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Amit was looking forward to the next day, when he could hold Naina to her promise to share some more gossip with him. He had learnt that the mornings were the best time of the day to exchange such notes. Usually bosses arrived a little late and serious work began only after 11.00 A.M.
Amit reached office on time and punched in his attendance. Then he signalled to Naina and both sneaked up the staircase.
“You were going to tell me something about my boss,” said Amit.
“Yah. It looks like money is very important to her. She’ll do anything to save a penny,” Naina said.
Amit looked puzzled.
“And what does she do exactly?” he asked.
“You know Sapna, the accountant in the firm?” Naina asked.
“Yes, I know she exists, but what about her?” he asked.
“A few days back, I overheard her talking to someone in the accounts department about Smriti’s behaviour,” Naina said.
“Really? And what did Smriti do?” Amit said, his brown eyes glinting as he became even more curious.
“Apparently Sapna too lives in Greater Kailash, close to where Smriti does. Last year, both of them decided to share a cab for work every day,” said Naina.
“Okay, so?” Amit asked.
“Sapna had suggested that they both share the costs equally but Smriti refused. She wanted to share the fare on the basis of distance travelled. She thought that would save her some money as her house was closer to the office than Sapna’s. So, Smriti wanted to get the maximum bang for her buck,” Naina said with a grin.
Amit smiled back.
“And here comes the fun part...” Naina said.
Amit was listening with enthusiasm as if a murder mystery was about to be unravelled.
“Your boss miscalculated the distance completely,” Naina couldn’t help herself and broke out into a hearty laughter. Amit enjoyed watching her laugh.
“Then what?” Amit asked.
“It turned out that Smriti had to pay more than Sapna’s. She thought that was unfair,” Naina said.
Now Amit also broke into a laughter.
“And here comes really the weird part,” said Naina.
Amit was listening.
“One fine morning your boss dear told Sapna that she should pay more,” Naina said.
Amit’s jaw dropped. That was the weirdest thing he had ever heard of.
“Sapna told her that that was impossible. They had agreed to share the fare that way. You know what your boss did?” Naina asked.
Amit sighed, “yah, what did she do?”
“She started calling Sapna names. She broke into tears. She told Sapna that she was bullying her,” Naina said breaking into a hearty laughter.
Amit too couldn’t control himself.
“Sapna thought that was too much. She told Smriti frankly that if this was the case, then she will have to discontinue this cab-sharing business with her,” said Naina.
“Okay, that sounds reasonable,” said Amit.
“Yah, but the story does not stop there,” Naina continued.
“Sapna received a phone call from Smriti’s mother. Her mother threatened Sapna that her daughter was a senior officer in the firm and how dare she speak to her like that,” Naina said.
Amit was taken aback. This was getting weirder than he had initially thought.
“This is unbelievable. You mean Smriti complained to her mother about Sapna, like nursery children? Anyway what happened next?” Amit was incredulous.
“Nothing. Sapna just hung up and told all her colleagues about how it was just too much,” said Naina.
Amit laughed but deep below he was saddened to hear about his boss’ behaviour. He too had done a lot for his boss, he thought. But now he wanted to hear Naina’s opinion. So he told her everything.
She looked aghast. He noticed she didn’t see things the way he did.
“Wow, you paid for her mom’s medicines. And that too twice?” Naina asked for a reconfirmation.
“Yes,” Amit said.
“And did she ever return your money?” Naina asked. Her questions becoming more pointed than ever before.
Amit was startled. He hadn’t thought about this.
“Look I can understand she wasn’t carrying her wallet that day. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need to return your money,” Naina said.
Amit nodded.
“What other stories did she tell you?” Naina asked.
“Errrr.... She told me that her father’s business had gone bust and she was repaying the debt,” Amit said. “I think she is broke.”
Naina’s eyes widened in horror.
“She earns five times more than you, Amit. She comes from a Marwari background. They are business people by nature and pretty well off. Even if she is really broke and that’s a big if, that’s her problem, NOT yours.”
“She has told you all those stories so that she gains your sympathy. And then she can emotionally manipulate you into doing things for her that you would normally protest and call it outside your job description,” Naina said.
Amit was startled. He hadn’t thought about this side of things. He thought that the world was a good place and his boss was just like any other human being with her own sets of problems and tragedies.
“For delivering documents, the firm has office boys. Associates like you don’t need to run such errands. Next time she tells you to deliver something tell her to either post it or use a peon,” Naina said.
Amit nodded his head silently. His mind was in a whirlwind. He couldn’t believe his boss could manipulate him like that. He cleared his throat to speak:
“How do I find out my boss has been manipulating me?”
“Simple, why don’t you go up to your boss right now and ask her to give your money back? And just see her reaction,” Naina said.
Amit looked surprised. He was feeling stupid. Naina could sense that. She kept her hands on his back and said, “Look you are a good man. Don’t let anyone take advantage of that.”
Amit nodded.
“I think I should go back to my workstation now. It is time,” Amit said.
Naina nodded and got up from the stairs.
“Just remember one more thing, Amit. When you feel something is not right but cannot really pin point it, take it that you are being manipulated,” said Naina.
