STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN
The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World
CARE: This is Chapter 60 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.
After a harrowing summer, the monsoon had descended upon Delhi with a
vengeance, turning the city into a watery mess. Delhi was virtually in a
deluge. The roads were flooded: it was difficult for the traffic to move.
Several Ambassador cars were blocking the road with their bonnets up as the
rainwater entered the distributor, a common problem during the rainy season.
Delhi had come to a virtual standstill.
As Chief Manager of a branch in central Delhi, which I was heading, I looked at the clock. It showed 1.45pm. The business hours of the Bank were from 10am to 2pm. Usually, at this time, several customers would walk in leisurely from the nearby government offices after finishing their lunch, but that day was different. There was no one in the banking hall. The usual bustle of customers had been deterred by the torrential downpour. The life of a banker is boring if there are no customers; the thought crossed my mind as I suppressed a yawn.
A few minutes later, I was about to close my payment scroll for the day when a frantic elderly gentleman burst into my office. He looked suave despite his grey hair, which was in a mess due to rain.
“What a question to ask!” I thought before responding to him.
“Up to 2pm,” I responded calmly.
"I have to deposit Advance Tax! Do you know today is the last
day? And it is raining cats and dogs. Are you not going to extend the business
hours?" he roared, his voice a mix of urgency and panic.
“I know it, sir. But I am afraid I cannot change the banking hours
because of the weather. You can deposit the tax now. We still have ten minutes for the counter to close,” I replied politely.
“If I had the cash with me, Lady, I would have deposited it
straightaway. I certainly would not have come to you. My problem is that I have
to bring the cash from home. Today is the last date, and I must deposit the tax
today. I do not see any reason why you should not co-operate. As the head of
this branch, you are supposed to help a customer.” His face contorted with
anger, and his voice raised with a sense of entitlement in his demand.
“Look at the time, sir. It is almost 2pm, the time for us to stop
the public dealings. I have no authority to extend the business hours,” I expressed my inability to oblige him.
Observing my firm stance, the fellow immediately softened, “Ma’am, can you
please help me given these unusual rains? I have to deposit Advance Tax today
itself under any circumstances. Can you please please stretch the timings a wee
bit? I would be extremely grateful to you. I will return with cash in no
time,” he pleaded extremely politely this time. Seeing him so helpless and
descending from the high pedestal, I relented and decided to help
him, “Ok. But where do you stay?”
“In GK, I mean Greater Kailash.” As he said this, I started laughing.
“Going to GK and coming back in this rain? I bet my life if you can
manage it even in three hours today.”
“What am I going to do now? The tax has to be deposited today.” He
sighed dramatically, rubbing his hands nervously.
“Can you ask somebody to bring cash instead of you going and bringing it
from home? That way, you can reduce the travel time by half, and I can ask the
Cash Officer to keep the books open for some time. But by the time he returns
from lunch, your cash should have reached,” I suggested.
The man beamed, “Yes. That is brilliant. I will ring up my wife,
and she will send cash through the driver. May I use your phone?”
He settled down in the chair in my cabin and dialled his residence
number to talk to his wife. The volume of the other side being high and the
room being quiet, I unwittingly became a passive listener to the entire
conversation. I heard him explain his predicament, and then the chaos ensued.
"Cash? How much? Why do you need it?" his wife demanded
curtly.
"It's for Advance Tax. I need fifty thousand rupees, and I
need it now! Is the driver there?”
“Why don’t you come home, have lunch, and take the cash too?”
“No. I cannot come home. It is raining so badly here. It will take me
quite some time to reach home. But can you ask the driver…..”
“But why can’t you come home?” she repeated.
“Try to understand, darling. I cannot come home. Just listen to
me…..This is urgent. Today is the last date for….”
“I knew that. You always avoid coming home for lunch.”
“Ok…ok. Stop whining and send the driver quickly with cash. Is he
there?”
“Yes, he is. But where are you?” His wife asked suspiciously.
"I'm at the bank, of course!" he said, exasperated.
"You're lying! Where are you really?" she accused.
"I'm not lying! I just told you I'm at the
Bank!" he insisted.
“You liar! Where are you? Tell me the truth,” she growled.
“No. I am not lying. I am at the Bank only,” he frowned.
"But I just heard a woman’s voice. Who are you
with?" she demanded.
“Yes. You heard it right. It was a woman’s voice. She is the
Chief Manager here…..” he replied softly, struggling to sound calm.
“You are again lying. When will you ever change? How can a woman be the
Chief Manager of a Bank?” his wife scoffed. The insinuation was not
veiled.
“It is a fact, and I am NOT lying." The man groaned again.
“Hmm...and how does the driver know where the bank is? Do you visit her
often?”
“Stop this nonsense and send the cash quickly,” saying so, he
banged the phone.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he burst out, “Oh women, women,
women! Why are you like this? That was my wife. I am on the wrong side of
seventy, and she still suspects me. She heard your voice and started doubting
me. She would not believe that a woman could be the Chief Manager. Why are you
women like this?” He exploded with frustration and sat down, holding the
head in his hands.
I suppressed my smile and pressed the call bell to order a strong cup of coffee. He needed it to soothe his nerves, ruffled by his suspecting wife. As he sipped coffee, he kept lamenting about his wife. Although my lunch got delayed, the incident was an unexpected monotony breaker in the otherwise mundane and lacklustre workday of a banker.
15 comments:
Ranjana Bharij ji, I am floored by this Episode 60.
Monotonous to simply hilarious, particularly the conversation between the Advance Tax paying customer and his ever suspecting wife;
even at 70, I am being suspected is 'humour at its best'
Wives are wives. Ha Ha Ha!
Great juicy narrative. Kept me glued till end. Ranjana ji, you are a master story teller. My salutations!
Eagerly awaiting next instalment- 61st. (Vijay Gupta )
Ranjana Bharij Madam, I remember very much. I also recollect the previous episode.You had narrated exactly what happened about the ayurvedic treatment. Hats off to you for bringing out details so minutely. Felt like both of us sitting in your cabin and I am listening to this. (Sridevi Mallur)
Great read, Ranjana! I have to catch up to some of the previous episodes. Your recall is marvellous and your description of events is amazing!! Thank you for a great read!! (Sneh Dhingra)
Your story showcases exceptional leadership and problem-solving skills, a shining example for young officers to emulate,no doubt you navigated very stressful time being a Chief manager. (Rukkie Oberoi)
I felt sorry after reading the conversation between the husband and wife.After so many years of companionship the wife has no confidence and trust in her husband. We have to find a solution for this also in India.Your official life was dramatic .It reminds me of a Tamil story written by a well known author.Oru Nadigai Natakam parkiral.In this An actress observes her own life as a real drama of her life. (Indira Narasimhan)
An anecdote well told Ranjana Bharij. Your stories are very interesting, unique and a treasure trove of your years in the bank, observing people and situations.
Quite a repertoire!
Keep it coming. (Varsha Uke Nagpal)
So well written. The old fellow and the suspecting wife and lo! their conversation is the crux of the episode. (Hemendra Kumar Tewari)
Great post, Ranjana Bharij . You became the cause of worry for the customer's wife! And that too of a person who was double in age that you were at that time. A banker can see humour in daily life! (Sudhir B. Mankodi)
Most amusing interaction between the gentleman and the suspicious wife. Equally amazing is that you remember it so well . (Mamta Varma)
Some incidents happen during public dealing which are unforgettable. Was he able to deposit the cash or not. (Harish Bhambri)
A story So well told. Congrats. (Shashi Sharma)
Very interesting and so well described. Strange that even women didn't believe that ladies could be in high positions heading institutions. (Dipti Mittal)
Wonderful narration so passionately and articulately, Salute your perspective and presentation empathetically. Expecting more such incidents reminding our past . Really enjoyful. (Om Poonia)
๐คฃA delightful account that provides a refreshing escape from the routine of a banker’s day.
Set against the backdrop of a rain-soaked Delhi, the story revolved around an elderly customer’s frantic attempts to deposit his Advance Tax amidst a humorous exchange with his suspicious wife.
The narrative is engaging, blending the stress of meeting official deadlines with the relatable quirks of marital life.
Ma’am! your calm professionalism and the amusing dialogues offer a charming insight into the unexpected events that can disrupt an otherwise uneventful day.
I was absolutely rolling with those dialogues—had me laughing like I was eavesdropping on the world’s most dramatic soap opera! (Gulshan Kumar Dhingra)
Amazing write up as usual...totally relatable to every banker. Esp the punch line "The life of a banker is boring if there are no customers". Thanks for putting our thoughts into black n white... (Anurag Mittal)
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