April’
2004,
Austin, Travis County, Texas.
“Hello, Ralph. This is Malcolm representing JAPMI,” he said shaking hands, “I reckon the notice had been already circulated to the Career Development Centre by one of our Associate”
“Yup, Mr. Malcolm. I am the Recruiting convenor here and in fact I was expecting your arrival at this time,” Ralph said and they both took seats in the chamber.
“That’s great! We would like to begin with our process,” Malcolm asked.
“Sure. Let me check with your mode and setup,” he said and looked out on his desktop, “I see you have posted the OCR Job and decided to schedule the interview on campus,”
“Uh-huh,” he bobbed his head, “We’ve shortlisted handful of students,” Malcolm said.
“Alright, Will get them for the Screening in a few minutes at the Private Interview rooms,”
“Fair, how about the booth space?” Malcolm checked.
“It’s in the Brown Gym. One of the recruiting co-ordinator will assist you to your hotspot,” the asst. director phoned the co-ordinator.
Malcolm reached the UTA to recruit the students as an employer. Be that as it may, the motive was not to Interview the shortlisted students but rather it was to make a casual talk. It was to let them know who they gonna work with and it was to make them known of something unexpected.
The handpicked students were called together into the screening room, “Take your seats buddies,” Malcolm uttered. The young members complied with him and were seated.
“Do you know the company I represent?” asked Malcolm. He knew the students were aware yet he did the check for no joy.
“Yeah Mr. Malcolm. It’s JAPMI,” one of them answered.
“Uh-huh,” Malcolm sighed with his eyes, “So did you happened to hear about the Industry any time before?”
“Yup, we did hear,” the other student answered.
“Good. Saryu, Mruna and,” he cast his eyes on the other, “and… Jenny,” he said and continued, “Did you happened to see the guy behind you any time before?” he pointed his finger behind them.
What they had seen had come like a bolt out of the blue. “Aryan,” the three of them uttered in muted tones. They got up from their seats one after the other and Jenny was the first who got the lead out.
“Dude! Where have you been,” Jenny asked, “Where the fuck you were man?”
“We just hated your absence Aryan,” Mruna said, “Darling speak out,” she asked.
Aryan didn’t move an inch from where he installed himself. “Dear, talk to us. Where were you Aryan?” Saryu asked. The three of them looked earnestly for an answer from Aryan.
“I was on hibernation,” Aryan finally spoke, “for a learning,” he said.
“What?” Mruna enquired.
“Yup by the by, how are you all?” Aryan enquired.
“We are no good mate, we are no good,” Jenny said, “You just dropped to us all a message that you will be gone from the city but you fucking didn’t tell us why,” Mruna stepped in, “Yes and you even didn’t let us know on your return to the city,”
“That’s a long story,” Aryan said.
“Well you may wanna cut it short,” Saryu suggested.
“Alright but first, Mr. Malcolm let’s go to my place down here in the city,” Aryan looked at Malcolm, “Jenny will drive us to the house,”
“Let’s get going. We don’t wanna be late before we let them know of your accomplishments,” Malcolm said grinning.
“… and guys there’s no way I am gonna cut the story short. I will narrate the tale on our way to my place,” Aryan said, “Jenny pull the car,”
“I am sorry Aryan,” Jenny said, “We are really sorry for the loss,”
“Aryan, we are sorry dear and you made us proud; we are very fortunate to have you known,” Mruna talked her heart out, “we believed in you so much and we knew it, from the day you made it for the Apprenticeship, that you will make it possible for yourselves to be one among those successful entrepreneurs,”
“I am grateful for you darling,” Saryu stepped in, “There was a nagging in the group about our future after graduation and now in a way you brought us all together. This feeling is so amazing and I am ecstatically happy that we will work for your company,”
“It’s our company Saryu,” Aryan intervened.
“What do you mean?” Jenny asked.
“You don’t work for JAPMI. That’s not my company anymore, we work for my company that is our company,” Aryan said.
“…and what is the name of our company,” Saryu checked.
Malcolm stepped in, “we haven’t named the company Saryu,” he said.
“I had something in my mind, Mr. Malcolm,” Aryan said, “It was hovering around for a while. So I just named it,”
“Great! And what is it?” Malcolm asked.
“THE PHOENIX” Aryan said, “I made a choice with Kalki a while ago and now I am gonna make it one more, it’s the phoenix. We were in the pyre and it’s time for us to rise from the ashes.”
Power and Pelf 