Corporate Thamasha

Shankar knocked the door twice...little apprehensively at first...then, little strongly.

Before he was about to knock the third time, he heard from Raghav - "Come in..."

While entering the room, Shankar gave a polite head nod and said "Hello"

Raghav - "Take your seat and give me a minute, Shankar. Let me quickly send this mail and catch up with you"

Shankar gave another polite head nod and said (as he cleared his throat) - Sure, Sir.

Clock went on ticking....1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes...............13 minutes.

Shankar mentally counted the number of  Achievement Certificates displayed in Raghav's room. "12 certificates? Wow! So, every year he has managed to get 2 certificates in the last 6 years in this organization??? Hmmmmm"

After counting the number of certificates mentally and brilliantly reaching a concluding question, he started reading the text on the certificates, "Best employee of the year", "Most valuable contributor", "Best innovator", "Howzzaat award", "Best Talent Leader", "Most admired vendor partner", "Li......

"So, what brings you here, Shankar?" - Shankar's text reading was interrupted by Raghav's terrific managerial voice.

"Well sir.......had been thinking about having this conversation with you for a while....."

Another interruption from Raghav -"I completely understand that you are very upset with the appraisal rating. While, I know you are not ok with it, I want you to understand the fact that I have given you what I could do best"

"But, Sir....I really need to..."

Unintentional interruption from Raghav - "Yes, I do see where you are coming from. But, you see, we need to go by Organization's policy.I admire you as an employee. But,when it comes to performance rating, I need to be really professional"

"I do understand, Sir. But, I wanted to ....."

"Come on yaar. .Our life is full of ups and downs. We need to learn from it and move on rather than sitting on it. You just work on your communication skills and customer service skills. I am sure, it will help you to get a better rating next year. Challenge yourself. That's the best way to improve your performance"

"Sir, i don't think......."

"The problem i see with you young folks these days is, you are very short term oriented. All the dreams cannot be achieved in single day. It takes step by step effort to achieve it. Hope you get it. Oh...by the way, I have a client call now. So, can we talk later?"

Shankar got up and walked towards the door.

" Shankar, Are you ok? I hope our conversation helped" - (Raghav couldn't help but, show his kind and caring nature)

Shankar turned towards Raghav - "I came to inform you about my decision to quit and invite you for my wedding in the coming month, Sir. Yes, this conversation really helped. It just reassured that I have taken the right decision. Thank you Sir.".

Shankar opened the door and before exiting the room, he turned towards Raghav and asked, "Sir, are you ok????"

Twinkling Little Stars

I saw so many of them...Twinkling, Bright, Tiny - Puny, Beautiful, Charming, Shouting, Crying, Pleading, Fussing.....Well, I am talking about the peers of my 3 year old son on his School Annual Day.

As the Inauguration time approached, I saw few stars crying for Chocolate/Biscuit, few refusing to go behind the stage, few petrified because of this large gathering, and few sleeping and snoring away to glory.

By the time program started, all the parents had succeeded in putting their kids on to the back stage for their respective performances.

From Singing Heal The World to dancing to the tune of Salaam Namaste, From enacting as Cap seller and the Monkeys to tapping foot for Baaji Baaji Bambo.... it was an action packed, nonstop entertainment!

In a singing performance, of the 15 kids on the stage, only one girl sang. Post performing when almost the entire crew left the stage, that’s when one shining star realized, that she has not yet sung. So, she started arranging the mike. But, it was too late!

In another dance performance, all the 5 kids on the stage refused to move even one step (and bum). So, from beginning to end, all the kids were staring at the audience.

In yet another dance performance, one kid came running on to the stage and returned in the same speed. We did not see him on the stage after that. I could see from the side of the stage that the teacher was pleading, cajoling, pretending to be angry and trying all the techniques possible to make him join the others on the stage. But, he profusely refused!

Another little star was happily dancing on the stage with her peers, till her over excited parents called (shouted) her name from the audience....BOOM! Tears started flowing from her eyes like an opened water dam! Sorry parents....the damage is done already!

My fellow came on to the stage and gave some very funny expressions with an intention of letting us know that he is not too pleased with the flash light. And he completed the entire dance performance standing on the same spot without looking either side. All the gestures were spot on! And his foot too was spot on!

As a parent, I was over whelmed with emotions to see our "grown up little stars" facing the entire crowd, recalling the entire steps and trying to do their level best...and i realized that each and every parent in that room would have gone through the same.

Who said, nobody is perfect?

These kids are perfect...in their innocence, expressions and ability to make people around them happy!

Yeah….for me, I got to revisit my childhood days through this experience. And enjoyed every bit of it!