create a free website for them. For each school signed I would get 1000 Rupees. I had signed around 54 schools and got Rs. 54000/-.
I hold my head high and looked at the GOD with a snicker. But God had a different plan. My happiness didn't last for long. I got married to my lover and I used the money earned for my register marriage.
Opened a computer training institute and closed the same due to recession after twin tower crash.
Opened an Abacus training center and closed the same due to competition and low margin.
Worked as a computer science teacher in a school and then switched to IT again as a programmer.
Now I am standing here as an IT Manager - with one queen and two soldiers/pawns(My wife and two sons).
To conclude, I want to know how many of you know the rules of chess game.
What will happen if the Pawn reaches the other end.. you know?
My elder son is in 2nd square now. There are 6 more squares to move, I mean, in the next six years he will finish college and go to a job. He will be the additional power, the Queen after six moves.
Sometimes, when I fed-up, I would think why GOD is not finishing the game with a check-mate.But life is thrilling. GOD may have lot of surprises in store for me. I would always think that the GOD is snickering at me uttering the words of Winston Churchill -
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
Thank you.
Excellent writing Captain!!! Keep going.. ЁЯСН
ReplyDeleteIts all because of you.. Bala. Expecting your support and suggestions always.
DeleteExcellent Captain !!!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteArumai Captain
ReplyDeleteNandri.. Muru.
DeleteDamn! Just awesome, you also like kingsman then. ЁЯШК
ReplyDeleteMuch thanks for your time on this.. Madhu.
DeleteThank you for your comments Madhu... But I don't see the movie Kingsman. Your comments are really encouraging to write more.
ReplyDeleteSenthil, I could see my life journey till export failure in your writing. Seems God playing the same game to me. Awesome !!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Venkatesh...
Delete