Light blue shirt and black trousers. That would be the attire on my first day at work, Sankar had decided way back in high school. His dad had owned a famous hotel in the town of Tiruchirapalli in TamilNadu in the 1960s and had always sported the traditional dhoti and shirt. That’s not for me, said Sankar to himself. I would be impeccably dressed in formal attire every day of my career.
He wore the light blue shirt tucked into his black trousers and looked at himself in the mirror. He wasn’t one to bother about his looks, but he wanted to look presentable on his first day of corporate life. He walked out of his room with his head held high. He spent a few minutes in the pooja room before hitting the table for breakfast. “Chaayama,” he called out to his mother “I am ready for breakfast.” His mother served him hot dosas with delicious sambar.
“Dei Sankara, take lunch from home please,” his mother pleaded for the umpteenth time.
“If I take food from home on the first day, my colleagues will mock me,” said Sankar.
His mother hung her face, and it became small.
Sankar continued as if he never stopped the sentence “…But that doesn’t matter. I would love to have your cooking for lunch than what they provide at the office.”
His mother beamed a wide, bright smile and produced the packed lunch box which she had hidden behind her back.
Sankar smiled “You already packed it knowing you would finally have your way with me as always.” He touched her feet and took her blessings.
His second little brother was waiting near Sankar’s polished shoes with his hands stretched out. Sankar had promised him money if he polished his shoes well. He patted his brother who was younger than him by almost 15 years and handed him half a rupee. The little boy grinned with joy and was already salivating thinking of the sweetmeats that he could buy with the money. “I want you to treasure your earnings and realise that earning money is arduous work. Just look at our father, our elder brother, and me, and learn,” said Sankar as he left the house.
Sankar got out of the gate, hailed a taxi, and gave the office address. His employer had given him an advance on the first month’s salary to get some good clothes and other essentials to make himself corporate-ready. For Sankar, that taxi ride was part of him getting corporate-ready.
The Taxi dropped him at the office address, and he mouthed a prayer to God as he entered the gate for the first time. Familiar sights that he has heard of and seen in movies hit his eyes. The security guard at the entrance stood up and gave half a salute. On the right side of the gate, there were rows of bicycles parked neatly. The bicycles were followed by mopeds, motorcycles, and a couple of Yezdi bikes. There were very few cars that belonged to the big honchos.
Sankar was dreaming of the first month's salary and contemplating when to buy a motorcycle when a car honk brought him back to reality. He turned around to see it was the Managing Director who had conducted his final round of interview a couple of weeks back. “Young man!” said the managing director as he lowered his car windows. “Welcome! Day 1 Lesson 1. Always reach the office and your seat before the boss. Let’s see if you can be there before I park the car and reach mine.”
Sankar almost ran to the accounts department, met the manager, introduced himself, and hurriedly found his seat.
“MD Sir is calling you in,” said a voice.
Sankar was jolted back to reality from his trip down memory lane. How quickly had 57 years passed since his first day at this office? He had joined work as a 19-year-old just out of college and here he was at 76 years and on his last day at work.
He may be 76 years old but his contribution at work, his sharp acumen, and his knowledge of the office matters at his fingertips was legendary. As he walked to the MD's room, he reminisced about the first time he walked the same corridors.
1966
It was the first time he had been called to the MD’s room since the time he had joined. It had been fourteen days since he joined, and office folklore stated that it would be ten days before any new joiner was called by the MD. Sankar had planned to beat that record and wanted to be called for before day ten, but it didn’t happen.
On Day eleven one of his colleagues had quipped “Sankar, it is Day eleven, and you didn’t beat the record. So much for your confidence.”
Not missing a beat Sankar replied, “I may not have beaten the record for the first summoning but make note of this. Let the MD ask for me once and then you would all see that I would be the most summoned for important work, most summoned for advice, most summoned in trusted matters, and most summoned to manage the massive amounts of cash. I have that confidence.”
His colleagues looked in awe at him, some for his confidence and some thinking how crazy can someone be for work, work, and more work. But over time, Sankar proved he was the most summoned and most trusted.
2023
As Sankar walked to the MD's room, his mind went to the events that happened a couple of weeks back at his house. “I am going to bring down the curtains on my career. I am going to quit,” announced Sankar.
His wife and his son were seated on the couch next to him and his beloved daughter was on video call on the laptop from Singapore. They all stared intently at him. They didn’t know they had been gathered by him to make this announcement.
His wife got up and went to the kitchen while his son got back to his mobile phone. His daughter, the one with the most freedom with him, started laughing. The laptop speaker cracked with her full-blown laughter. Sankar was confused. He had made the biggest announcement of his life and people at his home didn’t seem to care.
He turned to his granddaughter who was drawing something and asked her “Pattu, why is everyone reacting in such a weird manner? Thatha just announced that I am retiring from work.”
“It is because this ain’t the first time you are saying it, and you always go back to work again.” said his brilliant granddaughter.
Then Sankar realised that the “Tiger! Tiger!” story had come true. He laughed to himself and said loudly, “This time I am serious. I have given the letter to my MD, and he has also accepted.”
That brought everyone back to positions and the laughter ceased. “I have worked 57 years, and it is time I hang up my boots. I have given all that I can to this organization and have developed my juniors well. I have realised it is time I quit and take care of my body better. I have spent a better part of my life as a corporate employee. I want to spend more time as a husband, a father, and a grandfather too. This time it is final.” Saying this he got up and went to his room.
He knew his family was incredibly happy with the decision and they were doing everything in their power to ensure he didn’t go back on his decision. They were extremely cautious around him and what they said to him. This is because they were worried, he might go back on his decision to quit. He was smiling inside as he found their acts cute, but he knew this time he had made up his mind.
Sankar reached the MD's room “May I come in sir?” he said as he knocked and entered. A beaming Rakesh Muralidhar got up from his seat and said, “Yes Yes, Sankar please come in and sit down.”
Rakesh was 13 years younger than him and was a little boy when Sankar joined work. Sankar had played with him and even helped him with his homework on days Rakesh accompanied his father to work. Rakesh took over as the MD from his father 20 years ago and since then had Sankar advise him on important matters. Sankar was almost a member of the family as he had been with them for 57 years.
“I have to attend a foreign delegates meeting in an hour, and I want you to accompany me,” said Rakesh.
“But sir, today is my last day at work. If you take my junior Prasad, it would be a great exposure for him, and trust me, sir, he is ready,” said Sankar.
“I know you trust him and yes, he is ready. But I trust you more. I want you to trust me when I say this is important that you accompany me.” said the MD with a finality that Sankar knew better not to disobey.
They got into the plush Mercedes and the car raced from the office to the most premium star hotel in the city. The duo alighted and walked into the hotel and through the corridors led by the MD. Sankar followed behind dutifully. He had promised his wife that for one day in his career, at least on the last day, he would be back home on time. Now with this meeting, he wasn’t going to be able to keep up his promise, yet again.
They reached the grand ballroom, and the MD opened the door and held it open for Sankar to enter. Sankar was confused and said, “Sir, after you please.”
The MD smiled and replied, “No Sankar! After you.”
Sankar entered the room and froze. The room was so dimly lit that he could hardly see. He wasn’t prepared for the scene that would unfold in front of his eyes over the next 30 seconds. The lights that were kept off flickered on section by section in the room, illuminating the room occupied with loving, familiar faces, all sporting warm and lovely smiles. Confetti burst right on cue and made the room colorful and festive. His wife, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were standing there grinning and enjoying his surprised reaction. He was overjoyed when he saw his daughter who had flown into the city for this event with her husband and little one. Sankar’s heart was filled with warmth as his gaze swept around a room that was filled with colleagues from past and present.
He had told his colleagues he didn’t want a retirement party, but they seem to have conspired behind his back, putting together this surprise to celebrate his farewell. There were honest and warm smiles all around showing the gratitude they all had for this man.
He turned around to see a beaming MD right behind him. He thanked his MD profusely and ensured the MD's PA was around to take care of him and then walked around the room. There were handshakes, hugs, pats on the back, and general laughter and positive energy around the room. The Emcee called the room to order and requested the guests to take their seats. As he took his designated seat, Sankar’s eyes glistened with tears of emotion as he realized the length and breadth of the special bonds he had built with this organization and its co-workers. He looked up above and said a silent prayer of gratitude to his parents and God almighty.
A series of speeches followed one after another each person fondly recollecting the moment they had shared with Sankar that have become magical memories for the rest of their lives. Sankar was given a big cheque by the MD as a thanksgiving gift, a premium watch by the MD's son, and a handwritten letter by the Senior MD who was bedridden now. As you can guess that letter is Sankar’s most prized possession of his 57-year stellar career.
It was Sankar’s turn to speak and being the man of few words all he said was, “Thank you all for being here. It was a great surprise. I think the Senior MD, our current MD, and all my co-workers who are like my family and my actual family members as well for their support in my career. Thank you all and I would like my son to speak on my behalf.” An applause broke out as Sankar took his seat and his son took to the podium.
His son started his speech. “As a son, I have always looked up to you and tried to follow you. But being in his room, hearing all those speeches, and seeing the love and respect you have earned I feel, it seems like a small step for you, but it is a giant leap for me to even try to achieve half of what you have done.”
“I want to ask the audience a question. When is New Year's Day?” his son asked.
“Jan 1st,” said a chorus of voices.
“Yes, for you all it is 1st of January. But for our family, it is the 2nd of Jan. Dad was always with our MD at the temple on 31st Dec and 1st Jan and came home only on 2nd Jan. So when we saw him on the 2nd of Jan, that was our new year.” There were a few laughs and claps from the crowd. Sankar could see his wife wipe a tear from her eyes.
“I didn’t say that as a complaint. I see it as a commitment and dedication. How can a man so effortlessly stick to his word. How easy is it for this man to keep up his passion and love for work for 57 years with the same organization? They speak about a 7-year itch. He should have felt that itch 7.5 times but still didn’t yield to it. He came, he worked, he stayed, he conquered. Proud of you, Dad”
He continued “Over the years, he has given so much of himself at work that sometimes he would mix up the birth dates of my sister and me. When we asked him to state mom’s birthday, he would promptly say their anniversary day, and then cheekily escape by stating, that was the day she was born again. Romantic, right? You wouldn’t even begin to guess how loving and romantic he is.”
“I am jealous of my daughter and niece as they get more of his time as granddad than we ever got his time as a dad. So yes, we are jealous, but every bit proud of him and his legacy that he is leaving at this organisation. As that famous template on Facebook goes, he came as a kid, he grew and achieved like a man, and he is leaving as a legend.” That received a thunderous applause from the crowd that took a full minute to subside.
“I want to finish by saying this. Dearest Dad you were, you are, and you will always be our hero. The one we looked up to, the one we tried to emulate, and the one we would always be proud of. They say not all heroes wear capes. Of course not all heroes wear capes. But all dad’s wear one. It is not a superhero’s cape, but it is much beyond. I name it the Cape of Good Hope that when we see him and look at his face. we feel all would be well and he is around to care for us and protect us wearing that cape. You may call it a day today for your corporate career, but you would never call it a day in being our hero and the best human being we have ever known. Love you, Appa.” His son finished tears in his eyes and voice choking at the last few words.
Sankar closed his eyes and tried to fight back his tears. He got up and hugged his family in a tight embrace. Sankar was sporting a light blue shirt and black trousers. The same combination that he chose for his first day, was his automatic choice when he was going to call it a day!
***
Author's note: This is a true episode from my life and the protagonist is my father. Karan Johar once said he couldn't tell his dad how much he loved him across the dinner table and hence he made the movie K3G. This is one such ode from me for my very special dad!
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