Sheela loved her job. It was more of a passion for her. To
be able to visualize designs and then get them on paper effortlessly was her
USP. Every time the company took in new clients, her Manager would make sure
she was in the team meetings and would always encourage her to complete the
task well in advance. She loved the energy, the constant push and the look of triumph
on her Manager’s face when she completed something.
She had been at this place for three years now and was the
office felt like home.
However, there was something nagging her at the back of her
mind; something that worried her too, but something that she could not pin
point. Until, one day, when her friend mentioned something, supposedly in jest.
The friend were all chilling in the office balcony (or smoke area) and they
started talking about a project and promptly Sheel’s friend Jasmin said “oh
yeh, we can rest, Shella will get the work done”, to which Nikhil replied “and
yeh, Saurabh will take full credit.”
That’s absolutely truth thought Sheela. In the three years
in the company, Sheela has excelled form day one and yet no acknowledgment or
accolades ever came her way. Yes, she always got an applause at the end of the
project; but always in the confines of the Manager’s cabin and with no one but
the two of them. This would do, thought Sheela. It was time to get her dues.
She walked up to the Manager’s cabin and asked him point
blank, “why do I always get underappreciated and overlooked in public?”
What!! Asked the Manager.
Well, said Sheela; “ive worked her for three years and in
all this time, ive seen many of my peers grow financially and in post as well. While
I have been stuck at the entry level while my work has been passed and used without
the need for any correction. If that is not proof of my calibre; then what is?”
Her Manager was taken aback; never before had he seen Sheela
so upfront or demanding. She has been meek all along, which is why he could
take credit for her work. He had gotten used this this; how would he give it up!
Nope, he was not ready to let go of the easy life just yet.
Well, said the Manager; “im sure we can work something out
Sheela. Its not that you have not got your dues. We all appreciate you and
truly believe that you are the heart of this team. Without you, we are mere
designers; with you we are the thriving team in this company.”
Sheela was not satisfied and she knew she had to do
something before she was made the laughing stock of the company.
The next project required minute detailing and only Sheela
could do such delicate designing. She put her heart and soul into it and completed
it much before time as was her style. However, this time, she added a design element
that could be spotted easily but not fixed without her help.
At the next project meet, everyone was ready as usual. Sheela’s
Manager too was at the head of the table with the client while the rest of the
team including Sheela stood at the far end of the room around the table. The presentation
began and the Manager started presenting. Somewhere towards the third-last
slide; the client yelled ‘STOP’. He asked to go back and slide and then after
peering at the screen for a few seconds stood up and asked, ‘who did this?’.
There was pin drop silence in the room. No one answered. The
Manager looked around in confusion, till Sheela stepped forward and said “I did.”
“And, who are you?” asked the client.
“I am Sheela, a team member.”
‘How did you know and why did you put up that design?’ asked
the client.
“I’ve been following your company since you booked us for your
campaigns. I studied your company and understood its ethos and I know what this
little logo means to you and hence decided to implement it in the design.”
“Well done,” said the client. You truly know your work and
your client as well.
“I’ve actually included this in all the previous designs as
well, well hidden from sight but visible to only those who understand it.” So, saying,
Sheela opened up her laptop and ran through all the previous projects and
pinpointed the logo element in each.
“You, are brilliant and if you can give such focus on
something so minute but so integral to a company’s visibility; you are a genius.
We would like to have you lead our team”.
Sheela’s Manager was stuck. He had never noticed the deign
nor ever given much thought to the client. He simply did not know what to say.
Sheela smiled and as she shook the Client’s hands, she
looked at her Manager and said, “Sir, its all in the detailing and that comes
from being observant. Observant of not just what the client vocally says, but
also what he unintentionally let’s slip in her discussions. I paid attention
and understood how important that logo was for him and his company’s conversation
with the world. I just drew his emotions onto paper.”
With this Sheela truly slayed the Maa Brahmacharini trait of
penance and devotion and achieved her much due success and fame through hard
work.