Case Analysis on Friends' Issues

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After some formal exchange of pleasantries, Karthik told him about his work, the progress he has made and the goals he is looking forward to accomplish. Deepak wished that he could just evaporate from this place as he exactly knew what the next question would be and felt ashamed about letting his idol down. But Karthik didn’t ask him any question but continued talking about his passions in life. He told Deepak how much he loved to connect with people and how his interest in psychology and anthropology has helped him in understanding people from different walks of life. Deepak got lost in the way Karthik expressed him and began questioning himself about what he is doing with his life.

Karthik suddenly paused and asked Deepak about how he is doing and what he plans to do next. Deepak told him about how he feels that he is not worthy enough and how he feels like he is in the middle of nowhere, blindfolded with no clear direction in his mind. Karthik said that he felt that he is doing just fine and have always felt that he was strong-willed person who refuses to take “No” for an answer. Deepak’s deepest fear started gushing to his throat as he revealed to him that he thought about himself just that way until he faced the first-ever defeat of his life. He told Karthik that as a kid he got everything he wanted yet he didn’t stop from getting things through his efforts. He recollected how he has always felt that he should never let his wealthy parents spend money over capitation and how you used to work hard to get into one of the finest engineering colleges in the country.

Deepak told Karthik about how proud he felt when his first month’s salary got credited and how eager he was to move on to the next stage of his career. Karthik intervened and asked whether he doesn’t feel that he moved up the ladder. Deepak then told about Aditi and Abhinav’s success after completing their business education and how he felt everyday when he came to office with his failed MBA ambitions. Karthik interrupted him again and asked if he really wanted to pursue MBA or is his aspirations are just for the quick climb up the corporate ladder. This question made Deepak speechless as he honestly hasn’t thought about it this way. Deepak realized that all these days he was actually being harsh on himself for not being like someone else without even asking himself once what he actually wanted. Karthik filled his silence by saying that he believed that Deepak is a wonderful programmer, even one of the best he has ever seen in his career. Karthik explained Deepak about how confusing the term “success” can be for people. He left Deepak by saying that he needs to ponder over what he wants to do the rest of his life rather what everyone does and asked Deepak to meet him at the same time tomorrow with a definite description of how he wants to see himself in the next 5 years.

That night, Deepak wasn’t able to sleep. He cursed himself for being harsh to others and more importantly to himself all these days. He recollected how he much he loved to code, to solve programming problems and to fix critical bugs. He went over some of the appreciation mails he has gotten over the years from clients about how impressed they were with his analytical ability. He closed his eyes for a moment and asked himself what his true calling is. He slept like a baby that night. Next day, he was again waiting impatiently at the same conference room for Karthik to come. Words failed him when he realized how he felt by finally getting freed of emotions that had kept him chained to a place all these days.

When Karthik entered into the room he couldn’t help but give him a hug. Karthik hugged back understandingly without saying a word. Deepak then told him that he is ready to get back from where he left and to aspire for more. He promised him to always ponder over what he truly wanted and thanked him for being there for him. Karthik truly felt the transformation in him and thought he is finally ready to move upwards. He asked Deepak about how he would like to have a place change and winked. Karthik then told him about a critical development project that is about to happen in client’s location and how they have asked to send them the best programmer of the bunch. Karthik told Deepak that he couldn’t think of anyone else but him and asked whether he would interested in taking it up. Deepak had a true lost-for-words moment of his life and told yes.