February 13, 2007
Thirty years, five months and twelve days.
Sandeep Roy computed the exact period of service he had rendered to the establishment. It was some sort of record, the longest service by an employee in the company. No one had ever worked so long in that particular firm. He was flabbergasted at the speed in which the years had slipped away. The time had rolled on and he was left behind. It was mind-boggling.
Tomorrow would be the last day of his employment. There after he would step into the reality of retirement. He would be estranged from his office surrounding, the chair, the table, the PC, files and colleagues. Until tomorrow he would experience the sense of belonging. Subsequently it would be void. The eventual detachment could be mournful.
He bemoaned at his condition. Most important, by next month onwards there would be no paycheck. He was gripped by the fright. Sandeep Roy was startled.
He was the sole bread-winner for the family comprised of his spouse and three daughters. His marriage had taken place at the right age, but, the children were born late. They were still in school and college. The weak bank balance did not have the force to boost up his audacity.
He had worked for so many years without significant elevation. The increment policy was not staff friendly. The company had grown, but not Sandeep Roy. He was wedged. His personal situation did not prompt him try for better opportunity. He continuously had spent large sums on his parents who were sick and old. His wife had been a heart patient since last two years. He wanted to ensure sound foundation and bright future to his daughters. They were growing and so was the cost. The situation seemed bleak and scary.
Sandeep Roy sensed the defeat.
This was the price he would pay for his thirty years, five months and twelve days. There was no way he could recover. In any other company he would have had ended up with much higher salary or even larger savings. But here his financial state and career graph infuriatingly did not flourish.
Perhaps it could have had moved uphill if not for one person Mr. RP Deshmukh. Sandeep Roy was reporting to Mr. RP Deshmukh, the divisional manager. The interactions with the boss repeatedly had become his moments of agony. Sandeep Roy had lost the count on the number of times he was slighted and insulted. The torture and the harassment had afflicted intellectual damage. He was always discouraged, pushed back and crushed.
He was convinced that his boss was diametrically responsible for his present irreparable circumstances of life. The revulsion had reached the peak that reviled to no ends. He hated him. The very image of RP Deshmukh would boil his blood prompted by detestation and aversion.
Mr.RP Deshmukh was not a dominant personality by physical presence. He was short and slim. His height was just five feet & five inch. He was lean but very mean. His aggression tormented the subordinates. He had entrenched fear in the minds of the workers to get the job done. He could get very nasty when he disliked someone. Sandeep Roy knew he was not liked by Mr.RP Deshmukh. There existed the unfair discrimination.
Mr.RP Deshmukh had embarked into the company about fifteen years back. Sandeep Roy was the only other worker who had more experience in the company than his boss. This could be one of the reasons why he was despised by his boss? Sandeep Roy was not very sure. He assumed so.
Inter office communication instrument buzzed. He dawdled for a while before picking up the receiver.
“Were you sleeping?” RP Deshmukh quizzed in offensive manner.
“No sir.” He answered. Composure and serenity had been the virtue for survival.
“I wanted to check if last month’s shipment statement is ready?”
“No sir.” He missed the beat of his heart.
“What?” RP Deshmukh snarled.
“……..”
“Come to my office.” The receiver was slammed down.
Sandeep Roy became nervous. Uneasy fretfulness was still bothering in spite of such long work experience. He dropped the receiver back on the instrument and stood on his feet. He had always yielded to Mr.RP Deshmukh’s pressure tactics. Sandeep Roy made an attempt to reason out. All these days he had lived with the job insecurity. Tomorrow would be his last day of service. He had nothing to lose. Mr.RP Deshmukh had no feelings for a man who was stepping out after such lengthy service. It made no sense for him to be scared of his boss anymore.
He pushed the cabin door and entered in.
“Mr. Sandeep Roy,” He banged his fist on the table. “I have been after this statement since last one week. Bloody hell, can’t you get these statements ready within the time limit?”
“There were errors in the warehouse entries.”
“Oh come on. You still seem to continue your outdated excuses.” He was merciless.
“It would be ready by tomorrow.”
“What about the training to your replacement? Is all well? What is his name?” He pretended as if not able to recollect.
“His name is Ajay.”
Ajay’s selection for such imperative job area had surprised Sandeep Roy. Ajay was young and had shown more inclination in looking at the moving feet of the ladies than learning his job. He preferred to dawdle than being focused.
“It is your responsibility to train and make him perfect.” RP Deshmukh clarified. “Otherwise I may not sign your final settlement.”
He was astounded by the remarks. That left him wordless. How could his boss associate Ajay’s preparation to his end of the service defrayal? He clenched his fist with an impulsive stimulation to hit his boss hard on the nose. The fury fumed within. The emotional reaction was somehow controlled. Sandeep Roy inhaled deep puff.
“Why are you silent?” RP Deshmukh retorted. “I hate people who are bemused during a conversation.”
“Yes, I am listening.” Sandeep Roy struggled to recuperate.
“Your ability to listen and your capacity to execute both seem disorganized.” RP Deshmukh criticized. “This is the key factor which did not trigger the winning attitude in you. It displays negative psychosis which prompts one to be a loser.”
Sandeep Roy was embarrassed by the humiliation. His dignity was attacked. The resentment brewed within. He wished to kick the table and pull RP Deshmukh by his collar. He craved to punch him hard and drag him by his hair.
He made an attempt to be courageous, but did not succeed.
“You may go.” RP Deshmukh instructed.
Sandeep Roy turned and walked back to his table. He felt the heaviness in his feet. His composure was tested. The tolerance was taken for task. It was slipping to the edge.
RP Deshmukh had challenged his ability to listen and capacity to execute. He had dubbed him as loser. The damage done to the psyche was unforgettable. Sandeep Roy was hurt by the abuse. His penultimate day in the office was given least significance. RP Deshmukh was heartless, shown no sympathy to a man who was about to retire. Why should he be allowed to get away with such rude behavior? The desire to launch an attack garnered strength and escalated.
‘Do I live with negative neurosis? Am I a loser?’ Sandeep Roy turned restless.
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His felt dry in his throat. He drank a glass full of water. An effort was made to restrain from the flurry of disturbed reflection. His inter action with RP Deshmukh had more of bitter to savor. When glanced his past there was nothing much of cordial to remember, always hostile and acrimonious.
Just one more day was left for retirement and an aspiration stemmed up to react strongly at RP Deshmukh before the departure. His plea for part time job after retirement was not approved. There was no customary farewell bash for the outgoing staff. The final settlement would be given as per the law of the land and rules of the company. Then what would stop him from giving a fitting reply to RP Deshmukh’s maltreatment?
In the past he had thought of many ways to retort. The line of attack had remained within his imagination. The nerve was dampened by the insecurities of job. He did not want to throw his dependents life into jeopardy by losing the job. Now there was no question of insecurity. The moment had arrived to work out a grand finale to their affiliation.
He became resolute and determined. The time had ripened for the grand finale. He decided.
He made his plan and waited. Ajay’s training was given less importance. In between he was forced to make couple of visits to his boss’s cabin. The habitual condemnation was tackled with routine excuses. He knew he had no reason to be stressed up on office work. After all tomorrow would be his ultimate day in the office.
During the lunch break he stepped inside the pantry. He pulled the storage compartments and searched. A spanner caught his eye. He quickly picked up and pushed inside his pant pocket. The grin appeared followed by the spark in his eyes. But the pulse rate shot up due to unknown anxiety.
Once he returned to his desk he just hovered without much work. To remain idle was not his cup of tea. It was difficult for someone like Sandeep Roy who had been perfectly sincere all along.
At times his mind wavered to back out from the plan. But then the weight of insults imposed on him was too heavy to carry further after retirement. The weight had to be reduced. It was time to payback.
By 5:00 in the evening most of the staff had left. Sandeep Roy called his wife and informed the delay in reaching home. By 6:00 pm they were the just two left in the office. RP Deshmukh was too busy to finish and Sandeep Roy was waiting for him to finish.
He got up from the chair, stretched his body and checked the pocket. He tapped the hidden metal piece. The heart had become restless. There was commotion within. The mind was caught between fright and valor.
He sensed the frustration while waiting. Why was the boss taking so much of time to move out? Was he sleeping inside? Did he have no desire to reach back home?
By 7:00 pm the cabin door was pulled open and RP Deshmukh stepped out. He wiped the dust particles gathered on his jacket while passing through Sandeep Roy’s desk.
“How come you are still here?” RP Deshmukh was surprised.
‘I was doing the pending work.” Sandeep Roy looked straight through.
“Tomorrow would be your last day, but it appears like you are not prepared to leave the chair.” PR Deshmukh ridiculed followed with the lurid laughter.
“Who has seen the tomorrow?” Sandeep Roy did not chuckle.
“Wow…. You are quite philosophical.” He sounded sarcastic. “By the way what is the status of the statement?”
“I have been checking.” The response was nippy. “Some of the corresponding entries are not matching. I will set it right, no worries.”
The change in the tone of his voice and the undertone of speech was evident. The transformation had taken place, which astonished his self.
RP Deshmukh was taken a back for an instant. All was not well. He had not seen such tinge and undercurrent in Sandeep Roy’s personality. He failed to identify the cause. He shrugged off and left.
Sandeep Roy tagged along with the potent tide of motivation. They entered the same lift. RP Deshmukh pressed the button for the basement. Sandeep Roy remained calm and quiet. This bothered his boss to great extent. Basement was meant for car owners. Sandeep Roy had no car. Was he following him? What could be the motive? He turned uptight with mounting suspicion.
“Where are you going?” RP Deshmukh did not like the murky condition.
“I am going down to the car park.” The reply was spot on.
By then the lift had reached down. Sandeep Roy allowed his boss to move out and he came behind with a glance at all sides. No one was around other than these two. After reaching at the car door, RP Deshmukh unexpectedly turned back.
“Why are you after me?” He was livid and furious.
“Do I? But you are right.” Sandeep Roy moved to close to the car door and stood as obstruction.
“May I know the reason?” RP Deshmukh sounded wobbly.
“Do not worry. You will know everything.” Sandeep Roy gathered control.
“Leave me alone. We can talk tomorrow.”
“At this moment you have no right to decide.” He clenched his teeth. “You have harassed me enough. On every occasion I wanted to retaliate. My insecurity held me back, but no more. I would not like to remain remorseful for rest of my life for not giving myself a chance to hit back.”
“…………”
“Today I want to do what I always wanted to do.” Sandeep Roy slapped him hard on his face.
RP Deshmukh found it hard to believe. The state had gone bizarre. This was least anticipated from a subordinate about to retreat. He had turned nasty.
“You have gone out of your mind.” He rubbed his chin
“Yes, I know.” The reply was quick and crisp. “But you forced it. You kept on provoking me since last fifteen years. You whipped every day, every working hour, every minute and every moment of my life in the office. I was incited to perform this grand finale.”
“What do you mean by grand finale?”
“This is the most fitting reply what I could think for the ill-treatment what you have inflicted upon me.” Sandeep Roy put his hand in the pocket.
RP Deshmukh struggled to speak. He did not have the physical strength to be counter-offensive.
“Do you know what instrument is this?” The spanner came in his hand. “This is a tool drawn on to grasp and turn. This has the jaws to twist the hardened nuts and bolts in you.”
His hand with the tool crashed into RP Deshmukh’s abdomen. He was caught breathless.
“What did you call me?” He pulled RP Deshmukh’s collar. “You called me loser, the man with disorganized and negative frame of mind! Mr.RP Deshmukh, how many opportunities did you give me to be a winner? How many times did you acknowledge my positive efforts? You obtained sadistic pleasure in making me helpless.”
He thwacked him left and right.
“If you are the winner prove the supremacy by trouncing the assault of a loser.” His blow landed directly on the snout.
Blood trickled from RP Deshmukh’s nose. He moaned with pain.
RP Deshmukh wiped his nose and lifted his hand to hit him back. Sandeep Roy snatched the fist and twisted the hand. The thrashing continued until the victim was left pathetic on his knees. Sandeep Roy vacated the place with the mixed feelings of apprehension and contentment.
+++++ +++++ +++++
Next morning when Sandeep Roy walked into the office he felt weak in his knees. Yesterday’s fire had vanished, the fright had taken over. When the assault was made he gave no room to worry on consequences. He had allowed the emotions to possess him. Now he was back on realism. RP Deshmukh had every reason to lodge a police complaint, perhaps they would be waiting to arrest him.
He was tense when he occupied the seat for the last day in the office. His conscience was under massive trauma. RP Deshmukh was absent. After fifteen minutes his secretary Miss Sharmila came running to Sandeep Roy’s desk.
“Mr. Sandeep Roy.” She was in a state of shock.
“What happened?”
“Mr.RP Deshmukh is in the hospital. Last night he was attacked by some unknown hooligans. He called from the hospital.”
“Did he quote any name to the cops?” He shivered.
“No, he does not know them.” She puffed. “But very sad the boss would not make it today evening for your grand finale.”
“What do you mean by grand finale?”
“Yes, you are not aware of the facts.” She explained. “In the history of our company for the very first time a send off party has been arranged by our boss. He has taken very special initiative to honor your services to this company. Other than the farewell party today evening in the conference hall, a cash gift also has been made ready. That is not all. He has even convinced the management to extend your services on part time basis for next three years at your same existing salary.”
“But nobody told me.” Sandeep Roy was bamboozled by the turn of events.
“Mr.RP Deshmukh wanted to surprise you.” She replied. “He uncompromisingly battled with the management to get this sanctioned for you. Believe it or not what he has done for you perhaps he has not done for anybody else in this company. But sad to say, he would miss today’s grand finale.”
Sandeep Roy felt dimness in his mind and body. The eyes turned moist. The throat developed aridness. He was left baffled and bewildered.