Asked to Leave Read online

  ASKED

  TO

  LEAVE

  A Story Of ‘The Hired Ones’

  KRISHNA D BHATT

  Copyright © 2017 by Krishna D Bhatt.

  Editor: EE (The Jokers Valley), Garima Singh

  Cover Design: Samit (Graphic Sutra)

  ISBN: Hardcover 978-1-4828-8948-2

  Softcover 978-1-4828-8947-5

  eBook 978-1-4828-8946-8

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  “This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s warped imagination and experiences or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental … and extremely unfortunate. The author does not support Alcoholism and Tobacco Addiction and urges the world to quit those addictions.

  The purpose of writing this book is to unfold some pages of the corporate world. He wishes for the betterment of society and the people; which are extremely important to make the mother earth a liveable place, which can be called ‘home’.

  Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

  The author’s proceeds from this book will be used to support charitable causes: Plantation, Healthcare and Education.

  For more information, please visit - www.aukrishna.com

  www.partridgepublishing.com/india

  CONTENTS

  Krishna D Bhatt

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Preface

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: The First Chapter Of Slavery

  Chapter 2: My Father’s Farewell

  Chapter 3: Back To The Rat Race

  Chapter 4: The Unique Learning

  Chapter 5: The 36 Hours Of Nightmare

  Chapter 6: Helpless Law And An Appeal For Justice

  Chapter 7: The Scary Beginning Of The Dream Job

  Chapter 8: The Battle Of Survival

  Chapter 9: The Tough Chapter Of Fate And Justice Of God

  Chapter 10: The Penalty Of Being Devoted To ‘God’

  Chapter 11: Birth Of Daughters And The Dream Of Orphanage

  Chapter 12: From Colleagues To Friends And Friends To Colleagues

  Chapter 13: The Kindness And The Financial Loss

  Chapter 14: The Countdown

  Chapter 15: The Last Slavery Of Life

  Chapter 16: The Painful Parting

  Chapter 17: After A Few Months;

  Epilogue

  KRISHNA D BHATT

  Krishna D Bhatt is a writer and social worker. He is Post-Graduate in Sociology and keeps an eye on social activities and global political movements. He believes in humanity as the one and only religion; and kindness, love and care are amongst the best weapons to rule the world. He has written many poems apart from this debut novel ‘ASKED TO LEAVE’.

  - Our identity should be explained by our actions, thoughts and saying; not by our clan, colour, race and place where we are born.

  - Krishna D Bhatt

  DEDICATION

  I would like to dedicate this book to people, who work for long hours and earn in thousands for their employers every day, simply to get paid in a few hundreds. It is dedicated to those, who are victims of humiliation at work and deserve more than they are getting paid.

  This ‘book’ is dedicated to the teenager who, without any guidance and proper counselling would choose to pursue anything as a career and join any corporate blindly.

  A father, who has a wonderful family but no option in life, other than, to listen to his unworthy annoying boss, all the time.

  A mother, who is beaten for dowry and divorced, is working with the hope of a bright future for her children.

  At this moment, I wish to remember my late father. He was an idol of honesty, brotherhood and care. He used to say ‘you easily earn people, but when will you start earning money for your future?’ and my mother, who always teaches me to become an asset for ‘Mother Nature and Humanity’.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I would like to express my gratitude to the many, who saw me through this book; to all those who talked things over, provided support, read, wrote, offered comments, and encouraged me, assisted in the editing, proofreading and designing.

  I would like to thank all the critics, colleagues who made my journey worthwhile and gave me an opportunity to learn and enhance my experience, by enabling me to publish this book. Above all, I want to thank my late father, my mother, my wife, daughter, brothers and the rest of my family, who supported, motivated and encouraged me in spite of all the time it took me away from them. It was a long and difficult journey for them.

  I would like to thank people for being available to support me in tough times. Also, the people I met in various companies, who encouraged and dominated me to write a book. Thank you Racel Cruz and Pohar Baruah for your timely follow up and assistance. My sincere thanks to Partridge Publishing, my publisher, who encouraged me and helped me in making my dream, come true.

  Thanks to Ms. Rashmi Sharma, General Manager-HR of a renowned real estate organisation, who showed her down to earth attitude and gave an example of humanity and kindness by saving a ‘life’. And thanks to Sherry McBee for being my motivation, without you all this would never have found its way to the web. Of Course; this book criticises the wrong practices of corporate world, but would like to appreciate the people-oriented and down to earth people managers like Rajiv Kumar Yadav, VP-Sales of a renowned real estate organisation.

  Lastly: I beg for forgiveness of all those, whose names I have failed to mention and who have stood by my side over the course of the years.”

  PREFACE

  The story illustrates the life of Ram, a lower-middle class man, who is not blessed with an opportunity to get better education. Born in a small village, he waited for 8 years to go to school. He had to drop out of school, due to financial reasons, leaves his native land and migrates to the suburbs.

  He finds place to work in a company; gets married to a divorced woman Devika, who was suffering from cancer and that is where the love story begins…..

  His life goes through a hard time when he is Asked To Leave. It was a part of a conspiracy, as he had opposed ‘sycophancy’. He was humiliated, threatened and misbehaved with at work.

  Meanwhile, Devika is taking her last breathe in the hospital; before dying she takes a promise from Ram, to “Fight for Labour Rights in the Modern World”.

  Ram’s story spreads like a storm on social media and finds millions of hired ones, suffering persecution like him. He starts a website, plans a strike worldwide and makes a list of employee rights and that’s how the revolution to protect their rights reaches its end.

  After losing his sight, hearing ability and other health related issues, he decides to go back home forever, to his mother and mother nature.

  - New Delhi, India, 20-02-16

  PROLOGUE

  One fine early morning, the door bell of ‘The Crowne Plaza’ resort rings.

  “Hello Sweetheart!” A voice with a typical fo
reign accent was heard outside, while Ram was making his daughter’s tiffin and his daughter climbed up to open the door.

  Hello Madam! Are you my new mummy?” Davinah asked with a seamless innocence in her eyes.

  “I am Sherry and I want to meet Mr. Ram Kumar.” A tourist-looking lady was there, when Davinah opened the door with a winsome smile on her face and a question she would ask every mother like figure.

  “Hi. I am Sherry McBee, a tourist from Ohio, USA.” Mr. Ram Kumar?” Sherry followed Davinah to the reception area of ‘The Crowne Plaza’ resort.

  “Yes, you can call me Ram. I am honoured to serve guests here, in this resort. And I am sorry for .…… whatever she has just told you….. you know my daughter…. asked you a question….. about her mother.”

  “It’s ok sir.” Sherry responded.

  “It’s my honour to see you here. So, please settle down Ms. McBee!”

  “Well, I want to stay here for a month, if you could arrange a guide for me, it’ll be my pleasure. I am a writer, I write on social activities and this place seems just the appropriate one to stay and spend some time exploring and writing. That’s it for now.” Sherry explained.

  “So, are you an American writer?” Davinah asked her. She was good with asking questions instantly.

  “No baby. I am a universal writer.” Sherry answered to satisfy Davinah’s question and looked at Ram. “Writers are not confined to a country, place or divided by boundaries. They are the beautiful children of Mother Nature. Aren’t they Ram?”

  “Yes, of course. They are indeed.” Ram responded affirmatively.

  “Why don’t you settle down Ms. McBee? Have a cup of tea or coffee as you wish and read about some exciting places in Nepal. Meanwhile, I wish to drop my daughter to the school bus, which would arrive in the next 5 minutes.” Ram insisted on providing her a nest to stay.

  “Okay.” said Sherry and shook her head.

  Sherry kept looking at them unless they disappeared. She took a nap for a while and then a tour of the resort in the afternoon. She immediately fell in love with the surrounding and the resort; also, the cool breeze adorned her wonderful experience. She felt like heaven on earth.

  In The Evening

  “Ram, May I ask you a question?” Sherry asked while having dinner. She had been provided with the best services at the resort, as she was a celebrity writer, who had travelled thousands of miles away.

  “Please Ma’am! Go on.” Ram welcomed her question as a gentleman.

  “Don’t forget to call me Sherry. So, other than serving your guests and taking care of your daughter, what else you do in your free time?” she asked.

  “I work for an NGO, which works for the youth and children. It is at a distance of hardly ten minutes walking, I love to be with the children there. Being born in a farmer’s family, I plough and cultivate crops in the farm, behind the resort in my free time.” Ram said.

  “Wow! That’s amazing.” Sherry said.

  “Papa! What is amazing?” Davinah asked.

  “You are amazing sweetheart!” Sherry said and both of them shared a smile, pulling her cheeks, looking at each other.

  “Why don’t you tell me more about you and your family?”

  Answering questions was easy for Ram, but, it was the toughest question he had ever been asked. With a confused yet calm smile on his face, Ram asked “Sure. But, would that help you in your writing?”

  “Let’s see.” Sherry said and became silent, as Ram started narrating his journey.

  *****

  CHAPTER ONE

  The First Chapter Of Slavery

  10th July 2009, Gurgaon, India

  It was a bright afternoon of a sunny day, I remember, it was the 10th day of the hottest month. I took an auto rickshaw from Iffco Chowk to Shankar Chowk. It was already full of passengers, yet the driver asked one of the passengers to adjust in the back seat and created some place for me to sit. I had no choice, but to settle in that tight and congested arrangement, a few labours were sharing that memorable journey. All of us were sweating, except for the driver, who was also the owner of that auto rickshaw, as there was a small fan on the dashboard of the vehicle. He kept stopping to let the passengers board and get off the vehicle. He charged Rs.10 for a ride irrespective of the distance and wouldn’t let go unless he gets paid.

  I got a sigh of relief as the labours got down at Atlas Chowk. As soon as I reached my destination, I got down from the auto rickshaw and paid for my ride, took a left turn, hired a cycle rickshaw and asked him to take me to Plot no. A 560, Udyog Vihar, he nodded, put the rickshaw roof on, and asked me to board. To my surprise, this guy was better in terms of courtesy and care, which made me think “Why? Or maybe just like that. The cycle rickshaw was swinging and dangling in a whimsical manner. At times it jumped so high, that I almost fell flat on my face, but it kept going, while I started enjoying the bumps and took it as an adventurous ride. The roads’ condition worsened and the cycle rickshaw broke down.

  The cycle rickshaw owner was trying to fix the problem, while I was busy wondering “How the hell in this God’s good world, would I manage to go back home?” I started looking for ways to reach home like a curious cat. I knew, neither will I get another rickshaw, nor, can I ask the same cycle rickshaw owner to wait for me until the interview is over.

  After 5 minutes of subsequent journey, the courteous rickshaw owner looked back at me and smiled, while slowing his vehicle down.

  “Sir, we have been reached.” He said.

  “Thank you Bhai ji” I smiled in return and paid my fare of Rs.20 and let him go.

  While walking up the stairs, I was thinking of the cycle rickshaw owner. People think they are slaves, but they are owners of their freedom and I was yet to discover, what I was going to apply for.

  The guard asked me to deposit my phone at the entrance. That shocked me, but later I was told that it was for security reasons. That was the first trailer of the world of freedom I was entering, known as the “Modern World”. I reached the reception and apprised the receptionist of the reason of my visit.

  “Can I get your resume, please?” Certainly ma’am and I gave her a copy of my newly built resume.

  After waiting for about thirty minutes, a lady came out and asked for my name.

  “Are you Mr. Ram Kumar?” Yes Ma’am. I replied with a smile on my face. She asked me to follow her, so I started following that lady; she was not receptive at all. She did not smile and looked serious.

  She asked “Why should we hire you?”. I did not know why she asked that question. Because, I was supposed to ask her the same, as I was new to that industry; the BPO industry.

  She was making notes on my “Course of Life”, which caught my attention and made me nervous. I think, she should have let me know, what she was doing to make me feel comfortable.

  So, I replied “If you hire me, I will give my 100% and contribute to the company’s growth.”

  The series of questions went on. Suddenly, a boy holding a tray with some tea cups knocked the door. I opened the door, as the lady was sitting far from door. The guy came on in, put a cup of tea in front of the lady, and went out.

  She took a sip of tea and said “Ok, you have to speak for 5 minutes on the topic ‘The cup of tea’ without stopping.

  I accepted to speak and carried on with my part.

  I was caught by the dearth of courtesy of that incident, ‘How could she even have a sip without offering it to the person sitting in front of her’. With all due respect to humanity, had I been in her place, I would have surely either taken 2 cups or not taken at all. At least she would have offered a cup of tea, for the sake of formality.

  Somehow, I managed to speak about tea. I was happy to see the little smile on her face. I don’t know, if it was a result of having a cup of tea or she found a reason to smile on my speech.

  I m
ust have answered more than a 100 questions asked by HR, Operations and Training team, most of them being resilient, had I been able to apply filters on them, I would have to answer only 30-40 questions. But, at the end, result matters and it was positive.

  I was blessed with an appointment letter cum employment contract. After spending a whole day and scoring a debut century in the form of answers there, I deserved a ‘NOT OUT’ and finally had a reason to celebrate that evening. I was selected to work with ‘Vcube IT Services’.

  Day 1

  On the first day of my joining, I could see a few other candidates, who had joined along with me. Our training commenced thereafter and our trainer was Mr. Inder Sharma. He was a very humble and courteous gentleman whose process knowledge and interpersonal skills were amazing. He was very cooperative and answered everyone’s queries with great patience. As a result, everyone passed the test with flying colours.

  Not to forget; there were a few candidates, who had come to earn some pocket money and not to build a career. Their only time pass was to mock people, who were serious about the job and wanted to do something meaningful in life. Unfortunately, I too, had to face such mockery.

  I was a serious student. I had to take care of my studies and support my family as well. Also, whenever I thought of taking action against those ‘wrong hires’, I stopped myself, as I was always taught to let go off my revengeful feelings and think of the heights which I wanted to achieve “Think of the larger picture”. I had dreams for self, family and wanted to contribute to the society and the world that we live in today. So, I faced those harassments as challenges and sailed through. I could not forget those incidents for days. But I made them my strength. I kept the bigger picture in my mind and mentored myself to keep calm.