“I don’t want to give you false hopes, but RCS is also
finding it difficult to survive,” ASK Vijayan added, “And with a very heavy
heart, I have to tell you that RCS cannot afford to keep you on bench
unnecessarily.”
“But I have given you the best training and I am sure that
you can get an assignment in another company on your own. I pray to God for
your bright career and I am sure you will be able to find another job within
these next few months,” ASK Vijayan became emotional and passed on the mic to
Ms. Devika.
“One last thing, I want to inform is that this month’s
salary will be credited in your account soon, which would help you in meeting
your expenses.” Devika’s words pierced through everyone’s hearts.
Victoria, whom I always found sexy looked pitiful this time.
R-June tried to console her, although his eyes were also wet. To my surprise,
the otherwise composed Veeru also looked devastated.
“Don’t be so tense yaar, he said na we would get another job
within a month,” Tarun said while patting Veeru’s back.
“Saying is easy, but getting a job is not so easy, Tarun,”
Veeru’s tears rolled down his chubby cheeks.
Rajaram was very furious with Ms. Devika’s statement.
“How can she say that salary would be credited soon? They
have to credit it, as we have slogged for it, what a shameless lady she is,” he
shrieked.
“Cool down man,” said John, who tried to pacify him.
“I am going straight away back to my hometown,” Rajaram
announced.
“And what are you going to do there?” R-June asked.
“I am also a Mechanical Engineer da, can work in any of the
manufacturing companies there.”
“But that you can get it here as well na?” R-June
questioned.
“No. Here the competition is fierce and the market is in
recession. A boy from a small village like me who has not got fluent English or
excellent communication skills like you guys won’t be able to get a job now,”
Rajaram’s opinion seemed more like a representation of rural India struggling
to make a mark in the urban business centres.
“Don’t deviate the topic, Raja,” R-June warned.
“No, R-June, Raja is right,” John supported him, “You guys
make fun of my English accent also, right? But that’s how we speak in
Shillong.”
“We understand ra. But when we mock your accent, we just do
it for fun,” R-June tried to calm down John.
“But it hurt sometimes, R-June.”
“And this job loss hurts a lot,” Rajaram said, “In such a
situation, only government jobs are safe, but there also, there is reservation
for some people.”
“Now, please don’t bring reservation in this, buddy. We have
faced enough heat during our college admissions,” Tarun expressed.
“Don’t worry, Raja, we will try hard yaar. We would all
definitely get another job very soon.” I showed determination, although I was
broken from within.
However, I could hear Aarthi screaming in pain from far
behind, “What shall I tell my parents? That I couldn’t save my job!”
Excerpt from the book Affairs @ Corporate by Atul R Thakare.
Book available on Amazon and APK Publishers online.
“Fiction is freedom.” —Susan Son
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