In the evening, my boss called me in his cabin.

“May I come in Sir” I asked.

Boss looked at me and said “Oh, yes, please come in.”

When I saw my boss, he was a real sight. He was fat, with dark complexion, black hair - perhaps colored, thick nose, frightening eyes, a little pouch and his height must have been about 5 feet. He was wearing black color trousers, red shirt and a white tie on that. He must have been about 55 years. I couldn’t believe that this was my boss. His style of dressing was very unique. When I looked at his shoes, I was really shocked to see him wearing blue colored sports shoes. More than my boss, he looked like some joker.

Ignoring my amused glances, he asked me to sit down. I pulled a chair and sat in front of him. He picked up a beetle leaf (पान) lying on the table and while putting it in his mouth, asked me “Did you like your first day in office, son?”

I was shocked. The person who was speaking in English just a while back, had suddenly shifted to Bhojpuri.

I politely said “It was good, Sir. Everyone is very helpful.”

Spitting into the dustbin lying under his table, he said “This is what is different here. If we don’t support each other, then what is the point in working together? Right?”

I couldn’t understand what he meant. I asked “What do you mean, Sir?”

“It is very important to help each other. This is not one person’s job. If we do not help each other, how will things work out?”

“Oh yes, that is true”, I replied.

“Ok, where are you from?”

“Faizabad, Sir, Uttar Pradesh”.

“Wonderful”, he said, again spitting in the dustbin.

“One of my sisters-in-law is also from Faizabad. She is very humorous,” he continued.

I wondered why he was telling me all these things….. but it was a question of my job, so kept listening.

“Work with all your heart. 17 years back when I came to Delhi, do you know how much money I had in my pocket? Only 800 rupees! Any today with all my hard work, I have set up this company.”

I wondered why he was irritating me with all this talk? Had I committed some crime?

“Do you know the cost of this necktie I am wearing?” he asked.

And I thought, how can I guess, you idiot? This is your necktie, you bought, and you are wearing it… how can I know the cost?

But apparently, I smiled and said “I don’t know, Sir.”

“3000 rupees. That too after 50% discount”, he said with pride.

“A new Mall has opened nearby. Go to its second floor. They have very colorful neckties displayed there. You also buy one for yourself. Take the benefit of their discount scheme.”

The fucker continued irritating me with his nonsense. And now this necktie shit…In a salary of 20000 rupees, could I afford a necktie worth 3000 rupees? “Bastard”, I muttered in my head.

But my boss didn’t stop. As if he had decided to test the limits of my patience.

“So, I was telling you about my sister-in-law. Do you know what she calls me?”

She must be calling you black serpent, I thought. You resemble one.

“No Sir, I can’t guess”, I said.

“She calls me dacoit Kalicharan. She is very humorous, ha ha ha”, he laughed at his own joke.

It was such a lousy name, but my boss felt as if she was calling him James Bond. Uff… there is a limit to which I could take this nonsense. I was praying that my boss would ask me to leave. I couldn’t handle any more of this nonsense. And God answered my prayers.

“Ok, we have talked enough. Do your work with all your heart”, my boss said.

“Can I leave now?” I thought this is called torture, not talking.

“Oh yes. And if you face any problem, please come to me without any hesitation. Ok?”

“Yes Sir.”

I immediately got up and started leaving. Just as I was about to exit the door, he shouted “Don’t forget the necktie I told you about. Don’t lose this golden chance.”

Sister-Fucker… They are not giving a free World Cup match ticket with the Tie which I will lose.

As I came out of office, I saw Ankur, an office colleague, who had become a friend, waiting for me. 

Ankur was about my age, perhaps a little heavier than me. He started laughing loudly on seeing me. I couldn’t understand the reason.

“Why are you laughing so much?” I asked.

“Hasn’t Kalua Bihari irritated you?” he chuckled.

“Yes. But how do you know?”

“Oh, he irritates everyone like this. I have also faced him several times. Bastard wastes our time in meaningless talk.”

“True, he is so irritating. I expected him to ask me about my studies, my degrees… but he started telling me about his sister-in-law, and the dog collar type necktie he was wearing. He started telling me about its price.”

“He tortures everyone like this. Forget him. Today is your first day, let me treat you with drinks”, he tried to change the topic.

“No yaar. We will go when I get my first salary.” I said.

“We will go again when you get your salary. Why to wait for a month? You have come to Delhi, let us enjoy.” he insisted.

“No yaar, try to understand.” I said.

“Ok, as you wish. I can’t force you. Come, I will drop you somewhere on the way.” he relented.

I sat down in his car, and we started. On the way, Ankur’s eyes were lecherously following every girl he saw. And to those he found particularly attractive, he wouldn’t forget to pass some cheap comment.

Suddenly he turned towards me, and asked a very strange question – “Are you a virgin?”

“What?” I couldn’t understand for a moment.

“Have you ever slept with someone?” he smiled.

“Yes. I used to sleep with my brother in our home.”

He started laughing hysterically.   

“I didn’t mean your brother. Have you slept with a girl?”

“No yaar”, I said.

“Means you are still a virgin? What is your intention? How long will you save your groom in a veil?”

“I didn’t get your point.” I said.

“Will you let your youth rust like this, working for Kalua Bihari? You need to have some fun in life. At your age, a man who doesn’t have a girlfriend is considered impotent. Do you understand?” he carried on.

“That is true, but one should also have a girlfriend?” I countered.

He was enjoying the talk. “Is it a guava that will fall on your head? You will have to work hard to make a girlfriend.  Start going to Clubs, Discos, Pubs, and you will easily be able to get a girl interested in you. You don’t look so bad.”

I thought that if I start going to Pubs or Clubs with him, I won’t have any money left to send home. I was listening to him, and at the same time trying to convince myself that I would stay away from these things. We had almost reached my place. I asked Ankur to stop the car. 

“Thanks buddy”, I said as I got out of the car.

“Don’t be cheap. Don’t you see films? No sorry, no Thanks between friends. And don’t forget what I told you. Make a girlfriend as soon as possible. Don’t upset your ‘groom’.”

“Ok bro, I will make a girlfriend.” I said.

“Ok, see you tomorrow in office. Bye.” Ankur said, as he left.

Was it so important to make a girl friend, I thought, as I walked towards my room? 

Aarav was still sitting on his chair and writing something.

“How are you? How was your first day in office?” he enthusiastically asked, as soon as I entered the room.

“It was good. Except that my boss is very irritating.” I replied as I took off my shoes.

“Ha ha ha… don’t worry. Why are you concerned about your boss?” he said.

“That is true. Rest of the staff is very cooperative. And yes, I have also made a friend.

His name is Ankur. He dropped me home in his car.” I said.

“Wow, what a promotion. First day and a car drops you home. Not bad.” he teased me.

“He was after my life, insisting on a beer party. It took a lot of effort to make him understand. Anyways, I am damn hungry. Let us go out and have something.” I said.

“Thanks buddy. You please carry on. I have just now returned. See, I have bought so much stuff.” He said.

I looked around and saw lots of eatables, fruits and vegetables lying in a corner.

“You have bought such a large quantity of eatables. Seems you won’t have to go out for a full month.” I replied.

“Actually, that is true. I have taken a vow that until I complete my Novel, I won’t leave the room.” Aarav said.

“This is unfair. This is a new place for me, I don’t know anyone here. If you also won’t come out with me, I will get bore alone.” I said.

“It’s a question of just one month. After that we will both go out and have lots of fun.” He requested.

Frankly speaking, I was a little disappointed. But I also felt happy seeing his commitment towards his work. So, I thought it better not to push him further.

“Who all are there in your family?” I tried to change the topic.

“Just me, no one else.” He said a little sadly.

For a moment I couldn’t get what he was trying to say.

“What do you mean by no one? There must be someone.”

“I have been an orphan since my childhood. I don’t remember my parents at all. And now it doesn’t make any difference.” He said.

I felt a little bad about him. I said “Don’t worry, you are not alone. Now I am with you.”

“Thanks buddy. You tell me about your family.” He asked.

“I have my old grand mother, my father, mother, and two sisters in our family. My father runs a fair-deal (राशन) shop. I dislike wasting my time there, sitting idle, waiting for customers. So, I decided to come to Delhi for job. Hey, I am very hungry. Let me go out and have something.”

When I returned, I found Aarav still working on his Novel. As soon as he saw me he said “Did you have enough food, or should I make Maggi?”

“Oh yes. The Chhole-bhature were awesome. But a very interesting thing happened. In the restaurant, some boys sitting behind me were talking about a Novel. They were praising it so much, as if one of them was it’s writer.”

“Really? What was the name of the Novel?” Aarav asked.

“The beginning of my end. Have you read it?” I said.

“Yes, I have read it. It’s very good. I think you should also read it.” He said.

“No yaar, I have no interest in Novels. One day you only tell me it’s story.” I said.

“Okay” he agreed.