The HLL interviews were on in the room across me. Ananya had moved up all
the rounds and now waited to be called one last time. I reflected on what had
gone wrong on Day Zero. OK, I only wanted a job for the money, but I had hidden
that when they spoke to me. Then why did I screw up with five banks yesterday?
What if Citi also screws me? I thought. Sweat beads popped on my forehead. Was it
destiny leading me to doom after all these degrees and grades? Is God not on my side? I
wondered if I had given any reason to God not to be on my side. I saw the HLL
room from a distance. Ananya stood outside, looking beautiful in a peacock blue
sari. Maybe God will not let me decide my future unless I give her clarity on her future.
‘Krish Malhotra,’ the student volunteer called my name.
I offered mental prayers and stood up. I checked my tie knot and shirt collars.
Remember you need this job, I told myself. Banks pay double, I could quit a
corporate career twice as fast to do whatever I wanted to. I breathed in deeply and
exhaled.
‘Welcome, take you seat,’ a man in an impeccable black suit spoke from his
chair. He was rich enough to wear a Rolex watch and obnoxious enough not to
look at me while he addressed me. He rifled through a pile of resumes to find
mine.
‘Good afternoon.’ I extended my hand. I flexed my forearm muscles as people
say a tight handshake is a sign of confidence and world domination.
‘Rahul Ahuja, managing director, corporate finance,’ he said and shook hands
with me. He pointed to his colleague on the right. ‘And this is Devesh Sharma,
vice-president in HR.’
I looked at Devesh, a thirty-year-old executive with the timidity of a three-year-
old. He came across as someone who could be kicked around despite being
called vice-president. Anyway, I’d heard Citibank had four hundred vice-
presidents to accommodate careers and egos of hundreds of new MBAs that
joined every year. Of course, it took away the relevance of the title but at least it
gave you a good introduction. Rahul signaled Devesh to start.
‘So Krish, I notice you have poor grades in your undergrad,’ Devesh spoke in a
voice so effeminate, he’d be the obvious choice for female leads in college plays.
‘You are pretty observant,’ I said.
‘Excuse me?’ Devesh said, surprised.
Cut the wisecracks, I told myself. ‘Nothing,’ I cleared my throat.
nora
(Nora)
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