And the WAH times ended!!

Do you know what goes away comes back? Boomerang… What starts has to end someday… What begins has to find its way to the finish line somehow… and thus it sounds relieved now but has actually been RE-LIVED!

The lad had high hopes. Coming from names as big as Infosys and then IMI, he hoped to make it large. Destiny had plans otherwise.

Close ones got into big names, he was not stupid either, nor dumb, nor shy but the handshake – the one after a good summer interview—never happened. And then one fine day, when he had given up 88.23% hope and had contacted all the people known working somewhere, rather ANYWHERE; WAH ( We Are Holidays) came along; and brought with itself the lost confidence and much more. They had their apprehensions too, of he being in a shell, of he not opening up to them, of he being too much of an introvert, of he … and the list goes on. But this time around, he was determined to make it through and indeed he did.

The hiccups were more, the stipend less, the motivations soaring high. Then, on the first day, he realized how first timers looked like! Just like them. Small office, smaller cabins, BIG hearts, BIGGER dreams!!

WAH had the distinction of being a differently-abled online travel com. And different they were! Day one was spent in analyzing the projects they were supposed to undertake as a team; the basics of business. Day two, he, a half MBA, flaunted his first “Assistant Manager” visiting card and the new office finally had something to joke about.

The office had interesting characters too: Everyone, the creative dude, the chatter box, the shy guy, the Amrika return, Sonu - the Chai boy. They made life, if nothing but, easy!

The project involved Travelling and Talking: few of his first loves and he hence found solace. B2B- collaboration with travel agents across Delhi-NCR - was the designated area and he made it analogous to “Back to Basics”. The TASK was seemingly fun with Pa constantly alerting of the pain which a travelling job like this would bring with itself; with his responses alike in all the calls, “Hello! Hello!! Papa, Aawaz nahi aa rahi!

A startup allows one to explore a lot and WAH helped him all the more. The decision making was rested on him for the domain and he felt responsible. The transition from THE Organization to MY Organization was hence a lot smoother than he thought!!

Phase I was scheduled for Delhi: Hot as usual and with May round the corner, was HOTTER!! The metro helped him some, for the first time in his life; he thanked DMC – Delhi Municipal Corporation- for all the parks they gave to the city – for a quick nap. Day long visits to agents, the roadside kulchas all took its toll but he worked it around smarter.

The tough part came with the start of Phase II – new cities, new faces, new everything… The travel plan covered much more than was initially thought –Sonepat-Panipat-Kurukshetra-Karnal-Ambala. Task was same but Said-ul-ajaib, the office location, never featured in the map of the non-Dilliwaalas. Tough time he had converting them, but he somehow managed to. Of all the places he visited, Karnal impressed him the most.

The days finally leading to the final day lessened at a super rapid pace. He had to hand it over to the one taking charge of the division after he was gone. GONE, that pinched him. The final presentation concluded with Karnal being the launch market for the WAH next operations – he finally had the answers to the queries they had on Day 1.

The time went by fast and the last day came sooner than expected. Farewell always marks parting but this one marked the promise to stay in touch and to be back soon!! They offered him. Yes, the pre-placement offer. And delighted he is!! IS??

IS because the lad wrote all of this!! And it feels so good to be acknowledged if you put in efforts. I made mistakes, did good, was scolded, was appreciated but that all help me grow. Grow as an individual and mature as an adult. A job teaches you what a professor can never.

The “link-up” ended two months flat but I seldom wonder why does it take a minute to say hello and a lifetime to say goodbye?

The experience was full filling, enriching and other such related synonyms and I am going to miss this one big time. WAH was indeed experience creators. Now I understand why Robert Frost gave this to the world:-

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference!!

 
This is a highly personable and reflective account of an internship, chronicling a journey from initial disappointment to unexpected success and profound self-discovery. The author's candid voice and use of literary allusions make for an engaging and memorable read.


Overcoming Initial Setbacks and Unexpected Opportunities​

The narrative begins with a relatable sense of disappointment and dashed hopes, particularly after failing to secure internships with "big names" despite a strong background from Infosys and IMI. This vulnerability makes the eventual arrival of "WAH (We Are Holidays)" a turning point, symbolizing the reclamation of lost confidence. The author's awareness of the company's "apprehensions" about his introverted nature adds another layer of realism to the initial phase, setting up a compelling personal challenge he was determined to overcome.

The Charm and Reality of a Startup Environment​

The description of WAH as a "differently-abled online travel com" and its small, intimate office with "BIG hearts, BIGGER dreams" provides a charming contrast to the author's prior expectations. The immediate immersion into "basics of business" and the humorous moment of flaunting an "Assistant Manager" visiting card on day two effectively conveys the fast-paced, hands-on nature of a startup. The introduction of "interesting characters" in the office, from "the creative dude" to "Sonu - the Chai boy," humanizes the workplace and emphasizes the supportive atmosphere that made life "easy."

"Travelling and Talking": A Journey of Grit and Growth​

The core of the internship involved "Travelling and Talking"—a B2B collaboration with travel agents across Delhi-NCR. This section vividly portrays the gritty reality of a field job: navigating Delhi's oppressive summer heat, relying on the metro and parks for quick naps, and enduring roadside kulchas. The transition to Phase II, involving "new cities, new faces, new everything," particularly the challenge of converting "non-Dilliwaalas" in places like Sonepat and Panipat, highlights the perseverance and adaptability required. Despite the physical toll, the author found "solace" in this work, realizing it aligned with his "first loves."

Triumph, Transformation, and Lasting Impact​

The narrative builds to a satisfying climax with the successful final presentation, culminating in Karnal being chosen as the launch market. The bittersweet feeling of "GONE, that pinched him" at the end of the internship beautifully captures the emotional attachment formed. The ultimate validation comes with the pre-placement offer, affirming his significant contribution. The author's personal reflection on growth ("made mistakes, did good, was scolded, was appreciated but that all help me grow") is profound, acknowledging that a "job teaches you what a professor can never." The conclusion, with its poignant Robert Frost quote, perfectly encapsulates the idea of taking "the road less traveled by" and how it "made all the difference," cementing this unexpected internship as a truly fulfilling and enriching experience.
 
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