Chapter 3 – Nancy

A week later, the other three summer trainees joined. Smitha was the ultra modern girl in the group. She dressed real well and with lots of originality. The other girl, Shreya, was a shy, withdrawn girl. But she had a pleasing side to her. The lone guy, Mahesh, was a bit funny. He was too studious, very serious and he interacted with people only on work. He ran away miles at the sight of women and yet no women could hate him. He was the Jughead of the team minus his insatiable hunger.

Mano surprisingly picked Nancy Abraham as his direct reportee and the rest of the gang had to report to Ram, the assistant manager. Gowri, the Management Trainee, was also reporting to Ram. But, within weeks after the summer trainees entry, Ram resigned after four long years of service. This meant that all the summer trainees and Gowri had to report directly to Mano.

As things turned out, they formed a cracker of a team. Mano seemed to have lost his age by working with such a young team. There was always fun at the marketing department. They enjoyed pulling each other’s legs, playing pranks, carrying on long discussions on current affairs etc.. In the midst of all this fun, work never suffered. This team soon became the pride and talking point of the organization for its youthful exuberance and vibrance. Mano was extremely at ease with everyone in the team and he was always at the centre of any major prank.

Mano was particularly impressed with the way Nancy had settled in. He had started hearing lots of positive comments about her work and conduct from not just colleagues in his own department but from even other functions. He felt a certain pride for her. Nancy was not just good at work but she was always the one who matched Mano in his wits and humour. Mano also liked Nancy because she was very liberal in her views. She often quoted verses from Gita or Quran apart from her own bible. Mano was an agnostic and they could never meet eye-to-eye on discussions relating to god. The main reason he liked her was because she was everything he wanted to be in his first job. He remembered how clumsy and unsure he used to be in his first job.

Nancy was clearly the most beautiful girl of the four in his team and yet Mano did not notice this till recently. Nancy always carried a mystical quality that made her very special. She was very beautiful but not everyone would say it when they saw her the first time. She was great fun to be with yet she would take time to mingle with people, Mano thought.

*********

Two weeks later, Mano was briefing Nancy on some work. After the briefing was over, Mano asked "what is your plan after summer training? Will you try through campus placement?". Nancy said "I dont think I have time for campaus placement. I would try for job once i finish the course."

Mano said "let me see what i can do. I had already spoken to Sharma about you. He said he wanted to have a long discussion with you first". She said "ok sir".

Mano said "I am glad you are making a great first impression with everyone. Even Preetha and Ramya are talking high about you". Nancy said "I care a damn about what they feel. I dont like them".

Mano asked "why say so?"

Nancy said, "I never liked them. They appear too artificial to me". Mano did not ask why but found this strange. Preetha and Ramya were both popular personalities within the company and Mano could not understand why Nancy had responded nastily to their positive comment. He wondered what she would feel about him.

_________to be continued _____________
---------------------

Chapter 4 - Madhu

Mano’s daughter, Madhu, was the centre of attraction wherever she went. She was three and a half years old. She was very cute and pretty. One girl from their neighbourhood once  asked her “where is your dad?”. She replied “Office”. The neighbour asked “what is he doing in office?”. This had taken Madhu by surprise. She had never though about what her dad did in office. So, after thinking deeply, she said “he keeps drinking water”. The neighbour laughed and asked “is that all he does?”. Madhu replied “No. He sleeps too”. Needless to say, this neighbour ragged Mano heavily about the nature of his work.

Mano decided to take his daughter Madhu alone for shopping on a Sunday. They accidentally bumped into Smitha, Nancy and Gowri who were also doing some shopping. The girls insisted that Madhu be left with them when the father was doing shopping. Though Madhu hardly knew any of them, she too liked the attention she received from three new aunties. After Mano finished his shopping, the girls brought back his daughter. Madhu had immensely enjoyed the shopping experience and she had specifically developed a soft corner for Nancy aunty. Like father, like daughter.
 
**********

Next Monday, Mano and Nancy were together in his cubicle discussing some work. After the discussions, Mano said “Nancy. I must say you are a charmer with kids. Madhu keeps talking about you all the time at home”. Nancy said “I am surprised. Normally, kids run miles away at the sight of me and I have never been this comfortable with kids”. Mano thought that she was being modest. In this situation, most people would have thought the same way as Mano. Mano did not consider the possibility that she probably meant it when she said Kids would not be usually comfortable with her.

Then Mano said “hey. One important thing. Sharma will have a discussion with you at 3 pm today. Hope you are ready”. She said “yes sir”.

Sharma and Mano met Nancy in the conference room at 3 PM sharp. Sharma asked all the questions and he was unimpressed with her answers. Mano knew that Nancy was lackluster and hardly displayed the energy and passion she had displayed otherwise. After she left, Sharma told Mano “Do you know what I think?”. Mano said “I do. I wont press her case further at this stage as I am also not satisfied with this discussion”.

Later Mano called Nancy and briefed her about how he felt about the discussion. He understood that the conceptual depth needed in Marketing was missing in her. This seemed to be their business school’s fault as not much focus was given to case studies and marketing assignments. From then on, Mano started giving case studies every week to her. She would spend time on it during weekends and present her analysis on the next Monday. Her conceptual depth improved with this guru-sishyai sessions and it brought them even closer. She became even more confident as a professional.

One of these days, Mano and Nancy cracked the Hindu crossword in full. Hindu crossword was considered the most difficult of all crosswords. Neither Mano nor Nancy could believe they were capable of doing it. So, it gave tremendous joy to both of them that they could solve it together.

Mano asked her “When will you give me treat for solving crossword”. Nancy said “sir. You are the senior and you should give the treat”. Mano said “sure”. Later in the evening he messaged her if she would be ok for a Sunday lunch with his family joining. She replied happily saying she would be honoured. When Mano told Priya, she was also happy about meeting his colleague, who he liked so much. She was curious to see her.

__________________to be continued___________