Mrs Sophia And Her Boss

After completing graduation I was searching for a job. I tried here and there with my best but did not get any success. I was returning home from Delhi after attending one interview. At the station, I met a gentleman Mr. Ankit Dixit. He was also waiting for the train. But the train was delayed for two hours. So we were chatting over common issues to pass the time.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I am going to Morena. I came here to attend one interview.”

“What happened in the interview? Have you got any offer?”

“I have got the offer of a sales executive job but I have to pay Rs 15000 to undergo training.”

“Be careful before paying any amount. You may get cheated. I became the prey to this false offer four years ago.”

“Oh! I will check it properly before paying. Two years over but still I cannot bag a job. My situation is very bad.”

“I know the poor plight of jobless youth. There is a great lack of employment opportunity.”

“After completing graduation, I am searching a lot but not able to get a job.”

“What type of job you are searching for?”

“Any job will be fine for me. Just I want a job to earn money.”

“If you want an outdoor sales job I can help you. You can join our company as a salesman.”

“Please help me to get a job in your company. I am ready to do any job.”

“You note down my number. Call me after one week. I will help you to get a job in our company.”

After one week I called him and he told me to come to Delhi. He messaged me with an address. I reached Delhi and meet Mr. Ankit Dixt at the address given by him. It was the sales office address of the company he was working for. The company had five offices in different parts of Delhi. It sells electronic products through direct sales and online channels all over Delhi. He took me to his manager who was a middle-aged man with light-dark complexion. He was a healthy tall-figured sturdy man. He was very talkative and calculative. He makes a lot of fun but becomes serious in a moment. It was very difficult to guess his mood. Mr. Ankit Dixit introduced me to him –

“Have you sold anything in life?”

“No. I haven’t sold anything till now.”

“Then how will you sell without prior experience?” – he said seriously.

“I will try sir. I will learn the art of selling.”

He laughs.

“You are no more a boy that you can learn. Your learning age is over. It is your earning age.”

I remained silent for a moment.

“What happen Mr. Sohail? You are not saying anything. By the way, you look very handsome. How many girlfriends do you have?”

“I don’t have any girlfriend, sir.”

“Then you are useless for my company. If cannot attract girls in this age then how will you attract customers.”

“That is different sir. Nowadays only those boys are having girlfriends who have money – whether handsome or not that doesn’t matter”

“Well experienced. So someone broke your heart.”

“No, sir. I have a true lover. She is married to someone but still, she loves me.”

“Vegetable love!! It is useless to love. Forget her. I have a very hot collection in my office if you want I will set for you.”

I remained silent. My expression changed and he felt it.

‘Dear don’t take it another way I am trying to make frank. We need a frank and talkative person who can talk to anyone for the sake of selling.”

“I will do that sir.”

“I have heard this dialogue from unnumbered candidates but they didn’t do – they were not able to sell. You will get a salary if you can sell. Remember – no sale no salary.”

I remained silent.

“Is this condition fine for you?”

“Yes, it is fine for me.”

“But we are not so heartless. We will give you a fixed salary for the first three months whether you can sell or not. During this time you will be on probation. After that, if you cannot sell I will kick you out. Any doubt?”

“No doubt sir.”

“Apart from your fixed salary, you will get incentives based on your sales performance. I hope everything is clear to you. Any question?”

“Yes, sir…”

“What question…”

“No question sir. Everything is clear.”

“Good. Now it is time to meet your boss. Remember I am your Big Boss.”

“Yes sir.”

“What a man you are! Smile little. I am talking like a joker and you are so serious. Be serious only with customers – be serious only when you are selling a product, rests of the time remain cheerful. Tomorrow never knows – today is the best day in our life always.”

“No sir actually I came by doing overnight train journey……”

“No excuse. It is a very bad habit. I don’t like excuse. Did you understand? ”

“Yes sir.”

“We have a canteen. You can have burger, pizza, noodles, drinks, and you can watch cricket matches, news or you can play carom or chess also. Forget your past, start with us a new life – a happy cheerful life.”

“Yes sir.”

“But you have to pay for this from your salary. It is not free.”

“Ok. No problem sir. I will pay.”

“So it is time to meet your boss. Come with me.”

I followed him. He went to a room. Many people were busy with packing different things. He went to a lady hardly 25 years old who was busy in instructing others –

“Hi Sophia! We have a new handsome cock today. You can make nice biriyani of this cock.” – he pointed to me.

“Sohail this is Sophia, your boss. She will tell you everything – what you have to do, where you have to do and how you have to do. Get blessing from her and learn from her the magic of success in sale.”

“Hi Sohail!” She said to me in a very sweet voice. She was in a short but attractive attire and looking different from other girls and ladies present there. She was looking extremely beautiful and smart.

“Good morning madam.”

“From where are you?”

“I am from MP, Madhya Pradesh.”

“We have many employees from MP and UP. You will enjoy your job. Just be smart.”

“I will try my best madam.”

“Come I will brief you everything and you can start selling today onwards. I will be with you.”

I followed her to her small cabin. I was not able keep eye to eye contact with her as she was very smart and I felt ashamed.

“Sohail always keep eye to eye contact with your customers and do practice with me. It will show your confidence and customer will listen to you and believe you. Then only your product will be sold. Understood?”

“Yes madam.”

“So I will…”

“Madam when I will get joining letter?”

“Don’t worry about that, we will give you today. That is not a big matter. Your job and salary will depend on how much you are able to sell.”  

“If you are able to sell you will have everything here, if you cannot sell you will have nothing here. Set your mind accordingly and focus on sale only.”

She explained different rules and regulations and other aspects of the job. She was very friendly. I was little introvert but she made me a good friend of her. After one hour interaction with her I was able to remove all my hesitation. We went to canteen for breakfast. After that we will go for field selling. The canteen was having only fast food that I don’t like. But anyway I had a burger with her. It was written by the canteen boy as we don’t need to pay cash immediately. It will be deducted from our salary. She packed her bag with the assigned products and so did for me in another bag. We had to sell tabs for kids. We were assigned an area. Different salesmen went to different area. The whole day we went door to door to sell it. Some customers will listen with smile, some will say no without listening anything and some will close the door as soon as they see a salesman is there. Some houses’ gate was having a notice written boldly – “NO SALESMEN ARE ALLOWED.”

After visiting around 36 houses we were able to sell only two tabs. I was very tired but she was not. She offered me tea in a tea stall. We came back to our sales office in the evening. It was my first day. I was feeling very tired. I thought we will be free from our duty after that. But still work was there. We went to cash counter and deposited the amount we got after sale and returned unsold items to the store keeper with proper records.

“Come to my cabin. I will make the sales report.”

“Still how much time we have to stay in office?”

“Just we will go and submit the report to the manager. After that we can go home.”

Already others were waiting to submit sales report to the manager in front of his office. All were in hurry. We submitted our sales report. Thus I completed first day in my job. I was told to stay in a room temporarily for that night near the canteen. I managed that night in that room without proper arrangement.

Next day I got up early in the morning as I was not able to sleep properly. I saw the canteen boy was sleeping soundly on the floor inside the canteen. I got refreshed. It was very difficult to take bath with cool water and I managed with a wet cloth and cleaned my hair with water. Someone came to my room. I don’t know him. He came and took some stuff kept in that room and went without saying anything. Anyway I was just passing time sitting in my room. I heard some noise and it was coming from the canteen. Other employees were having tea there in the morning and were talking with each other loudly and making fun. They were making fun of sharing common toilets as number of toilets was lesser. I also went there and had tea and met with some new faces. The canteen boy was busy in serving tea and preparing noodles for breakfast. Anyway time passed at a fast pace. It was 8.35 am and I had to report office at 9 am. So I started getting ready for office and reached there earlier. Already Sophia madam reached there and she was busy with some other works. I went to her –

“Good morning madam.”

“Good morning Sohail. So how was your first day? How did you feel yesterday?” 

“Little awkward and tired.”   

“First few days you may feel little awkward but afterwards you will be used to it – you will forget to feel.”

“Hope so madam.”

“Are you married?”

“No madam.”

“Then no problem, you can do well. Try your best.”

“Yes madam I will try my best.”

“Let’s go and pack our bag for outing. Today my daughter is not feeling well. I will try to go home early.”

“What happened to your daughter?”

“She is having fever.”

“How old she is?”

“She is only 11 months old.”

“The baby must be missing you.”

“Yes. I also miss her a lot. But without money we cannot live.”

“Your husband?”

“He had an accident. Now he is not able to work. He is bed-ridden.”

“Ohh! So you may be in financial problem.”

“Yes. That’s why I am bound to do this job. I will tell you everything later. We are getting late for outdoor sale.”

We took the assigned products in our bags and went for outdoor sales in another area. We started trying our luck by visiting door to door, talking to the prospective customers and explaining product features. Day started well as two units were sold within an hour. Sophia madam was happy. There was a coffee shop and we had coffee.

“So who is taking care of your baby?”

“My mother-in-law.”

“Who else are there in your family?”

“Only four members in my family me, my husband, daughter and mother-in-law.”

“What about your family?”

“My parents, me and my two sisters.”

“What is your father?”

“He is a farmer.”

“And your sisters?”

“They are doing study and my mother is a housewife.”

“So you have a nice family. Isn’t it?”

“Yes by the grace of God I have a happy family.”

Thus we started sharing life with each other and became very close friend. The day’s duty was going to over. After selling first two units, we did not get any good customer to sell more. Whole day we tried but in vain. By evening we came back to our office and deposited the cash in cash-counter and returned the unsold products to the store manager and maintained the record.

“Let’s go to my cabin. We have to make sales report and we need to submit it to the manager. I have to do it quickly. I have to go home fast. I am missing my daughter a lot.” 

“Yeah, let’s do it fast.”

She prepared the sales report and said -

“Let’s go to the manager.”

We went to the manager’s office. We were waiting outside his office and others were also waiting for the same. All were ready to go home as soon as possible.

Our turn came and we went inside. The manager was being assisted by two girls.

“How was your day?”

“It was ….”

“Sophia only two units sold! It is unexpected from an experienced and smart employee like you. You meet me after 6.30 pm.”

“Sir I am in hurry I have to go home. You know that I have a baby. My baby is ill. My home is not near. Can I meet you tomorrow? Please sir tomorrow.” 

“I don’t like excuse.” – he replied rudely to Sophia.

“Sohail, you can stay in a PG where most of our outstation employees are staying. You have to stay twin share basis. Any problem to stay twin share basis?”

“No problem sir. I will manage it.”

“Good.”

“Sophia inform Mr Ankit Dixit to show his room.”

“Ok sir.”

We left his office. I felt sorry for Sophia madam.

“It is his daily drama.” – she said sadly.

“Why doesn’t he try to understand your problem?”

“You don’t know him. Keep safe distance from him. Do your job. That’s all. There is a long story I will tell you later.”

She took me to Mr. Ankit Dixit’s cabin.

“Ankit sir, here is Mr Sohail. Sir told you to arrange his accommodation.”

“Ok. I will arrange. You are late again. What about your transfer?” 

“Waiting sir, expecting that he will do it soon.”

“Hope so. Why is he taking so much time?”

“Don’t know sir. I am getting late. See you tomorrow.”

She went. Mr Dixit took me to another building where outstation employees were staying. He showed me a room and already one person was living there. I had to share with him.

“I hope that you like this room.”

“Yes. It’s ok. What about toilet bathroom?”

“We don’t have attached lat-bath. There are three common lat-baths and we manage with those.”

“I will tell the peon to arrange your bed.”

“Ok. Thank you sir.”

“Ok see you tomorrow.”

I had light dinner at the canteen but the food was not good. I was introduced to my room partner. As I interacted with them, I came to know none of them were satisfied with their present job. Most of them were planning to find new job. I went to sleep. Morning time it was a big problem to get refreshed as someone was already there. We have to wait one by one to get refreshed as number of toilets were limited and tenants were more. Very soon I became used to this life.

Now I don’t feel tired to roam here and there with Sophia madam for selling outdoor. We became very closed friends and started sharing personal matters also. Sales performance was going normally – sometimes more, sometimes less or sometimes nothing. I was getting Rs 4500 fixed salary and Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 as incentives. But I had to spend Rs 4800 for food and accommodation and other living cost. So the saving was not so good. Anyway I was trying to do my best to earn. Today Sophia madam was looking very sad. She was totally in different mood. She remains always cheerful and helpful but that day she was looking gloomy.

“What happened madam – why are you looking so sad?”

“At least you read my sad face. It is a long story Sohail. I will tell you later.”

We were late to start for outdoor selling that day. Without taking breakfast we hurried with the products to the area assigned to visit. She was not in a mood to sell and she was not able to deal with the customers properly in a persuasive manner as she used to do earlier and she is an expert in this skill. She has some magic words and a sweet tongue with which she can sell anything. I tried my best to deal with the customers so that I can sell some units of the assigned products. But I could not sell any. We saw a coffee shop and went to have some coffee.

“Yes madam what was the long story you wanted to tell me.”

“It is a secret matter I cannot share.”

“If you share with me your mental burden will be less. You may feel good or I may find a solution.”

“Yes you are correct. But it is a secret and personal matter I cannot share. But I don’t hesitate to share with you.”

“If it is too much personal better not to share.”

“But I think I need to share it to find a solution because I don’t want to get exploited anymore. Four months ago my husband had an accident. We spent a lot of money to save him. Now he is bed-ridden. Two years ago we got married. My parents spent all their savings in my marriage. Due to his accident our financial condition collapsed and I was in great need of a job. I searched here and there a lot for a job but I was not able to find a suitable one. This company has five branches in Delhi. One branch is near my home. This branch is far from my home. I requested to give me a job in that branch but Sir told to join here to take one week training and later he would transfer me to that branch. But one month over – two months over and now four months are going to over but still I haven’t got transfer. Rather he has started exploiting me sexually – I am bound to bear this as financial situation is worse at my home.”

She remained silent for a moment.

“What a crook he is! He is an animal.”

My daughter was seriously ill. I had no money for her treatment. I came to sir to take some money as advance -

“Sir I need some money as advance. My baby is seriously ill.”

“I can give you advance but what will you give me?”

I thought he was joking as he used to say anything.

“Whatever you want I will give you sir.”

“I want you.”

I was surprised at his demand as it was not expected even in joke. I left his room without saying anything but he tried to stop me -

“Hey Sophia, I am just joking. Listen to me.”

Without listening anything I went home. My baby was seriously ill. The doctor told me to admit her in hospital. I admitted my baby in hospital. But whatever money I had was not sufficient. I sold some household items but they were sold at a cheap price. Next day I didn’t come to office as I was with my baby in hospital and didn’t inform in office. My mother-in-law was taking care of the baby. I was in need of more money for my baby’s treatment. I got an sms that if I don’t report office tomorrow I will lose my job. One week was left to complete the month. If I lose the job I may lose one month salary also. So I went to office to resume my duty. But he was ready with my termination letter as I took leave without information. He made it a big issue. I requested him not to do that. He told me –

“No need to go for outdoor selling, you may go home. We won’t be able to pay you anything according to the offer letter as it is a termination case.”

I was hopeless. I control my anger. I forgot my dignity. I requested him like a beggar. But he was adamantine in his decision.

‘Sir please don’t be heartless. Have mercy on me. My family will die if I lose this job. Sir please forgive me.”

“Rule is rule. I cannot help you.”

“You can help sir. Sir please help me. Please forgive me.”

“If I help you what will you give me.”

I understood his actual demand but I was bound by the situation.

“What do you want?” I asked angrily with tears in eyes.

“Be mature Sophia. Same thing I cannot ask again and again. I want you. I am not joking now.”

“I was bound to submit my body and soul to that crook.”

She became silent. She was crying and after a moment she started saying -

“After that many times he has sexually exploited me and still exploiting. I don’t want to get exploited anymore. I cannot expect help from others because all are busy to save his or her job. I didn’t dare to share with anyone – partly being ashamed and partly being afraid. Sometime I hate myself. I am living only for my little daughter. I don’t know how long I have to offer my body to that crook. I am hopeless.”

“It is very sad madam. Why don’t you inform to the police? If you remain silent, he will misuse you more. You have to take daring step.”

“He is having money. He is earning a lot of money. Corrupted police will not do anything. He will save himself with his money and I will be in great problem. He knows my family situation and my weakness.”  

“He is misusing your weakness.”

“Yesterday he told me to meet him at 6.30 pm. He does it often. By 6 pm or maximum by 6.15 pm all workers leave office. None remains there. Only he remains alone and when I go to meet him he makes me his prey. He mentally and physically exploits me. It is not one or two days’ matter. He does it again and again – two-three times a week. Yesterday he made video recording of my naked body and ………………. Now he is blackmailing me. He is threatening to the public that video through youtube, Facebook and other social media if I ask for a transfer or show any excuse or take any action against him or refuse to offer my body. Actually I was not at all ready yesterday as my heart was beating for my daughter who was having high fever. So he was not happy and satisfied with my cold behavior.”

She was feeling very sad and was crying.

I remained silent and I was at a loss.

We were not able to sell a single unit that day. I offered her lunch at a local hotel. Though the food was delicious but she was not able to enjoy it as she was missing her daughter and old happy days with her husband as they used to go to restaurant for fun and food . Suddenly she started –

“If I had controlled my desire I would not have to be in such problem. My misfortune came due to my foolishness and lavish lifestyle. My uncle was a very rich man – in fact he was the richest man in our village. Her daughter was married to an engineer who was working in Gurgaon and getting very high salary. Her marriage was done in a grand way. My mother was always jealous of my uncle’s progress. Later the virus of this jealousy affected my father also. So they also started searching an engineer or doctor for me. Finally they got an engineer for me. In my marriage my parents spent Rs 25 lakhs. My marriage budget was more than my cousin sister’s marriage budget. My parents just spent this much money as they were comparing and competing with my uncle. Marriage hall rent and decoration cost was 2.5 lakhs, my marriage dress was of 1.5 lakhs, the car that my father gifted my husband was of 7 lakhs, around 500 people were invited and each plate was of Rs 1000 around Rs 5 lakhs , my father gave me gold of Rs 4 lakhs and gave cash of Rs 5 lakhs to my husband. Whatever they saved for their old age all were spent in my marriage. I was very happy and feeling proud. We felt very proud. People were appraising my marriage ceremony as it was a grand marriage. My husband also spent around Rs 6 lakhs in reception party. My husband is a very nice man whatever I say he listens to me attentively and never say ‘no’. He was having a good house and little land in his ancestral village. As my cousin sister was living a luxurious life in Gurgaon with her husband I felt jealous. I wanted to live in Delhi. So I insisted my husband to sell his ancestral house and land in village and to buy a luxurious flat in Delhi. He did so according to my instruction to make me happy. I didn’t like my mother-in-law to be with us as her life-style was of old fashioned and I told my husband to keep her in any old age home. He did everything according to my wish. Money that we got after selling ancestral property was not enough to buy a luxurious flat in Delhi. So he took a home loan with EMI. Finally we came and started living a happy modern lavish life in Delhi. I used to wear only costly branded garments and often used to visit restaurant, shopping malls, movies and used to spend money unnecessarily. I gave birth of a daughter. Happiness doubled after her birth. But our happy life didn’t last long. In the accident the car that my father gifted to my husband was totally damaged and he was critically injured – we lost hope. I sold all my gold ornaments and whatever little amount was left with my father all spent for his treatment. What bank balance was there all spent to save him. Now he is bedridden. I was not able to afford the maid. It was very difficult to manage my daughter and my husband who was a patient. I was bound to bring back my old fashioned mother-in-law home. I had no way other than doing a job to feed my family. I was madly searching for any job. For last three months home loan EMI is not paid. Bank people are calling again and again. I don’t know how will I manage with this little earning.”

I remained silent. I was feeling sorry for her present poor plight. I was a newcomer and I was in hesitation. But I was determined to help Mrs Sophia. But it was not easy as I didn’t want to lose my job. I managed to collect a hidden pen camera and told Sophia madam to record his misdeeds but she was in hesitation and she didn’t agree. Secretly I informed the matter to a women welfare organization. It was an NGO working for women’s social safety and security. With the help of Sophia, the team of that NGO caught that manager red-handed. He was handed over to police and was fined to pay Rs 1 lakhs penalty to Mrs Sophia. She was offered a job in that NGO. But I was working in that company as usual. Our Manger was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.