35. ACHLA SETHI-STRONG AS STEEL (YEAR 1978)

STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN

The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World

CARE: This is Chapter 35 of my book Stress, Success and Everything In-Between. These are individual anecdotes but to understand the professional journey in totality, I would recommend reading the book right from Chapter 01 onwards.

In April 1978, when I was posted to Head Office as a Desk Officer, I met a few women officers with whom I formed strong and lasting friendship. These bonds proved invaluable as we together navigated the challenges ahead in our careers. The sense of isolation I had experienced all along in an all-male world began to fade as we leaned on each other for support and fostered enduring relationships.

One such woman was Achla Sethi. Her confidence and determination left a lasting impression on me. Tragically, her husband, who was a Bank officer, had died in a road accident, while on duty, leaving Achla to take care of their two young sons. She was less than thirty at the time of this tragic incident in her life but she demonstrated remarkable fortitude.

Soon after the unfortunate death of her husband, the Bank appointed her directly as an officer on compassionate grounds. Within a month, she had joined a local branch and was assigned a job on the sixth floor. 

While Achla joined the Bank and showed up for work, the emotional toll of her loss remained palpable. But she bravely managed to put on a strong facade, Unfortunately, many around her seemed oblivious to her suffering and their interactions with her were often marked with insensitivity and callousness. Achla, however, was determined to learn the work and procedures as well as to navigate through the rough waters.

One incident, in particular, demonstrated her defiance against the insensitivity of the colleagues. After experiencing many days of thoughtless comments and queries from her colleagues, she had reached a breaking point. It was as if she had decided to virtually roll up her sleeves, ready to confront the insensitivity head-on.

The turning point in her life came when Achla received a cheque of a sizable amount from LIC. Coincidentally, the funds from the Provident Fund account of her husband were also released the same day. A male officer, checking the credits to her account, callously remarked, "Madam, you are so lucky! You have such a huge balance in your account at this young age."

His words hurt her deeply, igniting rage within Achla. Her response was a mix of pain and anger which had been simmering at the insensitivity of some people for so many days.

"Your wife can also become lucky," she retorted sharply.

Insensitive to her sharp tone, the officer, still engrossed in his ledger, probed further, "How?"

Achla's reply was quick and sharp and her voice a mix of defiance and resentment. She looked at the window on the sixth floor where they were seated and replied, "Do you see that window? Go and jump from there. Your wife will also become lucky." 

The sting of her rebuke reflected the pain and hurt she had endured till then.

The room experienced pin drop silence, the weight of Achla's words hanging heavy in the air. From that moment on, that officer never spoke with her but could she be bothered?

A soft and sophisticated young woman had turned into a ferocious tigress that day! And she never looked back. 

(To be continued....)

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