I wondered if I should cancel my deal with Bala. Even the personalized coffee
didn’t seem worth it.
‘What about monitoring? Bala, you didn’t monitor when the losses started?’
‘I was getting more business, sir,’ Bala said.
We had a lunch-break. I didn’t join the group. One, I had to prepare for IIT
trigonometry for the class tomorrow with brother-in-law. Two, I didn’t need any
more slamming. And three, the food was South Indian special, which I had begun
to hate by now and I was sure Anil would too.
Post-lunch, Anil wrapped up the meeting. ‘I want good customer numbers.
Either bring those customers back or win new ones, I don’t care. And please have
better food next time.’
‘We will, sir, we are working super hard,’ Bala said.
The other trainees nodded. Apart from the IIMC guy, they hadn’t spoken a
word during the meeting.
‘I can tell you this Internet debacle will lead to layoffs across the bank. And if
we see Chennai at the bottom, literally and figuratively, there will be layoffs.’ Anil
said and horror showed on all faces at his last words.
‘And you, HR error,’ Anil said and tapped my shoulder. ‘You need to buck up
big time.’
The BMW came to the branch to take Anil and our anxieties away. Bala came
to my desk after we had come back to our seats. ‘Thanks, buddy. I owe you,’ he
said.
‘Big time, buddy, big time,’ I said.
nora
(Nora)
#1