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Phenomenal woman

Last Updated 09 April 2015, 18:13 IST

Her ethics and morality were outdated. She wouldn’t fit in, and thus the polite farewell.

She looked around the room and took a deep breath. Every brick and tile in the room was familiar to her. She had nurtured this company as her own. She had given her sweat and blood to its growth. Just like the blood is turned to milk in a new mother, she had turned her blood into a channel of energy to feed this enterprise. This was hers, her baby.

As her eyes swept around the room and across to a man sitting with a smug look on his face, she knew the truth. No, it was not her but the enterprise which was bigger. It wasn’t human feelings but a business sense which made sense. No emotions, no humanitarian considerations, only money, more contracts and more and more business. If someone had to be sacrificed for it, so be it.

This was her final day in the company. No, she wasn’t retiring, rather, discreetly asked to quit. New people were on board, callous, backstabbers and without any scruples. They would steer the company to success. Ensure that it stayed on top and beat all competitors.

They had ‘strategies’, she had plans. Theirs was a “I win, you lose” principle whereas hers was “I win, you too win” policy. They weren’t fair players but who cared? We want to grab the lion’s share. “Make more moolah, rest be damned,” seemed to be the mantra. She brought in ethics and morality which, according to them, were outdated. She wouldn’t fit in, and thus the polite farewell.

She looked at the man again. Her protégé, her junior. She had taken him under her wing, taught him the tricks of the trade, given him support and covered up his faults. She had groomed him and shielded him from the repercussions of his inadequacies while he had,  at the same time, plotted and schemed against her. The big boss, whom she had met only a couple of times, was wooed and turned against her by this man.

She was made to feel inadequate while, in reality, she was much more capable than all of them put together. What she lacked was cunning, ruthless and a selfish nature. She considered this company her second home and her colleagues as family members. The thought that one can climb up by pulling another down was alien to her.

They announced that she would address the gathering after speaking highly of her and presenting her with a gift and a bouquet. People sat up straight to hear vitriol and bitterness. Her protégé clutched his glass so tight that his knuckles bleached white. But her speech was warm and controlled. She wished well for the company and her junior. Not once did she use a possessive word about the firm. Not a word about the injustice done to her or the unceremonious way she was shown the door.

“You are great ma’am, so strong and dignified in the face of conflict” I said softly as I handed her coat. She looked at me deeply and said, “I am a woman” and sailed out of the building, her head held high and steps unwavering.

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(Published 09 April 2015, 18:13 IST)

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