Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Blonde - Part 2

I was overwhelmed. My chest swelled with pride. Mr. Bajpayee’s words were like music to my ears. The appraisal time is only 3 months away. I am sure of getting promoted now. He thinks so highly of me. If I stay in his good books for another year, then there is a possibility of my getting another promotion next year itself. Wow. A senior manager within 3 years of joining this company would be no mean achievement. My fellow batch mates would go green with envy. My super juniors at the School of Management would cite my success as an example. Aspirants would want to get into the School of Management and emulate my success story. Wow. For that kind of stardom, I don’t mind getting a call from the big boss at weird hours in the morning. As long as I am in his good books, I don’t mind. Has he called me to give me a hint that if I continue working like this, I am a surety for promotion in the coming quarter? Has he called me to praise me on the kind of revenues my product brought in last month? But why would he choose this weird time in the morning if he just had to congratulate me? Why on earth can't he break this news to me tomorrow or any other day when he is relatively free from these board meetings? Why on earth is he being so sweet to me? Why? Why? Why?

“Swami….Hello…hello…Swami….Mr. Swaminathan……Are you there? Hello…hello. Are you there? Swami……..”

That shrill in his voice when he took my name had surpassed the threshold decibel levels enough to pull you back from the world of dreams and questions. “Uh…Yup…Oh…Yes Sir. Hello….hello…Yes Sir. I am right here Sir. Actually I held up my breath for a minute as part of the breathing exercise which I do without fail everyday at 6:18 am Sir. I couldn’t break the daily ritual Sir. I am so sorry to have kept you waiting. I really am.”

“No, no it’s fine. Yes it’s fine. It’s perfectly okay.” I felt I could hear Mr. Bajpayee clenching his teeth, as if trying hard to conceal his anger. Was I nuts? How could he? He has been so sweet and has been praising me all this while. Why on earth will he get angry just because I was not responding to him for a minute? He can’t get angry yaar. Why on earth am I imagining things? Isn’t it winter season? Why can’t that be the reason behind the clenching teethes?

“I just wanted a favor from you Swami.” Mr. Bajpayee interrupted my chain of thoughts once again. This time there was urgency in his voice. He continued, “I think I should not interrupt your chain of breathing and other exercises and come directly to the point of the matter. We are expecting a special guest today late evening Swami. Are you there Swami?”

“Please go on Sir.” I was prompt in replying back.

“We are expecting a special guest from the states today Mr. Swami. It's someone from US Tele, one of the American giants” Mr. Bajpayee continued, “Christy will be here in Mumbai by the 8 pm flight. God, what a young thing! And a brilliant brain to supplement that smart looks. A deadly mix, undoubtedly. It did not take me long to get amiable with Christy, even if it was in the midst of a business meet. I still remember the discussions I had with Christy during the last conference in Bangkok. We had zeroed down on some areas where we could partner and leverage on each others strengths. I had not known that Christy will come down personally to discuss and bring those rough plans to a closure. And you have no clue the tune of profits this strategic tie up is going to bring in Swami. It’s going to be you who will be spearheading this project if the meeting with the top management goes off well. And these Americans really like to be taken care of and be made to feel important. I want Christy to feel at home and personally looked after. Of course we will be sending a chauffeur driven car for Christy. But I want someone to be there from our company to receive Christy. The flight and other details of Christy will be available with Sheela. Please do collect it from her and hand it over to whomsoever you arrange to collect Christy. I have even asked her for a nameplate. Do collect that from her too. I wanted your suggestions on whom to send Swami. Can you suggest someone from the junior management or executives who are pleasant and can handle this?”

There was only one name that was doing rounds in my brain. Christy!! From the States!! Young thing. And brainy. Wow. That was exactly the kind of stuff that my dreams were made of. The kinds that could make any man go week in his knees. I was already starting to reel under the effect of this heady concoction named Christy. An American….Yippeee…it has been my childhood dream to romance a blonde. The kind fantasies are made of. The kind you see only in films. The kind whose touch you yearn for every time you see a Hollywood hero making out with her. Silently wishing had you been born on the other end of the world, you would have at least stood a chance to enjoy these pleasures. An opportunity was knocking right at my doors. It’s not everyday you get to personally receive a blonde and greet her with kisses on both sides of her cheeks. In complete American style. Hmmm…I have to make sure to dab my cheeks with a lot of Old Spice after shave lotion today. Let me keep it in the office bag right now. It should leave her craving for me. I couldn’t believe my luck. It’s not everyday that you get to gift a blonde with an expensive bouquet, and that too on company expense. It’s not everyday that you get to drop her personally to the suite in the hotel. And then bid goodbye again by kissing on both sides of her cheeks. And it’s not everyday that you stand a chance to be invited to stay over the night in that suite with her, if she starts getting pangs of loneliness all of a sudden. Wait. I have to pick up that stuff as well from the medical shop. I have heard that Americans are very particular about that. I don’t want to lose a chance of making love with a blonde for not carrying one. I have to set my reminder to pick up a packet from the medical shop. I couldn’t stop smiling at my sheer luck. Christy had walked into my life unexpected. Just like that. I felt sorry for cursing the morning. This was the best morning of my life. And I had a chance to make it the most memorable day of my life as well.

“Hello….hello…Swami…….God! What’s wrong with you Swami? Hello….hello…Are you there? I asked whether you could suggest someone from the junior management or executives who are pleasant and can handle this.” Mr. Bajpayee demanded.

“Hello..Yes Sir. I am here. Sorry Sir. Daily rituals Sir. I am extremely sorry Sir. Don’t you worry boss. Why should you look for someone in the junior management when you have someone as capable as me? I won’t mind doing something which is not a part of my job if it’s of such strategic importance to the company Sir. Despite being neck deep with work, I will definitely take time out and be there at the airport. I will make sure to lick her up…eh…..pick her up Sir. It would be my pleasure. Please allow me to.” I hoped he hadn’t noticed the desperation in my voice.

“Ok then. Please collect the nameplate, details of the flight, hotel and the cab from Sheela. Thanks a lot Swami.” Mr. Bajpayee hung up.

To Be Continued....

38 comments:

Blogger said...
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Sandeep Balan said...

@priyanka

oye..first to comment after a long gap...he he....yup...d blonde is here......glad to know that you found it interesting...was in full mood of scribbling so till the second part was done and dusted, i realised that it had become a tad too long....but then left it like that...hope you didnt feel it dragging itself.....swami is not the only desperate one out there...its part and parcel of being a "Boy" ;-)

abhishek said...

very good humor incorporated in your story...can't wait to see what happens with you and the blonde

Priya Joyce said...

tat was reely funny

I muss say high class humour :P

Blogger said...
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Arunima said...

Swami is such a dreamer..........
Now i understand y the topic was "the blonde"
Hey post the next part soon!

Tara said...

God! This is as funny as funny gets...great characterization daa! Swami seems to be very desperate! LOL! Hmm...waiting for the next! :)

Sandeep Balan said...

@abhishek

welcome to my world bro...thanx for dropping by...and glad to learn that you liked the humour bit, though i feel its a tad weak to the ones in my earlier posts...even i cant wait to see what happens with swami and the blonde.....keeping my fingers crossed...we will know about the same time...keep coming back...

Sandeep Balan said...

@priya

welcome...welcome...padhaariye pj...hope the guinea pig is being fed well ;-)

and thanx for that comment on "High class" humour...he he...keep coming back!

Sandeep Balan said...

@jimmy

thanx bro..keep coming back

Sandeep Balan said...

@priyanka

desperation runs in the veins...he he...anyday yaar...am here to give you "insights"... he he...its only the degree of desperation that seperates the good boys from the bad ones..he he!

Sandeep Balan said...

@arunima

welcome back...yaa..my mistake...forgot to introduce the same in the first part...should have ended the first part with the insight...the topic n the post did not make sense after reading only the first part...i am glad that now you know..yes...the next part coming down your way soon...real soon... ;-)

Sandeep Balan said...

@tara

i suggest you rummage through my earlier posts...the may, june and july ones...i think you would take away the tag of "funny" you have given to this piece...i personally rate them higher...do go through..and also do watch the movie i have here titled "mussadiman"..thats hilarious...and thanx for praising the characterisation yaar...as far as the desperate bit is concerned, i feel all boys are..he he...desperation runs in the veins...its only the degree of desperation that seperates the good boys from the bad ones..cheers!

Anamika said...

hee hee this is getting real interesting now...and ur sense of humor is grt...
i wish you'd give a little more importance to grammar though...there were two places (one in the previous part) where the grammar was slightly flawed...
:) but other than that this makes a very interestign read...am beginning to like this better than appu :)

Richa said...

umhmmm...

now it sounds sumthn really interesting.. :D

awaiting the next part..

Sandeep Balan said...

@vrinda

glad to know that you found it interesting and liked the humour...oops...i will post after doing a thorough proof readin in future daa..thanx for that...will try to keep a safe distance from the flawed grammar..cheers! keep coming back...

Sandeep Balan said...

@richa

he he...yaa...get ready for the roller coaster...glad you finding it interesting...keep coming back..

Me said...

hehehe...

I am curious abt the next part now.

Sandeep Balan said...

@harshita

he he...yup...more surprises in store...keep coming back..

Unknown said...

I still haven't read the first part.. so will catch up on it soon.. and then leave my comments..

in the mean time .. there is something waiting for you in my blog :)

Kartz said...

:D :D Funny! Awaiting the sequel...

I did note from an earlier comment that you felt there were posts where you had a higher graded of humour... Will check 'em out too.

Peace. Have a great Sunday.

Sandeep Balan said...

@ani

wow ani...thanx yaar! really honoured to receive those awards from you daa...cheers! and do go through this latest short story from my stable whenever you get time...catchya!

Usha Pisharody said...

La la la la... :D!

Swami is in for a bit of a shock now, isn't he..?? :D!

Waiting to find out what it is!!

And gosh! Breathing exercises..hehehe!!!

Sandeep Balan said...

@kartz

hey..its always a pleasure to hear from you kartz...your comments egg me on...yup..i rate the earlier posts of mine more funnier...do go through whenever you get time...cheers...keep scribbling!

Sandeep Balan said...

@usha

he he...you know me well yaar! he he...yup...wait for the next part...was waiting for your comments anxiously...now i can go ahead n write the third part...yey!

Unknown said...

hehe well well.. things are getting interesting.. ( hehe in a proper mal accent.. )

and seriously how much of excerise does a person do ?? and what all ppl do to be with a girl.. lol..

DMulan said...

aaaahhh.. i have a feeling you're about to be very very disappointed :P


i'm blogrolling you.

Preetilata【ツ】 said...

so funny. u hv a classic sense of humour. loved the flow a lot. :)

anusha said...

all i can say is jaldi se third part likho..!! n this time plz let the guy get the girl.. tum filmein banane lage to logo ka vishwaas hi uth jayega pyaar se!

Mona said...

sandeep... that was hilarious... especially the yoga part.. 6:18 am sharp...lol.. and ofcourse the blonde's description too... waiting for the next part.. its gonna be a big cracker for sure...!!!

still laughing...lol... cheers!!

Another Blogger said...

hey..
im loving the blonde fantasies..
meanwhile, i have an award you might want to drop in and collect from my latest post.
congrats!! you deserve it :)

Anonymous said...

hello,
this is the first time m commenting..jst came acros ur blog..loved this post..
"It’s not everyday you get to personally receive a blonde and greet her with kisses on 'both sides of her cheeks'" lol..!!

perturbed perceiver said...

the above 'anonymous ' is me..

Another Blogger said...

Another Award for you!!!..
you seem to have a backlog in collecting awards...
http://insanely-still-sane.blogspot.com/2009/01/now-who-is-laughing.html

Usha Pisharody said...

Do visit here to pick up a something I have for you :)

:)

Navchawla said...

all the best swamy..hopefully u will get wht u want :P
keep posting..eagerly w8ing for coming sequels..
adding u to the list of blogs i follow :)

Anonymous said...

loved each and every bit of it..Swami is such a dreamer! :P

Anonymous said...

yessss i kept wondering what (read where) is the blond :P

kya intro hay wah wah :D