Page 150 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

to Hong Kong with her and the kids. Who was "more lucky" and who was
"only lucky", was not really material now.

One More strange but true prediction about me
When I completed my tenure at Hong Kong, our batch of expatriate
managers got a letter to be in readiness to move back to India. We also
heard some rumors that bank may consider extending our stay by
another year. I told one friend there that we were destined not to settle
here and had to go back. He immediately took me to 'Hare Rama Hare
Krishna' Temple priest in Hong Kong. He asked him, "Please tell us
whether our friend (myself) would be able to get extension from Bank
or another job to settle in Hong Kong."

The priest told me, "Your current duration is over and you may not over
stay. But I see a possibility that you would get 3-4 years stay at foreign
centers at least 3 times in whole life but would not settle down in a
foreign country." We came to know finally that the bank was not granting
the contemplated extension for stay and we had to return. I tried to
search a suitable job in Hong Kong. I got a good offer also but somehow
it could not materialize. Having decided very late after receiving transfer
orders to search for a private sector job there, it was not easy and I
returned to India.

I almost forgot about settling abroad or going there again. Out of the blue,
after three and a half years after return to India, I got an opportunity for
an employment as Chief Financial Officer of a Singapore Company. That
reminded me of the priest of Hare Krishna Temple at Hong Kong who
had predicted second and third stint at overseas for about 3-4 years
duration each time. I joined and stayed in Singapore for 4 years but again
had to return to India due to personal reasons and did not settle there.

Though even after 15 years of my second stint overseas, I have not got
an opportunity third time yet to stay overseas for another (third) term
of 3-4 years. Of course, I had been to China, Singapore, Brazil and Nepal

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