(Scene 1)
The Wife:
Ha-ha... You are really great sir? How come you could crack jokes non-stop.? it s very difficult to sip a tea without laughing sitting near you… really it’s a god gift sir..
No god gift venkat… all because of wife gift only…what latha am I right?
Ah nothing like that, infact his sense of humour has reduced ever since our marriage…
This is called modesty I say…
Sir really I have to confess if there happens to be a best couple competition within our office campus, it’s going to be you two who gonna win the best couple award...
Let me tell you, we won’t even get a consolation award …
Ha-ha… sir this is actually what modesty is?
Okay enough let’s move, so much of work, have to submit so many evidences to the auditor …
Why latha what’s the hurry, you must already be having those...
No venkat.. infact I have to create, modify & then only submit those evidences to tackle the auditor…ok yadav see you in the evening..
So we are leaving today by 4:00...ok!
I don’t know, I have...
What you don’t know, you are first mother then only you are employee of this company, first remember that..
Okay sir, you please carry on… bye latha…
Yeah venkat, you carry on, I’ll come in a minute… yadav I’ll try my level best to finish off my work soon... but
I’m leaving by 4 today, if you come I’ll take you otherwise you come by your own, if anaha asks where is mummy, I’ll tell her that she loves her job more than you, that’s all..
Ah, chinnu knows her mother very well more than her father…
If that’s the case then you manage her if she asks the reason for your absence in the evening
Yadav you know very well how important is this audit, I’ll surely try my level best to wrap it off at the earliest, give me a call in the evening
No way, if you are there at 4:00 PM near parking lot I’ll pick you, otherwise I’ll leave and tell anaha that mom wouldn’t make up today on time…
Not all are lucky like you to get good bosses; okay I’m getting late for the audits…you can leave if you want, I’ll manage by my own…
(Scene 2)
The Mother:
Oh god, I’ve got 6 missed calls from home and I didn’t even notice…. Let me call home and check, I’m already getting late for the audit.
Hello! Ah... Latha speaking, just noticed the missed calls, how is chinnu, did she had her breakfast?
She is crying since you left...
Oh why what happened? She was in good mood when we left for the office? Now what happened? Did you give her milk?
I don’t know, suddenly she has become very adamant, she wants to wear birthday dress now itself, all my efforts to convince her were in vain...
Okay give the phone to her, I’ll talk...
Like her mother she is also very stubborn and now crying... anaha, anaha… come... See your mother wants to talk to you… anaha… anaha… latha she is crying sitting in the balcony and not coming…
Ma, please call her soon, tell her that I have some surprise for her in the evening, she will come…
Chinnu, chinnu... Come your mother has some surprise for you, good girl nah… come come come… Ah, here she is, talk to her...
Hello chinnu…
…
Chinnu hello… hello!
……
Why chinnu is angry? Why she is not talking…?
…
Chinnu chinnu… what happened to my cutie…? Why are you angry with me chinnu?
I am angry with Nainama not you! (Nainama - Grandmother)
Why you are angry with nainama?
She is not allowing wearing my dress... I told her it is mine…. But still she is not allowing…bad nainama...
Chinnu you should not tell like that mah … she is very old know… how much she loves you...tell me who is giving you breakfast daily? Who is picking you from school daily? Nainama nah.. She will feel very bad if you talk like that... ask sorry to her…
Then why is she not allowing me to wear my dress?
No chinnu, the dress is the birthday dress know, you can wear it only in the evening...
Why evening, why can’t I wear now?
When does your mummy and father come home?
Ah evening...
Ah that’s why; you can wear it in the evening when we come okay! I will myself come home soon today, we will together have a bath, then I’ll give you new dress, new make up materials... new...
Choclate...
Ah new chocklate... all new for chinnu only... we will not give to anybody, okay
Ah okay… all new for me only...
Ok.. Mummy is getting late da.. Now tell sorry to nainama and have some food or milk... okay... Take rest... I’ll come home soon and then we will wear it...chinnu new dress... mummy new dress... okay...
Okay sorry nainama… I have said sorry to nainama…
Very good girl… now give a kiss to mummy and tell bye…
Umah ummah ummah… now you give ummah to chinnu...
Umah ummah ummah… bye da chinnu…
Bye…
(Scene 3)
The subordinate
Latha you still not gone to meet the auditors…
Yeah vani.. I’m going there only…
See it is already 11:00 AM, if at all you meet the auditors on time, then only audit can be completed as per schedule know...
Yeah, actually I had to talk to my daughter at home…. She was crying for some reason…
That’s okay, if at all you are talking with your daughter for some exigency issues, you could have asked soma or venkat to attend the auditors for the time being know..
No vani, I don’t think they would able to manage as we are already half way through... and it’s only me who is handling this right from the start... Don’t worry I’ll manage the auditors, I have already talked to them in the morning and updated the area that needs to be worked upon... so they wouldn’t actually be waiting for me..
Okay…go... if at all they need my inputs call me, I’ll be here only...
Ok, vani... I will...
(Scene 4)
The Supervisor
Madam… we still haven’t updated the file you have asked for…
Why you haven’t done that… I told you yesterday know this has to be completed by EOD…. Don’t you know the auditor will be asking for that file first thing in the morning...?
What to do madam, I had so many calls to attend?
I told you on the other day nah, no calls till the audit is over? Now if the auditors ask me for that file, what will I answer him?
But we have completed half madam... with that we can manage nah madam…
No no, he will not be happy with the incomplete file, he will make it a big issue… what you guys don’t follow my instructions at all!
Madam, please madam, will I get any problem if he raises any issues? This month my probation period is getting over madam, I’m afraid... this issue shouldn’t become a problem for me!
Eh, don’t worry, let me see how to tackle it, nothing will happen, you will get confirmed this month, I’ll send a mail to your boss later telling how good you were during the course of audit.. So don’t worry, but ensure that you complete this work today for sure...
But what if the auditors ask for this file today...
Don’t worry, I’ll manage… leave it to me.
(Scene 5)
The Manager
Sir here is the information you have asked for... infact I have made an excel sheet and updated all the relevant evidences and supporting documents locations which you would need in the course of audit... hope it helps sir..
Oh fantastic... latha...We have audited quite many firms, but I have to admit this is the first place where I am seeing everything in order... credit goes to you only...
No no sir… it’s all team effort only... I’m only a facilitator here.
No no, we don’t expect 100% conformance anywhere, we know we all are human beings, what we see is the area of improvement and the commitment being shown by the people working towards the compliance. Your approach & the way you manage things gives a very positive light on your organization as well… I’m sure you are an big asset to this company...
Thank you sir, but again the credit should go to the team and you for being understanding and courteous.
Okay, so what about the file that I asked you yesterday evening, is it ready?
Yes sir it is ready, but we would be able to show you only tomorrow?
Why it is not updated yet?
No sir, it is updated but actually we are having other security audits as well , so this file is actually being asked by the other auditor, so we will give this tomorrow morning, I hope you can understand..
Oh is that so! Ok, No problem latha, I’ll look at it tomorrow then…
(Scene 6)
The vulnerable
Oh my god it is already 2:00 PM, still the schedule for today is not even half way through… what will I do? Chinnu would have already started waiting for me at home? She would be thinking her mother would bring loads of gifts & chocolates for her? Today is her 4th year birthday and for the first time we wanted to celebrate it in a grand way. We have also invited lot many people from my side and yadav’s side. It would create a bad impression if I don’t reach in time. How will I manage? This auditor will not agree to complete the audit without completing his task today. Poor man he too might be in pressure to complete the whole audit within this week, otherwise he would get into problems.
What will I do? I made a mistake by coming today, I should have taken a leave giving some excuse? But who would have managed the audit then? It would have been highly difficult and also in first place I wouldn’t be granted a leave anyway.
Oh baba, please help me, give me a path to tackle this problem. Can I ask for permission to go early? Vani wouldn’t agree at all… he would then say, if at all you have to go early then complete today’s audit schedule or get permission from his boss. It is better I stay back rather going to ask the big boss for early permission. It wouldn’t look professional at all. Oh my god, I think I should resign my job and concentrate only on my family… I shouldn’t have continued my job at all after being a mother…. Now I’m suffering...
Latha... Sorry I had to attend some call... So shall we continue… latha…latha...?
Are you ok!
Ah... Sorry sir, yeah we can continue...
Any problem..?
No sir, please... We will continue...
(Scene 7)
The Wicked
Latha, can you order some tea or coffee please, it’s already 3:45 PM, meanwhile I’ll come back in a minute.. time for a break I guess…
Ah okay sir... I’ll arrange for it...
Oh god… it is already 3:45 PM now, what to do? I’ll call vani and say that I’m not feeling well and leave right away? What if he doesn’t accept my excuse? So what if he doesn’t accept. I am not going to give a damn about it, if he accepts its okay, otherwise I’ll ask him to manage this audit and go straightaway. I won’t mind what he will think and all. It’s enough... I can’t take it anymore... to hell with this audit, to hell with this job… I will quit if he doesn’t accept… I will ask him what soma or venkat is doing. Why can’t they handle this audit? Venkat seems to be proud nah thinking he is more experienced in this area, let him handle this one. He daily comes on time and leaves on time. Not even a single day he has cared to ask me about this audit. Even for courtesy he didn’t ask me if I need his help. So why should I bother for him. If he is been hired for his knowledge and experience, let him handle. I don’t care.
Soma can also help him as she is already been in this role for more than a year now. Moreover starting next week she would anyway be enjoying her long stint of holidays for her marriage. So it wouldn’t harm if she works little late today and finish it up. If she gives some excuse for leaving early…I am anyway going to tell her right away that it’s not possible...ah, shall I call yadav and ask him an advice. Uh, He does things for other people but when I ask him, he never bothers. He does not love me...huh...so what’s the use!
(Scene 8)
The Sacrificer
Latha, have you ordered coffee for us?
Oh sorry sir, not yet… I’ll arrange for it now.
Its okay, what happened, you seem to look little lost suddenly… any problem?
No, I’m just feeling little tired, please excuse me, I’ll wash my face and come…
Ah okay, carry on...
Oh god, what’s happening to me? God has given me good life, supporting husband, excellent colleagues... Why am I started suddenly complaining? Am I right in running out of my duties? Is it wise to transfer my duties onto others? Poor soma she would already have so many things to arrange for her marriage. Till date she has never comprised on her work for her personal things. If she wishes to go on time in the evening, what’s so wrong in it? Instead of helping her out, how can I think to drag her into this work; so that I can escape? Sorry soma, I’m very sorry. No I’m not going to become an escapist, no matter what happens, let me take the responsibility to finish of my duty…
(Scene 9)
The true Devotee
(Phone rings)
Hello latha, soma here, how is the audit going on? Do you need any help?
No... Soma, Audit is going on fine, no problem, so what is the plan for today evening?
Well there is some shopping to do with my fiancé...
Oh what madam, so much of shopping daily ah, take care of your body, don’t roam much outside in this polluted city, it is very important to take care of your body and face specially at this stage..
Haha.. Yeah I know...but what to do, so much of shopping still left...
Your countdown is already started madam, only 18 days more to go for marriage... remember that!
Ah okay, I actually called you ask if you need my help in your audit, I can stay back if you want...
No no you carry on, I can manage, Mr.patil sir would be waiting for you…
I can postpone the shopping tomorrow, that’s not the problem, I can talk to him as well, he will understand, in that way I am luck to get a good fiancé...
No soma, thanks, you please carry on, and everything is perfectly all right…
Ok, then bye, see you tomorrow…
Bye…
(sms pings)
Latha please let me know if you need any help from me - Venkat
Thanks venkat, I can manage, you please carry on – Latha
Oh how suddenly I am being offered help from so many angles… but it’s no point in accepting their help, as it may make the matter worse... anyway…
So can we continue with the audit latha? You are okay now?
Oh, yeah...I’m completely fine sir, we can continue...
Are you sure? Let me know if you have any problems, we can see for some alternatives.
No, no sir, thanks for your concern, we can continue…. If at all there is any problem, I leave it to baba, he will take care of them…
Baba who?
Sai baba, I’m actually a devotee of Him.
Oh god, just now I remember, what’s the time now latha?
Ah, it’s 4:30….
Do you mind, if we wind up the audit now and continue with it tomorrow?
Why, why what happened sir?
Actually today is Thursday know, I have promised my parents to take them to sai baba’s temple near by,...thanks for reminding me… we will see all this tomorrow, ok bye.. I have to rush now...
…
Latha, I said bye...
Oh sorry sorry sir, bye...bye... see you tomorrow.
('Sri Sacchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki jai')
(Scene 10)
The Lover
Oh is this what we call a miracle? How I wished to leave early today and it was just not happening at all and suddenly, wow… well… it’s already 4:30, I am sure yadav must have been half way through, I have to quickly catch some auto, let me rush…
Hello madam, why are you running so fast?
Oh yadav, you are still here, I thought you would have left by now… I actually...
No problem madam, shall we go now, or you still have some work to do?
No, it’s over we can leave, but how, I thought you must have left by now?
Madam, if I told you in the morning that you are mother first and then an employee, it’s applicable to me as well, I am first your husband, then a father then an employee here…
But…
How can you think that I would have left you and gone there? Remember I will never let down my wife… got it?
But we are already late; we have to do some shopping for anaha...
Don’t worry madam, everything has been taken care of, I have got all that our daughter would have wished for during lunch time... now all you need to do is give me the privilege to take you home in my car… shall we madam..
Oh yadav… I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, I, I… I just…lov
Okay, okay, I know what you are going to say, let’s have all our romantic talks inside the car, let’s move now; anaha will be waiting for us…
Post marriage woman has to perform multiple duty as a mother, daughter-in-law, employee etc. To perform this role effectively, she has to don multiple roles every single day; it might even be more than 10 perfect roles than what latha performed here; so with utmost sincerity let’s all salute to the spirit of womanhood.
"I think the key is for women not to set any limits." - Martina Navratilova