Mouse Trap
Deanne D'souza
24 June 2008, 01:07Ranvir looked up attentively. Or so he hoped his expression would convey to the moderator. He wanted to stay interested in what was being said. He knew it was important to the company. He tried. Or so he convinced himself. But last night’s scotch still left him a bit dizzy and two pills of aspirin did nothing to calm his probing headache. Twenty minutes later the meting was adjourned. Finally! without hesitating for a moment he slipped out of the crowded conference room and was greeted by the bright lights of the company lobby. The colourful ambience of the lobby was what he loved most about his company, second only to the lavish free lunches offered at the company cafeteria. But today the lobby looked extremely distasteful to him. Perhaps in his part drunken state he was starting to see life more clearly.
Ranvir hadn’t walked three steps away when he felt a heavy hand rest on his shoulder. ‘Good meeting eh, Ranvir?’. The cheerfulness of his associate, manager of the investment portfolio, slowed him down for a brief moment. Without turning to acknowledge his intruder, Ranvir grunted a barely audible ‘yes’ and continued to walk towards his cabin. Assistant Manager it read.
Ranbir was proud of himself. Proud of his achievements and his every conversation boasted of it too. He was not a very smart man. But he made it to the top. He worked people the right way to get things done. Most people called him a manipulator and diplomacy at its best. He couldn’t care. He knew how important it was for him to get rich. Stay rich. He would be the MD someday. You’ll see! He expressed within himself. You all will see!!
The day seemed to pass without much work. He looked at a few excel sheets prepared by his executives. He quickly approved them and sent it to his Manager without failing to discredit the ones who worked on it and filling his name in their place, all with a lack of conscience. A few more sips of hot brewing coffee and he was done for the day.
The next morning witnessed a hustle as he stepped into office. Everyone on his management team was busy organizing their presentations on the ‘economizing and cost effective utilization of company resources’. It wasn’t too difficult a request from the prior days meet. Ranvir groaned within himself. He forgot. Actually, he hadn’t paid enough attention to even recollect that part of the discussion. He couldn’t borrow a colleagues presentation now. They were all a part of the same decision making hierarchy. Damn! He tried to think. Cut costs. Cut costs. He stared aimlessly about his work station trying to look for clues about the table. Nothing!
Looking past the glazed glass of his cabin he watched how people worked vigourously on their computers. Some looking up to briefly acknowledge his piercing gaze. Most not bothering. He spotted Ram. The village idiot to him. Hard working and bloody honest. People like him never get anywhere. Ranvir smirked. What a waste he thought. Then it struck him. ‘Economize to cut cost on company resources…!! ‘ O you brilliant man, he thought. ‘You brilliant bastard…!!’ He laughed!!
Post lunch the meeting began. After a steady flow of creative ideas that caused the entire boardroom of intellects to debate with each other in a least gentleman like behaviour, it was finally Ranvir’s time to put forwards his petition. The lights dimmed to reveal a presentation from two years ago, upgraded with a few more recent relevant facts. Ranvir finally concluded with his brilliant statement thought under last minute aimless gazing. ‘I propose to in order to tackle the issue of ad hoc expenses and uncontrolled budgets. I propose downsizing of company staff.’
There was silence as his words hung over the chillness of the air conditioner. Ranvir was unperturbed. He was convinced of his brilliance even if half the idiots present here weren’t. A moment longer before the silence burst into an uproar. Horrible, said some, aghast at the thought of what this idea would evoke in the minds of its loyal employees. Others just agreed with the most influential man present. Ranvir walked back to his seat. He couldn’t be bothered by their reactions. These idiots would sort it out within themselves.
The following days, he was treated with angry stares from his executives. No doubt word has got out. He couldn’t care. He was at the top. His idea was thought over and discussed for days before it was finally agreed upon by an anonymous vote. This would give him a big raise. He saw a few people clear their work stations. He wore no expression to their tearful good-byes. A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. His response to every recession on its way out – Touché!
The next three weeks were filled with apprehension and excitement. People were asked to leave. Some on an immediate basis. Some with a well thought over timeframe. Ranvir continued without a world of a difference. Office was less noisy, he joked with his yes-men who laughed at everything he said. In these hushed corridor meetings, it wasn’t too long before he discovered the rumours of a possible promotion. The rumours, he researched, were true. He was excited. Of course he, he mused, who more deserving than me. He saved the company of at least half a million with his proposed plan. Lower allocated bonus to all employees, downsizing of incapable or slow performers. Sure they lost a few good men. But nothing wrong with sacrificing a few good men for a good cause. Cheap labour force for the same consistent level of deliveries. With an air of cockiness, he strode off to the cafeteria that no longer served free.
When Ranvir got back, he was pleasantly surprised to find a lively buzz about his colleagues. Apparently the MD was dropping off letters informing his managers of the new changes. Downsizing of employees that were capsizing on company profit and the Promotion of a new Manager. Ranvir breathed in deeply. The Promotion! He walked passed the apprehensive faces right into his cabin and shut the door. He could feel the curious eyes follow him. He took him time around his work space, pretending to look busy and undisturbed by the buzz outside. Also secretly pretending to look surprised when the news of the promotion would reach him. Sure enough, at half past three, the office help, in a neatly trimmed navy blue uniform, tapped on his door.
Without hesitation, and excitement tugging at the pits of his stomach, Ranvir eagerly beckoned him to enter. Even bothering to compliment him on his attire. The help walked out confused. Ranvir sir was nice?! Ranvir didn’t bother with these silly puzzled expressions. In just a minute he was going to be a General Manager. Tearing at the envelop that bore the direct seal of the MD, he hastily adjusted his eyes to the words that directly addressed him –
Ranvir Mathaliya –
… due to the new proposed plan of economizing and effectively cut cost of company resources …. Ranvir was fired!!!
