Chapter 1

“We are sorry, your services are no longer required…….”

 

Did you ever imagine that you will get the biggest jolts in your life, in the smallest rooms you have ever been to???

Me neither, until I got the biggest shock of my life. You can say that a small box can decide the fate of your life.

Want to know what happened? Then keep reading!

My Name is Pulkit Mishra and this is my story. For keeping it convenient to the readers there is no mention of time. Just think that all of it is happening “now” when you are reading the story.

 

A Few minutes back………

 

“Hi Sir, may I come in? You have asked me to come to meet you?”

“Yes! Please come in Mr. Pulkit Mishra. I just wanted to discuss an important issue with you.

 

You have always worked hard for the company! You are a highly talented and intelligent fellow. I am really sorry that we are made to meet under such painful circumstances. As you know that lately, the company is not doing that great as it used to and since there are a lot of obligations that the company needs to fulfill, the management took few harsh steps so that the company can survive and go ahead. You also know that a lot of our employees have been asked to leave because sometimes you need to sacrifice your own people so that you (I mean the company) can survive longer Pulkit. Hope you are able to understand where I am coming from. Mr. Pulkit Mishra, we are really sorry to inform you that your services are no longer required here. The management has decided to downsize its size and it is nothing with regards to your work or performance but a pure management decision based on numbers. As it is the company, which is unable to retain you and give you work, the management has decided to give you 6 months’ salary so that you will be able to survive until you secure another job. Having in mind both the company’s and your own interest, we feel that it would be better if you sign this resignation letter and give it to us so that we can start the relieving formalities” said Mr. Ankur Singhania, the HR head of VoruN’s Technologies Solutions Pvt Ltd.

I looked at my manager in shock as if to ask, “Is what I just heard for real?”

Thumping will be a small word to describe my heartbeat.

Me: “can I get a minute Ankur? I need some time to gather my thoughts.”

Ankur: “Sure, but please make it fast so that we will be done here.”

 

Now…….

 

I am standing in the small cubicle which is just spacious enough for two healthy people to sit across the table and discuss anything related to business. It was a small cozy cubicle, the typical IT company set-up with a silver colour carpet spread on the floor. It had a TV on one side of the wall and on the other side it had a small notice-board for any important appointments/notices or your personal belongings to be hung upon. The room was filled with the evening sun rays and sandal stick aroma! Despite its beauty, my heart was not happy.

I collapsed on the chair behind me…… shock took over my senses. I was holding a letter in my hand, which is supposedly my relieving letter, waiting for my signature. It is surprising that a small room, four walls, a signature and a letter can change anyone’s fate!

 “Thank you very much Mr. Pulkit for being so cooperative. We wish you luck in your future endeavours!”

I said my final good-bye’s to all those with whom I have worked in VoruN Technologies. I shook hands with them wishing them luck and with every handshake, I was shivering more and more………..

I was standing just outside of my office (well no longer “my office”) stripped of all the dignity, designation and job. It took them less than a minute to tell that I have no impact. But they did have a huge one on me. It felt like all these years that I worked for the company was nothing. All of them got washed away with one single letter and a small signature. What is left behind is just a small empty desk.

 

—————–*****—————–

 

I was trembling, a turmoil inside me………..

What next?   How will I Survive tomorrow? What if I don’t find another job? What will I tell my family who is eagerly waiting for me at home so that they can spend some quality time with me?

 

Can I tell my wife, “Honey, you have always complained that I don’t spend much time with you and give you proper attention right?? From now on you have all my time and complete attention because your husband has been gracefully kicked out of his job!”

How should I tell my son that I am a failure?

My parents?

Who are very proud of their successful son! And when they go to any function or a wedding…….

Who will they showcase as their proud son now? How can I tell them that I failed them and let them down and that I am not that proud son which they think I am!

With all of these thoughts in mind, I started walking out of the office and while I was walking, I realized that this is the true ME stark naked. I do not have any identity.

Just me.

—————–*****—————–

 

Who are you?

 

When you are born,

You become a baby.

  

When they give you a name,

You become the name.

 

When they send you to school,

You become a student.

 

When you get a job,

You become an employee.

 

When you commit a crime,

You become a number.

 

When you lose your wealth,

You become poor.

 

When you become old,

You get retired.

 

And

When you die,

You become a body.

 

Who are you, if they take away your name?

 Who are you, if you don’t go to school?

 Who are you, if you lose your job?

 Who are you, if you lost your wealth?

 Who are you, if you become old?

 Who are you, when you die?

  

Your definition of “You” changes with a change in your situations. You are just “You”, and of no major consequence. All that you think about “You” is because of the situations around you.

 

  

Don’t be proud of anything because it can go away. Just be grounded and pray to God. Because he’s the one whose position never changes.

 

—————–*****—————–

 

It was always easy to hire a taxi or to do a car-pool to come to work, but not today because you won’t think of money when you have it and by the time you start thinking about it, you might have already lost it! So not having a penny with me, I started walking home because it is the best way to save as much money as possible when you do not have a job. It is a 20 km walk and I was in no hurry to go home either! What do I do reaching home early? There is nothing there for me to look forward except for disappointment and failure.

I was crossing the road without bothering to see if any vehicles passed by. And why would I? It doesn’t matter whether I live or die. Living is a burden, an extra mouth to feed, whereas death just makes one less!

I felt as if someone pulled me back harshly and the next thing I remember is feeling the road to my face.

Me: Am I dead?

Someone from somewhere nearby: No you are not, had I not pulled you, you definitely would have been. You just missed being crushed by that car.

Me: Why did you pull me then?! You should have let me die!

“Are you mad!!? I just saved your life and instead of being grateful, why are you being a jerk!”

Me: What is the point anyway? I am already dead from the inside. There is no point for me to live. As it is said in the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, “Man needs a purpose to live and if there is no purpose, there is no reason for him to live. A man is motivated and empowered when he feels needed and not to be needed is a slow death for a man” I am not needed and there is no purpose for me either. So there is no reason to live. But thanks for trying to save me and sorry for the trouble.

I was still sitting on the 4-lane tar road when I was saying these words. I turned around to see who my mysterious rescuer was.

“I am really sorry if I was harsh on you. Guess you really had a rough day. Come give me your hand. My name is Deepika. Can I know what happened to you?” she said by offering her hand to help me get up.

Me: Thanks, I am Pulkit Mishra for now and maybe a good for nothing person tomorrow.

 

Deepika: Nice to meet you Pulkit but in such a weird situation. I am a therapist by the way. So I think I might be just the person to help you out. I came to meet a friend here and well accidentally stumbled upon you.

So you want to tell me what is bothering you? Don’t worry I will not charge you for it!

 

Chapter 2

https://myjourneyinsearchofhumanity.wordpress.com/2019/03/02/honey-the-job-lost-me-chapter-2

 

Note: This Story, characters and the chapters are completely fictitious. Hope you had fun reading the story, please do let me know your inputs (if any) so that I can make a much better story in the coming chapters. Thanks for taking your time to read it. Kindly subscribe to my blog to get updates of this story and future posts as well.