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She put her lipstick on and pouted. The last time she used it was during her college farewell. ‘A lipstick always adds elegance to what you wear’ she thought.
"Tina, your cab is here", said Meetali. She looked at herself, top to bottom once more and walked to the door.
"Coming" she yelled to Meetali sitting in the living room.
"MG road bhaiya", she told the driver signaling him to leave.
3 months back around the same time, she had received her 3rd-year final exams results. 90% it said. She smiled. "I can now apply to some good companies to get a marketing job", she thought. Her parents smiled too. "She will get a good groom" they thought. Little did they know that a groom was the last thing on Anika’s mind. She was finally all set to confront her parents after a few days.
"Ma pa, I want to go to Bangalore to work" she finally gathered some courage to say it.
"What beta?"
"I want to go to Bangalore to work" she repeated not letting the fear show on her face.
"Beta, what are you saying? How can you go to Bangalore to work? You don't know anyone there", her mom said.
"I will make friends there. Don't worry. “She said trying to sound as positive as she could.
"No Anika. This is not happening. You are not going anywhere. We are getting you married. That's all. We already have proposals from a few families", her father said deciding not to allow her to go.
“Pa, I have an offer from a very good company. This is going to be very good for my career".
"Career? He laughed. "What career?" He laughed again.
All the positivity that she carried to the discussion went puff with the laughter. She stood up and placed the photocopy of the offer letter in front of her parents.
“The train is at 7 o'clock day after tomorrow. See me off if you can." She said and left. A drop of tear fell on her cheeks but her determined mind stopped it right there.
Making a new start is not an easy job. But it feels good. It smells of courage more than anything else. While Anika was courageous enough to leave her whole life behind her for a dream, she was also very scared. The fear of failing, fear of disappointing her parents, fear of not being able to manage alone ate her up. But one look at what she wanted in life and she was ready to surpass every emotion that came her way.
~~~~
"Enough bhaiya. Stop here please" she said and walked to the office.
Welcome to parallel business services" said the marketing head at parallel. They were seated in his office.
"Thank you" she said with a big smile.
"We can get started off with work from today. You'll be learning on the job, so there is no need for specific time allocation for the training", he said giving her a brief. Her own desk, her own laptop and her own separate space to work. She was overwhelmed. She found an empty space on the desk and placed the Ganesha idol in front. With eyes closed and a silent prayer in mind, she began her work. The first day at the office went well. With hardly any work or pressure, she was able to take a look around the office and get a feel of working there. Observing the people became her favorite pastime for the day. Little did she know that she'd have to do it for a few more days after that. A few days passed like that. It was after 2 weeks that she lost her patience.
"Sir, it's been 2 weeks since I joined the company and I haven’t worked on a single project. It would be really nice if you could give me some work."
"Relax Anika. You need to take it slow."
"2 weeks is enough time to take it slow sir " she had really lost patience.
“Yes, I do know that. But give it a few more days and then we can get started.”
“There is hardly anytime sir. I'd like to remind you that it is a 2-month internship. And it’s your job to give me work so that I learn as much as I can.”
"So you are going to teach me my job now is it?" he asked, his nose flaring.
"Sir..."
"You small town girl. You better be in your limits" he said shouting
He was so loud that his voice was heard by the employees outside. She suddenly realized how she had behaved in the heat of the moment and couldn’t say anything back.
She walked out of the cabin humiliated. The walk to her desk was the second most embarrassing thing that happened to her that day after the boss’ cabin incident.
There comes a point in everyone’s life, where they question and second guess everything that they have done or would do. This was that point in Anika’s life. Tossing and turning in bed that night, she could not stop herself from thinking of her parents. Was this the kind of life she dreamt of? Is this how the world looks at a small town girl. She hadn’t forgotten how she became the topic on lunch tables and center of everybody’s discussions. She didn’t forget the looks she got in the washroom. Girls analyzing and judging her for the way she walked and talked was the last thing she’d imagined. Back at her village no one ever judged her and made her feel so small. With these thoughts, she then dozed off but next morning was a new one. A morning of purpose and determination. While most people succumb to the pressure of what the world thinks, Anika decided to take a stand and fight it out.
He was so loud that his voice was heard by the employees outside. She suddenly realized how she had behaved in the heat of the moment and couldn’t say anything back.
She walked out of the cabin humiliated. The walk to her desk was the second most embarrassing thing that happened to her that day after the boss’ cabin incident.
There comes a point in everyone’s life, where they question and second guess everything that they have done or would do. This was that point in Anika’s life. Tossing and turning in bed that night, she could not stop herself from thinking of her parents. Was this the kind of life she dreamt of? Is this how the world looks at a small town girl. She hadn’t forgotten how she became the topic on lunch tables and center of everybody’s discussions. She didn’t forget the looks she got in the washroom. Girls analyzing and judging her for the way she walked and talked was the last thing she’d imagined.
Back at her village no one ever judged her and made her feel so small. With these thoughts, she then dozed off but next morning was a new one.
A morning of purpose and determination. While most people succumb to the pressure of what the world thinks, Anika decided to take a stand and fight it out.
- Ashini S Mehta