I am in a competitive world...
I worked hard to build my career....
I sacrificed many things to be a top performer...
Alas.... I am terminated....
I am the Boiled Frog
It
was 11:30 PM when I was still working hard in my ODC trying not to hit
hard on my lap top key board, I was very much disappointed and felt
depressed than ever in my life, when I heard that comment from my
BOSS which strike right in the center of my heart. For a few seconds, I couldn't say anything and I kept mum.
"Idiot....Moron....Useless....You are terminated....."
My
shoulders become less widen, body bends, lips streched down, I feel
less strength and my body reached crouched position. It was like a
balloon loosing air. I couldn't make out, why? I started thinking, what
went wrong? What made my
BOSS to say this? A hell lot of questions started coming to my mind. I began recollecting.
Didnt
I worked hard to meet the demands? I remember I sacrifised too many
things in my life to make my boss happy. I was in a dilemma on what to
do, and I just left the room and started walking. I donno where am I
going, I dont have any destination too, but I keep on moving. I felt a
numbness in my heart. I walked further and saw one juice junction where I
Ordered one drink, I think I have paid the money or may be I have
collected my change, sat in one corner not knowing how to solve this
dilemma. I sat there for a while staring nowhere. After some time, I
found myself sitting on a bench in the midst of woods. I started
recollecting.
No!
There is no way my
BOSS
could say that. I haven't ever heard anything closer to that in my
career. Only what I heard is that, "You are really a good performer". I
skip my breakfast to catch up the morning meetings, taking coffee
frequently to keep my energy level up as I had night outs day before. I
still remember those f**k words from my friends when I respond to their
lunch calls saying "I have an important mail to be send. You guys carry
on". I sacrifised those chat moments with my friends in that little tea
shop in the evening. I sacrificed my gym plans, always dreaming about my
six pack body while going through the latest edition of MH. And I
always stare at those people who hit the gym regularly, while passing by
the gymnasium, to be a performer infront of all the pretty girls. I
used to imagine myself hitting hard at the keyboard to be a better
performer infront of my colleagues. I shifted my attention from gym to
the near by pop corn shop and with a foolish smile I started walking
straight toward that and order one large and walked back to my ODC
thinking about what better could I do next back there.
Afterall, why me?
Skipping
food, depending on junk foods, being in love with my chair for a long
time, I became more and more obese. I feel too tired but I still push
myself harder and harder to become a performer. I got involved myself
into those so called hard work and dedication with all the cheerfulness I
have. I saw my brand new BlackBerry mobile blinking red indicating a
new message had came, for sure it will be any of my friends calling for
some get together. As usual I paid my attention to my pc, keeping all
those distraction away, dreaming about the brighter future ahead.
Exactly
at that moment there comes a popup in my machine with subject on
Appreciation and I opened up with a greate pride with heads up and rhym
in my head and looking around to show off with a big smile in my face
only to see the walls around me in my ODC. And still I felt proud of my
self I streched my hands to both side, took a deep breath and eyes
closed and big smiley on my face imagining myself at the top of the
world. I felt like standing at the top of a mountain and shouting to the
entire world saying that
I am the one....
Then
it came to my mind, even if not the world, I should, atleast inform my
wife right now and I took my mobile and dialled her to inform this good
news and started expressing my joy as soon as she picks up the call...
And form other end I heard.....
"You
Idiot, do you remember that it was our Marriage Anniversay today and
you have promised me to go for a dinner? Don't you ever look at your
watch to see what time it is. I have been waiting for you as usual and
you called me now from your office to inform me that you got an
appreciation mail, huh?. You feel that these are the only important
things in your life, you moron? Its been long time I am keeping mum and I
want tell you now
YOU ARE SUCH A USELESS PERSON
who could have better married a nice looking pink apple laptop rather
than me. Take your lap top home today and have a nice sleep along with
it. I have left the key with our security and I am at my home now."
Ouch...I am terminated....
I
parked my car, to where the security came and handed over me the key. I
walked towards my flat. It was all mechnical, I climbed up the stairs,
which I never used, to my flat in the 4th floor as I didn't saw the lift
at all which I used to. Corridor was very silent as everyone in that
floor are in deep sleep and the only sound I could here was my panting
sound in that dark silence.
I entered the room, where
someone whom I loved so much was there for me to open the door
eventhough I came late from office. I could see all mess in the room
indicating how angry my
BOSS was. I
was soo panting that I kept my laptop and mobile on the tea poy and
throw my self into that pretty sofa we bought when we moved in here 3
years ago. I recollect all those fun we had in our initial days when I
was in the begining of my Career. And now I much more remember that
small story
"The Boiling Frog"
which I red on those days when I had time for liesure to which I pay
less attention and now I am shocked to realize that I am the one, who is
boiled out.
I saw the familiar red blink in my BB. I
jumped over it, expecting it would be a message from my love saying
sorry for talking like that to express her grief. To my disappointment
my mobile displays a new mail indicator. Lazily I opened to see whats in
and it was an appreciation mail and the content was.
"Well done !!
You have done an extra ordinary work.
Congratulation for keeping up this performance. Expecting more from you."
******
No offence to those who work hard and perform well please. A thought
came to my mind while I was leaving office late, how it could be for a
person who doesnt manage his work life balance. It is tough to be at top
in this competitive world and Hats off to those performers who enjoy
their life.******