My latest book is The One Who Swam With The Fishes.

"A mesmerizing account of the well-known story of Matsyagandha ... and her transformation from fisherman’s daughter to Satyavati, Santanu’s royal consort and the Mother/Progenitor of the Kuru clan." - Hindustan Times

"Themes of fate, morality and power overlay a subtle and essential feminism to make this lyrical book a must-read. If this is Madhavan’s first book in the Girls from the Mahabharata series, there is much to look forward to in the months to come." - Open Magazine

"A gleeful dollop of Blytonian magic ... Reddy Madhavan is also able to tackle some fairly sensitive subjects such as identity, the love of and karmic ties with parents, adoption, the first sexual encounter, loneliness, and my favourite, feminist rage." - Scroll



Sign up for my newsletter: The Internet Personified

8 December 2004

Goodbye today, hello tomorrow

Dear Boss,
Well, the time has come for me to say goodbye...

No, too sentimental

Dear Boss,
I have decided to accept the offer given to me by the ---------.

No too impersonal

Dear Boss,
Unfortunately, I have decided to resign....

What if he says "unfortunately" for whom?

Aargh.
As you can see, I've decided to take the job offered to me by another publication. Money had a good deal to do with it, since I'm now being offered almost double of what I make now.
But, oh, but. I'm so attached to this job. It's my very first job, when I was still tilting in indescion about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
My first office party, my first paycheck, my first raise. Having a column. My first byline. Errors like repeating the comic strip two days in a row that cost me my leave one year. My first press junket, where this one woman (incidentally from the publication I am joining now) told me I had to "grow up before I thought of being a journalist." Working till 2 am on a special issue. Working on the coffee supplement. Knowing what terms like "assignments" and "file your story" and "beats" and "press cons" meant. Quark Xpress, the bane of my existance. Keyboard shortcuts.
Learning and surprising myself by knowing things and people. The joy of having your story "followed up" by other papers.
Ooh, my press card. And my business cards, with "Features Writer" beneath them that I distributed to everyone I knew. My press sticker for my car.
Being a part of the media. Forgetting shyness. Learning a new confidence in myself and my abilities.
And now, moving on. Moving up. In me, there's a sense of betrayal, like leaving a relationship. Like cheating on someone. And my editor's words, "You're a good kid. You'll do well in journalism."
Well, I certainly hope so.



6 comments:

  1. guess 1: m. r. m.?
    whats all this about awards? pray enlighten me

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congrats on your new job!! I guess it's all about moving on and experiencing new stuff- the money helps a whole lot :) *raises a toast for your luck and success in your new venture*

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous and Sunrayz: Thank you! :)
    And Samit: Very good, what gave me away?

    ReplyDelete
  4. clearly i am smarter than i look.
    which isnt saying much, i know, but what to do.
    EVERYTHING gave you away! i mean, look at your profile!
    maybe there are other people like that, but you have to remember i am practically a hermit, and so the circle of people who it could have been is very small.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi ... how about the good ol' ``@#$% you! I m leaving! Works all the time!'' Heh

    ReplyDelete

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