The last time I started with a title like that would have been in 2nd grade or thereabouts writing about ‘My Beautiful Family’ or ‘My Beautiful Home’ or something in those lines.
I am sure I meant every line I wrote then and maybe it’s the title but I know the feeling will be the same even if it sounds narcissistic now.
Sandarbh is now truly what it means – in more ways than one in fact. The architecture and art is very context driven. And now the entire team is perfectly in context and beautifully so. Each one has his strengths and challenges. Each one is unique and has unique ways of approaching a design problem. Each one has their design quirks – everything from having all the wood grains in a piece of furniture to be aligned perfectly right to not having any hidden lines in the Sketchup model they are working on!
And each one is beautiful. We can be dead serious with dealines hounding us to partying every night for 4 nights in a row (it’s a big deal when you are working architects!). From being shouted at, to laughing at the silliest things in the loudest possible way. We celebrate everything with gusto be it birthdays or holi or interns leaving, salary hikes, new projects to the fact that it is a happy happy day and we are all happy :)
It truly is a beautiful office and feeling.
A little of that will be changing. Five of our interns who have been with us through 2 semesters of theirs and one of our architects are bidding us farewell today.
Afreen, The workers will be breathing a sigh of relief today and hoping that the next person handling them will not be as tough a cookie as you! We are lamenting on where we will possibly find someone as gorgeous to be as effective! Who will organize all our outings and parties now?!!
Kiri, I still remember you starting off the internship saying that ‘elevations’ are your strength. That all your friends come to you to help them resolve elevations for all their buildings! We didn’t use your ‘strength’ (sorry, I am glad we didn’t!!) but you have uncovered other, better strengths of yours here and made every house we have under construction and complete look fantastic through the awesome angles you look at them through! Keep photographing away, keep dancing away, keep everyone happy the way you do and stay as awesome always!
Shaz, The charm! I would have fallen for it if it wasn’t for the ‘dengue’ episode!! You are one of the few architects I know who can be at site from morning to night and want more!! The only intern to get a bonus and blow it up before we could ask for a treat and get away with it! The charm I tell you – from aunties to their daughters and all of us at Sandarbh ;-)
Kavi, flutter away! The quiet little caterpillar has truly blossomed into the most amazing butterfly! From being the last to speak to keeping us in splits by ‘reaching for the popcorn’ on group chats, I am only sad that you haven't introduced us to your ‘cough syrup’ till now! Who will we now turn to churn out working drawings after working drawings?!!
Sid, What can I say?!! Who will I pick on now?!! No one can say the things you do! I mean, tell me not to miss the lights of the boats out at sea at the Varkala Cliff?!! Who in their right minds will miss that?!! Though Banarahalli will miss you much, I am glad you took a stand. Who would have done such a good job designing Rajkumar’s otherwise?!! Oh and, sooooo glad you shaved off the beard and got a decent haircut! We will now recognize you next time we meet you some where on the roads!!
Akanksha, Such a quiet hard worker on all working days and such a transformation when we go out!! Powerhouse you are!! We will miss the quiet strength and the sweetest smiles, mostly the awesome laughs! Keep designing away and stunning us as you do
Shine on people and keep coming back whenever you can! You know we love you, will miss you and will always have a special place for you in our hearts …. Even you Sid :)
-Leena