Crossroad

I was at a crossroad for several months before arriving to this decision. It was a decision made with serious thoughts and consideration especially when it was never my intention to make a career move this soon and I was quite happy with where I was. It was even more difficult when I told my boss my decision to leave 3 weeks before my intended last day. During those 3 weeks, I went through several sessions with my boss which lasted at least an hour each asking me to reconsider my decision. He approached some colleagues who were close to me asking them to coax me into staying.

I am truly honored the things he was willing to do to make me stay and the high regards he had for me as well as the praises and compliments for my work during the last 16 months. I am also grateful that he has made an offer that at anytime I want to come back, there’s always a place for me there. But I have made up my mind and it was final. I could finally talk openly about me leaving a few days before my last day starting by sending an e-mail to my Sports & Social Club committee members a day before followed by a farewell note the following morning to colleagues and friends whom I worked closely with and interacted socially.

My last day coincides with the last event I organized for the staff as the President of the Sports & Social Club. It was supposed to be done the previous Friday but since the MD was not around on that date, it was postponed to October 31. I personally took lead of this project and I decided to do it on a bigger scale and differently not only because it was the first joint celebration of Hari Raya and Diwali and I had a bigger budget to play with but it was my last contribution to the employees. Unlike the past festival celebrations with only catered dinner served, this time, there was Rangoli and Ketupat Weaving contests, door gifts for all employees and cultural performances namely Malay and Indian dances.

I was the ‘pengacara diva’ that night, something I have not done for a very long time. It was a memorable night, for me at least. After all has ended, I went back to my desk, the emotions started to kick in. I realized that I am going to miss a lot of things, the wonderful teammates who have been very supportive, my bosses who valued my individuality allowing me to speak my mind freely although my thoughts and opinions may differ from them and most importantly I found some great friends here. Friends who added color into my life - there was never a dull moment when we were together. I stayed at the office until 2 a.m., chatting with some colleagues, we hugged each other, there was never once we said farewell or goodbye. I packed my personal belongings and left some momentos to a couple of them.

On my first day at the new workplace, I received smses from some former colleagues but this particular one from Roza cum my companion whenever we had to work late nights made me so sebak - “Saya nak tujukan lagu ‘Tak Akan Melupakanmu’ ini untuk mak, ayah yang disayangi yang kini berada di kampung, buat cinta hati yang baru pulang dari bulan, juga salam mesra dan tahniah untuk sahabat yang paling cun dan tetap tabah walau tewas menganyam ketupat semalam dan juga untuk sahabat yang terhangat di pasaran dan akan menempuh alam persekolahan baru hari ini..dengan ucapan fahamilah senikata lagu ini, I luv u guys…”.

Gosh! I miss them already....