Right Fit Wrong Shoe

by Varsha Dixit

  He completely ignored Nandini, who anyway appeared captivated by a speck on the nearby chair. The important bandwagon thundered past them.

  ‘So the boy has actually become a man! Aditya looks every inch of the bona fide international celebrity he has become,’ Sneha whispered, impressed.

  Nandini just shrugged her shoulders even though she agreed with her friend. In a matter of seconds, she had felt the raw power and masculinity the man exuded. His global entrepreneur prowess had exalted him to superlative success and fame. The kind you only read in books.

  Head above most of the men in his group, Aditya sported a perfectly tailored dark blue suit (probably Brioni or Canali) with a pale blue silk shirt and dull silver tie. His attire, added the word ‘distinguished’ to his handsome physique. Sneha gave her a sympathetic look over.

  ‘If you are done leching, can we go inside?’ Nandini muttered.

  The two friends, made their way, a safe distance behind Aditya and his posse, including Mrs Shukla. Squishing some toes, they snuck in the last rows of the placed chairs.

  Loud murmurs rushed among the present, on noticing who had come amidst them. Everyone craned to get a better look, some actually climbed on chairs.

  ‘Holy cow it’s Aditya Sarin!’

  ‘What is a Sarin doing here?’

  ‘He’s so god-looking. Marry me!’

  ‘Who passed that stinker bomb?’

  Now seated on the elongated dais set up at the last minute, Mrs Shukla and the other top brass motioned the employees to take their seats. The bedlam tapered .

  Nandini’s eyes remained pegged on the shoulder of the man immediately ahead, while she tightly gripped Sneha’s hand.

  ‘Aditya Sarin for sure looks important. I guess success does that to one,’ whispered Roy, sitting next to her.

  Because of the din, Nandini could barely hear him. She leaned closer, ‘What did you say?’

  That was the moment; Aditya chose to glance their way. He took in Nandini’s head touching the other man’s shoulder, as the two whispered to each other. The hand on Aditya’s knee clenched even though his impassive expression remained unchanged. ‘Can we please, get this circus started?’ he hastened. Simone promptly shot out of her chair rushing to the key speaker’s side, urging him to begin.

  Mr Telang, the middle aged CFO forever clad in a ‘gray safari suit’, strutted toward the podium. Bang in front of the mike, he chose to clear his throat. The hall reverberated with sounds of phlegm gurgling in his windpipe. Just about every one flinched.

  He began, ‘Dear friends, on this day I have some momentous news to share with all of you!’ Deliberate and dramatic pause. ‘Any guesses?’ Mr Telang, a true blue orator, headed straight for audience participation, regardless of the occasion – a formal company meeting. A committed presenter, with dreams of becoming the next Prabhu Chawla, sees no difference.

  The agency staff, usually, extremely verbose to Mr T’s antics, due to the exalted presence, remained silent. ‘Speak up. Any guesses? Someone? Anyone?’ Mr Telang, scanning the crowds heartily, persisted. The masses resolutely avoided his eyes.

  ‘Don’t do this to yourself, Telang!’ Sneha snickered, softly. Nandini and she slumped even lower trying to stifle their giggles .

  Is this a frigging company meeting or a children’s birthday party, Aditya cursed, keeping the gracious smile glued on. Irritated he glanced away; across the hall, his eyes collided with Nandini. She immediately ate her smile.

  For a second, everyone and everything else faded away. All Aditya saw was Nandini and all she felt was him. Scowling Aditya swivelled his head, breaking the eye contact. ‘Mrs Shukla, can we do this quickly. I have a conference call in an hour.’

  ‘Of course!’ The older woman leaned forward signalling Mr Telang. She pointedly held her watch up.

  ‘Yes Mrs Shukla, yes, yes!’ Mr Telang literally doubled over. British raj was long gone but sycophancy continued to rule his spine. ‘Friends, Ace Advertising Agency is now a part of the giant, honourable and esteemed Sarin Empire of Industries,’ he declared reverently and speedily.

  ‘Honourable and esteemed, doesn’t it mean the same?’ Sneha giggled.

  ‘Sarin Empire of Industries, that sounds wrong,’ Nandini added.

  ‘Shush!’ Tina hissed.

  Apart from them, the revelation had shocked the entire staff into silence. Most of them were contemplating possible pink slips. AAA was like Echinocyamus Scaber (smallest sea urchin) in the big ocean of Sarin conglomerates.

  Urgent whispers broke out. Aditya stood up. ‘Now dear friends, let us hear our new boss, the man India Today hails as the businessman of the year. Please welcome Mr Aditya Sarin.’ The employees dutifully did as bid; giving him a loud ovation, most of them were anyway on their feet.

  Resisting a Heimlich manœuver, Mr Telang settled for the congratulatory thump on Aditya’s back. Feeling important, he smugly took his seat .

  ‘Telangji, not India Today but Time Magazine of USA, awarded Mr Sarin the international business man of the year award,’ Rochak, sitting next, corrected.

  Passing a hand, slickly over his heavily oiled hair, (gole ka tael!), Mr Telang replied, ‘Achha! Waise if Times Magazine gave Mr Sarin such an important award, toh India Today ne bhi kuch diya hoga.’

  ‘Thank you for such a complimentary introduction,’ began Aditya, bobbing his head duly in the other man’s direction.

  Mr Telang proud, sneakily mouthed to Rochak and others, ‘Dekha! Impress kar diya!’

  ‘Dear peers! Just like my late father, I stand for expansion by adding to my existing strengths and resource optimisation. From this moment on, consider yourself an integral and valuable part of Sarin Industries. I assure you no drastic changes shall be implemented.’ His audience breathed easy. ‘I acquired this company because of a vision I had for all you.’ He paused scanning the crowds, all eyes and some mouths, too, were pegged on him.

  ‘AAA, like my own career, shall grow manifold and emerge as an advertising agency to reckon with, but not just in the city or state... how about we aim a little further? Next year, let’s bring home an ABBY. But that is only possible if each of you commits your 110 percent to my vision and I promise to give each of your dreams, my all.’

  The employees sprightly burst out in motivated applause; seeming to stand a few inches taller, an enthralling chimera beckoned them.

  Mrs Shukla repeated Telang’s earlier words, ‘Dekha! Impress kar diya!’

  9

  Bol Radha Bol

  A ditya then went on to speak about his plans for the company, which were all good. He then invited Mrs Shukla to say a few words, which she did. That was an emotional moment; giving twenty-five years of her life, she had single-handedly grown, Ace Advertising Agency from her living room into an organisation, of over two hundred employees. At the end, she received a prolonged, thunderous applause.

  Aditya again took over. ‘I would request the department heads to stay back. Everyone else can kindly resume his or her work. One more thing – next week, we will start a cafeteria for the employees. Food and beverages will be provided to the employees at no cost to them.’ That announcement got loud hoots. Free food is the best – like sex free from any threats of pregnancy, STDs and HIV.

  Within minutes, the numbers dwindled to a handful. ‘Listen Sneh, I am leaving. Just fill me in later about whatever is discussed here.’ Nandini tripped over some chairs while making a hasty beeline for the door.

  Her movement was noticed. Aditya glanced sharply at Simone; she got off the dais hurrying after the younger girl. ‘Ms Sharma! Ms Sharma! Nandini, please stop!’

  Already outside the hall, Nandini reluctantly paused. Still not turning around, she inquired of the PA, ‘What’s up?’

  ‘All department heads have to be in there.’

  Nandini turned to face the older woman. Hustling her most imperious tone, she said, ‘My counterpart, Ms Sneha Verma is in there, so I thought...’

  Simone cut her of
f, ‘All department heads have to be in there. Please follow me.’

  Bandit Queen, where’s your gun, Nandini stewed. She headed for the conference room, muttering a churlish, ‘Fine!’

  The assembled, including Aditya and his group, along with the department heads, sat in a circle.

  Head bowed, Nandini stiffly slid in the empty chair next to Sneha. She peeked up to flash a strained smile at her colleagues. Super canary shit! Opposite her, barely a couple of feet away, sat Aditya. His veiled eyes fixed on her. Within seconds, a familiar colour hovered on Nandini’s cheeks.

  Aditya looked away. ‘Please introduce yourselves, your departments, and the number of open projects, giving a very brief status update,’ he requested.

  Nandini, promptly, opening her notebook scribbled, ‘U do it... plsss.’ Sneha imperceptibly nodded.

  Aditya directed, ‘We’ll start from my right.’

  ‘Crap! You’ll have 2 do it now!’ Sneha scribbled right back. Nandini literally trembled! Her hands went cold, and sweat glistened on her forehead. She felt dizzy and nauseous; the panic came on full swing.

  Aditya spotted the tell-tale signs. So that has not changed, she is still petrified of it, he thought appeased. Feeling some heat on him, Aditya glanced around. Sneha glared at him.

  Coolly, Aditya shifted to listen to the head of account management, Ms Preeti Kaushik – an attractive young woman saying her piece.

  Preeti spoke, gazing, only at Aditya. One would think she was having an intimate conversation with him, her tone low, a bright smile drawing attention to her colour stained lips, gesturing hands showing the curve of her arm and torso. Having worked for big companies in the metro cities for the past several years, Preeti had recently joined the AAA. Her aged father’s ailing health had forced her to come to this small town, which she openly and vocally disliked.

  ‘Thank you Ms Kaushik. You speak very concisely, giving the big picture in a nutshell,’ Aditya complimented the girl, aware of the flirtatious attempts.

  ‘Oh please call me Preeti!’ the other girl blubbered.

  ‘Gadheri!’ Sneha muttered under her breath.

  Soon it will be my turn; I’ll be the agency’s laughing stock, Nandini worried. Her head felt like it was about to explode.

  Next to speak was, Mr Vishal Tiwari, the head of the graphics and media department. A pass out of a renowned college from Delhi, his tenure here was a stopgap arrangement, until his paperwork in an American university came through. Vishal, a born rebel of the society and its norms, while talking to Aditya purposely tapped his kohlapuri clad foot (wearing slippers at work was against the company policy) and rubbed his pierced eyebrow. There was no rule on pierced eyebrows yet, but Vishal was damn sure he was flouting some rule somewhere!

  ‘Thank you Mr Tiwari and nice sandals,’ Aditya commented with a straight face. Vishal reminded him of so many of the youngsters one came across nowadays – either orgasmic about brands or arch enemies of materialism.

  Nandini was up next. This should be fun... the silly girl has forgotten all that I taught her and has already worked up to quite a state, Aditya deliberated.

  Nandini, ferociously, clamped her parched lips; blood sang chama chama in her ears. She could almost taste the bile in her mouth. Miserably she glanced up, blanching even further as all and sundry fixed impatient eyes on her. Preeti sighed irritated; Vishal increased the tapping of his ethnic footwear.

  ‘Nandini, Ms Sharma can’t speak today, her tonsils are hurting. But as the peer manager of the design department, I can give you all and Mr Sarin the latest status update,’ asserted Sneha, loudly.

  The only way you can refute me, is by disclosing to everyone here that you met Nandini earlier today! Sneha’s eyes challenged Aditya, who gave her a dark look.

  Nandini crazily relieved, mumbled a limp sorry and sat back.

  ‘She does seem kind of sick,’ agreed Mr Telang. ‘Do you need some water, some cola, something?’

  The plan thwarted, Aditya backed off, curtly. ‘Fine, Ms Verma continues. Ms Sharma, go get yourself a drink or whatever it is that you need!’

  Nandini shot out of her chair, exiting the conference room in less than ten seconds. Aditya’s eyes trailed her.

  10

  Imtihaan

  (flashback begins...)

  N andini fled to the rest room and shut herself in the first clean-to-the-eyes stall she could find. Sitting on the pot, closing her eyes, she strove to breathe normally without breathing too much of the phenyl-laden air.

  She heard her own miserable voice in the past as she vented to Badi Maa. ‘I can’t do this... really.’ Nandini was experiencing genuine pain in the chest area. ‘My stomach hurts merely at the thought.’

  ‘No, no beta! You can do it. Imagine us sitting in front of you and then everything will go smoothly,’ Vibha advised, rubbing Nandini’s back.

  ‘Nah. It won’t work!’ Nandini, in abject defeat, rested her head on her knees .

  ‘Just don’t think of Adi,’ Vibha quipped trying to lighten the mood.

  ‘Badi Maa! This is serious. It seems like in the whole universe, I am the only one with this problem. Whoever I tell including my nerdy professor, either laughs at me or accuses me of making it up,’ Nandini grumbled, sitting up.

  ‘Maybe he is right!’On seeing the younger girl’s chagrined expression, Vibha hurriedly clarified, ‘You know all this could be just your brain working overtime. This phobia sounds silly.’

  ‘Even you, think my phobia of public speaking is silly!’ Nandini howled. ‘That’s it! It is decided. I am not going to college tomorrow. Let the professor flunk me and my entire group, I don’t care.’

  Rude laughter distracted them. Aditya ambled closer, laughing hard and loud.

  ‘You said there was no one home,’ Nandini whined, mortified.

  ‘Adi was in the gym. Nandi, I had no idea he’d be back so soon,’ Vibha replied and then turned to her son. ‘Aditya Sarin, leave at once!’

  ‘No way!’ Still chuckling, Aditya flopped next to his mom. ‘A person with verbal diarrhoea is scared of public speaking! This is just pure gold,’ he said, nastily. The cackles kept coming.

  ‘Shudup! I do not have verbal diarrhoea. Oh! Just go and jump off a building or something,’ Nandini muttered, irate.

  ‘Adi please leave us alone,’ Vibha ordered.

  ‘Mom, you’re actually buying this BS? In layman’s terms – full toss nautanki !’

  ‘Adi, mind your language,’ Vibha half-heartedly rebuked.

  ‘No one understands!’ Huffing, Nandini flounced away from mother and son. She sat heavily on a pool chaise, her back towards them. Resting her chin on a hand, she miserably gazed at the shimmering blue water with unseeing eyes. Just when I thought it could not get worse, it just did – now even he knows, she worried.

  Aditya killed his laugh. She seems genuinely upset, he contemplated watching Nandini’s silhouette.

  ‘Adi please! Don’t make fun of her. Shruti called me earlier today. Because of this fear, Nandi is refusing to go for the presentation which is a part of her final exams,’ Vibha confided.

  Raising an eyebrow, Aditya mouthed, ‘Really?’

  ‘Once in school, Nandi actually passed out when she was forced to go on the stage, to address the assembly,’ Vibha added, her voice lowered.

  ‘Wonders never cease. Over here she yaps nonstop, doesn’t even bother breathing,’ Aditya replied in an equally hushed voice.

  ‘You go inside. Let me handle this,’ Vibha asserted, getting up to go towards the quiet girl.

  ‘Mom stop! Please get some Arnold Palmer (lemonade and iced tea) made for me. I’ll take care of this. Or at least I’ll try,’ Aditya said.

  ‘No thank you! You will do more damage than good. We all know how wonderfully you two get along.’

  ‘Mom, I’m serious. I have given innumerable presentations, I’ll teach her a few tricks to beat the nervousness.’

  ‘You would do that?’ Vibha appeared surp
rised.

  ‘Yes Mom ! Can I have the AP please?’ Aditya requested. Vibha headed inside, leaving the youngsters alone.

  Aditya sauntered over to a sullen Nandini. ‘Leave me alone!’ she muttered, feeling his shadow on her .

  Ignoring the dismissal, Aditya took the chaise opposite her. ‘What is this phobia you were talking about?’

  Nandini made a move to get up. Aditya caught her wrist, pulling her down. She glared at him.

  ‘At least talk to me. What do you have to lose? It’s not like it is going to get any worse,’ he coaxed.

  ‘You’ll just make fun of me,’ Nandini replied, trying to tug her hand free.

  Aditya let go. ‘No I won’t! Almost every one of us is a bundle of nerves when addressing a bunch of strangers. There are very few born orators. Public speaking has to be practised, cultivated and attempted several times, for it to come naturally. Dad himself dreads the speech he has to give his employees at the annual company meeting. He gets his speech ready several days before, and keeps going over it in front of the mirror, till he gets it right.’

  ‘Wow! Paresh Uncle?’ Nandini’s eyes widened. ‘You are not making this up, are you?’ she asked.

  ‘Lie to make you feel better? Never . Cross my heart and hope to die.’ Aditya made a silly sign on his chest.

  ‘See! You are already making fun of me.’ Nandini’s frown came back on.

  ‘Maybe you need to do the same. Treat this more lightly. Do you know the material you have to say?’

  ‘By heart, I even know the other people’s part.’

  Aditya raised an eyebrow, as if questioning her sanity.

  ‘The other people, as in, in my group,’ Nandini clarified.

  ‘Well then the hard work is already done. Listen very seriously to what I am about to say. Chant it, till it gets stuck in your brain or whatever you have inside your head.’

  Overlooking the insult, Nandini prompted, ‘Go on! ’

  ‘When you are speaking to a group, avoid eye contact with anyone... absolutely anyone!’

  ‘What do I look at? The ceiling?’