My Son And Me

    I pulled the Accord in the parking lot of Microsoft's premises. This was the only branch of Microsoft in Banglore, in India, in Asia and the one outside the United States of America. The work ambiance was cordial and everyone minded their own business unlike in smaller companies. But Microsoft is a big name and everyone wanted to grow with the company. One chance to work here, and you are the talk among your friends.
    I headed to my office in the E wing which was for the higher officials. I read my name on the door of my cabin. It was a A4 size sheet on which Mihir had wonderfully sketched his dad's name. It made me proud every time I looked at it. He had sketched it in the color of the rainbows. MAYANK KULKARNI. Some 'r' shaped crows flew over the mountains of the alphabets. There was a river flowing in, in between from my first and last name. He was very creative from the beginning. This was not his first sketch I perceived and preserved. The sketches went from the living room to the master bedroom's walls. I was confidant that he would be a great artist if he continued to concentrate on his hobby.
    My phone beeped when I was gazing at my Mihir's drawing. I hastily opened my cabin's door and sat behind the desk. It was the third light on the second row of my telephone set that was flashing red. I knew it was to be danger.
    After the call, I replaced the receiver and rushed to the A wing. It was for the board and managing team. I knocked on the cabin that had the title, Mr. V. M. Venugopalan. A sudden rush of fright chilled down my spine when a familiar sound said,"Come in Mr. Kulkarni". Trying to squeeze a smile on my sweaty face, I asked gently,"Am I not doing well, Sir?" Mr. Venugopalan was not a man who would laugh at such a silly comment but he did and my fright turned into agonizing fear. I sensed something was going to be seriously wrong. He asked me to sit and rose from his seat and walked till the end of the cabin behind my back and sat on the sofa. I had to turn my chair so that I could face him. He started, "Mr. Kulkarni, as you know I'm responsible to report the board regarding the progress of our mid-management and higher employee team." 'He is getting there', I thought. "It's not that you are performing good or bad. It's the thing which I like in you. You have the ability to make people work for you." "It's all that I've learned in your presence and guidance, Sir" I squeezed a gentle line so that I seemed polite. "Well, if you say so Mr. Kulkarni", he smiled a little again. I was the only person who has seen him smile twice in a day. I was happy for that when he suddenly started tearing open an envelope. "Do you know what this letter contain?" 'Obviously not, you fool. If I knew why would you ask me that foolish question'. "Exactly", he said. I was shocked. Did I said it loud? I shut my mouth with my palm so as to see whether I really blurted out that shit in front of my boss's boss. "I know, you must've thought why would you be here if you knew what your fate was to be". I started perspirating heavily as I saw the temperature in the thermometer which was 16 bloody degrees. Can this man read minds? Shit! I'm screwed. Again his response was a simple, "No". "I'm sorry Sir. I didn't get you". He laughed frantically again. I was trembling with fear and this bloody bastard was reading my mind and laughing. As he came near me, he saw the fear in my eyes and held out the envelope, the letter in it protruding out. I was scared as shit to even acknowledge his gesture but he waved the letter again in front of my face and I took it gently.
    I jumped up from the chair after I was done reading the letter. The letter had my promotion orders for Mr. Venugopalan. I was to be my boss's lead and had an opportunity to work with Mr. Venugopalan. It was the biggest honor because a 30 year old would be taking over the only site of Microsoft which was in India. I was so happy that I thought of hugging the bag of crap who scared the shit out of me but I controlled my emotion and shook hands with him.
    He grinned again. 'Now what', I thought. "You see,Mr. Kulkarni, I can pass these orders or throw them in my trash can." He almost threw it gesturing, as he sat in his leather coated comfort chair behind the desk. I looked at him puzzled, What do you want fucker? "I want you to make me happy" he paused, "with your work, of course". He grinned again.'What the fuck does this bastard want from me?',I raced my hand through my neatly combed hair which were drenched with my perspiration. "How can I, Sir?", taking a pause, I looked into his eyes, "and what kind of work?"
    Mr. Venugopalan was the toughest boss for this site in the last 20 years. No one had seen him smile or laugh. He was a strict and disciplined man. Everyone looked at him with respect and a sense of thoughtfulness. Everyone in this site wanted to be like him. He always wore a three piece black suit with ties which were plain red, brown with white polka dots, maroon with diagonal stripes, plush green with small white checks, grey with red small triangles and a black tie for the board meeting. The pattern of wearing the ties remained the same throughout his work carrier. It was not that he couldn't have afforded buying ties, but it was his style and mannerism that made him distinct. I rememebered how me and my friends discussed about his manners and mocked him in our breaks everyday. He was a laughing stock for some but he made an impact on everyone. Even me.
    "To begin with, I was really imperessed when Mr. Mattu gave me your report on the Advanced Security Measures for the servers at our main site. I was really shocked to see the advancement of science and your foresight to save it from the one trying to intrude into our systems." He walked back to the door and latched it. I thought, he really wants 'something' from me. I sat calm and composed as he walked back and sat on the sofa and gestured me to sit next to him. I raised from my chair and started walking towards the sofa with thousand thoughts running through my mind.     This man is really dominating. He can make anyone, absolutely anyone, to work for him. I felt like he was the owner of the worldwide Microsoft. He had a strong persona like an emperor. He has greyed his hair with great experience. I was impressed as well as a little disturbed by what his demands would be.
    Mr. Venugopalan placed his hand on my shoulder so as to make the conversation more friendlier. He continued, "Mayank, I know it's too much to be a favor but I want you to share the credit of your wonderful 'software' with me." I was dumbstuck. I thought a thousand volts lightening struck me. I thought I blacked out when he tapped his hand on my thigh. I was still concious. "How can you even think of that Mr. Venugopalan!", I was a bit furious now. I got up from the sofa and walked blank, near the corner of his cabin and stared at the horizon spread in front of the window. He walked behind me and said firmly, "If you accept the proposal, we can run this site together or else we never had this conversation". I absorbed every word he said and understood what he meant. He was too adamant to give away his position to a newbie like me, who had joined the company only a decade ago. He had thrice as much experience as I had with Microsoft. I thought, I might even grow bigger and that was his fear too. He wanted to kill my carrier. I couldn't think of any other option now. I sat down on the chair covering my face with anger and disgust. 'He is still my boss', I thought otherwise, I'd have fired him on that very instant.
    I rose from my seat and looked straight at him with no other feeling but pure disgust. "I need to think, Mr. Venugopalan". He smiled a little and said, "I'll wait for your reply Mr. Kulkarni". I felt like tearing away his Reid & Taylor suit and grab him by his brown tie with white polka dots and make him sorry for what he just offered me. I walked past him for the door when he said,"And yes" I turned to listen what else his demands were, "I would like to see Mr. Mattu now". I was puzzled.'What does Mr. Mattu has that he is going to demand?'. "Right away Sir", I almost banged the door on my retreat.
    I retreated to my cabin and pressed the sixth button in the first row of my telephone. "Mr. Mattu! Mr. Venugopalan wants to see you." He asked,"Is he in your cabin?" "No, he just passed the message to me." "Bloody son of a bitch. And why do you think he has called me? Did he spoke to you about anything regarding me?" "No, Mr. Mattu. I think, he want to meet you casually" "That guy never meets anyone casually". I knew it now. "I don't know, Mr. Mattu. Why don't you rush and ask him? He might tell that to you himself", I said with a little dryness. He obviously didn't notice because his life was in danger now.
    I was a bit happy to see my boss nervous. And the best part was, I gave him the chills with the name of Mr. Venugopalan, the rascal who was eager to screw my carrier, if I kicked his offer.
    Mr. Mattu, a small little cute figure who hovered the Microsoft campus with formals on weekdays and casuals on weekends. He never took a day off from work for the past three years. Microsoft was his family, Microsoft was his home, Microsoft was his relatives, Microsoft was his friends. He was in his mid-forties with a balding head. He was like a bean bag but a cute one. His mustache were so big that when he closed his mouth, they'd cover his lower lip. He was a jolly person and during his breaks, he was around his subordinates cracking jokes and mocking Mr. Venugopalan.
    I was lost in my thoughts as my mobile buzzed in my pocket. I looked at the table watch as I removed my phone. It was 12:18 pm, and it has to be Avantika. The name flashed on my mobile screen, Avi. A smile appeared on my face out of the blue. She was the only person who made me smile in all the difficult situations of my life. She was a strong woman and a great doctor. She was a child specialist at Dr. Pai's hospital. She was a beautiful woman with shoulder length straight hair which curled at the end. Perfect bosom with grey eyes made her look like a celestial nymph. She was a tigress in bed and a calm person everywhere else.
    I saw her for the first time when I was in college. Our campus boasted an engineering college with a medical and law school. She was a fresher when I was in my second year of Mechanical Engineering course. I was in the lead when she was ragged. She was asked to name all the movies of her favorite actor. She took it in very good spirits and named almost all the movies of her favorite star. Everyone was flabbergasted and so was I. I had found the love of my life. She used to hang with me almost all the time whenever she was free. We liked each others company. She stayed next to the college campus in a rented apartment.
    Suddenly the buzzing phone made harsh vibrations so as to indicate the emergency. "Hello baby, how is my darling doing today?", I asked her in a kiddie tone. "Mayank, mom had a heart attack", she declared. My whole world started spinning. Mom had a heart attack. She obviously meant my mother, because she called her mother, Aai. "Baby, are you all right?", I noticed that she was still on the other side. "I will leave now", I declared as I stood in my place but felt a pain shooting my brain from down my spine through the spinal cord. I sat again. "Wait in your office, baby. I will pick you up in 10 minutes." She said with a dominating tone and disconnected the call. I sipped some water from the glass of water and replaced the coaster on it again.

My Son And Me

Index for the Story

Chapter 2

Chapter 1