Sorry Sir.

“Subroto, where the hell is my presentation? Does it take so long? You are absolutely useless!"

“Sorry Sir, I was just formatting it. I’ll mail it to you in five minutes” 

“I am sure I will still find mistakes. Send it fast. I have a group of fools working for me.” 

“Sorry Sir. I am just doing it.” 

Hari Bajaj was the General Manager of the department in which Subroto worked. Every employee of the department loathed him. His key responsibilities in the company were to eat, talk on the phone, go on expensive trips at the cost of the company, be over friendly with a particular female employee, leave early and blame others for his shortcomings in the review meetings. Needless to say, he had no clue of how the work got done. Even a minor report that the management required of him had to be prepared by his subordinates. Subroto was preparing one such report. 

“Sir, I have mailed you the presentation. Kindly have a look.” 

“What? What presentation? Oh. Okay. Let me see what utter rubbish you have prepared. Sit.” 

“Yes Sir.” 

“Subroto! How many times have I told you not to use such a bright yellow background? And, I absolutely hate this font!” 

“Sorry Sir, but I thought Times New Roman, is the standard font for all reports.” 

“Don’t try to teach me. I am your boss. If I tell you to hand write the whole report, you still have to do it. Understand?” 

“Yes Sir. Is the content alright Sir? Are there any modifications required?” 

“You don’t have the brains for that. Leave that to me. I will make the necessary changes. You are lucky that you have a boss like me to spoon feed you all the time. Now go change the color and fonts and mail it back to me. ASAP!” 

“Okay Sir. Um Sir, there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”“What now?” 

“Sir, my promotion is due this year. I wanted to talk regarding that.” 

“Subroto. Focus on your work. You lack dedication and…” 

“But Sir, I have always delivered on all my responsibilities and I also...” 

“Shut up! Will you decide that?” 

“Sorry Sir. I was just saying that…” 

“Enough. I want my report. I will see what can be done. I can’t promise anything.” 

“Sir, I just got married. I need to make ends meet. I require this promotion very badly, Sir. I have done overtime almost every day. I have truly put in…” 

“Hello.. Yeah tell me! How is everything? Subroto, please leave now.” 

“Sir, but…” 

“Can’t you understand? Just go now.” 

“Sorry Sir.” 

Subroto stumbled back to his workstation. Subroto Sen, the hardest working employee of the department, no doubt about that. His only flaw was that he couldn’t keep his boss happy in any way apart from the work. This was how he had been all his life. Honest, simple and straightforward. He didn’t know how to make tweaks for his own convenience. He never got into confrontations, no matter how much the other side humiliated him. He led a simple life with his mother and wife. 

Subroto started on the presentation once again.  A hundred thoughts raced through his head. Appraisal announcements were due in a week. This was his sixth year in this company. He was due for promotion three years ago but for some reason or the other, it got delayed. This year he had worked exceptionally hard and had been keeping high expectations, though after the conversation with Hari Sir, he felt a little tensed. A colleague tapped him on his back. 

“Hey. What did the boss say?” 

“The usual. He said he is not sure. Will see what can be done.” 

“Why are you letting him do this Subroto? You are the most deserving employee. You must fight for what is due to you. You’re letting it go too easily.” 

“I am sure Hari Sir won’t let me down. He knows…” 

“Knows what? Oh please Subroto! For the last three years, you have kept this abnormal amount of faith in him and he has proved you wrong every single time and still you refuse to see reality?” 

“It’s not that Raja. I am sure Hari Sir had his own problems. But he knows how hard I have worked this year. He won’t let me down. He speaks rudely I know, but ultimately he cares for all of us.” 

“Haha! Are you for real? Everyone in this department knows what Hari Bajaj actually is and it’s you who thinks he is an angel and so you work tirelessly for him, without expecting a thing in return. He treats you like filth. Are you blind?” 

“I know he is moody and he screams at me a lot. But he is my superior. He has the right to judge me and my work. He is doing it for my growth and…” 

“Okay fine. Do as you wish. You are frustrating me. But I just wanted to tell you that there is a rumour doing the rounds that this year Sir is planning to promote Niharika.” 

“Niharika? But it’s hardly been two years that she has joined.” 

“Come on! We all know how happy she can keep the boss. Don’t be so naïve!” 

“Let’s not make these allegations against someone’s character. Hari Sir will be fair. He will make the right decision. I know.” 

“Forget it Subroto. No point explaining to you. I’ll catch you later.” 

The week passed by quite weekly and it was finally the day everybody had been waiting for. There was a lot of anticipation and whispering. Subroto tried to stay calm. He knew he had given his best. The mail arrived at 16:13 PM. He opened the excel containing the list of the candidates who had got a promotion. There were a total of six names and there was definitely no ‘Subroto Sen’ in that list.

Quietly, he approached Hari Sir. 

“Sir, could I speak to you for a minute?” 

“No. I am really busy right now. Later.” 

“Please Sir. This is about the promotion. I just got the mail.” 

“Oh that. Yes. Don’t worry. Keep working hard. Maybe you’ll get it next year.” 

“But Sir, it has been due since long. I really thought I would be promoted this year.” 

“Look Subroto. If you have not been promoted, it clearly means that you have not worked enough and that there is someone else who deserved it more than you.” 

“But Sir, Niharika has not even completed two years and she got promoted, Sir. I don’t understand.” 

“Niharika is an extraordinary performer and that is why she has been promoted. Stop complaining Subroto.” 

“Sorry Sir. I was not complaining. I just couldn’t understand what went wrong this year again so I came to you.” 

“Well I think I have told you already. Now please leave and don’t bother me with such petty things.” 

“Sir, please, Sir. Can nothing be done? I was really depending on this.” 

“Leave Subroto. Unless you want me to take some adverse action against you.” 

“No Sir. Sorry Sir.” 

Subroto felt devastated. Many of his colleagues consoled him while others kept repeating that they knew something like this was bound to happen. Subroto didn’t say a word. 

Three days had passed. Everyone had accustomed themselves to the new changes, including Subroto. He had accepted the reality and was focusing on his work. One had to say, it was rare to find a man with such perseverance. Around six o clock, he approached Hari. 

“Sir, we need to discuss the data that has come in today from Bombay.” 

“I am busy right now Subroto. I will be leaving for a meeting shortly. But I will be back in two hours. Wait for me till then.” 

“Okay Sir.” 

It was nearly eight o clock. Few employees were still working. Subroto was waiting for his boss. He started feeling hungry. He took out a mango from his bag, cut it in pieces and ate one. At that very moment, Hari Bajaj walked in. Subroto quickly kept the food aside and went up to him. 

“No Subroto, not today. I am not in the mood right now. We will discuss the issues tomorrow.” 

“But Sir, I waited for you…” 

“So what? I am paying you. I can make you wait as long as I want. Now quit bothering me and go home.” 

“Sorry Sir” 

Subroto quietly packed his bag and walked out. The building was almost deserted and dark. He felt eerie waiting for the lift all alone. Just then, Hari Sir came up to the lift. Subroto was glad to see him. At least he was not totally alone. The lift beeped when it reached the eighth floor. Both of them got in. 

“Sir, I hope the meeting went well.” 

“Not your concern.” 

“Sorry Sir” 

*7^th floor* 

“Sir, actually there is one thing I need to tell you” 

“What is it?” 

*6^th floor* 

“Sorry Sir.” 

“Sorry? For what?”

*5^th floor* 

“For this, Sir.”

Subroto Sen took out a knife and stabbed Hari Bajaj. Thrice. In the chest. 

“Sorry Sir”

He smiled an evil smile, stopped the lift at the second floor, and walked out. 

The lift reeked of mango and blood, as it reached the ground floor.