Of Lay-offs and Pay-offs
One day I’m on the computer, you know, recruiting people, which is my job, when my boss comes in and says: “You are done, for good.” Unlike all the other times when he said, “The man knows his business.” Be it in group meetings or otherwise; but not today. Not even when it was only the two of us in the room.
The next thing I remember is walking out of the same door that I’ve used for a little over 12 years for one last time.
And just like that my life changed forever…
That day was as good as any. I marched into the office earlier than my reporting time as was my habit and logged in before my day officially started. When he walked in looking sharp as he did, I was hoping for him to come bearing gifts. Perhaps, a compliment about having proved my worth to the firm, yet again. Standing proud in his grey suit, he smiled and said, “I don’t know where to begin.” On many occasions, it proves to be the beginning of the most life-threatening conversation. He further adds, “We need to talk.” Damn it, it was now two in a row, every sensible man knows nothing ever good follows after that. “I will assume that this news comes as neither a surprise nor a disappointment.” Although, it was difficult to believe whether it was a nightmare or happening for real. By judging the way his eyes were boring into me, I knew his decision was binding. All this while, I was lulled into believing that I was needed. Effortlessly, living in a bubble that was unheard of by many. Not that I am complaining. But the following day this particular encounter was to turn into a shrieking siren.
With his dying footsteps, Sandeep sank in his chair with a thud gazing at the closed door in his sight. Should I be insulted that? I toiled day after day, only to lose my integrity when it’s all that matters. I could swear on my honor, if I owned stock in this company, I’d sell it. For they are impacting lives as opposed to the way they should be. Then again, could this be exhilarating? I think not, not the first day at least. For I was gonna wake up the next morning, with nothing; almost struggling to break free from a routine. All these years I woke up with a purpose. Maybe, now I shouldn’t intend too.
Even though he knew a day may come — perhaps, it has — but it was something he did not bargain for; not for a long time. As he sat looking fixedly at the screen, everything began to fade away. His memory jogged right from the time he was considered a trendsetter for most classy ties in the office to not knowing any better than the mushrooming millennials at the firm.
The other day, as Sandeep sat near the window in the nook of the room, overlooking the hustle-bustle of the street he poured himself a well-deserved drink. Gawking at the weary souls who returned after a long day; he began to scrutinize his own life. Hoping against hope to learn the new age tactics long before having to drift away from the synchronization of his professional habit. Stunned into absolute silence, staring into nothingness, holding a letter opposed to that of retirement; he was becoming a mere shadow of the confident and friendly man that he was.
(Part II)
As the door of his room was ajar; a middle-aged bearded man, who looked unusually fine at this hour, quietly watched over. Leaning against the wall he said — yet another soul of the likes that Sandeep now envied; “Will you stop condescending for one second and think. Maybe it’s your long-lost chance…”
As he trailed off mid-sentence, the father interrupted “A chance at what?”
“…a chance at something real.” Sighed the son.
He turned around; his eyes red and swollen, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. “You know what is real, I’m a 60-year-old cripple who is afraid of what people think, most importantly… uh… how his family thinks. Now, I am nothing more than a grey-haired man who is unemployed and have had a crappy couple of days. So, pardon me if I can’t stomach any more advice being shoved in my face.”
Raghav grabbed a seat next to his old man and said empathetically, “Want to talk about it?” As the quiet grew louder between them, he went on to say, “Were you ever gonna stop building someone else’s empire? Were you willing to bleed out for your dream of becoming an entrepreneur, if you weren’t kicked out?”
Sandeep looked away, too livid to even respond. He was breathing convulsively and knew this wasn’t a bullet that he could dodge. So he began, “You wanna know why? Not only did I not have enough resources, to begin with, but I was also drained of my courage to start from scratch. I’m not okay, everything is falling apart. What’s worse is even though I’m capable the world seems to comprehend otherwise.”
“Having known you for over two decades, you may be a lot of things but you are far away from having the penchant of indecision. I know you seem to be on the verge of losing your sanity but aren’t we all none the wiser at times. Can’t you give yourself the benefit of doubt and be confused for a while. Yes, being confused is all right as long as you don’t plunge into an existential crisis, Dad. I know you didn’t intend this to happen, no one does. I also understand that patience may prove to be a problem in practice for now. But with the kind of experience oozing out of your worn-out pores you are good on your own too.” Raghav held the same worn-out hands that he once did with unflinching faith while learning how to walk, only this time the roles seem to have switched. Avoiding to meet his eyes, the father continued in a brittle voice. “Come to think of it, Raghav, only sometimes I did what I wanted to do at my firm. The rest of the time, well… I did what I was told to do.”
The tears had almost blinded their eyes. They sat quietly for a while, desperately making sense of what had happened. Wiping his tears; Raghav went on to say, “This conversation got really depressing. So, why don’t we pour ourselves another drink? Perhaps, one more only for a rare occasion such as this one.”
“What should we drink to then?”
The night had only begun for the two as they raised a toast to “New beginnings.”
(Part III)
On the next day, he fumbled through his contacts to land himself a temporary job. Fortunately, the hangover did not drain his desperation to work, so he called up his old friend, Rajesh, who was the store manager at BigBazaar.
So far, so good; his friend owed him one and it was definitely worth the wait. Two weeks as a team leader he liked the odds against that of being a sitting duck. In a classic solid blue tie, one of his personal favorites from Louis Phillipe he punched in on time on the last working day of the month.
Awaiting his hard-earned salary, he went on to thank his friend in person, in his cabin. Before he could mutter anything, he was given a sealed envelope by Rajesh. Delightful as he was, Rajesh insisted him to open it. The smile from Sandeep’s face withered, as he blurted, “Believe it or not, but even on your worst day this is the best you’re gonna get?”
“Are you finished?”
“No. But you are. You just don’t know it yet.” After all these years, he felt ashamed to have considered him as his true friend.
On his way back home, he tore off the one paycheck that might have paid the bills for the days to come. Unable to drive further, he pulled over his car; and with the torn pieces of the paycheck in his hands, he sobbed like a baby. Choking convulsively, he knew he did not belong to a fool’s paradise. Even though the fear of the new emerging world was catching upon him, he was done feeling helpless. Half an hour later, his eyes were swollen but his face was lit up to return to the land of the living. Only this time to build his own empire.
As soon as he returned, the first thought on his mind was his son. So he could talk to him, tell him how he was done dancing to the tunes of others. He needed him by side, more than anything. Raghav answered the door, “Urgent, is it?”
“Indeed.”
“Then I’m all ears.” It’s a good thing I was brewing some coffee, enough to not having to sleep for a couple of days.
Sandeep walked as fast as his weary legs could to the nook of his room. While Raghav walked in a couple of minutes later with a comparatively healthy doze this time. A father was ready to sell his idea to the digital marketing expert. As Raghav offered him his coffee, he said, “I to become an Entrepreneur and sell ties. Period.”
Gulping a sip of his latte, Raghav “It seems like you’ve thought this through.”
“Yes, I have. Since the current position was working my last nerve, it wouldn’t be wrong to go out on a limb and make a long-preserved dream a reality. I..uh.. I mean I’ve always had a thing for ties, the impact it has on the formal attire. So, why not sell it. Also a) I’ve got nothing to lose and b) It should be better to regret having done something than it would to have not.”
Slowly sipping his coffee, he said in a husky voice, “I’d be delighted to be your partner in business and crime.”
Laughing after an awful day, he patted Raghav on his shoulder, “You are proving to be more than your father’s son.”
(Part IV)
A simple endeavor that resonates with the likes of him. A pulsating heart, eager to tell a tale of a corporate slave who worked on the once-abandoned ambition of being an entrepreneur. A creative mind, strategizing to protect the honor of every man that upholds values such as — loyalty, reliability, and hard-work. An overnight success story of Mr. Sandeep Arora.
“The thrill of victory fades quickly. What lingers long after, is always the journey. Something that I choose to talk about today. Today, I have a sketch on a packed box, with an expression of pure, raw, unadulterated success; today I become #Iamamazon. Safe for me to say, the period of isolation had done wonders.” Tears sprang into Sandeep’s eyes, unlike the last time when his heart was immeasurably heavy at his previous office.
The journalist offered him a glass of water and then they continued with his interview. In his sore voice, he said, “Those who have never been placed in circumstances like mine, should not take pride in embracing the bliss of ignorance. They must behold their say until they find themselves in unpredictable situations.”
When asked about his state-of-the-art tie business, he says, “Stalwarts — is for those who dress to impress. Go and flaunt these styles to rediscover yourself and be the real you. If it weren’t for my son, I’d still be lost. Probably, sipping my morning tea at the porch, living in my own personal hell.”
He confidently adds, “Hope alone does not win the day. Only an honest analysis of one’s weaknesses can.” Raghav smiled from the first row, with tears of joy smeared all over his face.
For this is what will be spoken of tomorrow, of how I’ll be remembered…And this is how I transformed my lay-off into one of the most rewarding pay-offs.
