2

I was born second in my family. Done my LKG twice (this is a personal close-to-heart achievement). Done my schooling in two schools. In fact, when I shifted to the second school, my parents had two schools in mind, and as luck would have it, I landed up in the second school because it was in reckoning then!

Then, in the school (of course the second) I was second when I passed out. Even when in it, I was considered second to another friend, but later surpassed him. No offence to him, just my number theory at work! After school, I opted for sciences and finally engineering beckoned. Like any other so called intelligent students, I too applied for IIT. It was my first choice. But then, Number Theory had to chip in and I landed at this institute, my second choice!

Here too, I realised that I had to study only in the second year, that too in its second part and finally on the verge of its completion, when I wanted to do an MBA and appeared for the much coveted CAT, it turned me down. Why wouldn't it? After all, it was my first choice right! So, there I attended interviews for IITs, my second choice. And I got short-listed in one of them, but in the waitlist, ironically at the number TWO! Sure that I will get in, but I am unsure why this two haunts me? I don't consider it bad, but I can't fathom its unprecedented love for me.
In fact for me, being second seems good. True that you don't get all the adulation, but you don't get all the brickbats too. In fact, I am not a person who can sit silent giving away someone else the lion's share. I love the policy of wait and watch. As my friend Rahul would put it, I belong to the 'Yes, But...' bunch!

I don't go on the aggressive mood right away. I test the waters before I dive. Before I get into something, I either do it myself at a lower level or I observe someone at it already. Doesn't that make being number two a safer bet?

When you stay number two, you work with people and observe how things get done. All the major headache goes to the number one. Once you get a proper hold of it, you can always be the number one. This wasn't or isn't my philosophy, but then trying to sleep for the second time today, I was just amused at how the number 2 has played with me.

Is this a co-incidence or is it a delusion? I am afraid it not the second of these too! :P