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The
work-life divide- the fine line that separates office
related activities with those other than, is fast
becoming as visible as the Australian teams' manners
during the ICC awards ceremony. This has ensured that
work often intrudes when you have specifically set
aside time to do something that even remotely reeks
of giving you satisfaction at a personal level. (At
this point the author was interrupted by a call for
a meeting and he subsequently was only able to complete
this article months later)
"So
how has work been?" asked Dr. Sushma, scanning
through a few reports on the table. Ram Shankar had
long planned this appointment, ever since he had discovered
that his old class mate had set up a clinic in the
locality. Sushma was the kind of woman, who as Chai-La
would have said while simultaneously floating down
into the residual tea leaves in the cup, 'compels
a man to think about settling down.'
She had been, even at that relatively early stage
in the evolution process, unequivocally dubbed 'wife
material' by all those favored by the X chromosome.
There was something about her that soothed the nerves,
uplifted the spirit, cleared the mind and brought
in smiles by the dozen. She had always been successful,
but also had the rare gift of being popular at the
same time. Thus the beeline of Ram's classmates who
had conjured up imaginary ailments just for 'medical
dates', was long and as the school master would have
resoundingly bellowed, in a manner designed to shatter
the eardrums, 'shameful'.
Ram
himself had made an appointment, over a fortnight
ago, for that Sunday afternoon, just before she broke
off for lunch. The strategy was to charm her into
a lunch date post the 'check up'. Prior experience
of concocting stories, for keeping ravenous clients
at bay and off the more tender parts of his anatomy,
had Ram fancying his chances in all such situations.
'Work is just fine, though lately I have been feeling
some shooting pain in my heart, that seems to strike
without warning," answered Ram.
"That's strange, this shouldn't be happening
at your age. When did it first occur?" Sushma
looked up and paused as she held Ram's gaze.
"Just about five minutes ago, when I entered
your room," quipped back Ram, trying to bring
about some softness in his eyes as he made his pitch.
There
was an elongated pause that followed; much like what
would have been heard after all the fuss of the Big
Bang was over.
Then Sushma smiled. And Ram Shankar felt something
stir in the innermost depths of his being that refused
to be put into language translation.
"I never thought you had a sense of humor in
school Ram, by the way is something wrong with your
eye?" asked Sushma, her own eyes sparkling with
a life that was captivating.
"To
be frank I never had much sense then," began
Ram, abandoning the attempt to make his eyes speak,
as Sushma broke into giggles. "But now that sense
seems to be shining on me, would it be the right time
to ask you out for lunch" Ram Shankar was sure
that she could hear his heart beat as he braved forth
those words.
"Sure, as a Doctor I need to always encourage
good sense when it makes an appearance, however late,"
replied Sushma, Ram's morale was just going to crash
through the roof when he noticed a rather disturbing
noise emanating from his pocket, quite like the deranged
ranting of Adolf Hitler asking for Monday morning
job status reports.
"Oh
that's just my boss Vikas," said Ram as he stared
back defiantly for a while at the phone, "and
the ring tone fits like a glove," he weakly ventured,
knowing that answering the phone would definitely
be a wake up call.
"Well, work is work" smiled back Sushma.
Ram cursed himself for not having switched off his
cell phone. But having defined diligence as one of
his core values, he found himself answering.
"Hi
Vikas…"
"Chief,
drop everything you are doing right now, there is
a crisis"
"Today?
Now?"
"Mr Bose wants a leaflet for his Monday 9am meeting
and he must have it."
At that point Ram could think of a million other things
that Vikas and Mr. Bose could have 'had'.
"What
is it about? Can I brief the creative over the phone
and then proceed to office once they have cracked
something?"
"No,
you are the only guy who knows all the details; you
might have to write the copy yourself. Anyways who
will you get on a Sunday?" chirped back Vikas
in a manner that made Ram consider homicidal measures.
"Then can I head back to office in an about an
hour and start the job then," queried Ram.
"No,
Mr. Bose wants to be absolutely sure. He wants to
go through a minimum of three iterations and he is
expecting the first one in 45 minutes."
"Three
iterations... my" began Ram and then noticing
that Sushma was watching him. "My task is not
that easy you know" he quickly corrected the
impending unprintable volley and stepped out of the
doctor's cabin gesturing in a manner that meant either
the reception was weak or that he had eaten one too
many chilies.
"Hey
I was in the middle of something, Can I do this later?"
"Have
I told you about the rules that our company has governing
the social life of an account executive?"
"No"
answered a surprised Ram.
"There
are none," boomed Vikas as he exploded into laughter,
"as an underling you are expected to abandon
all personal ventures for the cause of the organization
and your confirmation. Only as you rise in the company
are you entitled to any control of your life at all.
I have earned that chief and hence I am here, sipping
a beer at home, while you will be getting back to
office sooner than yesterday. What's more I can even
afford to forget jobs and bring them up only on Sundays."
Ram detected a distinct sinister chuckle as he felt
Vikas pause for another sip. "Good luck and don't
bother me with any problems, you should be good enough
to handle them." Vikas signed off leaving Ram
clutching his phone in a vice like grip in an attempt
to control the storm that was brewing within. He stood
silent like a dazed man in the corridor. But his world
inside was screaming. Composing himself a bit he popped
back in.
"I'm
sorry," he began, "urgent work beckons."
Dr Sushma looked him in the eye, "Believe me
I understand," she smiled back kindly. Then Ram
saw they were no longer alone in the room.
"Hey since you aren't taking her anywhere, I
suppose you might have no objection that she does
lunch with me?" the suave voice of Cyrus, 'the
dude from school' interjected emphasizing ever so
slightly on 'aren't taking her anywhere'. Ram could
have thought of a million objections but societal
norms in such regards are rather callous.
"Sure go ahead." He managed keeping as straight
a face as was possible. "Some other time perhaps"
he asked Sushma as he bid them goodbye.
"Some other time," she replied with a smile
that offered some hope, though he wasn't sure whether
it was just his servicing optimism kicking in.
"The life of an AE is well… not to be,"
the hushed oriental tone, the express delivery of
the tea-cup and Chai-La (the mystical Chinese canteen
tea boy) had disappeared into the works of Shakespeare
on the office mantelpiece. Ram noted with some concern
that he had vanished into 'Romeo and Juliet.'
(The
views expressed here are those of the author and Indiantelevision.com
need not necessarily subscribe to the same)
 After
stints at Lowe, Mudra and Everest the author is now
general manager Client Service Network Advertising.
In addition to that he is also patron saint of Juhu
Beach United - a movement that celebrates obesity
and the unfit 'out of breath' media professional of
today. To join up contact vinaykanchan@hotmail.com
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