STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN
The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World
CARE: This is Chapter 49 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.
Major Rajinder Solanki (not his real name) looked after the security of
the branches in the administrative office where I was posted. Most of the
branches in my Region needed immediate redressal of one or the other security
issue. So I decided to discuss the solutions with him personally and called him
on the intercom, “Major Solanki, I want to discuss a few security issues of my
branches. When may I come?”
The loud voice of Major Solanki pierced through the handset,
"Security issues in your Region? Come right now. I am free."
I dropped all the work, picked up the related folders and marched to his
office. I had never met him before. So, I introduced myself when I reached his
office. Major Solanki was a burly fellow with his moustache twirled up. Soon, I
realised he was less interested in discussing security issues and more in
exploring my personal details.
”When did you join the service?" He boomed with a glint in his
eyes.
"In 1971.” (What is he trying to gauge? My experience in the bank or my age?)
“Are you from Delhi Circle?” (Is he trying to explore my roots?)
“No, I am originally from Lucknow Circle.”
“Then why did you move to Delhi Circle?” (What has it got to do with the security of the branches?)
“My husband works in Delhi. So, I sought an inter-circle transfer,” I
squirmed.
“Ohk! So, you are married?” (Why? Are you looking for a bride for someone?)
“Yes, of course! Shall we discuss the security issues now?” I intently
looked at the clock on the wall behind him.
He ignored my statement and blurted out, “We will discuss all the
official matters, but before that, we must know each other well. Is your
husband also in the bank?”
“No, he is not.” Disgusted, I took a deep breath.
“Where does he work?”
“With the Government of India,” my reply was cut and dried.
“Which Department in the Government of India?”
“Ministry of Heavy Industry.”
“Do you have children?” (What else are you going to ask next, Major?}
“Yes, I have.”
“How many?” (How does that matter?)
I showed two fingers without uttering a word.
“Boys or girls?”
“Boys.”
“Both boys?”
“Yes, both boys,” my patience was wearing out.
“Lucky you! You have two big pots of gold at your disposal. Or shall I
say two Hundis?”
“Sorry, Major Solanki! That is too much. My sons are neither pots of
gold nor Hundis. Please!” I could not help snapping.
“Where do you belong to?” He was testing the limit of my patience.
“India.”
“You are now joking.” Taking it to be a big joke, he laughed loudly.
“No, I am serious. My father is from Uttar Pradesh, my mother was born
in Madhya Pradesh and brought up in Rajasthan, and my husband is from Punjab.
Who can be more Indian than me?”
Not knowing what to say, he chuckled loudly.
"Anything else you want to know about me and my family?" I
asked my voice on the verge of sarcasm.
He leaned back, a self-satisfied smile playing on his lips. "No,
madam. Tell me now, what can I do for you?"
He was now comfortable as he was privy to all my personal details,
established my identity and knew everything he wanted to learn about me and my family. I was
feeling miserable all along at this unwarranted disclosure of personal information to a
person I had met for the first time. But the pressing need to keep official
relationships well-oiled stopped me from being rude.
His interrogation was finally over, but I had an irrepressible urge to
vent my irritation. Taking a deep breath, I decided to pay him in the same coin
by mirroring the just concluded dialogue.
"Major Solanki! May I also know about your background?" I
could not have been more composed.
Not expecting this, he looked embarrassed and smiled awkwardly,
"Oh, yes. Sure, sure!"
“Where do you belong?”
“What did your father do?”
“What is your academic background?”
“When did you join the army?”
“Which regiment were you in?”
“Did you ever go to the battlefield?”
“Why did you leave the army?”
“Why did you join the bank?”
“Which year did you get married?”
Uninterested in the answers, I bombarded him with the same salvo he had
fired at me. With each question, I saw his discomfort growing, and I could see
him squirming. Honestly, I derived sadistic pleasure from his discomfort.
And finally, I asked him, "Does your wife also work?"
Hearing this, a flicker of shock flashed on his face. "No, no, no!
She is a simple, God-fearing lady." He recoiled at the very idea of his
wife working.
“Oh! Do you mean to say working women are not God-fearing?" I maintained a deadpan expression on my face.
He stammered, backtracking furiously, "No, no, no! I did not mean
this. I meant my wife is just…. just a simple and innocent lady."
"Aha! Do you mean working women are not innocent?" I pressed, my
voice still devoid of emotion.
“No, no, of course not. It is not so. I mean... I mean they too
are." Major Solanki was flustered. "I respect working women. But
please tell me why you are asking so many personal questions?”
Major Solanki was happy as long as he was hurling questions but became out rightly uncomfortable when the roles reversed. In response, I only smiled. My silence was more vocal than any words. He cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact. The aggressive bluster was gone, replaced by a sheepish grin. The air crackled with unspoken apology, and we finally delved into security issues.
Later, I asked myself whether there was any need for me to do this unnecessary counter-interrogation. Perhaps not, though this was my subtle way to ensure that the personal quiz did not become a one way process before we discussed security biz of the branches!
(To be continued...)
*****
15 comments:
I think you did well by paying back in the coin. Here was a typical example of male- chauvinism.
A bull is often a sheep.
--Prannath Pankaj
Was the counter- interrogation "unnecessary"? Of course it wasn't 😊
--Lakshmy Iyer
Well done!
--Rakesh Govil
This Major must have been one of those 'military' macho men and a follower of the famous cowboy actor John Wayne, who had said, "Women have the right to work wherever they want to, as long as they have dinner ready when you get home."----Kerala Varma
Great, Ranjana ji. No dearth of such arrogant, hopelessly egoistic and thoroughly repulsive creeps not only in the Bank but elsewhere too.
Good you paid him back in the same coin.
Very juicy narrative; I was always wondering what next. However, the losers in the process were security issues.
Excellent caricature of Security Officer!
'Simple, innocent and God fearing ------------- non working women' was the icing on the cake. Very well narrated. Thanks.
Eagerly awaiting next episode.
--Vijay Gupta
Wot-a-gal! (Kanwal Bir Singh Bedi)
Disgusting fellow .In the 70s working women that too officers , were resented . Words like Double Engine were hurled at one if one was married . I found senior officers making fun of Shanta Raghavan's height and earned his ire for speaking up .
One could never be spontaneous , normal or laugh at a joke with male colleagues , without being labelled a flirt
What you did was right thing to do . He must have been taken aback . I probably wouldn't have been so patient as to answer all those questions. It's a power play of course .
The Creep . ( I choose a mild word )
---Manju Iyengar
It takes all sorts of people. --Uma Shanmukhi Sistla
Well done. --Susheel Kapur
In retrospect I laugh. I can picture Ranjana Bharij answering all those questions with a smile.
Once that was over- her double smile and sweet voice asking the same questions.
Then comes ,”oh, so working women are not god fearing…..not innocent”
What an amazing question answer session.
Major with his hohoho laugh wouldn’t know what hit him.
Atta girl- give it back to those husbands of god fearing wives!!
Pity the wives though.--Varsha Uke Nagpal
Well done. This is the best chapter I read. You made it and I am happy. Love you....Shanta Vasan
INTERESTING!!! (Shashi Sharma)
Good response. (Rajesh Ailawadi)
Having met you and known you just a little, I am absolutely delighted At the stand taken by you to show that Major his major problems. The MCP.
Excellent...(Dinesh Kumar Jain)
Well done.(Kvs Jain)
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