Chapter 3:

Trainee performance assessment came as a surprise to all.. !

In a batch of seventy trainees, the ten best performers in theory and practical are selected and sent to the production floor above.  As I had nothing else to do other than training, and rest of the batch was busy enjoying their youth, I was one among the selected ten, who walked up the steps to a dream world called production.

In a small glass-walled room named “powwow”, the ten members sat around a big oval table.  With a quick glance, I could see only two familiar faces, Arulmozhi and Maninder, but couldn’t see chewing gum near Arul.

“So she didn’t make it here.. is it?” was my impulsive question to Arul.

With a winked smile, he answered.  “Why man..?  Better she didn’t.. look around.”

It took a moment for the meaning of his words to seep in.  I slowly started to look for details around the table.  Noisy bangles and anklets clattered all around, with the thick aroma of jasmine filling the small room.  Six out of ten are women… loud talkative women..!

Generally Tamil women are loud.  I wondered if anyone had done any research on the relation between level of confidence of a person to the general decibel level of his or her voice.  The reason for Tamil women’s confidence must be the approach of the populace towards their women.  Even a newborn girl is respectfully called “Amma” which denotes mother, irrespective of the gender or age of the caller..!  It is no surprise that the girls grow strong and confident in this part of subcontinent.

But today, the noise made me a little uncomfortable in that small cabin.  Arul is enjoying the show.  Maninder is just sitting there wide eyed and open mouthed, not being able to digest the rich cocktail of two South Indian languages being thrown around.  He looked dazed.

It was then I noticed a considerable gap between two Tamil girls sitting to the right of me and talking to each.  There is someone seated between them.  Did my eyes catch the glimpse of a white shawl?

Due to the position of my chair, I couldn’t see beyond the wide statured girl sitting next to me.  Either I will have to stand up or sway my chair backwards, both of which will catch somebody’s attention.  It is better to wait.

An extremely lean girl who reminded me of a pencil, opened the glass door, peeped inside and went back.  She was the same one who announced in the beginning that the meeting will start once production manager arrives.  Arul sat to the left of me.  Near him sat the fourth man in the room.  I have seen him in training floor before but never bothered to know the name.  Circling the chair around, I extended a hand with a hello.

Thanks to Arul’s friendship, the inherent inferiority complex that I had carried all my life was fading away slowly, enabling me to take initiative in forming new relationships.  Even then, the fear of an unpredictable response or a rejection hung around, especially when the expected response was from another Malayalee.  But with a wide honest smile, I got a hand in return.  He introduced as Mr. Anwar from Alappuzha, Kerala.  As handshakes gave way to talks, he proved to be extremely friendly.  Being a medical representative, he was well versed with medical terminology.  As for his joining the company, that was the fun part.  He had gone to fish market on a Sunday, when he saw an advertisement banner on a nearby building and went and took the test, where he eventually cleared with flying colours.  His family couldn’t eat fish for lunch that day, but he got selected for a job in a multinational company.

Listening to both of us all this while, Arul laughed and said “I can understand Malayalam little bit..”  and we three laughed a little aloud.  Hearing us, poor Maninder also laughed, making us wonder why.

The glass door opened suddenly and entered the big boss, Santhosh Nair, followed by the pencil.  His face reminded of an Egyptian emperor who, amidst a hectic busy schedule of running a country, allowed some precious time for chit chat with his mortal subjects.  Even the movement of his eyebrows seemed artificial.  Expertly hiding the great pleasure of seeing everyone jumping on their feet as he entered, he told.. “No no.. please sit.  No formalities.”

Thus started the boring lecture, things that were taught a hundred times during training, about expected standards and conducts in production floor.  As yawns started to take rounds, one sentence caught everybody’s attention, declaring that the pencil girl, Anila, was actually our would-be team leader..!

“Okay.. we are done with instructions.  Now let’s break ice.  Please introduce yourself one by one.  You first.”  Santhosh Nair’s index finger pointed towards Maninder.

“I am Maninder from Mohali, Punjab”

As a response to the unexpected situation, adrenaline was doing its job and my heart started beating faster.  Next one was Anwar.

“I am Anwar from Kerala..”

Santhosh wanted to know the specific location in Kerala where he came from.  Alappuzha is also known as Aleppy in English from British times and is a common usage too.  In the total confusion, Anwar blurted out “Aleppizha… oh sorry Aleppy”

In a situation that can make only a genuine Malayalee laugh, my eardrums caught a feeble girlish laugh.  So, the white shawl is a Malayalee..!

 Arul introduced himself.  Santhosh knew Arul very well, as he being the only MBBS guy who took a wrong turn into this company and profession.  While they were talking to each, I was practicing my lines.  I shouldn’t blabber like Anwar.  I wouldn’t give her a chance to laugh at me.

“Yes sir.. what about you..?”

As I gathered courage and spoke my details out, he seemed least interested.  Without moving a muscle, he turned to the wide girl next to me.

“Amutha from Coimbatore.”

“Okay good.. now tell us about you young lady..”  Santhosh Nair turned and faced a point beyond Amutha now.

I strained my neck a bit to see his target, but Amutha filled my visual field.  I sharpened the ears and waited patiently for a sound, being careful to not miss even a breath.  Slowly, my eyes caught a fair face leaning forward, clearing the blockade of Amutha, as if to show me her face at last.  What a funny thought…  why should she show me ?  There are other three better guys sitting in the same row. 

Anyway, the fair face had a fairer voice, which fell as music in my ears.

“Sithara…  from Palakkad.”

***