N.K. Sundaram Free
lance soft skill trainer cum HR Consultant
A chance virtual connect with Mr.
Sundaram N.K. led
to him sharing this joyful encounter.
Mr. Sundaram states “It was in 2007,
around 10 years ago, I distinctly remember.
I was on my way from Chennai to
Bangalore, after attending a series of tests / activities relating to Executive
Leadership Assessment Centre. It is my
practice to carry books during my travel, the book reading habit acquired more
than 5 decades ago from my father. I picked up a book from my son The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin
Sharma, an Indian American, who became popular with this particular title.
I was reading the book and
simultaneously looking at the monitor for flight announcement.
Suddenly, I found somebody standing
in front of me, in a black shirt, black pant, bald headed and his face looked
quite familiar. He was very very fair in
colour. I looked up and saw him smiling
at me. He pulled the book from my hand,
turned the back wrapper to me, pointed out to his photo and said, “That’s me”. For a moment, I was transfixed and noticed
that everybody was looking at us. I
just came back to my senses, looked at the book and looked at the guy in front
of me. I collected myself, stood up and
shook my hands with him.
Only then I realised that the author of the book which
I am reading, is right in front of me! I
handed out my visiting card as well. I
was unable me to believe, how the author of the book which I have in my hand,
can suddenly materialise from the back cover!
He asked me, “shall I autograph the book for you?”. I told him “why not, I will be too happy to get
it”. He wrote, “Sundaram, keep shining”. By now, many passengers around me realised
that this guy is no ordinary one and started smiling at us. He was travelling with us, in the same flight
to Bangalore, on a book promotion tour.
I was seated in the middle of the
aircraft, while Mr. Robin Sharma was
at the back. When the flight was getting
ready for take-off, one gentleman just then boarded and occupied the front row.
His face was quite familiar to me and
then I realised it was Thalaiva, Super Star Rajnikanth. Normally, it
will be difficult to go close to such people and here is a golden opportunity
in the flight when he is not surrounded by bodyguards and assistants.
As soon as the seat-belt sign was
off, I rushed to the front and showed the book. I asked him, “Have you read
this book sir”, in Tamil. He said, “Yes. I have read”, answered me in
Tamil. I told him that the author is
travelling with us in the same flight, to which he quickly told me that he too
would like to meet the author on landing in Bangalore. I then asked him for his autograph and he
asked whose name should he write. I told him my son and daughter are his great
fans and he wrote their name and appended his autograph also.
Soon after the flight landed in
Bangalore, Super Star was the first to leave and rushed out of the aircraft,
which I never expected. Knowing his status, I accepted the situation and helped
Robin Sharma locate his taxi / local
host and I pushed off.
During my travel, I have met and got
autographs of several personalities but this particular one encounter will
remain etched in my memory for a long time to come”.
I thank Mr. Sundaram and express my deepest
gratitude for sharing this treasured memory with our readers. Thank you so
much.
Comment below
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