chapter 1

Chapter 1In an upbeat modeThe middle management trooped into the small conference room. They knew what was coming, and hoped the blame wouldn’t fall on their team. Of late, there had been too much bad blood as revenues dropped – even the peons weren’t spared. Each suspected the other of trying to bring him or her down. And the board was coming down heavily now on the CEO, Ganesh.Ganesh walked in confidently, greeting everyone with a cheerful smile. Looking at him, one would think that the ‘Industry Matters’ magazine’s revenues were shooting up. But that was his style, thought Anuradha proudly. Sitting down, she looked even smaller than she was. Her shoulder length hair framed her oval face, and what one almost immediately noticed were her large eyes. Her small, upturned nose and the bow-shaped lips were a perfect foil, giving her a school-girlish look, hiding the efficient mind behind. But, nor did she let on just how desperately she sought a father figure in her life. Ganesh fitted that role very well. Maybe he suspected her feelings towards him, and made her feel special. She secretly regretted that he was married and had a son. If she had met him a few years earlier, she would have married him for sure, despite the decade of difference between their ages. But, as she looked around, she knew that many present would love to marry him…women, that is, not men – hopefully. Her lips stretched into a pretty smile, her eyes came alive in merriment. She knew the awe he was held in by many in the room.She herself had much to thank him for. When she joined as a cub reporter four years ago, it had taken him just a short while to understand why, though she got the job done, she seemed listless and uninterested – a rebel without a cause. She would have preferred being a free bird, going where her fancy took her. But she needed a job in the city, because her mother was unwell and money was always needed for her treatment. They couldn’t dip into the reserves her father had saved prudently before breathing his last unexpectedly. And Ganesh had channelled her energy, given her a purpose, making her enjoy her work, teaching her the skills required to make a dreary job exciting. And she had caught on tenaciously, finding the anchor she needed to give meaning to a necessity that would otherwise have bogged her down. She knew many were personally inspired to stretch their limits and do the unthinkable. In her case, ‘Industry Matters’ became her very raison d’etre.The current meeting again showed he was a leader with a vision, as he spurred his managers to rise up to the occasion. In the next three months, there were results to achieve – and they were achieved. But celebrations would follow only after the board approved and expressed satisfaction.So when the board of ‘Industry Matters’ met three months later, to assess the performance, Anu was anxious. She knew the original founder and the current chairman – Mr. Arya, was also coming after a long hiatus. She knew he was demanding. She hoped they had lived up to  expectations.‘Industry Matters’ had been a print magazine for almost 30 years, run by Mr. Arya, who sold a stake to a venture fund to expand it into an online business. He had been away, not much involved, so his coming caused some buzz.Anu was with Ganesh and a couple of other managers in his cabin as they had last minute discussion before the board members assembled that morning. Ganesh looked up suddenly, alert as he noticed someone moving in the corridor outside. He stepped out and greeted Mr. Arya. Anu and the other managers followed and stood at a polite distance, trying to look indifferent. Mr. Arya was with a young man, and Anu was intrigued as Ganesh’s expression changed from surprise to hesitation, then the two shook hands reluctantly, and reached out even more reluctantly to embrace.Curious, Anu looked at the young man who stood a head taller than Ganesh, but could only see his back now. He had square shoulders, was lean, hair tied in a short pony, and a deep voice as he greeted Ganesh with a curt nod and ‘hello’. After a brief exchange which seemed to contain more of awkward pauses than any conversation, the man asked Arya, “Do you need me?”“You can wait in his office,” Arya commanded.Ganesh’s puzzled expression alerted Anu to something being amiss. “of course” Ganesh said and pointed to his cabin. But the man shook his head. “No, you call me when you are done, and if you need me.” And now Anu caught a glimpse of the sharp profile and a chin covered with beard as the younger man turned towards Mr. Arya.Someone stepped out of the boardroom, and Anu was distracted, never realising when the young man left.