Kiran was thinking he was dreaming when the mobile rang. It was 2 A.M and he was deep

in sleep when the mobile started its loud country music ringtone, breaching the silence.

Kiran noticed his colleague and HR Deepak's name on the mobile display and he attended the call;

calls at these times are usually escalations or bad news, so he was tense.

"Hey Deepak, what happened?"

"Sorry Kiran to call you late, but Anish had an accident on the highway and is admitted in hospital.

Just wanted to let you know. He is in a bit of a critical stage."

"Our director Anish right?Oh God, it's so tragic."

"Yeah, so tomorrow you may have to take care of the client call in the morning. Anish won't be available and clients may not be able to postpone"

"Yeah sure, I will take care."

"Okay thanks..let me get to the hospital as his family may need some help. We will assess the situation and keep you posted"

 

Kiran held the mobile for a few moments as he was getting the impact of the news. Anish was the company director for their section

and the clients had high respect towards him and so did the people in the office. He was a leader in all ways and was really good

in language and could handle any tough situation with a smile, making him able to get many new clients/projects every year for

the company. Now the "biggie" has fallen and won't be able to come to office for a few weeks at least. Are there chances that

he won't recover? Then the director position will be open for fulfillment and the most experienced person in the company

has chances to get the same. Kiran knew that he was one of the fore runners if such a case rose and that would mean his salary

and social status will drastically improve. Soon he brushed off the feelings and got up to switch on his laptop to work on

the presentation for the clients in the morning as Anish won't be able to present the same. Kiran knew what was at stake.

 

He was sure by morning what all he had to keep in mind during the presentation, he must project himself capable enough to'

be the next director of the company. It was not easy to get a promotion with all massive layoffs and economic crisis that is

happening around the world, so this must be a chance that God has given him to prove himself, or that is what he wanted to

believe. He was thinking and rethinking the choice of words he would use and not use during the presentation to

make an impact, even while brushing his teeth.

 

Also, he reached the office before time and went to the board room for the presentation setup. Shirley was already arranging her

laptop and she was also a senior candidate who joined after a week from when Kiran joined the office. She was pretty close

to Anish and they used to go for lunches together and many had called her "Dummy Director" for her close friendship with

Anish; they had worked in another company together and their spouses also knew each other.

"Ah Kiran..I hope the presentation is ready right? I have a meeting with Charlene just after this. Anish would want me to

be very careful with the new project as it will be our biggest deal yet."

Kiran was not very happy to see Shirley but he smiled and nodded. He knew he had competition for the promotion.

 

Right then the board room door opened and Cyril came in. Cyril was the manager of few projects and his projects were doing

extremely well and making profit but his attitude was hated by many as he had a go getter nature and never thought about how

his colleagues felt and just wanted the work to be done, no matter the cost.

"I had gone to the hospital, they have done a major surgery and he is still in a critical stage. Not sure whether we can hope."

Cyril blurted out as soon as he slouched on the office chair. Shirley was nodding but she didn't seem very pleased. Cyril

was a few years junior to her but his ambitions were high and this made her worried. Kiran was feeling anxious, not just

about the meeting but possibly about the number of candidates who might be aspiring to be the Director in Anish's absence.

 

After the meeting, when Kiran came out of the boardroom, he could see heated discussions among his colleagues, some were

hoping that Anish recovered, some were worried about his family while a majority were already picking their favourites

for the next director post. Although hushed voices, sometimes the employees were in such good spirits to clear and clarify

their points that Kiran could hear part of their arguments." Anish was perfect, but mostly God calls the perfect people

first. The company would never be the same in his absence" sighed one person. "I think Kiran would replace him as he

knows the clients and has a good name in the management side. He has also been with this company for longer." Kiran understood

that the replacement for Anish was a hot topic among everyone right from pantry to the restroom. He closeted

himself in one of the cubicles of the restroom, sitting on top of a closed water closet. He could hear the doors of the

restroom opening and many people entering, using the wash basin and the dryer and almost everyone was discussing the same.

"Cyril is showing he is a better manager by going to hospital as well as maintaining office work. He might be good as a

Director as he is young and enthusiastic. I don't think Kiran will make it this time", someone was telling in the washroom, the

sounds felt like a bee buzzing to Kiran. "Shirley also is there, she has been on very good terms with Anish. Many trade secrets

she only may know, it would be hard for both Kiran and Cyril. If Cyril becomes director, then the others will be shocked

as he is bit junior to them, I hope whoever it is , they increase our salary; house rents are skyrocketing and so are

the living expenses", the other person was telling.

 

By the time Kiran was out of the restroom, he was feeling suffocated. Deepak was standing outside talking on

the phone and he signalled Kiran to wait for him to finish and he needed to talk. He quickly ended the call.

"Hey Kiran, the man of the hour. It was the MD on the phone, he has asked to give you interim duties of what Anish used to

do while they decide who will be replacing Anish. Even if he recovers, there will be some time before he can resume work."

Kiran nodded, he didn't know whether to be happy or sad. By the time he reached his cubicle, he saw Shirley going to the

board room with her laptop; she made an awry smile and closed the board room door. Soon he realized the tension Anish must

have been going through every day, we all had just seen the positive sides of the job and never thought of the envy his

colleagues had towards him. Now that he is hospitalized also, everyone has resumed work, including him, like 'the show must

go on."

 

Kiran logged in to his system again though he was sure he would not be in a position to fully concentrate on work. He thought

whether to visit the hospital like Cyril did, but somehow felt he was not mentally ready and all the work in Anish's

absence was on his shoulders and though it looked like a great achievement, he was carrying an interim cross. Soon the news would

spread that he is taking Anish's role even if temporary and this will add fuel to fury for everyone and he would be "Undesirable Number 1"

in the office. He realized that the very job he aspired for is literally burning him and he had flown to the

lamp just like a firefly.