Stuti watched the dark cloud covering the sun through the glass faade next to her desk blocking the evening sun, the noise of soft thunder reached her ears, could feel her eyes pricking, just wanted to pinch herself to feel it really did happen and she was still sitting on this chair, at this very desk...
Hi would you like to have some hot coffee a voice called out making Stuti blink her eyes, inhaling deeply she turned her head to see Dhruv standing at the door of her cabin with two cups of coffee already and he was the last person she wanted to face now...
Hmmm, she barely grunted and Dhruv floated in placing the cups on her desk...now he will start talking, asking questions and giving his unwanted opinion, Stuti quickly picked up the cup and clicked the keys of her computer...
Everybody loved Dhruv except her for she found him to be a bit overbearing, not a bit but very especially when unwanted opinions were given and that too from a relatively newcomer, at times someone had to tell the boy to shut up and most of the time she did the honours nevertheless sipping hot coffee now she for strange reason did not feel like asking him to leave and what was surprising was Dhruv was keeping quiet too, watching the sun and cloud playing hide and seek...
Stuti put down the cup, clicking on her mail she opened a new one, Dear Sir, she started before erasing dear' to replace it with Respected' only to erase it to write only Sir...
Do you think it will be a heavy shower or just a drizzle? Dhruv's question made Stuti look up to see the first drops of rain hit the glass panes...
Errr ...maybe just a short shower, tactfully Stuti replied, sighing she remembered her first day in this office, Sanjog Advertising, fresh out of her management institute she was looking for a job as there was virtually no campus placements that year due to recession, armed with a degree with her father retiring that year it bit her senses to remain depended still so when her friend Ritu called her up to say that one of her father's friend was looking for a fresh young marketing executive to give his business a boost, Stuti had jumped up to say she would like to see him immediately,
Not so fast Tee not so fast, Ritu had warned, his is a small advertising firm, just about 10 people working for him, they were doing quite well till this recession hit, as per him, he could have managed well if not his money happened to be stuck somewhere, banks are not willing to help and he was not ready to take hard measures as his employees have been working with him for long...basically he wants to sell off his business but in this market he is getting no buyers so wants to run it till there is someone ...so don't expect too much...
She was not expecting but she was desperate, with an urge, urge to call herself employed, her father had warned her, I have my pension and things are not that bad...
I can always leave when I get a better job, papa and nowadays job hopping is quite common...that morning it was raining cats and dogs but she went to keep her appointment with Mr Sudhin Banerjee, as she entered the small tastefully designed office, she noticed it was nearly empty and those present sitting in circle having their chai' and morning adda'(gossip), as she made her presence felt they turned to inspect her from her wet salwar sticking around her legs and water dripping from her hair, when a man commented from behind, just in time, I like it...
Stuti turned around to face, Sudhin Banerjee, a man a few years younger than her father, salt and pepper hair and looking at her above his reading glasses...
Come on in, he beckoned towards the other side of his glass chamber, calling out to one of his employees to serve them tea...
Over Chai' they chatted on various topics, from unseasonal rain, annual vacations, literature, cinema etc etc., till their stomach started making noises of hunger, only to notice 3 hours had flown by and they were yet to discuss the job she has come for...
Errr it is getting late, what I am required to do and you are yet to ask me anything...
The small caf across the road, makes mean chowmein and chilli chicken, come lets hop over...he said instead.
Over lunch Mr Banerjee informed he worked for big agencies in the past but his creative freedom was getting hampered and in most cases in ended up fighting with his boss and leaving job for another, till one such time came he got fedup of searching for a job hence set up this firm, he was doing fine, I did limited work but good work, I give freedom to my employees and they deliver but with the recession setting in, big agencies are undercutting their prices, giving freebies to decision makers and it seems I just cannot keep up anymore. I got orders for my creative work and not for other skills...he stopped putting down his fork
What do you want me to do? Stuti asked him wiping her fingers in the napkin...
To get business obviously, how ? You have learnt it by spending money...he shrugged, I will give you a stipend, tumhara jane ane ka kharcha, covering your transport, but once you start getting business you will get a percentage, we will work on that after consulting my accountant, till such time we get another buyer, and if you help us making that deal, I will give you something from my share, he gestured at the waiter to get their bill...
Seeing him counting the notes, Stuti asked, Mr Banerjee why don't you just close the business...shut it down...
He opened his mouth and then closed it again...you know my dear, till now I thought you and I are on same level of thoughts but now I am not sure...I am not sure if I want to trust my company's future with you...he mumbled the later part more to himself...
Why?
You are a woman, do you know what a woman goes through if for some reason she has to abandon her child?
I am sorry but...
You see I am not a business man so to say, nevertheless I made this company and have people depended to run their families, I have given this company 10 years, and those people have been with me in my good times and bad, now I cannot maintain their salary date but they are not complaining, they are good in their job but like me they don't know the tricks of getting business where more than good job, timely execution some other skills matter more...
Stuti promptly changed her tactics, she interrupted him, Mr Banerjee this is what I wanted to know, what is making you continue...
All said and done Stuti I have a good CV, I will survive but I just cannot abandon, breaking takes only two minutes but building, giving birth? You can die within seconds but giving birth takes months and I have spent 10 years, it has given me sustenance and some other families too...
As they got up, my dear girl, you are young, this is an opportunity to show your knowledge, what all you have learnt, maybe you will be starting small but remember you will be learning a lot and you have a chance to build, in big companies you will be amongst many and here you are the only one...think about it...
Stuti was charged, she joined and that was about 12 years ago, in these 12 years they have shifted from that small office to this state of the art office, decorated in contemporary design and award winning campaigns they have won over these years, from 10 now their workforce is now 120 and Mr Banerjee did not have to sell his business, where he is still the boss, till sometime ago he had called Stuti in his office...
Ahhh you right, indeed it was a short shower, Dhruv exclaimed...
Stuti came back from her thoughts to see the rain had stopped and the fading rays of the run shinning through the clouds once again.
Dhruv peeped down to see across the road, come let go down, Mrs Ray has opened her shop, the scones must be fresh from oven now, he replied...
Who told you I want to have scones now...Stuti scowled getting irritated ...
Well to remove those creases from your forehead, warm scones with good Darjeeling tea is needed, thanks to you, we are forced to have coffee and tea from the dispenser...
Are you insulting me? Stuti asked in a strict voice
No just letting you know my choice but then I know it will not be heard...are you coming with me or should I go alone, I just cannot let those scones get cold and I am dying to know what has that old hag has told you to give you such a big scowl on your face...
I..what...how...Stuti was just loss of words...
See Maam, the glass walls are transparent, maybe noise proof but not expression proof, maybe we cannot hear but we can see...
We? Stuti pulled her drawer for no reason...
All of us those less fortunate ones who sit in the hall and do not have a cabin, so I have come to find out what is going on...
Stuti banged the drawer shut, well you will get to know all in good time...
Maybe yes but no harm in some hints, maybe we can be of use to you...
Stuti looked up at Dhruv, she never thought him to be very matured or intelligent but his words made her think, for last 12 years she has worked her back off in this office and will she let go so easily, without a fight, how could even the old hag think of it...
Come lets have the scones when they are still warm, she picked up her handbag and led Dhruv out of her office, walking with her head high and clicking of her heels...she has no reason to feel down and out, she has given too much to this company, Mr Sudhin Banerjee may claim to be the father of this company but she is no less, she came in at a time when it was taking its last breaths and she saved it or so she believed till some minutes ago...
+++++++
The scones filled with cinnamon flavoured cream smelled heavenly, while as Dhruv attacked, Stuti touched feeling the warmth...
Khao...what are you staring at it for...Dhruv urged her...
Hmm just thinking how much calories...
Dhruv raised his brow...you too, he laughed...
Isme hasne ka kya hai, what is so funny? She growled
No, I mean I was told you are not those girlie types...
Kya? You have some doubts about my sex? Stuti exclaimed
No I don't...I mean in my eyes you are a girl...he gave a meaningful look, making Stuti blush...
Why did I agree to come and get his support, she growled getting angry at herself as she bit into the scone...hmmm heavenly...she had to agree sipping into the lightly flavoured Darjeeling tea...
So what is the issue with old hag...Dhruv stated
Mr Banerjee you mean...
Who else, he is the oldest here...Dhruv stirred his tea putting two cubes of sugar...
Stuti suddenly remembered her 12 years back interview, the caf opposite...
Aisa kya keh diya unhone making you so thoughtful ...
I am getting a new boss...Stuti said...
What? He dropped his spoon...Pitashri is retiring?.
They called Mr Banerjee by that name at times behind his back, he knew about it though and somewhat enjoyed the same...
No not really, I mean not as yet...
Tabh? He is not going...
Well want to ensure a smooth handover...
Oh so he is selling it finally? Dhruv asked
Well not really, I mean who told you about the selling plan...
Err well, I mean I heard it from the oldies here, you saved the company and made the old man change his plans...
Stuti smiled...hmmm...
So what is the deal...
No deal really, he has found out a smart and sharp CEO material whom he wants to hire, guide him for sometime and then handover the company while he retires...
Oh so finally he is taking retirement...good ...Dhruv nodded his head thoughtfully
Good? What so good? Stuti got irritated...
Oh I mean he has grown old so he should retire, that is nice...and he wants to hand over that also happens, most people like him do...
And you think it is a right decision? Stuti felt hurt...
Arrgh no I mean such things happen, Dhruv quickly recovered himself but then what is wrong with you?
Precisely, now you have got it, what is wrong with me? Stuti raised her eyebrows...
++++++
To be continued...
