From the memoir: What does a trainee do when he arrives 20 days too early for his first job?

Soon after I had accepted the Coal India offer, I also received the Bank of India offer. The bank’s offer was appealing in many ways, but the idealism of youth can often be too real. Would it be ethical to renege on a commitment I had already made? Should I not keep my word given to a general no less? Plus, the appointment order from General Grewal, the very chairman of the company, printed on an electric typewriter, was way more charming, gracious and personalised – complete with my name handwritten by the general – than the Bank of India offer, which simply addressed me as “Dear Sir”, typed on a clunky manual Remington.

Looking back, it was this dash of idealism that influenced such a significant decision in my life. It only reaffirmed my belief that most of life’s major decisions could easily be made by a toss of a coin, given the countless variables that can interfere with our choices.

I made my way to Calcutta with barely any money in my pocket, counting on Coal India to provide accommodation in their executive hostel for management trainees, as indicated in their offer letter attachments. Their headquarters were located at 10,...

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