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Chapter 7 Fads and Gimmicks
Spreading sunrise, pinkish glow, clouds tinted, colors spread across the sky announcing the new day, oranges and reds painted across the clouds as if by a celestial hand.By that time,Nandini was about to leave for office . She closed the door slowly ,as she does not want to disturb her roommate Aditi who was fast asleep in her bed.She was walking towards auto stand.
Nandini's phone rang. It was her Mother Akhila.
Akhila "Nandini..office kilambiacha" (have you started for office)
Nandini "Yes Amma"
Akhila It is so early .
Nandini Quarter ending time Amma. So I am going earlier.
Akhila ok.Nandini today is chandragrahanam.Night 1 manniku pidikurudu . kalaiyila 6 maniku than mudiyuth.snanam pannitu coffee kudi yena.(today is lunar eclipse.Its starts by 1 a.m and gets over by 6.am .Take bath before taking coffee in morning.In south India,during eclipse people will not take food and water.After it gets over,they have to take head bath and say prayers to break the fast)
Nandini Ok.. I will do it.Amma shall I call later.Iam getting late
Akhila Fine dear.Have a great day.
It was almost 7 months since she joined the Matrix. She has completed her bond period in Matrix. All these months,she learnt many new things in her field . Nandini managed to complete one crash course on SAP technology side by side. It can be used in her resume as these days learning some computer language is a added advantage for even Non IT professionals.Nandini 's friendship with Ashwath,Prapti and Radhika grew stronger day by day. All of them had great time together. But one thing was really bothering Nandini these days. Reason for her worries is Chandrasekhar and Helena .
Wait ,don't gallop thinking Nandini started to love Chandra and she is envious of Helen. Nothing of that sort really happened so far. Even in the future,first to reveal his heart will be Chandra not Nandini. Still you have to wait for that.
Nandini is really irritated by Matrix's management. It is always glorifying Helen for all the success. Management is not at all bothered to give even a small word of appreciation for others. Only who are in good books of Helena are recognized .Chandra too always praises Helen. He is not having any piece of word to appericiate his able finance team,who are always diligent and honest.But for them,his projects could not be successful as these team always advise him whether to take this project or not.
Finance department manage company's wealth appropriately by allocating resources for salaries ,prepare taxation and conducting audit for its welfare. Not only finance,his technical team is also toiling in its own sphere. All these are going without notice. Whenever any big milestone is reached,Chandrasekhar and his management always praises Helen and her stooges. Though she conducts all meetings and dealing. That alone will not do any thing great. On contrary ,if anything misfires,Chandrasekhar puts blame comfortably on his employees ,finance team in particular. Why it is like this. ? This question always creeps on Nandini's mind.
Nandini made her comfortable in auto and closed her nose with her handkerchief!She was allergic to smoke and pollution for which Delhi was famous .The traffic snaked up the road, two lines of steel and tire, each capable of over two hundred kilometres per hour was averaging about five in their stop-start fashion. Bathed in their own putrid fumes a hundred hands reached forwards in unison to turn their air-flow to internal circulation only. In each self contained world a radio told stories, sung or sold products to the citizens, some talked on cell phones or texted. It was just another day in the city.
Nandini had stopped commenting on the traffic. When she first moved to the city she would gawp at the lines of cars and wonder how anyone got anywhere. In the night when there was room to move they drove too fast, and jumped the lights. But with few public transport options she was wedded to auto, for better or worse. Traveling in auto didn't make her tense anymore, but she had learnt to always leave ample time for even the most local trips.
Nandini enters her block in Matrix and softly presses the elevator button. Her cubicle was on 6 th floor. In no time she reached her floor. First thing to catch her big reproachable eyes were placement of various types of yantras on all corners of the corridor. She did not see these types of yantras anywhere else in the Company. This particular stretch adjoining Chandra's room and record room has all these odd things. "Perhaps ,to bring good luck .Instead of depending on this yantras they can do good for its employees.If they are happy,company will be happy" She thought.
Nandini opened the door and walked down the narrow strip of carpet between the cubicles. She walked down the narrow strip of carpet between the cubicles. She surreptitiously let her eyes wander left and right into the private cages of her fellow employees. There are pictures of children, funny mugs, pot plants; anything to humanize the tiny space they occupy for more of the majority of their waking hours.Nandini sits before her system and takes a glass of water.Opens her files "Lets start the work" she told to herself.
Nandini was involved in her system,when peon Ramu kaka came to her desk with tea.She thanked him and said"kaka..thank you" and Ramu said"koi bath nahi bitiya". She was alone in her cubicle. Her team mates Ashwath ,Radhika and Prapti were busy in sales department. They will come in next hour to their seats. Sangeetha and Saravanan were busily speaking to offshore Stakeholder Mr Andrews in Brazil.
Nandini sipped the tea slowly and munched few marie Biscuits. It was so crunchy and tasty
"No matter ,how many biscuits we eat at home.Office biscuits are always tasty" She thought. Faces of Sridhar and Saraswathi came before her. When they were very young, Sridhar and Nandini always will fight for marie Biscuits.
Nandini" dei ! Sridhar just now you had two biscuits ,but You never cared to give me One.Not fair
Sridhar: Podi!! I will not give you .Nandini got angry and threw a pillow on his face. Sridhar cleverly escaped the Hit.
Saraswathi who was sitting in the swing saw this and commented"Mannu madri iruku.iduku poi ..inda ashadugal adhichikudu(It tasts like sand ..For this crap these two are fighting" They will not stop fighting until Akhila comes and shouts "Asamanjugala... Pranana vangudunga(stupid children giving me pain). She could not help smiling and "I miss you all!!!"
Her phone rang and it was Aditi her roomate "Hello.. Oh Acha Acha ..tike Aditi I will get the key from warden no problem. On Friday you will come from the tour right ok.Take care Bye..Happy journey.She remembered her college excursion to Munnar and Thekady.It had a healthy climate. and beautiful resort. The mountain slopes are covered with tall, green trees which present a caring sight at sunset and look very grand. The morning and evening hours are very pleasant.
A cool breeze sets up and refreshes the mind. It makes one forget the oppressive heat of the plains and feel happy in the company of nature. The bright hued flowers, the clouds sailing across the sky and the snow covered peaks of the high mountains in the distance filled my heart with joy. .
"I wish I was in college now !(pauses )Ok Nandini..Lots of works to be done.. no more dreaming " She thought
Nandini was about to type her ppt presentation when her intercom ringed.To her surprise it was Ms Helen and she had called to her room.She was shocked to find Chandrasekhar was also seated with Helen in there.
Nandini Ma'am , I was told ,that you wanted to see me
Helen Nandini,I don't understand.What you guys are upto. This report is not correct.The accounts is all jumbled up. The payroll is pathetic and see this,vouchers all are not correct.Moreover look at this presentation,it is an nightmare.
Nandini I am afraid,that you did not see it properly Ma'am. We have double checked all the values and entries.There shall be no place for mistakes.
Helen Don't teach me my job Nandini. I am saying this is incorrect means it is.She turned towards Chandra."look at our employees. These people are loud in words but zero in actions. Chandra! They don't give me respect.But I am doing all this for the sake of Mr Vishnugupt
Nandini Ma'am ..I am afraid
When she tried to make Helen understand her points,Chandra intercepted and
"Miss.. First try to give respect for your superiors. Don't you know that? or should we teach you ?
Nandini Sir,my intention is not to insult Helen Ma'am. I am just trying to say the reports is
Chandra Hell with your reports.I don't give a damn. Do you really think,that This company runs because of employees like you Miss.I forgot your name. Who cares ! Do you know,Miss Helen is the principle stakeholder of this company and moreover,its because of her we are getting all big projects. If she is not doing her job,then I have to shut this company.I can find replacement for employees like you,but I cannot get another Helen.Do you have any idea how last year we managed the economic slowdown.
Helen Leave it Mr Chandrasekhar. She is just an employee.You don't loose your temper for sake of her.
Chandra Miss ,I like you to ask pardon from her .Without any delay.At this point Nandini felt dejected and insulted. She will not mind any thing if she was the reason for that mistake.But her mind became so heavy when she was unnecessarily accused. Is this the way a company will treat an employee. "he is a moron" Nandini thought about him .
Nandini I am so sorry Miss Helen.
Helen Alright !(irky smile on her lips ) I want you to go and prepare fresh reports and submit it to me.
Nandini It shall be done.Ma'am
Helen I want it by today noon.
This is not the first time that she got this feeling that her hardwork will go to drains in this company.She thought " Mr Chandrasekhar trusts Helen,more than his employees.I think it is not wise for him to do so. So what Helen may be helpful in getting him big projects,but it is his employees who ultimately who will work for that project,not Helen.This is not the first instance.
Chandrasekhar always supports Helen blindly.He just don't care to give his employees their deserved respect .As though we are slaves ,he treats us worser than that. I am exhausted with his attitude. I think this is a high time,I should find some other better company which has a good working atmosphere. If our talents are to go unnoticed,what is the purpose of toiling here.I can very well do in Chennai.At least,there will not be open cheer leading for some narcissistic stakeholders.Whatsoever,he gets me on my nerves.Idiot he is !
Nandini came to her desk and saw her friends there She shared her mental plight with them
Ashwath : Maiyya ,yeh toh roz chalega. Us yawni Ramu kaka ko bhi nahi paksha..
Prapti : Chandu mama always takes her side if there was any tiff between Helen and Employees.That is why employee attrition rate is quiet high in Matrix. Many have left once they get a lucrative offer from other companies .They just wait for 8 month bond period to get over,get the experience certificate and jump for other companies . later they don't even travel in this road again.
Radhika:: Our Chandu mama,does not care about it. He always believes that if you go ,I can always find a better replacement. So Nandini,forget talents and all other stuff in Matrix.The motto is simple do your work and hear praises for Helen.Sometimes,I do believe just for hearing and digesting Helen we are paid .
Prapti :Yups,Salary is always high here compared to other companies for freshers. Nobody pays you like Matrix does.
Nandini : I dont care! friends.Let him build a temple for Helen. I just don't give a damn. But when she said some filthy things about my report. I cannot bare that.To top it,he just supported her blindly.even he asked me to seek her pardon.This is not the first time. Last time he credited her for successful merger of Swan telecoms when we guys toiled to complete the assignment and predicted the future of that merger . Did you all forget we did not take food and rest and worked all Saturdays and Sundays for a whole damn month.This Helen out of moon comes and asks some values and files and just for sake of saying,that report is wrong. Fed up! More than her I get annoyed on him. Is he a creature?
Radhika : Nandini relax.. Helen does not know any finance or computers. Her world is limited to lipsticks and High heels. She has invested a 15000 crores in our Matrix ,For that single reason,Chandu mama takes her sides.Chandrasekar is not a human being at all. If you think he is ,then it is your mistake .Mysterious person who just talks to his dead wife always. I have seen that once. Definitely he has some deep psychiatric issues. Prapti do you remember.
Prapti : Yes,I have seen.How he cried before her photo on that day. It gives me goosebumps .
Nandini : So what.? Matrix does not run because of her investment.It is us who toil here without thinking food and sleep. Anyways why he should think about it. Coming to his psychiatric issues,there is no doubt,he is mad.I would suggest him to consult an psychiatrist as soon as possible.
Ashwath : Nandini,he loves his wife... What is wrong with that ? You cannot understand his pain yar
Nandini : Even I loved my grandpa more than anything in this world,Am I not living after he died . See Ashwath ,you cannot vent your frustration at the cost of others. Life has to move on. We cannot brood and make others also brood for you.Why dont he understand that she is dead.Reality is that she is not with him anymore.
Radhika : Your point is correct,but can we go against her or him?More than That Chaku Lal supports her blindly
Nandini : Now Someone tell me who is this Chaku Lal?
Ashwath: Chandu mama ke Sasur ji Vishnu gupt kautilya! He keeps Helen as a gimmick for running the Matrix. He believes that an element of glamour is required to run the show. Vishnu is not wrong because most of the clients like to interact with Helen than Chandra.Chakulal will stoop to any level to get the things done..He is diametrically opposite to Chandu mama.Moreover, Helen's dad is influential business man in Greece. So her words rule here!
Nandini : Now I understand,so it is running in every veins of their family members to always do chamcha for Helen. Weird !
I don't care.Radhika you said Helen has no idea of finance ,then how on the earth she asked me questions during my interview!
Radhika : Woh! sab Uske ke liye Training department ke log ne tyar kiya... she never knew whether the answer is correct or not.Only Ashok Sir and Pramod Sir Will listen to Answers and Helen will pretend . See all these are business tricks.
Prapti : We must send her to Bermuda triangle.Let her go invisible for the sake of Matrix. I cannot stand her red lipstick for long. Now days i avoid wearing red lipstick for functions. I hate it..
Ashwath: KYun re.. Bermuda triangle kya pap kiya.. Us ke sath panga kyun.aur Prapti tum lipstick ke paise bachalo ..savings is good as our Prime minister say so
Nandini : Why cant she go to parents' at Greece.
Ashwath :Kyun ki uske amma ji ne baga diya us ko...Bitiya itni karch apni make up par karti hei na..Woh bechari aur kya karegi.?
All of them started to laugh.
Nandini: I cannot continue here. It is suffocating whenever I remember his face and voice
Ashwath : Maiyya you are not alone.Many had dumped Matrix only for this reason.Go to glassbox.com and see Matrix has highest number of anonymous complaints . Still ,people risk to join here for sake of salary and exposure. Yo
Prapti : Nandini. Your bond period is over right?
Nandini : Nah.. Still a month to go.
Ashwath : Nandini maiyya.. kai ko tension leti ho.. Chandu mama ke bare me ab pata lag gaya na.. ab se tum isko cartoon ke tarah imagine karo..khusi milegi
Nandini : Oh that is a brilliant idea.let us see which will suit him ?
Prapti : Beauty and beast wala tik rehega.
Nandini : Charan sparsh devi ma
Their discussion was stopped abruptly when Sangeetha made a gushing entry. "Guys ! I have an important announcement..I think you all are aware of the fact that soon matrix is going to work with a one of the leading company called Uninor Telecoms to provide mobile connectivity in remote hilly areas of North East India.It is a part of Pradhan Mantri Vikas Yojna.So Tonight Mr Chandrasekhar wants us to stay back and work ,he has asked us to finish many things. Myself and Saravanan has divided equally the work for all.I want Shruti to go to Accounting dept and get the details of Payroll details of Uninor. Saravanan ,Radhika and myself will go along with Auditor Shaiheer and chart reports related to costing and credit of Uninor. Mr Saravanan will be leaving with Ms Helen to Gurugaon to finalize last round of deal with Uninor Telecoms .Nandini ,Prapti and Ashwath will stay back here to prepare audit and taxation along with credit ,deficit statements .We need these details so that we can estimate human resources and finance investment requirement for this yojna.Nandini ,Prapti and Ashwath ,Let me warn you guys Mr Chandrasekhar will be staying back in his room across the corridor. Although he will not come out of his room,I want you guys to concentrate on work ,not to indulge in any gossips and land your self in trouble..
Ashwath Yes Madam..
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
