Aswathy moved aimlessly down the road. It was half past 10 in the morning. The city was reeling under the scorching Sun, like a towering inferno. In the peak hours of the day the traffic was gaining momentum with the horns blaring. The to and fro movement of people was like a mad rush, typical of a vibrant throbbing city.
She knew, she was sweating like anything. Beads of sweat on her forehead and the blazing Sun up above made her dizzy. A nauseating feeling was about to overpower her. She wanted rest. Atleast a few seconds to sit somewhere and relax.
“I need something cold” – She told herself. Moved to the first cool-drinks shop she noticed. There were so many like her around her to have drinks, some sipping leisurely, but she didn’t feel like noticing anybody. She felt like somebody left alone in a turbulent sea. A sort of drowning feeling.
“What I am to do? A total stranger in the city…Whom to approach for canvassing deposits.” Whom to approach, cajole into availing loans from her esteemed bank? To achieve a target of four crores in a year! – the very thought made her run out of senses.
“When I took up the post of Officer-Marketing and Recovery I should have been aware of the responsibilities of this post. Why didn’t I think about it then? No point in wailing now. Or I can quit the job and get lost. But…but…no I can’t I can’t leave a family of four helpless faces in the lurch…Their only solace is me…The peanuts I get from my employers at the month end…”
“Madam, may I?”- the waiter in white uniform awoke her from her thoughts.
“Lime-juice, please” – she ordered in a feeble voice.
“Enough”?
“Enough” – She looked outside. The city still burns. The mad rush further gaining momentum. Vehicles roaring past. Crowds pulling in different directions. She fervently prayed for a resting place ‘far from the madding crowd’.
The Manager’s authoritative arrogant tone was still reverberating in her ears like frequent bouts of explosions. His face matching his rough, arrogant tone…
She came to the bank from the ladies hostel at 9.45 AM. A few already present. As usual. The sweeper after her daily chores gone outside. Being reticent, she occupied her chair not much talking to anybody, keeping a smile to herself. A few brochures, files and papers were already kept safe there. She took up a brochure, flipped through the pages relating to the history, growth of the bank over the years, evolving reforms in the banking sector, profit-sector banking, the neo-liberal reforms in the business sector across the world and growing privatization, all in detail.
Sharp 10 AM. The Manager appeared in black-suit, coat and white-tie, with a serious look carrying a brief-case. Some woke up from their seats to show respect, some kept their seats not caring much, (who cares, they might be talking to themselves). The very sight of him made Aswathy wake up from her seat, being quite new and also on a contract basis.
After taking up his seat and passing necessary orders to the peon, quite unexpectedly, yes it was quite unexpected, he called a peon to summon Aswathy to his AC cabin. Her heart-beat missed a second.
With thumping heart Aswathy woke up and moved to his cabin. She felt her mouth drying up. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She was quite anxious and also curious.
“Sir?” – In a whispering tone, she stood before him.
“Aswathy, take your seat” – In a baritone voice, also arrogant and rough, Manager gestured.
“Aswathy, you know, you are a marketing-cum-recovery officer. That also on a contract basis for two years. During this period you are expected to achieve a given target for deposits, advances and insurances. You have to go outside, meet influential customers and canvass deposits and advances. From today onwards after signing attendance register, go outside and do your maximum. Got it? You must have already known about the tough competing going on in the banking world and what all banking institutions demand from their employees. Got it?”
“Sir”
“All the best Aswathy” – Manager didn’t wait for a response. His eyes were already on the file on his table.
Within moments Aswathy collected the necessary papers from her table. She felt like sobbing.
“What I am to do in this strange city” – a total stranger…devoid of any identity? - with her eyes welling up she was asking herself.
While stepping out from the cool-drinks shop she was thinking about finding a serene atmosphere to relax for a few hours freeing herself from the maddening thoughts.
She walked down a not so crowded interior road walking as far away as possible, empty-headed and aimlessly. On finding a peaceful area with paddy-fields and lush greenery all around resembling sylvant settings Aswathy saw a temple, heaved a sigh of relief – “Yes, this was the place I was searching for a spiritual ambience.” Aswathy smiled to herself. She put all her belongings near her resting place and sat beside it. A dejavu.
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