Posted:
8 years ago
Achilles heel👏
"Ms Iyer if if my ethics were missing I wouldnt be having this conversation with you (I wouldnt even be in India)
"Apologize... I meant you possess selective ethics" she goaded, never the one to be bogged down, when she got a chance to fight dirty
"I speak in matters where my expertise is sought and appreciated, I dont in matters where I have none" (hinting at: I dont poke my nose into other people's business)
"Even when u witness gross negligence of some sort?"
"Speaking of negligence should I demand similar "due diligence, objectivity and integrity" (code of conduct for an auditor, since II is a CPA)
from a SW sales person that may be peddling a suspect SW product?
"I maintain my employer's trust, I do my job well, I dont cause financial losses for them" (unlike you)
He smirked...
"If u know 100 people are not needed in the corporate office shouldnt you be advising appropriately?" she demanded, confused WHY he wasnt getting it
"I go above and beyond" he got off the couch angrily " I do not appreciate being told I encourage corruption"
"U are privy to it, by being in the position you are right now" she hissed
"Do u have any idea what you are expecting me to do?"
"I am expecting you to extend the same courtesies you extended to KMPG"
"So basically you dont give a damn how Excelsior conducts its business, your only ax to grind is why are some internal process different from the way they treat product purchases"
"YES. ABSOLUTELY... you are soft pedalling around starkly visible incompetencies and its unacceptable to me" she said bitingly
"I am not the Chairman of the company " he bit out
"But u have your hands on the levers of power you can very easily bring about changes, with the privilege you do..."
"So thats what this is all about? My position of influence?"
Ofcourse it is, being part of this corporate dynasty, you never have to struggle, or could fail as many times as you please, you have the benefits of
access and early placement in the corporate boardroom, that will give you a permanent leg up in life... the road is paved, with no resistance." she blasted stingingly
All her rage and pent up frustration at her own disappointment of being unable to achieve certain successes in her own professional life
He walked up to her, an INCH from her
"I DONT GIVE A DAMN how he conducts business, I show up and do my job,
whatever is brought to my attention I address it the best I can, I dont walk around looking for problems to fix
I run my own company, I am not looking for opportunities to stroke my ego" he bit out
She began to speak
He raised a finger warningly
"Dont... dont u dare accuse me of being part of a corporate dynasty.
I wouldnt even be here" (If it werent for Sam's begging) YOU are part of the corporate dynasty now,
shouldnt you be doing some social jockeying to get yourself that coveted "position of power" (doing air quotes)
I bet he would hand it to you in a heart beat. You could crack the whip all day. he mocked blisteringly
She suspected he was at Excelsior unwillingly yet she insulted him for being entitled and arrogant
He KNOWS she doesnt want a dime of his family's wealth so he insulted back about currying for favors and sucking upto Ranjan to get the title she wanted
They loved to deal low blows. It came naturally to both.
They were similar in more ways than they were willing to accept, or will ever..
They glared at each other interminably
She left hot and humiliated
He kicked the coffee table with his foot sending everything cascading down
Mrs Sagar had heard most of the exchange... she didnt peek when he kicked the table, when he broke his coffee mug
She entered and began cleaning it up
He had mostly picked up all the papers, she mopped up left over coffee.
Bally stopped by wanting to know if she wanted to chat...
"I am going to go check on Akka, subah miloon?" she asked pretend cheerfully
He didnt see her face so he missed the look of disgrace...
She drove to Akka's at 9 ish... made rotis, served her family, ate with Akka, went down got ice cream since she went empty handed
Called Amma spoke on speaker, checked on Periappa
Returned after 10:30, luckily she had asked Mahavir to fix dinner "NO MATTER WHAT"
She had changed at Akka's into a cotton outfit...
They all sat around in the lounge chatting cheerfully
Her eyes connected with her husband's and looked away
He didnt greet her... she didnt ack his presence
"Haath mein kya hua puttar?" Ranjan asked
"Oh! um... nothing Dad" she hid it behind her back
"Arey dikhao to" he walked up and pulled her hand out, "I was slicing cucumber, it was moist and my finger slid on the knife
"Oh! No... kaafi deep cut hai" Ranjan panicked
"Ishita stay off the kitchen" Manny teased
"IKR" II chuckled
R&B shifted uncomfortably in his seat... if he was furious before he was ballistic now... she drove him insane
"Its just a cut Dad... I am klutzy in the kitchen... unlike Akka" II handed a compliment at the first opp
"I am calling the Doc" he warned
"Ayyo... no Dad... I am OK" "Pffft!! I mean Doc ko kya kahenge" she smiled
She didnt linger... went up... he watched her go up, Manny did too, she texted.. as she climbed.. stumbling on a step, holding on to the rail
"Dad she needs an escort" Manny chuckled
Ranjan looked at R&B meaningfully...
II showered, changed, and hit the sack when he came up she was asleep, her left palm tucked under her cheek
he bent down and peered at her now exposed right index finger. A wave of deep concern washed over him to be replaced by flaming anger at her words earlier
She would have quietly put away two inflight magazines (with crosswords) Akka's neighbor would have brought back from a trip to Malaysia
