It must have been around 4 o clock as I was returning to my desk after grabbing some water; I was sunk deep in thoughts as how to work around a lingering problem related to one of the applications I was working on. All of a sudden, I heard this voice, “where are you from ?” I looked up to my left, and there was this Asian man at the customers’ service counter gazing at me with curiosity. At times I don’t like people asking me this question up-front, but this guy seemed kind of cool and in need of assistance, I replied, “ from Pakistan..is there something I can help you with..?”. He said,” Hi, I am Anil, ..and from India..” ….” Oh cool!..” said I ..A:” What do you do…” Me: “ I am a web developer here..” ..A:” I need some assistance with work..” Me:” what kind of work..?”
A:” ah.. Well, I have this assignment from school, and am new to multimedia and internet programming, I am wondering if you guys could help me…” I was a bit astonished, to hear an odd query…Me:” what do you need help with..? A:” some graphics in Photoshop, and a dynamic website…”, ..Me:” Well, I don’t do much graphics, perhaps our graphics designer may be able to help, I can sure give you some tuts in web related stuff..” A:” Can you help me this evening..I don’t know..I just got here from India, and this stuff is getting’ too much, if I don’t do well, I am outtta college..?” Not expecting such urgency, I thought of excusing my self, by throwing in some bull**** reasoning..Me:”umm…ahh…well, OK..perhaps I could spend a little bit of time explaining the fundamentals..gimme a buzz, around 6 and we’ll go from there..”. I guess the grim expression on his face spelled trouble…
At 6 sharp, I received call from Anil, A:”where are you..?” Me:” still in downtown..let’s hook-up on Robson,… and we could go to some café’…” A:” well, we need internet..” Me:” well..some of the cafes have internet..” A:”How about we go to my place..I live here in downtown..” Me:” sure..meet me on robson and Burrard in ten..” . Anil was already waiting once I got there. After some basic introduction, I found out that Anil is studying multimedia at Vancouver Film School as an international student, and he is originally from Chennai India.
After walking couple of blocks we ended up in front of a leading hotel tower, and he said, “ Well, I am staying here..” ..Me:”why are you staying in a hotel, when you have been here couple of months..” A:” long story..we’ll talk..let’s grab something to eat from the restaurant” Me:” No! I am in a bit of hurry..let’s take care of work..” A: “ it’s going to take us a while to get the entire assignment done..” Me:” well, what do we need to do exactly..I thought you just needed some input in basic HTML coding..” A:” nahen yaar: I told you that I don’t anything about web at the moment..I am afraid of failing this course .and everytime I sit down to do this assignment, I can’t seem to figure it out….” Me:” well it’s quite simple stuff..nothin’ to it really.. what’s the website about..?” A:” it’s about me..i need to do a website about myself..in dynamic conetent..” Me:” when is the assignment due..” A:” tomorrow..” Me:”you mean the whole fukin’ website..” A:” yes..and I can’t get any extension..either I deliver this website..or I will fail this course..” …I couldn’t help but breaking into laughter….Me” Ok ….mate..I don’ know how far we’ll get…or if there’s a way to get it all done..but we’ll give it a shot….no worries..” Although, I was beat..after a hectic day..and I just wasn’t sure if I was up to the task of spending another twelve or so hours in front of a computer, and then be able to come back to work in the morning…but it sure wasn’t the first time pulling an all nighter..before full day of work….I just felt like helping out Anil for no particular reason..maybe I just felt obliged since a lot of people had assisted me to get to a place where I am at in my career….so I guess it’s all give n’ take..
After giving him the basics of fundamentals on information architecture for the first couple of hours, we decided that I would code the shell of the website, so we could at least get bare minimum and he would take on from that point filling it with content.
I showed him some of the techniques of coding on fast pace AKA code ripping from “interesting sites” along with colorful images…while work, we had a great conversation from our helicopter flying endeavors, politics… to women….he told me about his new Indian girl friend who he had met recently in Vancouver…that how nice she’s and how she takes care of him and so forth. I invited him to come mountain biking or climbing with me over the weekend…plenty of Anil’s special masalah chai kept us going through the night…along with swiss chocolates..
By the time we finished website..it was five o ‘clock in the morning….he told me that he owed me one..I went “..nah..we are neighbors..that’s the least I could…..just pass the goodness and do the same for someone else…although, you could arrange a ride back for me since there aren’t any ferries or buses back to North van..” so I took the escort service from the hotel back to my place…I wasn’t tired..just felt light and peaceful..maybe..I was high on caffeine..or I maybe I have made a really cool new friend…
awesome outy! :k:
i got lots of coffee (bodum to be exact) and munchies 
