The Promise that was never made came true .....

Way back in 1997 I believe, we had a small gathering in my home town, what we call it, native and this happens when some body usually comes from abroad, that time we had some relatives in middle east.

Well, after dinner, as usual. I could see everyone of them standing in small closed groups, having a chat with each other. as we all normally do, in any family gettogether.

Wait a moment !! Well, this is happening exactly in month of May 1997, if I can remember correctly, the city was damn hot with 45 degrees centigrade on summer days, and used to sweat like hell during evenings, couldn't stand the heat and sweating, so I decided to go out for a stroll to get some fresh air.

So, I opened the heavy garage door overlooking the street, a side door we can say, a way to the right side of the street, that's when, I over heard a conversation about an overseas opportunity. one of my relative had a small news paper cutting, an advertisement in his hand from a Saudi Arabian daily and was busily convincing another to apply. As I was close by, I stood there giving an ear to know what this conversation is all about.

After a moment or two and to my curiosity, I conveyed my interest to have a look at the cuttings, but was quickly denied, with words saying " this one is not for you " . well I was very young 19 or 20 years old at that time, and naturally, was little bit disappointed to hear that reply, but you see, this answer didn't move me a little nor did I give up that easily. so stood there like a rock waiting for my turn to come.

After some time, it came to pass, since there was no interest from the other relative with the option of going to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I got hold of the advertisement and carefully kept it in my wallet.

The real truth is, I was not eligible for the Job, age wise. but I had all the other Prerequisites like, passport, driving license and so on. after reading the advertisement initially I was disappointed, but did not give up. I wanted to give it a try.....

So as soon as I reached home, I got ready with all the paper work, copies of my certificates, passports copies and other details and shot a courier to the Agent who was stationed in Bangalore. time passed by, there was no reply from the other side, after a fortnight, I again sent another copy by courier and another one by Post and by this time I have already sent 7 sets all together, the final one was hand delivered. and that was it. since there was no reply from the other side, I completely forgot about this opportunity altogether.

Meanwhile, I had one of my relative who worked in Riyadh, visiting home, they gave me a couple of Puck Cheese Glass Jar, cause, I was very fond of cheese those days and used to have them. so after finishing the cheese, I didn't throw the glass but, cleaned it nicely and used it to have hot beverages like tea or coffee everyday.

Days passed by, suddenly, in the month of September, out of the blue I am receiving a post card, requiring me to appear for the an interview for a sales man job from the same Agency to which I applied before, a few months ago. By this time the season has changed and it was raining constantly, at the same time, and partly due to change in climate, I was running with temperature. since I have tried so much hard for this opportunity, I decided to give it a try and attend the interview. As there was no other visible alternative choice for me.

The interview was in Bangalore, a long way from my place, had to stand all the way to Bangalore in a Govt bus with holes all over the roof, it was raining and pouring allover the place in side the bus, which was common those days, but some how we made it to one of our relatives house. we had couple of them in Bangalore so, our accommodation was taken care.

The same day evening, I decided to pay a visit to the Overseas agency to enquire about the opportunity, myself, my uncle and couple of others who stayed with us wanted to visit along with me and know about the agency from were the advertisement came from and so on. and so we started off...

The office was at Rahija Arcade the only Mall in Bangalore at that time, and as we approached the main entrance, there was a listing of all the names and addresses of the companies who had offices there. But the Agency name and address was not listed, which made me to worry a little bit.

But any how, we got hold of some security guards who were standing close by and through their guidance reached the entrance of the first floor. Again to my dismay, there was no sign of any activity there. no boards, no placards nothing just a plain door. I couldn't believe my eyes and lost all hope. those who came with me thought it was a hoax call and that's all, it all over. cause there was nothing to prove that there was an office there.

The next day, we tried again, but, by this time it was open with some staff busy working with applications one after another. After a short meeting with the manger, I was told that, the Interview with Danish Gentlemen would be on the next day morning 7.00 am and that I had to come on time with a Proper neck Tie and formal attire.

Early morning, I got ready and one of my uncle accompanied me to the interview. 7.00 clock sharp we were there, by this time the hall was full to the brim. medical reps , sales reps , marketing guys from all over Bangalore were there. Two men from Denmark arrived for the interview and I aptly wished them as they passed by.

All those who came for the sales jobs were from Medical representative background, handsome, smart, most of them speaking 4 languages, born and brought up in Bangalore, I was not at all comparable in any way to to anybody there....interestingly some of them came along with their girls friends as well.

Time went by and the crowd so much, my uncle who was with me at that time called me and said that its already 2.00 clock afternoon and that he could no longer wait, and saying so he left. I sat there waiting for my turn till 7.00 pm in the evening. it was all ready dark and cold. unlike now the climate in Bangalore was very cold during September -October 1997.

There was a cabin with mirror finish on all the three sides from were those who interview can see you, it was visible from inside and I was seated just in front of the office. It was almost 9.00 pm, others had already left. leaving, myself and another differently challenged person who was waiting for the call. I had to wait, since I was not eligible age wise and was made to wait till 9.00 pm.

After a moment, the other person also went in, after his turn was over, I was all alone, even the staff had left for the day, leaving the manager, who once worked in the same company alone. all others had left.

finally, I was called inside to attend the interview, after going through my credentials. one of Danish gentlemen explained that the sales job I was applying for is a difficult one, need to lift crates loaded with Products, also, had to load them in Vans, Driver cabins may not be Air conditioned, temperature would be very hot in Saudi Arabia and its largely desert area and a Arabic Speaking country and so on. and was asked, whether I would be able to do these things, cause, I used to be very thin and boney.

But I was optimistic and said I have all it takes to do that kind of work and I would do no matter what ?

After listening to me for some time. the Gentleman asked for my certificates, by this time I had already completed a Diploma in IT from Aptech, a 2 years course in programming and hardware, way before MCA was introduced. and had other certificates as well.

After a moment, the interviewer who was an Assistant manager a new recruit in Damam turned towards me and asked me, whether I would be interested to join an IT department, and said, that he will go back to Saudi Arabia and speak with Finance manager under which IT department also came in those days.

I didn't know what to say, as he was asking me, I couldn't comprehend what exactly he is proposing. So, I simply nodded my head to convey my interest. that's all. he also continued and said, he is not going to promise me anything, but if everything works out fine, I will get a response within a weeks time.

So. with those words, I thanked him, and left with heavy head ache, due to not taking any thing, not even for a refreshment, right from the morning.

As of now no assurance was given, whether that I got the sales job or not.....that morning while travelling with my uncle for the interview in an auto rickshaw. trust me, I was dreaming of an IT job, but just smiled away thinking that, I may not get it. these things happened in Bangalore

Then, after a weeks time, an unbelievable thing happened, all of a sudden, Iam getting a telegram informing me that I have been selected to IT department and need to come to Bangalore to get my medicals done. before I can even believe and within days I left for Riyadh, KSA. with out even paying a single penny as agency service fee.

There are Good people who really do Great things for others and go forward to do Great things for themselves " .

Later the next day, After reaching Danya Foods Ltd in Riyadh, I went to the IT department, got introduced myself to everyone there, and after the initial onboarding formalities were over, they just asked me to go and have my break fast at the cafeteria. now, as I was cooling off after finishing all formalities, an unbelievable thing happens again, and I never knew that, there was a big surprise waiting for me.

As I entered the cafeteria, couldn't believe my eyes for a moment, and trust me this one stunned me, it was a shock of my life, As I started starring at the crates stacked all over there, one side to the other side, everywhere I saw, I only saw Puck cheese in Glass Jars stacked all over the place. all over the place. I went close by and had a look, it was Puck. you can have as much as you want, for break fast, lunch, dinner. Trust me it was all over the cafeteria.

I just picked one and it was the same Glass jar I washed long back to have tea every day in India, the same Glass jar filled with Puck cheese was there all over the place, I was flabbergasted. I stood there shell shocked, thinking whether these these things, these happenings is true or not. That's when I realized that, it was true, it was the same Puck cheese Glass I had in my home drinking tea everyday. I couldn't believe this, how on earth, did I land on the same company which manufactures it....doesn't it look strange.

If that's not all, all those got selected that day in Bangalore as sales Reps had to come to me every day asking my permission to get their problems sorted out with regards to their Job. it was unbelievable.

To those who dont believe in Karma

The Assistant Manager in Damam who selected me and got me the Job in IT, got promoted to Manager immediately and was transferred to Jeddah, even before I reached Riyadh to join the company. I later learnt that, he had called the Riyadh Head office and asked them to transfer me to Jeddah saying " I need this Guy here " , within a months time after tranning, I was transferred to Jeddah to work for him. The next year he became the Area Sales manager incharge of Total west coast region and Jeddah city, the very following year, he became the National Sales Manager and got transferred to Head office, the following year, before I left Danya foods ltd in 2001, he became the General manager incharge of 2 billion Riyals turnover Company called Danya Foods Ltd in 2000- 2001. These things really happened right before my eyes.

Again in 1999, One day an over night Fax comes announcing my posting to Khamis Mushayt out of the blue, in spite of, already sending another trained guy from head office to install and setup the department. I was asked to take over, so left to Khamis Mushayt. the very next month branch Sales doubles and soars to 5.1 million US dollars for the first time, in-spite of being a newly carved branch, breaking the over all sales record of all time. wins the national competition and every one was given and I too got a gold coin and a certificate.

later in life, after his Saudi stint, The Gentleman who recruited, went on to become the Director of the Arla foods ltd. Worldwide Operation, and his graph soared, till he became the one of the top most executive of that company Arla Foods Worldwide, now Billions of US dollars in turnover.

This is how I got the job in Danya Foods Ltd in Saudi Arabia in 1997. not a single word as been changed here , all what I wrote here is true. 100 % true. can be verified.

There are Good people who really do Great things for others and go forward to do Great things for themselves " .

This is how The Promise that was never made came true .......doesn't it look strange.

The?Puck brand started as a spreadable cream?cheese?in Germany, but was launched in the Middle East in 1983 with a selection of processed products, primarily?cheese. In 1988 the main product, spreadable?cheese?in jars, sold more than 1000 tones. Since then,?Puck??has become one of the region's leading dairy brands.

https://www.amazon.in/s?k=Puck&ref=bl_dp_s_web_0