The Day The State Split Asunder-9

At 06:00 a.m. the phone alarm continued to ring. After snoozing it successively for three times, Karthik woke up in the fourth ring. 

He sat up on the bed, unlocked his mobile and happened to see a text message from Adarsh which went on like:

Karthik come to my room.

Having read the message from Adarsh, he took the brush, towel, and grooming kit from his bag and slipped into the washroom. 

After taking his shower, he put on the sky blue shirt and a black pant, grabbed a comb, and began straightening his hair.

I don't know how the day is going to be?

Today, it is his first day at the office and being a newbie in a work environment can stir up feelings of panic and excitement on the same line. 

Satish and Venkatesh were lying asleep on their beds. He silently walked out of the room putting the phone in his pocket, approached the door of Adarsh's, and began knocking it.  

"Come in, the door is open," said Adarsh. "Karthik, I have been waiting for you. At what time you wake up?"

Adarsh was seated at his desk, holding a book in his hand. He placed it on the shelf, grabbed a steel tiffin box on his desk, and asked Karthik to be seated on the bed.

"I usually wake up at 08:00 or maybe even more. On holidays, it may even go till twelve." said Karthik with a little chuckle. "At home, it is the regular duty of my mother to wake me up daily."

"Karthik, if you wish to rule the day you have to get up early."

"In what way?"

"I will talk about it later." Adarsh sat beside him, placing the box in his hand. "I brought breakfast for you, bread and jam. Have it."

"Bro, thank you so much for your care and concern, but I am not feeling like to eat anything," said Karthik, looking down at the floor with his face afflicted with apprehension.

Adarsh forcibly made him open the box. "I know. The first day at the job is indeed a trepidatious feeling," said Adarsh, "Even I experienced this shrinking fear that tells you that you don't know anyone, you don't know how things are done, you don't know who to talk to, and you don't know how friendly or over-the-top professional you need to be."

"How on earth did you sense the agitation going on in my mind?" said Karthik, eating the bread simultaneously. "I am feeling a bit nervous inside as today is the first day at my job, I get the heebie-jeebies thinking about it."

"Buddy! Stepping into a new job for the first time can kindle deep feelings of anxiety, making you feel as though you're on the outside, not good enough, or smaller than you are. But, the sooner you can face those fears, the sooner you can dive in and start making an impact. Simply put, anything new is scary. That's just how it should be. If it wasn't scary, it would mean you've done it all before or are simply following to the letter what someone else has already carved out. And that doesn't sound like much fun at all, right? The fear you feel about starting a new job is just your brain doing what it's supposed to do. The real problem then is thinking that fear and anxiety is a problem. It isn't. It's perfectly normal."

Karthik sat in silence for a few moments. Adarsh kept close to him, wanting desperately to hold his hand, just to erase the nervousness.

"With zero years of experience, I am not sure how I will be able to adapt to the new lifestyle as an employee."

"Every expert was once a beginner," said Adarsh. "Everyone around you is incomplete and imperfect. Everyone has their strengths, weaknesses, wins, losses, history, and potential. And comparing yourself to those people and automatically making them better is just a strategy to keep you small and afraid. Part of the fear of a new job is comparing yourself to others and thinking that everyone around you is better in some way; that they know more or do more or are capable of more."

"Thank you so much. Your words are so inspiring. I am not feeling tensed anymore. I will just do whatever the task has been assigned to me in earnest faith."

"That's the spirit! Don't take the pressure to perform right from the start. Nobody expects you to know everything. Take only one step at a time."

"Sure. And how far is my office from our hostel?"

"It's a familiar place just ten kilometers away. I will drop you today. In the evening you catch a bus to Marthahalli and get down at the bus stop after crossing the SSR Multiplex. Take the lane opposite to it, walk straight down and you will reach our hostel." he glanced at his wristwatch, it showed 08:00. "If you are ready, we can make a move."

"Yes, I am ready."

Karthik walked back to his room to pick up his backpack and raced to the ground floor. Adarsh took the motorbike out of the hostel, put on the helmet, and started the engine. Karthik sat back of him and the duo started off to the office.

Half an hour later they stopped exactly in front of a huge building with a big signboard MindValley Terminus, spread over an area of five acres.

"This is the building." said Adarsh, "All the best buddy."

"Thank you. I will see you tonight, bye."

Adarsh fled from the spot. Karthik surveyed the area around and noticed two gates just fifty steps apart from each other. One gate served as an entrance, while another for the exit.

Advancing through the paved walkway around the circumference of the compound wall, he neared the security desk. He put forward the offer letter of the company along with a photo-identity proof.

After thoroughly checking the document and the identity proof the security personnel allowed him inside.

Proceeding along the pebble pathway with trimmed grass on either side, with the bag slinging on his right shoulder he reached the juncture, where the building branched into two blocks. Block-1 on the left and Block-2 on the right. The skyway which is present just a few floors above the ground connected the two blocks.

He once again took the offer letter into his hands to have a glance at the block and the floor number. The office is in block one, seventh floor.

He cut towards the left the block-1, got into the elevator, pressed the button with digit seven, but it went down to the basement. Then it went to level two. Then it went to level four. Within seconds it reached the seventh floor and the lift doors opened. He forged ahead and straight in front of him there is a small glass signboard with the company name 'ZenWings IT Services and Consultancies.' 

The door is closed and one needs to have an access card to gain entry into the office. Anticipatingly he was standing at the door, waiting for someone to pass through.

"Excuse me," said a man's voice. He is of the same age as Karthik and an ID card circled his short collar with the company name printed on its tag. "What are you doing here?"

"Sir, I have been asked to report today." he put forward the offer letter.

After carefully reading the offer letter, the man gave it back to his hands, placed his ID card over the sensor, and instantly the door got released and informed Karthik to come along with him. He escorted him to the lounge and asked him to wait there until the HR arrives.

The lounge has two four Carrom boards with wooden folding chairs scrambled arbitrarily. There's a coffee vending machine at the corner with paper cups stacked beside in four rows. 

He scanned the room, trying to find a comfortable place to sit and noticed a cozy recliner couch at the corner of the room, and in front of it, there is a glass table on which various magazines are piled one above the other.

He sat on the couch comfortably, placed the bag gently on the floor, and stretched out his legs, with an air of being at home.

A few minutes later, a girl appeared at the entrance. She was observing the entire room as if she is looking for someone. He could not see her face. 

After having spotted Karthik, she started walking towards him. She is dressed in a white t-shirt, black jeans and looked pretty elegant in that outfit. Her glossy hair was swept to the side in loose curls that barely touched her shoulder and the black earrings looked good on her. He kept on staring at her, unblinking, to find out who she was. She approached and stood straight in front of him. Her face glowed like a moon on a full moon day, and her plump cheeks dimpled and her browny eyes were glimmering against the twinkling lights that hung above. She wore dark pink lipstick, and her eyelashes were heavy with mascara.

"Good morning mam!" said Karthik standing up from his seat.

"Good morning," she replied with a beautiful smile, looking straight into his eyes. When she smiled, two deep dimples appeared in the center of her cheeks. "I think you might have mistaken my identity. I am yet to be inducted into the company."

"Is it? I thought you are the HR of this company. Even I am also new recruit like you."

"That's wonderful, your good name please?"

"I am Karthik."

"Karthik, only Karthik?"

"Karthik Oleti."

"So shall I call you Karthik or Oleti."

"Everyone calls me by the name Karthik. I leave the choice to you."

"By the way, My name is Vijaya Chamundeswari Madhu Latha."

"Nice names."

She laughed - "At the same time it's very big."

"Which name do you like to be called?"

"You can call me Madhu."

"So Madhu, For how long have you been working?"

"Can you make a guess?"

"Three, no…no…I think four years."

"Oh! Please stop. You are making me sick. Do I look that old."

"Hey not like that. I just guessed because you look so calm and composed. I thought maybe you are experienced."

"It's hardly only a month since I stepped out of my college. I am a bit extroverted by nature."

"And that's the reason you were able to grab a job quickly unlike me who had to wait for one year to get into a job. It's very rare to see a gregarious girl like you. I am exactly opposite of you."

"Thanks for your compliment and where are you from?"

"I am from Hyderabad."

"Oh! The city of pearls. You have many IT industries in Hyderabad, why did you choose Bangalore?"

"Variety is the spice of life. I got bored with Hyderabad. So, I decided to begin my career in this IT Capital. And where are you from-"

"Excuse me…" said a woman's voice. She walked swiftly towards in their direction dressed in Yellow salwar Kameez enhanced by sequins work all over, with black dupatta.

"Good morning mam." Madhu greeted the woman.

"Good morning Madhu Latha," rolling her eyes towards Karthik, "You must be Karthik right?"

"Yes mam," said Karthik.

"Mr. Karthik, I am Sana Afrin, the HR of this organization. We will do the pre-joining formalities here itself. I will get the documents meanwhile, just give me a minute."

The HR Sana walked out of the room.

"What documents is she talking about?" asked Karthik.

" Confidential agreements."

"I see."

Moments later the HR walked in with a couple of papers holding in her hand.

"Shall we sit and discuss around the carrom board table." asked the HR.

"Yes Mam," said Madhu.

The three sat on the chair's placed around the carrom board. 

Sana handed over the documents to Madhu and Karthik. They signed on the confidential agreement and later she briefed about their roles and responsibilities.

"Karthik and Madhu. You will be on probation for four months. After four months there is going to be an assessment and in case if you guys flunked the assessment, the company is going to terminate you."

"Sure mam, I will try my level best to perform better in the assessment," said Madhu.

Beads of perspiration surfaced on his forehead. He watched Madhu for a moment, taking in the look on her face, all the fear and botheration melted away.

"What about you Karthik? My intention is not to scare you, but encourage you so that you can perform better." said HR.

"Sure mam, I will work hard and clear the assessment," said Karthik.

"I think we are good to start with the day. I wish you all the best, make this organization feel proud for having employees like you."

To be continued…