Thank you, BOSS!!

My attitude towards work is never the same during the appraisals. Of course everybody want appraisal to be good, and so did I. Before a couple of weeks of appraisal I was regular, punctual and productive. (Wanting my manager to notice this!) I never said NO to work extra hours or to scrub few escalation tickets which prolonged with no solution. I happily took the responsibility of few newly joined freshers(guys!!), knowing how painful it would be to sit with them teach them what I see from the test results. It was all Greek and Latin to them, but for me I could only see my appraisal coming forth.
And the day came for which I had been waiting like a student waiting for the board exam results. I was called to the “glass room”, which is often terrifying. This is the “glass room” where most of the appraisals, warnings, promotions, etc are done. The silence there was killing. The low ceiling, loud AC, round table and two chairs, a typical plywood stench reminded me all the discussions/arguments I had in this “glass room” from the time I joined. The wait was over and the manager walked in. Of course mere bureaucratic, had some papers in hand. He stared into my eyes and asked a million questions without uttering a word. I tried but failed to control the anxiousness. Forced a hasty smile to him, expecting none in turn and I was right. The words flew from his mouth as if they were practiced before. And I could hear NO WORDS except for staring at the freshly printed white sheets in his hands. “Show me the numbers you ....”were in my mind and as if he just read it, he showed me the numbers.. I dint even want to sit for a while after seeing those numbers. “Immodestly biased bastards, do I deserve such low /no hike?...” and suddenly a gruff sound of clearing throat caught my attention. “I did not mean to offend you, just wanted to see your reaction... i just modified them to see how you take it.. the real papers are here”. May be i would have said “Sir, I dint like the joke though” But the appraisal was done good. The pout turned to be a beautiful curve and I smiled. Thanked and 'appreciated' his 'good sense of humor'. “Hope the scores have pleased you, please continue the good work and come again for better rewards, good day” I shook hands with him and still could feel my hands were damp with sweat. Appraisals can be real devastating.

RAMAYANA

Now let’s see how it is when Ramayana repeats in a call centre.
SceneI
Ramalingam is a brave, intelligent Brahmin south Indian from Tiruvanandapuram. Lately with lot of difficulty he learned to speak English. Though his mother tongue happily wavered in between his English, he managed to speak and was very happy when he 'gaut ye jaab in ye koll centar'.
Like for everyone pre-process training was the honeymoon period, it was the same for him too, from singing the la-la-la intonation practice to watching “Friends” on TV to get used to yu-ess english. The rolling of 'R's and stressing of 'S' was even more fun.
Scene II
It was His fifth day in pre - process training and he saw a stunning beauty just like his dream “pennu”. Tall, lean, fair, big eyes and so so beautiful. But she didnot appear to notice him or his few friends, and they all always felt she always watched each one.

Her name was Seeta oops no, her name was Linda. Linda was most s**iest among all the trainees and all male trainees (married, committed,single and ditched) were trying their luck. Ramalingam concluded she was his dream girl and his destiny.

She was single (: D) and this was feastful for all male peers. Yes she was. Or may be she had lied like every beautiful girl does so that there are few more men to propose her and the next time she meets her friends she can brag about the number of guys behind her!!. So Ramalingam (hence forth referred to as Ram) tried all his best to be her friend. He accompanied her to cafeteria and helped her with lime tea and biscuits everyday. He sponsored dinner and everything she took from the bakery. He even bought her goodies on Saturdays and took her to movies( and only he spent)

Linda also was comfortable with him people didn’t suspect her to go around with an ordinary looking guy. But our Ram assumed that even she liked him as he does. He gifted her gold ring worth 7k with the 9k salary he got after his first salary. As a result he had to borrow money from home to survive that month. Linda was very happy(Obviously...)They lived happily until they hit the floor.

Scene III
Ryan was a hunk and was a very good looking guy watching Linda from the time she was in training. Ryan helped Linda a lot on calls and they gradually became friends. Then they started partying and going out and eventually Linda forgot her blissful past with Ram.

Ram was in great depression and could not concentrate on work. He loved to be in solitude, now he spent more time at home listening to music in his old walkman (!!!!!) or went to the nearest bar, drunk over and found on the roadsides often. Or the worser…. he was at work.

Meanwhile he didn’t observe his hair had grown longer than Linda’s hair and had grown a rough beard which he never had.

SceneIV
Suddenly he saw a new place called "affinity" in forum and had his hair straightened and colored. A bright brown hair color to his fair skin was an added advantage and his light beard was simply superb.

And in the nearby sale bought few Jerseys and T shirt and jackets and rags. He matched them all to look better. Spent huge money to do tattoos on all visible parts of the body and pierced his ears, eyebrows and tongue for better results. Now when he saw himself in Mirror, he could not believe it was him. (Though his “Amma” came from Tiruvanandapuram and gave a 300 pages lecture for what he has done with his looks!!)
He came to office everyday now, because he observed a lot more girls looking at him. He was the guy with all modesty and was “The Hottest" among all men.

Ryan is no longer with Linda now because the company hired more good looking girls! More over he envies Ram for having so many girls behind. But Ram still would love to be with Linda though she left the company and the city having been betrayed by RAWAN (oops Ryan)...

Iti, call centre ramayana charita sampoornam........

APPRAISAL SHOCK

This is the first time ever in my life. I have so many commitments, so many expenses, my family, my assets, my future and only I know how important for me this appraisal is. I was expecting a good one, at least so much to fulfill my basic requirements. But the papers before me were mocking at me. What in there was not even enough to fill our stomach. Enough.. I decided. This is not going to help in any way. But.......quitting job doesnt make it any better either. I am totally blank. What brought be back to the real world was the sound of a train engine at the adjacent railway station. I was supposed to commute back home. But I decided. .
I made sure that no one else was around, slowly got down the platform and walked to a darker place. I see the signal lamp red and knew there could be another train this way. Must be the passenger train at 7.45PM. Kept my bag aside, and the papers. The raw smell of rusted tracks, stench of urine, mixed with grease and I could not bear it. I clinched my fists, my finger tips were cold and numb. I could hear my breathe myself, that it was so loud. Slowly I sank down and tried to lie down on the track. I suddenly realized my legs could feel something or someone. And it was another man. Alas! Even he was trying a suicide. I could not see how he looked like for it was too dark. Suddenly I felt I should save the man, killing oneself or letting others die is not wise. I changed my mind. I slowly walked the man and helped him to climb up the platform. He was very pale and wanted to sit. When we sat on the bench and saw his face, I could not but believe I knew this man. . Boss.....