The Wooden Desk Tales - The Nutmeg tree, A bird and Few Berries!

The Wooden Desk is a nostalgia. Its a memory with a smile. There was one at my home too, near the window which opened to a fruit bearing nutmeg tree. The yellow fruit that hid a red seed inside it. The perfect color shades which merged with the green, differently shaped leaves. The tree had squirrels running around. 

Somewhere near a trunk which kissed the mulberries next to it, I found a small bird's nest. A little me who roamed around that area lately found out that the bird has gone far away. The nest looked cute and it had two small eggs in it. All I could do was to help the little bird with some mulberries and raspberries. I believed that birds won't eat seeds. So I took of the seeds from the berries. 

After few days there were small birds inside the nest. A happy me gave them mulberries too. They didn't even touch it. But sooner they paid visits at my window sill and heard the first drafts of my never-written stories. One fine day, I saw the mother bird shooing away the children. I asked my mother whether she will do the same when I grow up. She hugged me and said, "You will be always mine. But the mother bird has to shoo them away since their school is far away. Also they are lazy kids."

I believed it and still feel the same. The schools at home which is created by parents teach you things which a classroom can't teach. This series is dedicated to those lessons. The lessons I learned from the wooden desk tales. :)

My story

I was silent. For a long time, the body, mind, and my long story needed a solace. On the busy roads, near the attics of my balcony facing hostel room, the stories hid in silence. Observe, said my teacher. Observation is an art. But I was a lone walker on the crowded roads. How will I observe? Don't see it as you see it. Don't hear it as you hear it now.

Then far away, beyond the hills I heard the silent cry of a mother. Her daughter was away. Far away. Her daughter got a boon from the god of stories. "I bless you with a pen which writes stories. but you can see your mother only when you have a completed story". She thought it was easy. But later, much later realised that the boon was a curse.

Now I know that the daughter was nobody else, but me.  The long stories of the neighbourhood which I overheard at the canteen or turned up as hot gossips were just the best of contemporary relationships. But they all lacked one, the soul. Soul was the one which i searched for. The unfamiliar guys around said, "you are nuts". But less do they realise that  my heart ached when they called me so.

I am not, I will not be either. But my story will be the best in town, in nearby towns and around the world. Because, just because it was real. 

Amma.. I love you.. Moments of desperation..

There was a time when we were together...When i held you close to me.. When our tears had same reasons.. Our smiles of joy made people envious..There was nothing called, 'you' and 'me'..It was just us and we were happy for a blooming flower or seeing a cuckoo's nest..

But today, we are far, and distances laugh at our plight..Our tears have same reasons, but there is no smiles of joy..No envious eyes around..I know it's destiny's game, so lame. Still I am in the pursuit of happiness which we lost in this trail.. We fight because we love each other. Nothing on this whole earth can separate us. We may have tough times which we go through right now.. But this is not the end.

I believe in you, like you believe in me. A day will come when we are just on top of the world. 

One day we will be together again.. Till then I repeat just one line.. Amma I love you...

Amma, I love you...

Dear Amma,

In the past 26 years, I have never spent a day away from you.  We were more like friends. We cooked together, went for shopping, cried and consoled each other when we landed up in troubles, wrote poems and stories and appreciated each other and made pranks, grew plants and much more. I can't write the whole 26 years in one post. Hence I decided to write one by one. 

First I have to thank you Amma for inspiring me to become a writer, for cherishing my dreams. The first story happened in the bedroom of our ancestral house where I was forced into a general knowledge book which had two plain pages at the end of it. I was preparing for PCM scholarship, though I never touched the winning score. :) 

Suddenly I saw my neighbor walking around from my window and I could easily spot her from my royal cot. The cot was so royal that it was used by my great grandparents, my grandparents, my parents and of course me. That was the first time I decided to write a story. To get down from the cot looked like a hazardous job for me. Hence I decided to write my story behind the general knowledge book. Yes! Hurray I did it. 

The story was about how a not-so-friendly-neighbor helped when a thief break into our house while all smiling neighbors stood away. I was happily writing over the 'general knowledge' questions like "who was the first lady prime minister of India?" and alike. Suddenly you came to my room. 

"What are you doing?"
"Writing a story Amma", my voice withered when I said so.
"Give, let me see". 

You read the whole story and gave me two good papers to copy it.  You could have punished or beaten me. You didn't. We both went to the post office to send it. You pretended as if you don't know how to post a letter. That was the first story which got published in 'Balvihar', a children's magazine by Chinmaya Mission.  And unknowingly your pretension helped me lead a better life now. Though the scholarships never happened, both of us were glad that there is a published story of mine to cherish the past. 

That book still lays somewhere in the corner of our library with the pencil marks in it. Yes, indeed you are the best Amma. I love you..

Love
Anju. 


PS: This post is dedicated to all mothers around the world who stay away from their children. Thanks to the technology.  

In Another city - Happy birthday to me!

For the first time in the past 25 years, I am celebrating a birthday in another city, away from home. I''ve always had the strange feeling of why people celebrate the day they become another year old. But I like cake (baked by Amma), payasam and Sadya. So  I celebrate. 

Google's birthday wish & lovely cakes! :P

Like many other years the passing year was eventful and full of surprises. So this year the biggest surprise is that I am celebrating my birthday in another city. And along with me, this blog too celebrates its first birthday. So Happy birthday my dear Blog!

There are few good things I developed in the past year. To accept criticism, To accept people with less brains, to accept the comments even if it hurts. Yes, Acceptance is something you can never buy from somewhere. It has to happen. Chennai showed me how life looks when you live alone in the crowd. It taught how good life can be! Chennai always gave me a feel that I am loved, cared and pampered. 

From the morning stroll in the hostel to the busiest roads to power cuts to fabulous colleagues to a happy office, I loved every single expression of Chennai. The sun sometimes was so cruel in summer to make me sick. The rains kissed like a lover and cured the illness. The buses were like jampacked suitcases where tickets are passed from one hand to another. The auto (aato as we Chennaiites say) burnt pockets. Month ends looked longer and salary days passed in a wink. Curd rice tasted better than any other food when the heat cramped the stomach. Became a non-vegetarian.

Websites looked like a group of codes with images and google looked like a boss with disgrace. Learnt to write some 'awesome' content for websites and looked upon with surprise at the e-commerce websites. Few unknown clients who had child labors (to understand this term perfectly, you have to be an employee of my company) at office who learnt more by talking than from books. Colleges looked more beautiful and charming from outside. Last, but not least, Have friends more than my fingers (read it as countless). And yes, this birthday is gifted by watching my golden fish, Thangameenkal, soon to be released in theaters. 

This is how I summarize the past year! Hope the life in this city, Chennai, never disappoints me...Smiles to the world!

In Another City - The 'O' mystery

So Chennai has this fascinating beaches, great night life and the unlimited freedom to travel anywhere alone at anytime. But it all started to make a sarcastic smile as soon as the alphabet 'O' became a mystery!

In Chennai, there is nothing which starts with 'O' in English. For them, its 'Aa' and the better you say it, the better you are one among them. In Kerala, we used to say auto, omelet and office with a stress on 'O'. But Chennai never understands this  'O'. From day 1 till here,I have been teased by my colleagues, friends and room mates for saying Otto, Omelet or Office.

Sooner or later the 'O' mystery got out of me and I started saying Aatto, Aamlete or Aaffice. Yes, Chennai changes you in the way it wish and not the other way around. Just laugh at the change twice and you'll find yourself amidst the bustling crowd in Ranganathan Street or the busy Thyagaraja Nagar. Yes, you're among them. The one who says Vadai instead of Vada, Dosai instead of Dosa with less confusion. Each time, I say AA instead of O, i used to wonder who was that fine person who hated O and what was the crime O did to him!

So to the aatos, aamletes and aafice, I love Chennai!! :) :)

In Another City - Introducing Chennai!

I am not sure whether living in another city brings out the poet in you! But yes, Chennai has always brought out the best in me! From a kid to a student to a MNC employee to an assistant director to a copywriter, it had seen various faces of mine! So starting a new series, about the life in another city. The new insights it gives, the stories it offers, cuisines i fell in love, the perspectives it changes and the lessons it taught, also about the good friends and the bad foes it threw at me! 

Here's what I had in mind when I moved in here, few months back. The journey from a jobless, shabby and lazy life to a routine, normal, professional employed life, is filled with stories. Those which I noted down in a diary will turn out to a book some day. But yes, writing a diary for more than three months itself is a surprise for me. Hence thanks to Namma Chennai!

When the crystal images shatter,
The dawn stared at her,
When the attires loosen its ends,
Life is at a brim.
Sway, Sway and it sways,
In a direction unknown,
 

And she stares back,
With less hope,
To see a bright sun,
At the closed window sill,
In a city that never sleeps.
No rules, No discipline, No love
 

Lusty eyes haunt,
Priorities points at wealth,
Deteriorated, she walks out
To the red carpets in hell

And again life is at a brim.

The hues of light reached her,

To make the lightest of the

Sober, Soft and Serene touch.

Tickled, she turns back,

Just to see, life in a brim.

Again, again, again,

Once again, try,

Told the wise,

She tried once, twice,

And till the stare followed,

No more trials,

Life is not a friend,

To offer the best,

Troll till you die,

Strive till you breathe,

Thrive till you sweat,

But still you'll see,

Life is at a brim!

'THANGAMEENKAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST'

Grab a chance to portray your talent in the silver screen! 

If there is a photographer in you, this is the right chance!! Don't miss it!! :) :)

The winning clicks will be featured as title cards of  THANAGAMEENKAL MOVIE!!!!

SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO thangameenkalcontest@gmail.com

Last date: April 14th 2013.

My dear Golden Fish, Thanga Meenkal!

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, and the black, curious eyes of a child - our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

The sun etched its orange marks on that wavering water. The boat began its ferry through the back waters of Kochi. It had people who told their stories with the nerves and curves. Yes, this is the place I have been before, the fort town or the tourist spot of Cochin, Fort Cochin. But this time I am here for a stay, say a week. For the people here, this is nothing new. Every week they see new faces here.

Like many other tourist spots in India this place too share historic monuments and streets, handicraft sellers, road side tea shops, expensive textiles, antique sellers, restaurants, café and homestay. They have people who claim themselves guides, some boys who wanted to have some fun with the white skinned tourists and others, the north Indians who simply come in for a vacation. There are lovers who come for a day or two. But the men and women of Fort Cochin knows to cash the tourists really well.

They never had the curious little eyes. For them life is like a blanket too short. You pull it up and your toes rebel, you yank it down and shivers meander about your shoulder; but cheerful folks manage to draw their knees up and pass a very comfortable night. Marion Howard said it in the right way. They were cheerful folks. I was there for about ten days and that too for a film shooting. So what is this story all about? It’s about how a few written pages was translated to an on screen fable. It’s about how human beings emote and react, about the whole surprise a morning can bring and a whole disappointment a night wraps in it.

It all began on a Sunday when Achan was not at home and Amma was busy reading newspapers and I got a call from my friend Ram, to whom I have been speaking over phone since two years. Usually the weekends are meant to be silent and stupid with nothing to roam around. But this day everyone was busy and I am supposed to meet my friend in another two hours. We started on our bike through the busy roads of Ernakulam, with the dim lights and full moon, apartments and malls staring at us. By the time we reached the place, it was almost pitch dark. There, in one of the side way restaurants sat my good friend with his friends. The coffee table was filled with a laptop, some Gold flake cigarette packets, a blue lighter, some mobile phones which rang continuously, a bottle of coke and some empty glasses.

From there to here, it was a long wait of over two years for the release of "Thanga meenkal". And now, this moment, the wait justifies and the first look of the movie is released. It was not just a movie experience, it was a school which taught the reality of films and the people who live with it. 

Here goes the first glimpse of the movie, for you watch and enjoy. 

Ms. CEO - The Final Walk to Peace!

Peace - this is the ultimate desire of a human being. As a child, one yearns to be in peace from books and school; in youth it turns out to be the advice committees in and around the home; in job, from bosses and targets; in marriage from loans, fees, children and at times from life partner; in old age from diseases and helplessness. But in most cases, one can be assumed as a failure. The holy texts have many definitions for Peace.  But that is not what Arathi wanted. She needed some peace, that can make her happy, away from targets and bosses and gives her more freedom.

It has been one year since she joined the company. From her date of joining, it has been the same chairs, tables, tea cups and walls. Nothing was new. She had read an author who inspired her say, "the primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but thought about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral. It is as it is." Yes! It is as it is. The walls, chairs, boxes, pamphlets, tea cups and people are as it is. One need not worry or be unhappy about it. So she decided to end the thought that they are as they are! If simply said, she decided to resign from her profile named, Telemarketing and Customer Relations Executive. She had enough of those customer relations! Now she knew what they meant by Survive Mumbai, Survive the World! She had her own saying, "Survive Net data Line, Survive the world"!

The thought of resignation sprouted out when she got a call from Faith & U. It had an offer worth a salary six times higher than she earned now, branches and offices everywhere in India and abroad, and more excitingly the CEO of that company was her role model from a very long time. The offer came in a month and the selection process took almost four months. Within these four months, there were resignations happening inside the office. The first to relieve was Anand. He took a leave for a month. A medical leave. Then he came in and resigned. But after his resignation, Arathi came to know that he went abroad for job search and this happens in every office. The next was Nisha who got a job with a "better" company as she herself claimed. So Arathi walked straight into Shekhar's room, placed her resignation letter and waited for his reply.

"I hope you are placed else where", he said.

"Not yet, but I hope to get it soon".

"Now you stay back here for another month, wait here till someone replaces you and then I will accept this letter".

She felt like walking out that very moment. Why should one wait till she get replaced when all the salary was deducted for leave and there are same chairs, tables and tea cups? Why should one stay back in an office which asks her to be in office even on a hartal day? Why should one stay back in an office where there is nothing interesting to do and have an offer in hand which brings more happiness? But she decided to be in peace with her boss, who  kindheartedly allowed her to attend the classes for a couple of weeks, who allowed leave during her final exams and the man who never shouted at her.

It was at this time Rafeeq and Sreejith, the two executives joined the company. They were new as far as she was concerned. It was her duty to let them know the plans, answer their doubts from customer sites and file their forms in the proper way. But one month seemed like a light year for her.  This dislike forced her to sit back at home for a week with a fever. The new joined executives were more interested to find a person to substitute Arathi than taking connections! Finally Sreejith bought in another Arathi to take the post of existing Arathi. 

It was a rainy July day. She said bye to those inside the office, walked out of the door and once more she could hear a loud sigh! Yes, there was a power failure again!!

!!It is as it is!!

Ms. CEO - 'FUND - A - MENTAL'

The contest months are those which made managers and the sales team happy. They gets incentives on whatever done beyond their targets. It was the time when all the fundamentals of money management are revised in order to make the contest a success. Though customers had complaints that made them behave like mental patients, the prizes and gifts forced them forget all these worries.After those sales men days, everyone fled to some place or the other for a day or two leaving the contract staff and customer service guys in the office to watch movies and surf net.

Arathi was too busy discovering the new social networking sites and updating Orkut. Then came an associate with a connection. An associate in the company meant the same as that of franchisee. But here the associates were known for their fraud and non payment issues.

Shaji, that was his name. He was the leader of their team. He is known for all the goondaisms that made the managers stand up and wish him at sight. So this Shaji came up with an internet connection to Arathi on a day when Shekhar and Anand was busy with their works.

"You need to give that connection in my name. Waive off the installation charges. Its my first lead. If you do that, I will help you with lots more", Shaji said with a wicked smile.

Arathi disliked all these associates for their fraud ways of handling customer payments. She had heard from Reshmi and others that these people collected one year and two year subscriptions from customers and used it for wife's delivery and sisters' marriage. No one at the office could control them, not even the highest officials. She had always felt that K.N is the best person to handle these guys.

It was at this time the gangster whom she disliked the most comes in with an offer. She readily said, "There is no waive off. If at all you need it, you may go to Shekhar Sir or Anand Sir. You got it." Yes, she knew that arrogance can be misunderstood, but here she wanted that stupid guy to never come back with any offers.

"So you say you won't waive off? "

"I said, i can't waive off. I-CAN'T. OK".

She expected him to move out. Instead he sat in front of her. Looked upon her and said, "you are too small to do that. I know. But do you know who am I? I can sack you down in a call". With this he took the phone. she disconnected the call and said, "You can make a call from here, if and only if you are a staff. And if at all you believe that you will sack me down, take it as a night mare. i know you are another fraud associate and I remind you that I am not another executive. If you dare, sack me. I don't care you!!."

He couldn't believe his ears for a while. That was the first time a staff spoke on face of an associate. He threw the chair down and walked towards Shekhar's cabin. He was blabbering some nonsense and she could see a tensed Rejoy sitting there.

"Why did you say that?" He asked in a pathetic voice.

"Then should I stand up and salute him?" Arathi knew not from where the anger arouse.

Five minutes passed, Shekhar walked towards her and asked, "Did you say that you need a connection to fill your target?"

"WHAT?" she was bedazzled.

"Did you say him that you need a connection to fill your target? He said so." Shekhar repeated.

"No I didn't. He came in with a connection and asked me to waive off the installation charges. I said I can't and he came to you with a new story". She was happy that Shekhar asked her explanation.

"Oh! is that so? So did you tell him that he can't make a call from here?"

"Yes. I did."

"So, for your information, this phone is not yours and.."

"Not his too.." she completed. "This is company phone and meant to make calls to customers and not a STD Booth. I hope you agree". She added.

Shekhar couldn't bounce back because a few days back he told her so. Shaji was furious.

"You liar. You called me yesterday and literally cried on phone for this connection. Now how can you deny it?"

"I can because I am not a liar like you".

To add to the scene, he shouted aloud, "See everyone, Arathi is seriously ill. She have some memory loss." He then repeated the whole story.

Suddenly Hari Sir, the RFE woke up and said, "Shaji dear, one minute. What is the issue now? You bought a connection on Arathi's request. Now she denies it. Even though she denies it you can hand over that connection in her name. Isn't it Arathi? They will connect it tomorrow."

Shaji turned back, looked at Arathi and said, " You will go home today. I will let you know who I am".

She sat down on the chair, laughed her heart out for a second and then looked at everyone.

"Every time he threatens the same way, but does nothing. If at all he tries doing something, I will let him know who he is". She said in mind.

"Arathi, you need to talk less with these guys. They don't have any fundamentals." Said Hari sir.

"But they do fund a mental!" Arathi replied.

"Ha ha, you better check which customer was that. Other wise you will become answerable."

She sat down and stared at the paper which had an address near her home. she called up the number, asked them the details and gave the connection next day.

By evening came in an Oracle Shaji. He was reddened with anger. He walked straight to Arathi.

"Who asked you to give that connection?"

"Customer"

"I gave that lead. I need the credit"

"But you helped me right?? I wanted the connection, I cried, you came in, said Hallelujah twice and left the address here? Have memory loss or what??" She made fun, though the connection was mapped to his ID.

"I will show you who I am".

"WHO ARE YOU?? GOD?? I am afraid then, please forgive me.. You can take the credit. I don't want any. I will cry again to someone else for a connection. "

He smiled, wicked and happy. "Good girl, you should have said this before". He was supposed to pat her on the shoulder.

"Don't you ever dare to come to me again with your stories and connections, I WILL KILL YOU. When I say that I mean it. It's not like anything you say, sack me down, hurt me or something else. I will kill you means I will kill you."

He had an open mouth and sat there for a while. He disappeared without a word. Next day he walked in and after all his show off in the other section, appeared in front of her and asked, "let us be friends, after all we are neighbors. Isn't it Arathi?" He sounded too good and too polite.

"Hmm let me think". She had a victorious smile.

From then onwards he possessed a sort of humility towards her for some reason. he never made arguments, paid customer's money in her section without any delay and even bought her chocolates when he had a baby. above all, Arathi was surprised at this. How can he be so good in just that sentence "I WILL KILL YOU"? In a few days she asked to the vegetable seller Mohan about Shaji in a casual talk. "Shaji is a very "PAVAM" man. Though he claims to be a gangster, he had never been that except in a movie which never released. He threatens, but never does. He ran out of his house when a robber got in. His wife was so smart that she caught the robber and handed over to police." Mohan said.

The next day when she saw Shaji coming in, she said aloud, "Hey Nisha, what happens when your husband runs away when a robber comes home?" Shaji tried not to listen to it. "Nothing, I will also run out", said Nisha. "But why do you ask that now?"

"There are some people who claim to be gangsters, but runs away seeing a robber. I heard such a story. Just asked for fun".

Shaji came near and secretly said, "I will never disturb you. Don't publicize this". She smiled and nodded her head in a yes!

From then on the "FUND-A-MENTAL" associates inside the office never made any impolite statements inside her cubicle. She loved to believe that every gangster will have a story like this to say. Hence never "fund a mental"!!!

FUND A MENTAL means funding towards mental irritation.                                              Symptoms : lots of customer money in hand and sister's marriage or wife's delivery in that month, unnecessary story telling, walking in an office thinking that they own the office. Treatment : Search their past and threaten "I WILL KILL YOU".                      (Experimented and proved successful by an old executive)

Ms.CEO - Junky Monkey Sat On A Wall!

Junky Monkey Sat on a Wall...

Junky Monkey had a GREAT FALL!!

That was the GREAT FALL of Rohan, the crystal figure! After that day he came less into the office. There was a sort of avoidance and unknown innocence developed in his character. Rekha was rejoiced till the moment she knew about the commonness in the “YOU LOOK PRETTY” comment and “LET’S HAVE DINNER TOGETHER” invites. From then on Arathi felt that the office was something like a TREASURE ISLAND. It had people who own secrets worth lakhs and crores; the well known officers to the employees of her profile, everyone owned secrets! If the officers had higher secrets, others owned local secrets. Now Arathi too owned a local secret in a higher level. She said in heart...

Junky Monkey Sat on a Wall...

Junky Monkey had a GREAT FALL!!

Months passed by and there came the ONAM OFFER of the company. Whosoever pays the annual subscription gets a silk sari for free!! There were much more attractive gifts like non stick pan, mp3 player, TV and sovereigns as bumper prizes. All of a sudden there was a festive mode in the office. The entrance and the office was decorated, boxes which had gifts in it began to flow down from Head Office. The office turned out to be a shopping mall with customers who checked out the sarees and pans and much more.. To avoid further dilemmas, office manager decided to set a shelf at the entrance. Biju, a new comer in the cable section was in charge of the gift distribution at the beginning. But slowly everyone who belonged to the office became a part of it.Finally she could see Biju on top of the shelf throwing down the prizes and all others catching it and distributing to the customers. Some customers even shouted aloud, "that yellow saree, no no i don't want this one, please take that green, oh yes, that, on the left" and gradually marketing managers turned out to be the salesmen in a saree shop. Fortunately non stick pans looked alike, so there were less claims!

Arathi's department had less offers which began from trolley bags and ended up in an MP3 player. Oh! there too, customers wanted to know the color, company, whether its leather, branded? etc etc. All she could say was, "Yes, Sir, its a GIFT and we don't know the details!!"

As the days to Onam came closer, the office literally filled up with unknown faces, which included associates(they are called franchisees, but pretended to be the owners of the company!), managers, other staff, customers and obviously the courier guys who had less interest to check out the colors! Two days to Onam, there was talks about new dresses, sadya and much more. Arathi and other girls were in a short gossiping during tea break! It was at that time they heard..."Ayyoo....TE TE TE DUM". It sounded like crackers breaking inside the office. They all ran to the front to see the whole of the shelf cracked down and the young man Biju being dragged out along with sarees and other gifts..He could hardly talk a word. The whole crowd that gathered stood aside while he was taken to the hospital. "he'll have to take bed rest for another six weeks", Shekar said with a smile.  "There will be a leg fracture", said Unni. The girls were still trying to figure out how the shelf cracked down. "He might have given all his weight on to that part", Soumya said pointing at the broken end. "Anyways he should get that. He tried flirting with me last week." Reshma had a cruel smile.In a short time the crowd lashed back like the sea waves and the same old, yellow, pink, green, blue colors were heard aloud with the left and right yelling!

Arathi stood there for a while, then turned back to her little cubicle with less hassles and the old rhyme which said..

Junky Monkey Sat on a Wall...
Junky Monkey had a GREAT FALL!!

Ms. CEO - The Proposal

The "YOU LOOK PRETTY" comment was on air till she came to know that, every unmarried girl in the office has been awarded the same by Rohan! To face that unexpected twist in "Love in the Office" movie, she decided to revenge him with her innocence. From then on, she appeared to be a very innocent girl in front of him. He called, drove in to the city for official purposes and told her that "I am here just to see you" and there was an expression of "Surprise" in her tone. Till he offered her a dinner at one of the hotels in town, she was innocent. Now the ball is in her court and all she has to do is kick off :).

Accepting the offer, she asked, "So Rohan, what's your plan? What's next??".

"What! We will dine together. Then I'll leave for my hometown. That's the plan. As usual I'll be back next week dear."

"Oh! that's the plan for the day. I just wanted to know what do you plan for our future?"

She could hear him escaping a giggle. "That's yet to be planned. We can discuss it over dinner."

"So when is the appointment with Rekha?"

"Around two in the afternoon" he said it out in a hurry and then realizing the blunder asked, "Which Rekha? I have an appointment with one of the department heads in University and.." Before he completed, "Then you have asked Rekha, the front office executive to join  for the drive. she was busy finishing her lunch and when asked, she said with a smile that you have proposed her over a dinner! So is that for a week or for a day?" She couldn't stop asking it.

A moment of silence over the phone..(then like they say in movie sets) CUT...

"What has it to do with you? I date people I like. I can do whatever I want. You are nobody to ask. If you are not interested for a dinner, don't come. But don't get into my life unnecessarily." his tone sounded like a theft who was caught amidst stealing!

"Have a happy life"! She disconnected that call for ever. There was less hangover of that call. But then she went to the front office to see whether the girl has left the place. Yes, she has asked for a half day leave for she was not well. (White lies are not easily caught by superiors, especially when told by girls.) She wanted to call her and let her know that she's with the wrong person. But after all, it's her life, her future and her proposal!!

Image courtesy : http://www.comingsoon.net/gallery/20672/The_Proposal_2.jpg

Ms.CEO - Of Faces and Phases

A normal office day began with 'what to do today' lessons by Anand and ended up with 'what not to do' lessons by Meera. Arathi never understood why she developed a hatred towards Meera when there are umpteen reasons to hate others. By the time she got her first salary, there were lot of familiar faces inside the office. Her lunchtime company extended to Networks manager Unni, Gokul and Dhanya from accounts and Nisha. There were laughter and noises like a school and she began to like the office in spite of all the boring lessons and complaining customers. Day by day there was a certain level of confidence that developed in her. Now she know the name and number of the electric posts through which 'Net Data Line' cables passed. She could memorize numbers so easily which made her a "how do you do it?" person among the other girls who did her same job. She knew that the modems can be installed in a customer space if and only if it was registered at "KNOCK". Till the moment she saw a mail from NOC which is the short form of Network Operating Center, she believed that the modems were "knocked" from sides by a machine which can automatically register the modem numbers. Thus she was almost thorough with the process and people.

Though she got attached to the office, the place where she sat still looked like a big waste basket. Initially she counted the boxes, then the tables, unused broken chairs and other storage spaces. The whole boxes was a convenient home for many cockroaches and mosquitoes besides the unused application forms and brochures in striking colors. As she moved it to one side, all of them fell down together, scattering the forms all over and inviting Shekar to the cubicle.Rejoy and Nisha too joined her. Thus with some time and effort they turned it out as an office. The scattered application forms were numbered and filed, old brochures found its place at a common dumping area and the cubicle had a fresh look. But the phone calls had the same dialogue to say and the power cuts were more frequent.

By this time it was June and rains started to hit the lives of people inside in an absolutely bad way. One fine morning, Shekar came in with the news that Vice president is coming in to check the office. All of them felt like a Tsunami hitting the office. K.N as he is called, was said to be an IIM product with less ears and a mouth full of words which meant bastard! Arathi was asked to keep the register up to date, her daily call sheets to be presented on Shekar's table by afternoon and to keep the filled application forms out of sight.

During lunch, Unni came in with a smile and said, "Tomorrow there is a special show by K.N here. He will make you cry with his looks."

"Why me? I am the last one to meet him, there is Anand, Shekar and all others. After all i am a contract staff. I will resign if he embarrass me. Mind it!!" Arathi said it in spirit. But unfortunately the next day she was the first one who was called. He asked about the less number of calls at month ends and in almost all days.

She stood like "Mary had a little phone and that phone rang all the day". All she could say was, "As you say sir. I will make calls from today." With she completing that sentence, the power went off and there was a killing silence inside the room.

"So what were you doing all these days? why didn't you make calls?" He asked again, this time in a higher tempo.

"Sir, I come here in the morning. then the phone will be engaged as the cable team and others will be making calls. Then by ten, customers who have lost connection will start calling. After answering them and asking them to call the customer care, when i make a call to a customer, they simply kill me over the phone for our poor services of TV connection. then like this power goes off and the phone is dead. Please tell me how to make calls from a dead phone."She expressed all her helplessness.

K.N was silent for a moment and then all she could hear was, "Dong Ding Tang ting dum, bum" and finally "get out". she walked back to the cubicle where she could see faces raising from the accounts and other departments. She smiled and muttered, "It was just a round, more to come". The executives from all nearby places were called up the next day and they came up with registers, sheets and books. Then again there was bomb blasting inside K.N's room and later he was seen out terrible and irritated.

He came up the cubicle and asked aloud, "how do you manage to sit here without power? Don't we have generators?" With that he walked near Unni who said, "generators don't work and we haven't got new ones". Everyone expected a bomb blast, but nothing was heard. K.N left the office this time with a warning that, "The killer  will be back in another few days". Shekar shared a common relief with his sub ordinates.

Next day, a new face, a handsome guy, gave her a warm welcome to the office with a good morning wish. She too wished him back. He just said, "I am from Head Office." Arathi had an anxiety to know who he was, but there was nobody in her department to ask. She got into her work and could see her being noticed by the H.O. guy.

"Hey Rohan, when did you come?" It was Rejoy who broke the silence.

"O, an hour back. But she was a very bad company" He said looking at her.

"She don't know you and K.N was here yesterday. Probably BDM and Anand will be on leave today. And she is Arathi, our new complaint recorder.Arathi, this is Rohan, he is from NOC."

She literally wanted to drool down into the earth and kill Rejoy at that moment. How dare he call her a complaint recorder when her profile is Telemarketing & Customer Relations Executive. Though what he said is true to the core, she didn't want the 'handsome' guy to know it. Then when she raised her eyes from the phone, she could see Rohan sitting in front of her.

"So how do you record complaints? let me see." he said with a smile.

She wanted to say something, but there was a road block inside the throat. Voice was not coming out."Hope you are not deaf & dumb" he was provoking.

"Nnn...Oo "I was not ok after the meeting with K.N. he literally threw me down. Sorry, what did you ask?" She somehow managed to ask.

"He does that every time, but he is the most respected officer in this company and the most paid one. I was just kidding. Do you get that many complaints?" he eased the situation paving her some room to talk.

She was well equipped to face any question from anyone soon after joining here. But there was something special or wrong with this guy. His looks were haunting and she wanted to avoid a conversation. With less interest she said, " i am into sales, but all i hear is the abuse from poor customers".

"Can I help you for a day?" That was an offer,  she couldn't reject. He called up a number from the list even before she could say a word and spoke to the customer.

The loudspeaker was on and she could hear from the other end, "Your connection is good just inside your office. please keep it with you. I still have that useless modem with me. if you can sell it for a good price and compensate the loss i had, i will be happy. don't call me again with any offers." She skipped her giggle with a cough. But his face was still calm and cool. He took the next number, called the next prospect and repeated the whole dialogue. Then the answer was, "we don't have a computer. then why do we need a net connection?".

Rohan said, "this place is not right. Your database is not prospective. You need to change it and give a try. Take some numbers from the BSL website. (BSL is the telephone department of government). Sort it out by area and then make calls. Even if you don't do it, I liked the way you escaped your smile and handled me. I will be back in the evening. Hope you get some connections by then." He walked out of the cubicle leaving behind a confused Arathi.

The day was good and there was ten connections in her kitty. That was the first time she got these much connections in a day. Unni credited K.N for that, but for her it was Rohan's advice. By evening he was back in the office and she pretended as if she is busy with calls. He checked the register and said aloud, "why don't you give Arathi a big hand? she has ten connections today." Everyone raised there heads to see her. There was a stillness for a moment and then she could hear the word of appreciation. He came near and shook her hands for a while and said, "well done".and there was a "thank you" from her side which he never heard.

As she walked out from the office, there was a call from behind and that was Rohan."I was just waiting for you." Walking along he asked, "Do you stay nearby?" "yes".

"i will be leaving tonight.9860802050..this is your number right? I will give you a missed call. save my number. will give you a call sometime soon. Just wanted to tell you something, you look pretty". "Thanks" that is all she could say.

While sitting inside the auto on that rainy eve, she was happy for all the reasons, for the ten connections, for the apprecaition from colleagues and lastly for the "you look pretty" from Rohan. after all she was a girl at teens!

To be continued....

Ms. CEO - First day First show!

19th, that was the day of joining. Arathi took up all the papers, certificates, mark lists etc and obviously her letter of appointment. She made a prayer, "As I am joining at the end of the month, please don't delay my first salary as I have promised Hanuman a vadamala on the 6th of next month." She made some smiling exchanges to all the Gods and got down to join there.

There were almost all the staff in the office by 9 am.

That was the first time she saw the whole office in lights. Everyone looked busy and none of them even noticed her. She reached the end of the office where she met Anand. It was then she noticed that the cubicle has no ventilation. There were lots of boxes which was filled and over flowed with papers. it didn't look like a part of that office. She was forced to believe that it was the place where the whole office waste were dumped in boxes. 

As she stood near the entrance of the cubicle, Anand walked in and asked her to sit inside. He introduced her to Nisha, who was the accountant and the person who temporarily handled her post. She was a lean and tall lady with a smile not so good on her face. She handed over a phone to Arathi and said, "you can use only this phone. Don't attend any complaints in this phone. Ask them to call on the customer care number, 2723223 or 2723222.. Don't answer any unnecessary calls. When inquiries come in, you need to describe them the plan. Here it is, for 99 rs you get 50MB and for 199, 100MB, 399 is an unlimited plan. But don't say that we have a 99rs plan to anyone. Promote unlimited more " and she handed over an yellow pamphlet which said the plans.

"Now this is the directory and this is the data I collected. You need to make calls, write it here with the response." Nisha woke up from the seat and moved to a system. Arathi stared for a moment, at the paper in hand and phone on the table. She shifted to the chair where Nisha sat earlier and looked around. A man was sitting behind her cubicle. He smiled at her. When she was suppose to give a smile, Anand called her, "Arathi, come here..Will give you the target of this month. "

Even before she could say a word, he handed over another paper, a book and a register. so now she had a table, a phone, a pamphlet, a book and a register which is going to be her world. She opened the shelves of her table to see another replica of the cardboard boxes inside the cubicle. There were umpteen forms, filled, half filled, some torn and others unused. she picked up one and tried to read it. It was a three page form in yellow, pink and white. The yellow was the first and all others were separated by carbon copies.  It was the registration form for new users. She stood up and walked near Nisha with that piece of paper in hand and asked, "what is this? How do we use this?"

"Who asked you to take that form? You must not open that table. It is mine and i keep my bag there. If you want, you can use that table"she pointed out to the table at the other end where Anand sat.

But I asked you about this form?" Arathi repeated.

"Oh that's the registration form. You can take new ones from that boxes. Not this one. These are all my connections and it comes to my credits and my salary."

"What's the number of that phone?"

"3240900"

That's a fancy number. Arathi thought. She dialed her number first and checked whether the number is same on the mobile. It is. She began to sit and read the pamphlet, the book, the register and the target sheet. All she could understand is that each month she must reach a target of 10. Anything after that will make her more rich and for that these papers and book will help. The register had uneven columns, untidy pages and different hand writings. The register was named Connection register in a dirty handwriting with a red marker. She flipped the pages to see some letters which made no sense other than nonsense. It had name, address, connection and "remake". What is this remake? She had less courage to ask that to Nisha. She looked around again. The people who sat next to Nisha was Rejoy and Meera. They were busy attending calls and another phone was ringing there continuously. None of them noticed. She again looked back and smiled at the person who sat there.

She saw in his table a small name board which said Regional Finance Executive, Harikumar. E. They exchanged a Hi and as she turn around, the phone was taken away by a tall and masculine guy who tried not to look at her.

"Rinesh, she is our new tele caller." Nisha said to him. He passed a smile and said, "All the best".

Whenever Nisha mentioned about her, Arathi could see a grudge on her face for some reason. All others sat as if she is a nobody in the office. It was around 11.30 by then. A lady came in with tea and she served tea to all inside except Arathi. Then again, Nisha took the initiative to introduce Arathi. Then turning to Arathi she said, "come let us have tea".

There was a small corridor which led to the lunch room where hardly five people can sit at a time. She wondered how the sixty people who worked there had lunch in an hour. As she returned to the cubicle, Amith was seen. "Oh, Hi, I forgot that you are joining today. Had some work outside. Got settled?" He asked in his usual careless way.

"Yups, somewhat. Which is your place?"

"I belong to that section, not here." He said as he pointed out to another big cubicle where there were lots of phone, people and sound. "See you in the evening.Bye". He left the cubicle.

Back to the table, she saw all her 'property' safe and untouched. She stared at the 'remake' heading to understand that they meant 'remarks'. She corrected it with her new fancy green pen which she bought the other day.

She was reading and learning the whole plans in a way so that she can start working from the afternoon. At Lunch time she met some more girls in her profile who work in Amith's section. They surprised her by saying their achievements and told her that the boys in the office are not good and she should be careful about her manager. All she could return was a smile.

She picked up the data which Nisha gave her and took the phone to make a call. The first number was of a Col. Sunder Pandey. She made the call. A very old man picked the call from the other side.

"Hello good afternoon Sir, I am Arathi, calling from Net Data line. Can I talk to you now.?" she asked very politely.

"Ohh.at last you called. You know I lost my connection two days back. Still not reinstated. where are your people? Is this the way you treat customers? Where is that lady who promised to sent me someone with a new modem?"

He was lashing out in anger. Arathi couldn't even say a word. Before she could say anything, he disconnected the call saying,"Dirty bastards".

She sat with a lost breath for a moment. Then walked near the customer care people and said, " I called Col. Sunder Pandey for a new connection and he said his connection is lost since two days.." Before she could complete, Meera asked, "are you here to support us or create more troubles. Why did you call him? Who asked you to do that?"

"Nisha gave me the list and I called for new connection. Never knew that he had one." She tried to clear her innocence.

"Arathi, what are you doing with the customer care? Show me what have you done till now?" That was Shekhar, the BD manager.

"Sir, I was learning the plans. then checked out these register and list. I made a call and he said, his connection is lost since two days. Thought to inform it here. That's it." Arathi told as she walked back to her table.

He checked the list, turned to Nisha and said, "all these people have connections. This is for you to call, not for her".

Nisha gave a furious reddened look to Arathi.

"Now start calling from a new list" He instructed Arathi and went out.

There was a silence till a boy came in saying, " Colonel's problem was not modem, his power switch was off". Everyone burst out into laughter. Arathi couldn't hold on. She smiled as she thought "Dirty Bastards" !!

She saw Nisha getting up and nearing her.

"Sorry". Arathi said.

"Oh! It was a confusing day. You will be alright by tomorrow. Now go home". She said like a school teacher.

That first day after the first show, Arathi walked out of the office with names and faces she is going to bear for the coming days!!!

To be continued...