The fresh flower arrangements at our reception made me remember the days when in Devika, we used to have an arrangement of very realistic looking synthetic flowers. I used to marvel at the business idea of somebody investing in 20 such arrangements and rotating them in all offices of the building, so that every day there would be a “fresh” one!

Back then we used to be cramped for space, but it never came in the way of getting things done. Yes, everybody were tied up with long to-do lists, but there was never a time when a treat of hot gulabjamuns from Sona sweets could not help in the matters.

Everybody knew everybody and everybody’s new colleague. People could be seen at work since early morning till almost midnight and beyond. And we would cut a cake everytime our MoUs broke our previous record.

So many things have changed, and yet, so many remain the same @ One97. The passion is still quite visible all around. Music still plays in the evenings. The bosses still like to mingle. Our MoUs still surpass our previous records. The monthly Birthday bash still happens. Applause originating in one corner of the floor still spreads to the entire floor, even if the reason is that somebody’s wearing a new shirt. Pushpinder still sneezes that loudly (!) And yes, we still work hard and party hard.

Thanks for unleashing my memories, Renu.

Smita