They say and compare words delivered in coherent and decipherable speech to bullets leaving a gun’s nozzle, the direction chosen, focused on its target, striking and causing an impactful ripple.

I the Smart Rat had been able to deliver such an impactful and effective initiation which halted one of the most important conventions on Mother Earth, the WBR or in Organizational Terms Weekly Business Review. It had a historical proven record of being conducted on a certain chosen day of the week, where all and sundry were invited (without a choice). It started bang as per its scheduled timing, irrespective of whether a tumultuous storm uprooted trees outside the building, or whether the entire structure vibrated on impact from an earthquake, it ran its usual chartered course defying everything in its path. To bring it to a halt for a few minutes was precious time lost, time which was dedicated to unearth hidden gold comprising efforts, blood and sweat of the minion rats, time which could have been utilized to progress mankind to an upper level of automation, time which could have been made effective use of to earn moolah, for which Boss Rat and the rest of all the rats toiled their asses to acquire, all at the cost of happiness and eternal peace.

Time stood still. I could hear my heart beat in my ears and my chest thumping away to glory. Different sets of eyes stared back at me dumbfounded in shock, with mixed emotions, some awestruck, some dazed and unbelieving, some jealous, few which seemed happy, and a special pair belonging to Boss Rat which showed disbelief. They seemed to read out what was running through his mind a bright neon message running across his forehead.

“How could this happen? How can someone escape? Something has definitely gone wrong. I have lost my Mojo!”

I took the initiative to break the deathly uncomfortable silence, cleared my throat noisily and put my palms on the table.

“Can we continue with the meeting?”

The rest of all the rats, including Boss Rat broke out from their transgenic progression and set forth on the path of regaining their senses. The remaining hour of the meeting was wrapped up quickly by Boss Rat since there was another very important agenda which needed to be addressed. The agenda was me!

“So that would conclude our Meeting for the week. Please ensure we meet the targets which we are lagging on and be sure to respond me on mails your effective measures and plans to achieve the same. All can leave……..except you Smarty Pants”

The rest of the rats trickled out, the flicker of hope returning on their faces, their expressions brightening. They had survived another week, and were walking out to a short lived freedom, but with renewed zeal and vigor to cherish and enjoy what the almighty had provided them. They stole sly glances at me, and some wicked smiles, all contemplating my fate to be left alone with Boss Rat.

I was sitting across Boss Rat, the oval table in the Meeting Room dividing us and our intentions. From whichever angle you looked at the spherical table the dimensions would look the same, very relative to the equation between us, all had been lost and from whichever perspective we pondered the facts remained the same, facts which could not be changed, influenced by massive egos.

Boss Rat finally cleared his throat and said “So you have decided to resign, eh?”

There was an unfamiliar sense of superiority I felt, an invisible power which boosted my confidence, the power derived from being in possession of a lucrative Offer Letter lying between the compartments of my bag, an offer with a promise to deliver more of the green paper, and a designated title to boast of, the key requirements which topped the essentials in mankind’s list, the prioritized elements which would decide my status and placement in the different echelons our society.

“Ah yes. I have” I said crossing my legs one over another and pushing the chair back towards the wall to create more space.

Boss Rat quietly looked at the posture and the demeanor, smoke emanating from his eyes which had turned a shade of red.

“May I know the reason for the decision?” he barked

I was sure I saw flames shooting out of his mouth, like the dragon waiting to be unleashed.

“A better Offer at hand”

“As in?”

“Salary and Designation”

“We can provide you the same”

“I don’t think so”

I said and put my arms over my shoulder resting them on top of my head.

I had been off alcohol for a couple of weeks and was spared of hallucinations which appeared after a bottle was out and finished. Boss Rat’s tail curling itself and tucking between his legs seemed to play with my senses, I was sure I was off alcohol, however the joint inhaled couple of hours back might have been the culprit. His gradually drooping shoulders, and a sense of loss slowly creeping over his face confirmed me I was not actually hallucinating. He straightened his posture in the chair, the buttons on his shirt, and the chair itself thanking him for the gesture. The voice which emanated from his mouth was devoid of the flames, a touch of nectar taking over.

“You are an important part of the cogwheel, you are our bright star my boy! We need to discuss this further…” the usual sneer making way for an imploring and embarrassed smile.

I smiled back waiting in anticipation of what would reveal next…..

To be continued…….. 

The Rat nibbled on the last of packet of biscuits lying on the table and scampered across the cafeteria. He was late for the scheduled meeting, late to the extent of being admonished by Boss Rat, being thrown across that sarcastic look, a sense of utter worthlessness for him in his eyes, the wicked sneer unmistakable.

The other rats had gathered in the glass room, hovering over the screens of the laptops, their attention focused on the numbers displayed in the excel sheets, their intentions of pleasing Boss Rat evident, their dripping tongues lolling out. The lights in the room were dim with the only bright source cast by the projector displaying images on the screen. A series of Pie Charts and Bar Graphs filled the entire space, their colors bright, bearing a striking resemblance to a rainbow, but hiding sinister facts of achieved and failed efforts.

Boss Rat was sprawled in a chair, his bulging belly thrust out, the buttons of his shirt protesting of the torture endured. The spectacles on the bridge of his nose looked confused, mulling their existence and purpose in life, ready to fall off and run to freedom at the first provided instance. The chair squeaked vehemently shouldering his weight, 90 % ego, and 10% an amalgamation of the rest, seeking an opportunity to slip out and relieve itself from the burden.

Boss Rat ran those piercing eyes across the room, gauging the mood and anticipation. His tongue moisted the lips waiting to bark orders which would be accepted and implemented like sermons from scrolls, the Subordinate Rats following the directions with black wands across their eyes.

“How is everyone doing?” his shrill voice boomed across the room.

Was the question shot with a genuine purpose to gain knowledge from the findings or was it a mere protocol to be followed, a fake routine drum roll to awaken the subordinate rats from their senses.

Silence is golden as they say, so be it, and so it was followed, the Subordinate Rats scared to respond, fearing Boss Rat would pick on the one who showed a mere flicker of a happy existence outside the Office Walls.

“I assume everyone is just doing fine” he barked again with the Subordinate Rats nodding in unison.

“So what do we have here? The Monthly Report. Let’s see how we are performing…”

If performance was gauged by merit, talent or individuality of a person then this meeting would fall outside the mentioned criteria. What was considered was malicious, deceitful, intent to meet deliverables using unscrupulous methods to prove numbers displayed in a panorama of colors on the screen. It was historically successful, proof of which was in contracts renewed and new business acquired, but at the cost of stamping out preferences, dreams and aspirations.

“We are just about doing fine, however I see an improvement area in Client Target “X “ Boss Rat scanned the data and turned his humongous mass with the squeaking chair et all and fixed his steely gaze at the first unfortunate soul for the day.

“Rat 1… What plans do you have to meet the target?”

Rat 1 had joined the gang, merely six months back. A freshman he still had the enthusiasm and zeal to reach for the stars and the abundance of energy backing the intention. His bright eyes had the determination to survive and prove himself in this soulless, cut-throat existence. He bore the aura and persona which was a faint remembrance of what the other rats had been when they had stepped in this room few years back.

He indulged in a soliloquy of the elaborate plans which were in store and measures to be taken, inconsiderate of any obstacles and hurdles to be faced. After all he was the freshman. If there was anyone in the room who could do it with passion and energy, it was him. The rest would follow a recourse best beneficial for individual gains.

Boss Rat seemed satisfied with his answer. He was the freshman. Boss Rat would have ample time and opportunity to stamp out in bits and pieces the enthusiasm and zeal, and the abundant energy and turn it into the drab routine which the others followed, a piece of gum which was stuck in your mouth, which could neither be swallowed and neither spat out!

Boss Rat turned the ever squealing chair a wee bit to his right and fixed his gaze on Rat 2.

“What plans do you have to meet the targets?”  He said the drool dribbling across his lips

Rat 2 was the quintessential Family Guy. His thinning hairline, drooping expression, dull and drab attire significant to the mounting financial, personal, and worldly pressures.  The spark in his eyes unlike the freshman was missing, they were glazed over and peered nervously out of sunken sockets, outcome of long hours in front of the laptop and negligible sleep.

Rat 2 launched into a mundane discourse of the plan he had in place, based on false promises and atrocious expectations which would not be met. He knew he would be at the altar the forthcoming week, answering accusations, and would devise a new set of unabashed proclaimed fulfillments, the cycle goes on!

“If what you state is not achieved, you will be in trouble” Boss Rat sneered.

Rat 2 knew trouble and his surname were co-existent. He blatantly nodded his head, his thin, dry, throat mumbling the words “Yes Boss”

“And what about you Smarty Pants?”

Boss Rat’s steely wicked gaze was fixed on me. I was caught in a predicament to answer at the moment or pause and have him anticipate my response. What I was going to deliver was not meaningful, out of context, and totally a drab idea, however the thrill of it had my fingertips tingling, and my knees shiver a wee bit, the electricity running down the veins.

After what seemed an eternity with eager sets of eyes with mixed feelings staring at me, I said.

“I resign”

To be continued……………………………