{tsa typical night at the call ve complaining customer after find, as if hat wasnt bad enough, superviser. But on this nig a thousand calls, whey (cadet Prologue Tie Kanpet-Det nigh tin wt mot mesos owe of iy life, Firstly, it gave me the idea for my book. Secondly, itis, ht vey day you sit nan empty compartment and youn, Pet itl walkin. ‘Yes, you sce it in the movies, you hear about i from friends" fiends, but it never happens to you, In most cases I shared my compartment With talkative aunties, snoring men and wailing infants. But this ight was different. First, my compartment was empty: this new suummer train had only just started running and nobody knew about i Secondly, | was unable to sleep. | hwad been to the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur to give 1 talk. Before leaving, Isat in the eanteen chatting with the students ux! drank four cups of coffee, which no doubt led to my insomnia. I had no magazines or books fo read and could hardly see anything ‘wt of the window in the darkness. I prepared myself for a dull and tent night. She walked in five minutes after the train had let the station. She ‘opened the curtains of my enclosure and looked around puzzled. Is this coach A4, seat 63E” she asked. Fhe yellow ight bulb in my compartment flickered as I looked up wt her ‘Hub? I said, It was difficult to withdraw from the gaze of her eyes. Actually, itis. My seat is right in front of you.” She answered her ‘own question and heaved her heavy suitcase onto the upper berth She sat down opposite me and sighed with relief. | got into the wrong coach,” she said, adjusting her countless4 Chetan Bhagat ringlets. She was young, perhaps early 40 mid-twenties, ond her \wais-ength har ad life af ts own, I couldn't yet see her face io the fod ight, but T could tll one thing—she sas prety. And ber eyes-—once you looked into them, you coulda’ tara away [Kept my paz down, ‘So, this is petty empty tain,’ she sid afer ten tints, "eI said IP the new holiday’ spocin. They"ve just started it” Jeancd forward. “Hi, Lam Chetan, by the way, Chetan Bhagal” “Hi? she said. “Chetan. your name sound milan” [ows this was cool. It mint she had heard of my fist book. Irs rarely eegnised, and never by a gel ona night tain. “You might have heard af miy book, Five Point Someone, Vm the author “Oh yes She pamiod, “Oh yes, of wuurse. I've Head your book Abwut ie three underpesformers atthe professor ute, right” “es So did you fk it” Ua allright" 1 vas fen aback {ould fe done with tie more of 3 compliment ‘stall right? Isl. ahing a bit t9 obviously: Well." she sad, and paused, “Well what?” I sid after ten seconds, “Well, Seah, just all ight, An OK-OK type of hook? "hep que She novice he expression of mld dsapoinmens ‘ioe to mest you, Chetan, Where are you coming ftom? I Yes said my woe les fel than bore had 9 ge “Oh really? About what?® “About my book you know, the OK-OK-Aype one. Some people do want t hear about it? suid, using a sWeer tone to coat my “Interesting. she said, and sent quiet again, [was quit foo. cn't want to speak to her any more. I wanted my ‘empty compartment back Is everything OK? she asked soy. “Yes, hy?" said, “You're upset about what I sad about your book, arent you!” “Not ieallyT si (One Night at he Call Centre 495 ‘She laughed. lok! ater Her sie was as aresting as her eyes. Urew she was laughing at me, but [waned he to Keep sriling. “Listen. I know your book did well. You area sort of Youth writer and everything. Butat one level.” "What" I said “ALone level, you are hardly youth writes” looked ut her fora few seconds. Her eyes ad a soft but insistent awe. “Tdnought I wrote a book about college kids. Isn't that youth? I said ‘Meah, right. So you wrote a book on the Indian Insite of ‘Technolog, an elite place whete few people at wo 30. You think dat repre the youth? she sk, PS you ying wy? Td tat somewhor oT mite bout my sole expences, And the story mall abt IT Could avs Happened mers sth why yous rsbing my bok” “it eahing Tm Jost saying badly presets Ton youth * “So what represents youth exactly?” I said. pagers ons el and wo memory ears hanging round his nese Tiyan fold him aboot the problem and made him listen to thesia “ie Systm guy askod us to disconnect our ines for to minutes verjone removed tei headsets si faba ajostng het hai She dots at est fo ines nigh. Reka eck some pik wool fu om be bay a stated to kat Miltary Uncle sytem ast working, so he sayed pine to his mentor “What ae yong?” Esha turned to Radhika ‘Aseart for ny mother in-law. She very sweet, sho fels cold sunight™ ‘She is aot sweet’ Vroom begon t0 say but Radhika inter rupted him Sih, Voom, She ie, jst taditional” “And thst sucks sgh” Vroom sad ‘Not tal In fac | ike the cosy fay fein. Theyre only le i old-fashioned? Radhika soid snd sie. Udi hk bor Stile ws genuine bt # ae none of my sins. "Yeah, mgt Only a hile As in alveye-ooeryourheadvith- yoursii gps: Vom sad "ines mae you cover your hea? Esh asked “They dont mate me Go anything, Es. am willing to Slow theirclte.Allmarsgd women i thei use do Radhika “Sil ts it wed Fin sai doubly ‘Any lok on ita ¢chliege. {ve An) an Ne came aa package. But yeas someties Liss weatng low Sean you wae yesterday” Mas anazed Radha repembered what Esha had wor yesterday. "You thse jana? Eaha sad he yes ihting up “Tove them. But T gues you need the right figure for der?SIR Cheten Bhagat Redhika said, “Anyway sary to change the topic, but wee foret- ting someting” "What? Systems? asked, as [looked under the rable where the Syste kel within jungle angled wis Hetold mee “I didn’t mean the static” Radhika said as she puter kniting sie. "Miss Priyanka has some big news for us, remember? “Oh yes. C’mon, Priyanka, tll us!" Esha seamed. Military Uncle looked up from his sereon for a socon and then went back to work, “OK, I dove smething to tell you Priyanka said witha shoep- ish grin. She Brought outs box of sects fom her lb plastic Bag and tried to carefully open the red cellophane wrapping ont bax. Ht whee shes seth pth dame app of ust “So, whats up? Ooh, milk cake, my fvourite” Radhika sai, a oor jumped to grab the fist piece, “Yell you, but you guys have to swear it won't leave WASG,” Priyanka sid. She offered the box to Radhika and Esha, Radhika took Wo pees, while Esha broke of the ics piece posible with ‘human finges i guess the low-cut jeans figure comes ats price “OF course me won't tell anyone. Now tel us, pleas, Esa said and wiped her lng Fingers with issue wall, you know my mum ad her obsession for @ match with an expat indian fora rebellions dangher to take Ree away fom iia?” "Ubra: Radhika nodded as she ate he ilk cake. So these family fiends of ous brought a propos fbr me. came Jom ono o their elatives in Seale. Isl have sid ne abways do, But this time [saw the photos, which were cute. [spoke to the {guy on the phone and he sounded decent. He works at Microsoft and lis parents are in Delhi and T met thes today They are nice people’ Priyanka sia “And Esha sai, her eyes opening wide and staring at Priyanka, “Ton't know, something ust clicked’ Priyanka sad. “They atked formy dovisionup-from and T said... yes" “Waaaoooaw! Oh wos!” the girs screamed at the highest piteh ‘possible. The Systeme guy trembled unr the able 1 old him every- ‘thing Was fine and asked him to contin. At least everything Was ‘ne outside Inside I had a burning feeling as if someone had tossed thot coal in ay stomach, Radhika and Esha got upto hug Priyanka asi India had won the One Night atthe Call Comre 319 ses cw meer ae tts poe pape eetien yee ard a aire ebro re sds ane ame oe ea ery eee mae i een hc ener Sa pete ered Rea Re aetna ome osieochs Sees mvge eter te eee Fe lire Sta oy cbt bed i Led es See ee ne ae PE antmencnee te Lt beat EN acsanrigigs aan SS nl i et fe wa Al — Ho hal eden ei to ese coe ate yah epee seared ma eae nS he anything?’ Priyanka said. When gitl siren age Ried ose aie eerie cele eae en. age Sp certain See elm mm Radi ld «eer aera a trsetee lier seen es pees orate ee aos, See trie area se are ener sin res nee Tpenanen eee520 Chetan Bhagat bckground and his forced smile made him look ike atta lose, if youasked me. However, now he was hot, a ils with dimples were Feady to marry him withou even meting hi. “Tie's so cut, like a teddy bear’ Esha sad, passing the picture rte “lly id, passing the picture to ‘When girls call a guy “teddy bea’ shey just mean heb a ace guy but they never be ataced to him. Gils may sty they like such ‘guys, but teddy bears never got to sleep with anyone” Unless of ‘Course their mums hunt the neighbourhood fo the. “Are you OK?" Priyanka said tome. The olbers were analysing the pits. ‘Yeah, Why? just expected a litle more reaction. We've known each other for four years, more than anybody else on the desk” “adhika, Esha and Vroom fumed to look a ‘Reaction?’ san hougt sd goed “Thar all?’ Priyanka said, Her sme had Te the bung. Everyone as ating at me, “OK, I sid, ‘OK, Payanka. This grear news. am so happy for yeu. OK?” "You enuld have used a beter tone Priyanka muttered and walked aay quickly towards the ladies" om, "What? Why is everyone staring at me?” said a they all turned “The Systems guy finally came out from und the eble, "Fined?" Ls “I need signaltesting equipment; he ssid, wiping sweat off his forehead. “The problem could be extemal. Builders are digging all ‘over this subur right now, some contractor may have du over ott Hines. Just take a break wt come back, Get your manager here as ‘well he sai and lef. called Basi, but the line was busy so Heft a voicemail Priyanka returned fom th rest room and L aoticed that she had washed he face Her nose sil ida dmp of water om “Sounds like an easy night. [hope it ever gets fixed’ Radhika said, “There's nothing Better than a call-ceatre job when the phones arent working’ Priyanka said and closed th box of sees So tll us moe. What's e ike?” Esha ai, ‘Wha? Ganesh” Priyanka asked. “Hlismume is Ganesh? Nice” Esha sid and switched on her mobile One Night atthe Call Contre 521 ‘phone, Normally agents cou’ use eslpones in the bay butt was ‘OK to do so when te system was dows. "Does Ganesh ike to talk? Sometimes the software types are really quiet: Radha sid “Oh yes he tall. In fat, T might get call fom hm tonight Prana sel and siod “Nou sound sooo happy: Esha sid, Her ‘s"lsted four seconds, “Lane happy. ean see what Radhika says ow about geting a new family. Genesh’ mum came round today and gave me a big gold chain and hogged me and kissed me? ‘Sound hotble, Vroom ai “Shutup, Vroom sha sid. ‘Oh, Priyanka, you've so lucky’ ‘Veoonn sensed that T-vasnt etacily jumping with joy at the “Cigarette? he sai, [looked st my watch. ras 11.30, our wsual time for taking smoke. In any case, T preferred baraing my lungs to sticking around ‘ofind ont Ganesh’ hobbies. 1131 pm, oom and 1 went tthe allen pring lot He leaned aginst Iivbitcand Ho sigarnes wth one mate. Tooke ts ly thin frame if he weren so skin) yout sy he was sta Sta ise Fete looked tf plac en is bys ace: Perhaps concioas fhe tropl hn hd cle in Baby Fas bso, he away ore oe lad subble fe pss erga tome Laka pl andi ‘inte cold ae syed qut fora moment and] ys hkl to Voom for that Ope ting guys do Know when 0 hu op. "Vioom fal spi, suring with» ntl pie. “Tnced a break Goat thing 'm gn 0 anal nxt weekend” “Cool Manas rane Tas om gomg ith my school bad. We might ride wp dese on bikes Have you been thew? “Last yar We wet by bs, though Ts “Who td yu go with?” Voat si ‘Papas et Wet us a ori te ing Priva asin hr antsnob pase, 0 se insted we take {nay slow bs a ot he dele fst ns She weed enjoy theseenoy522 Chetan Bhagat “tote Fe ach mas oe ureresrcaet ig Perec emer reon eer Se ads wa etek den eee om a RS er peepee prepara Sramacticn cena es Te a, ea ace Uae te her ew ana ce THe at co a dent aa me A ee oe ee Sa ree aes orci a ee ae ee onl nati tpnee Toava eet” See ee con wna us mn it yd ea aCe Na NE Test Sonus me encanta Fee eaten seat orelia so ae cpm neal eae eee ee aiee came eae Snr an ete sae eee enna pege rt TT cr aesnanma sd anmtr sagsPapp a yg eed ae ces eee eT (cE pg te as ottiree mater etl Reamer pe tich ert One Night atthe Call Contre 328 Le waited while 1 continued to taugh exaggertedly. When T3 stopped he sai, "OK, don't bullshit me. What happened (o your f= peeposal plans? Treghed, "Well, of course I fel for her, but they're just vestigial feelings” “Nest what” "Like vestigial organs. They serve no purpose or value. But they ‘an give you a pain n the appendix, fs the same wath my felings for Priyanka, I'm supposed to have moved on, but obviously | [nvven't Meanie, Mrindin in Seattle comes ad ives me 2 Kick inthe rear end sud “Talk to her, Don’t tell me you're nt going to Vroom si. “Tas planning to | thought wei submit the website user mans and that would make it exser for Boston to approve my promotion, Tsai referring to the company headquarters in America. ‘HOW did know there would be ak eake tonight? How was i didn’t touch it” "The milk cake wis great Never sulk: when fod is at stake, dude. ‘Anyway lista, you sill ave sometime. She's nly just sid yes" “Thane so, Though is had to compete with Mr Microsoft I aid, ‘We remained silent for afew moe seconds. Vroom spoke again. “Yeah, man, Gizis are srteyic They talc about love and romance bat wien i comes to doing the deal, they'll choose the fattest chicken he said. "guess [can only hecome ft, not. ft chicken I said “Yeah, you ned fo be fat, tesh and fy. That's ty you shouldn't fel so upset, We're not good husband material ust aecept it "Thanks, Vroom, that realy makes my dy Tsaid. did agree with him though. It was evolution, Maybe nature wanted dimple-cbecksd, softwareageck, minisGanesh babies. They were of far mare valu 1 Society than depressed, good-or-nthing junior Shyam And anyay, ts the grt who always gts to choose. Men propose nd women aevept oy, a8 in many eases, reject it its tive. Git go around rejecting men like is thie birthrigh “They have n ide how much it hurts us "But who knows?” Vroom sai, ‘Priyanka isn't like other gis, co maybe she i after al. Ether way, dant give up, man, Tey to get hecback "Speaking of geting her back, shoulda’ we beheading back tothe bay? said und Tooke at my watch, les cleven fete pan”524 Chetan Bhagat AS We RETURNED FROM the parking lot, we passed the Western Computers main bay. The main bay sounded lke a noisy school, except the kids weren’ talking to one another, but to customers. Monitoring problems, viruses, stringe error messapes—there was nothing Connexions could not help you with. “iil looks busy? Tsai. Not at all. People have told me call afi is dow forty per cent. think they'l ent a lot of staff of, worst-case scenario, cut everyone, close this poorly managed madhouse down aad shift the eens tothe ‘contre based in Bangalore,’ Vroom said. Bangalore was the locaton of the second Wester Conipaters and Applicances call entre in Tdi. “Close dosin!"T echoed. "Are you Serious, what will happen tothe Inundreds of jobs here?” “Like they eae, He shrugged his lanky shoulders, “Shit happens in life. Te eould happen tonight,’ Veoom said as we reached the ‘WASG bay. 12.15am. ‘The Systems guy was under the table again. "No calls yet They've asked fora senior engineer” Priyanka said. “ivan external fa. Some cables are damaged, Think. This area ‘of Gurgaon is going nuts with all the building work,’ the Systems uy said. Does Bakshi know” I sid Sdn’ now Priyanka aid. Vroom and sat down at our desk. “Is not to0 bad, Nice break, Esa suid as she filed her nals. Priyanka cellphone began to rng, startling everyone. “Who's calling you so late?" Radhika sa, il krsting her sear, “ies long distance, J think Priyanka sai and smiled. “Ooooh!” Esha squealed ikea two-year-old on a bouncy castle “Hi, Ganesh. T've just switched my phone on, Priyanka sad Tcoulda’t hear Ganesh’ response, thank god, “Fifeen times? can't believe you ted’ my number fifteen times... so sorry.’ Priyanka sad, looking idiotic with happiness. "Yes, I'm at work, But ifs really chaotic today. The systems are down... How come you're working on Thanksgiving? Oh, nice of the Indians to offerto Work. . Hello? Hello? Priyanka said, What happened” Esha said, “There's hay any network viyanka said, shaking her phone (One Night atthe Call Centre 525 ‘We're im the basement. Nothing comes into this black hole ‘Vroom said. He was surfing the Internet, and was on the Formula One website. “Use the landline, Esho said, pointing to the spare phone on our desk. Every team in Connexions had a spare independeat landline at thee desk for emergeney use. Tell him to call on the landline, “Here” Priyanka asked, looking to me for permission, [Norualy his would be unthinkable, but our systems were down so it did't really matter. Also, I didn’t want to look like @ sore loser, preventing a new couple from starting their romance, T nodded and pretended tobe absorbed by my comput sereen. As ‘thea hoc team leader, I eould approve personal calls and listenin on any line onthe desk through my headset. However, I couldnt listen jon the independent emergency phone. Not unless I went under the table and tapped it. Tp the landline, fant voice echoed in my head. ‘No. it's wrong? 1 said, But | could sil hear one side of the ‘conversation, "Hello Ganesh, call the landline... yes, 22463463 and 11 for Delhi. Call afer éea minutes, our boss might be doing his rounds ‘soon... Thnow fen minutes is si hundred seconds, 'm sure you'll Survive! She laughed unconiollably and buag up. When women laugh nonstop, they're ting. "He sounds so cmaue, Es said “Tm going to see Bali. We need to fix the systems, T said and stood up. Teouldn’t bear 600-scconds-without-you survival stores. Twas walking towards Bakshi's office when T saw him coming towards me. “Agent Sum, why aren't you at your deck?” Bakshi said “Tas looking for you, sit T said “Y'all yours’ Baksh sad as his face broke into a smile Bakshi and I returned to WASG. Bakshi's heavy steps were plainly heard by everyone. Radhika hid Wer knitting under the table. Voom ‘opened his screen fo an empty MS Word document. "The Systems guy came out from under the table and called his boss, the head ofthe IT department “Looks like we have technology issues here, Bakshi said and the Systems guy nodded his head "Fhe head of IT arrived soon after and he and the Systems guy dis- ceased geek stuff betveen themselves in so-called English, Then the526 Chetan hoger [Pad ranted out incomprehensible technical details to ws undese ‘ood thatthe system was under stain: 80 per cet ofthe WAG capacity was damaged, and the rernining 20 per cent could not Indl the euren load ‘Haman,’ Bakshi sid “hmmm. thats ely bad is “So, what do you wants a da" the IP head asked Alleyes td to Bashi. was station Babs hated, where he as being asked to ake a decision or recommend action, “Hm,” Bakshi sid and flexed his knees slowly to buy time, “We really need a methodial game plan here “We can shut down the WASG system tonight. Wester Computers| ‘main by is running fine anyway the junior IT guy suggested. "But WASG has not lst all is capacity, Boston wont hike it if we shut dhe bay the IT head sid. “Himmm,”Bekshi said again and pressed a sweaty palm on my desk “Upseting Boston isn't a good idea at this time. We're elrady ‘on a slippery slope at Connexions, Lets ay to be proactively on ented here ‘Vroom coulda ress a snigger at Bak’ jargon, *Sit,can I maken suggestion? Isai, “What? Bakes eid "We could enlist Bangalore help said, “Bangalore” Baksh andthe IT bead sid in unison, "Yes sir Is Thanksgiving and thecal volume i low, so Bangalore ‘willbe running light a well. we pass most of our calls tare twill get buses for them, bu it oat overload them. Meanwhile, we can andl limited ow here, I sai “That makes sense. We can easily switch the flow for a few hous ‘We cam fix the systems here inthe moming’the junior I guy said. “Thats fine, T sti. “And poople will art thcir Thanksgiving liner in the States soon, so cal volumes wil fall even mere.” ‘Everyone atthe des looked a me and nod, threat te idea ‘of anes shift Bakshi, however, had fille nto sie oatetplation. ‘wuld love to know what he thinking about in these moments, "See, the thing is” Bakshi sid and peused agai, “aren't we come pring apples to oranges hee?" “What? Vioom looked at Bakshi wih a disgusted expression. {wondered what Bakshi was talking about Was the apple? Who ‘asthe orange? What fruit was Bangalore? “Lhave an idea, Why don't we enlist Bangalore?” Bakshi sid One Night atthe Gall Centre 527 "But dha’ what Shyam—"the junior TT guy began, but Bakshi ner ‘rupted him. Poo junior TF guy he is familar with Baka’ way “See, it sounds unusual, but sometimes you have to think outside ‘the box” Bakshi atid and tapped his head nselPadmiration. “Yes, sin’ T said. "That great fda, We have ital sorted now! “Good” the IT guys said and began playing with the computer Before the IT guys Jef they told us that dhe WASG call volume ‘would be superlight, We wete overjoyed, but kept staght face before Bakshi. "See, problem solved’ Bakshi sai, “Thats what I'm here fox: ‘Locky us, si Priyanka sai. ‘We thought Bakshi would leave, but he had othe plans. “Shyam, as you ae fie tonight can you help me with some sta- tegic documents? It ill give you ame exposure” What si sit” I said not happy about sacrificing my night, ‘I've just printed out ten copies of mosthly data shoot” Bakshi ‘aid holding up some documents For some reason the sheets are no fongcr in order ‘There are tes page ones, them page twos and $0 0, (Can you help fix this?” “ou haven't collate them. You can choose the option when you print Voom sui “You can choose to collate?” Bakshi asked, as if well tld him shout an option for brain eansplants. “Yes Vroom said. “Anyvay itis ensior to take one printout and piotocopy the res. teams ot stapled 10." “I need to upgrade my technical skills. Technology changes 50 fas’ Bakshi sald "But, Shyam, can you help reorder and staple them this ime? are Tid, Bali placed the sheets on my table and lef the room Priyanka looked at me with her mouth ope. What" Ls "Lean't baie i” She shook her head, “Why do you let him do that o you?” "C'mon, Priyanka, leave Shyam alone, Bakshi runs his life Yeoom sid. “Exactly. Because be lets him. Why can't people stand up for ‘hemselves?” T don" know why T cant stand up for myself, bu T dently ean’528 Chetan Bhagat ‘stand Prigankssshetriest questions. | tee to ignore ber: However, ther words tid aTected me. was dificult to focws om the sheet 1 ‘tacked the first st ready to staple ther when Vroom said “He ant ‘ake on Bakshi right now: No this tine, Priyanka, while theyre ia ‘he mood for ng people” "Yes, thanks, Vroom. Cen someone explain the reality? I nced to ‘make 3 lvigg 1 don't have Mr MierosoR PowerPoint wating for me in Seale T sid and presse the sper har missed and he spe Pin pierced my finger “Ow! streamed loud enough to uproot Military Uncle fom his desk. “What happened?” Priyanka sid and stood up. [ifted my Bnger to show the streaks of blond. couple of drops spilt onto Bakshi document. “The girls squealed “cows in rapid succession “Symbolism, man. Giving your ifebiood to this job Vroom said. ‘Can someone give this guy a Band-Aid before he makes me throw up “Thave one’ Esba sui aking out a Band-Aid from her bog. “That looks ba she said as the gis came up and sueoundes me, Women love o repair am injury, as lng isnot too grusom. “its nothing, Justa minor ea sald T clenched my teeth har, Priyanka took out afew tsses rom hee bag. She held my finger and cleaned the Blood around it “Ouch” Issreamod. “Obs, the staple stil in there" sbe said. "We need sweoners? sha ad tweeaes inher handbag, Gil handbags hold enough to make a survival it for Antartica. Priyanka held the tweezers and went fo work on my finger with a surgeons eonceataton “Tiere the culpit’ she said ws she pulled out a staple pin drenched in blood, Priyanka wiped my fer and then stk the Band-A‘ on it With no more blodltting to see, everyone returned 10 ti seats and [vent hack to collating sheet. she and Radka began talking about Bakshi "He had no idea what IT was saying? Radhika sid. “Yeah, but did you se his face?” Faha sai, He locked like he was doing a CBI instigation? TTooked at Priyanka. The lesters CBI brought back memories Even as [collated Bakshi’ shees, my’ mind died w Pandira Road One Night atthe Call Centre $29 ‘My Past Dates with Priyanka—IT ‘Have More Restaurant, Pandara Road: Nine months earlier “Shyam,” Priyanka suid as she tre to push me sway. "This fy no the place to do these things This is Pandara Road “Oh realy’ I said refusing Yo move avay. We were siting ata ‘ormet table, paral hidden by 2 carved wooden seeen. ‘What's ‘wrong with Pandara Road? Tsai, continuing o kis er “This is amily place. she sd, pushing me back agin, So, families got made by doing these things” “Very funny. Anyway, you ehose this place. [hope the Food isos ood as you sid i as ste bes in Delhi sid. We were in Have More Restaant, one of the half-dozen overpriced bit excellent restaurants on Pandara Rod. “A hundred and cre bucks for dal” Priyanka exclaimed as she ‘openod the ment, It wis embarassing, especially a the waiter was lea atour table to take the oder “Just det; OK? I sad ina hushed voies, Driyanks took five more minutes to plage the order. Here i how she decides. Step one sort all the dishes an the menu according to pce Step two: resort the cheaper ones hice on calorie, “One nan, no bute Yellow chal she sad 2 glared ther, “OK, not yellow; black dhl she said “And “And one shai paneer I sald “Sou always order he samt thing, black dha and shah paneer ‘Yes, sane gil same Toad. Why bother experimenting sven you leady have te best” I tid, “You are so cute se sai, smiling, She pinched my ebveks and fe ‘me ltl vinegar-onian from tho tble, Hurl roman, bit Hike ‘She moved er band away guiely wea she sa family Being led {othe table adjacent tous. The family consisted ofa young married couple, thee two lide daughters and an old lady, The daughters were tins, probably four years old. The entire Family had morose aces tnd no one saa word 10 each ott I wondered why thy ha both red to go out wise they could be grap To ree at home. “Anyway” Payanks said "wit the news?” ‘Notch, Vroom and fare busy wih the troubleshooting website “Coal, how's it coming along” ‘Really well Noting ancy, though, the best websites ae simple’ “The walter avived with ou fod,520 Chetan Bhaget Priyanka pat cro partons of Youd on her pate “Eat properly Ts. Stop dcting al the time Uke Esa” “Tm not that gr. se said as T gave her human portion of ood “He, dd Fell you aboot Esa? Dox tell anyone she said. shook my ead. “You love 10 gossip, Don't sox? Your name shouldbe Mls Gossip FM 98 5 sad. "never gossip’ she sai. "Oh my po the food i so good here* My chest inflated with pride ab it bad spent all sight cooking fennel “Ofcourse yu love gossip. Whenever someune sss with “don't tll ayons that to me shows juicy bit oF gossip seaming su, Priyanka bshed and the up of her nose turned tomato red. Sho looked cute as hel. would have Kissed het right then, but the grumpy family was besimning to angie and didn't wan t0 spoil fhe sombre seiance for them, “OK, so maybe I gossip, but only a ite bit! Priyanka relented “Pht read somewhere, gossip Is good far you. Is» sign sours incest in people snd eae faethe, "That sso lane burst out laughing. *Anyway, what about Eh? "ow Vroom has the hots Tor her, but does sh ike it?” "Shyam, tht fs ol news. She’ rejected Vioom proposal before “The Les is tat she had signed up forthe Femina Mise India con test. Tast week she got rejection letter because she wasn tall ‘enough, She is ve-fve and the mininmam i vein. Radia saw hhererving in the wile” “Oh wow! Miss India? “Come on, she no that pretty. She should really top this mod Ting thing. God. she i 0 thin, though, OK, I'm No eating ty mor "Eat, stupid Do you wart to be happy oF thin? 1 sid pushing hor plate back toward he “Thin, ‘Shut up, eat propery. And as for Fsha, wel fon bad Miss India da workout. However, trying dosn't hire saa "Well she was crying, So it hurt her Miri she core to Del against er parcts Wishes. IT not ces staging alone she sad Tadd, We finishod cating and the woiterreapreate like genie to cleat the places “Dessert I si “No way. I'm oo fly Priyanka sid Ove Night a the Call Contre 51 “OK, one kul please, sd to the waiter "No, order gulab jaune she sud. “Huh? I though: you dle't want. OK, ove gula jan please” Tho wsitor went ck into his magic bot “Hows your om" "The some. We haven't hada cry fest sce last week's showdown, so that alone is 4 reason to celebrate. Maybe I wil hive hella glob Jamon” “And what happened lst week? ‘Last week? Oh yes, my unees were over for diner: So piture ‘is, wear al having urterscac ce crema he ding abe, One tunsle mentioned that my eoosin was geting macried to a cade sngeon? “Tho waiter came and gave the pula jun. L100 a bite “Ouch, caret ths are bo: Tsai. Anyway, what bape then” “So I'm cating my ice eam and my svar sereams “Priganks, ‘make sure you mary someone well sctled™ "Vm ing to be a eam Tender soon of dessert elas, Shyam’ Piganka said as sho took a bite and pated my farm. Te has nothing to do with yeu. The point is, how ould she spring i om me infront of everyone? Like, why cat Just have ie wai like the eters? Take my brother, nobody says anything hime ‘while stu hc face” Tiguphed and signaled forthe bl, "So what did yeu do then?" T aid ‘Nothing. Fstammed my spoon down on the plate and et Yh oom. ‘You're amajor drama queen, Tai, SGness what she says to everyone then? “This is wat I get for jing hor up and owing hor 0 much, She doesn ere ughed a Priyanka iitated er moshor. The bill arived and my eyebrows abot up fora second as pad the 463 rpoes ‘We sco up to leave andthe wruripy family’s voss reached us ‘What tod Since the day this Woman came t0 tA hohe, 0 aunty fortunes have been ruined” the old yeoman was saying "The daughter-in-law had tears in het eyes. She adn" touche her fox whi the rn Yas eating nonchally “Look at her no, siting thet with a sti fae, Go, goto ell now Not only dd you not bring anything, now sou have dumped hese ‘ girs ike two curses ame the mother ila si, Skt and fed her sew br532. Cheton Bhagat 1 looked at the lite gis. They had identical pats with cute pink ribbons in them. The girs were eich holding one of their mother’s hands nd they looked ell sare "Say something now, you silent slate the motherin-lay sidand sok the daughter-in-law’ shoulders, “Why doesn t she ay anything?” Priyanka whispered toe ‘She ean" I said. "When you have a bad boss, sou cant say anything” "Who will pay for these two curses? Say something non: the mother-in-law sind #8 the daughter-in-law fers eae down faster tnd fee sy something,” Priyanka shouted facing the mother inlay ‘The grumpy family turned 10 look a us in astonishment [looked | fora deep hoe to hide myself Tom tbe ebarrasstei Who are you” the husband asked SNWeTL worry about that ater Priyanka sid “but who the hel are ‘you? Her husband I pesime? “ul? Ves, am. Mada, his i family mater he sid ‘Oh really? You call this a family? Docso't lok like a family to sme, Priyanka sti. “just te an old shew anda loser simp upact- ting thes gal. Doa't you hive any shame? Is his what you maried hoe fr ‘ee, shes another une the mother-in-law sid. “Look atthe wks of todays they don't know howto alk Look the, eyer made up Hike ‘heroines “The young grt know how to talk and behave. It's you al people ite need w be tush les. Those are your grands al you ae calling then a curse?” Priyanka sa, ber nose an even exter ‘ethan belo. “Who are you, man? What your busines here?” the husband ‘ald this time in firmer voice ltl you who Tam, Priyanka sad and fumbled inher handbag, ‘She took out her call-cnte 1D catd and flashed it fora nanosceon “Priyanka Sisha, CBI, Women’ Cel “What? the husband said in haldisbelie, “Whats your number plat?" Priyanka sd taking in lat voice “What? Wi the bewildered husband asked, She glanced athe keys on the table "Is a Sar, ii?” “DGL6S, Why? the husband sid Priyanka took out her cellphone and pretended t call 3 nub. One Night at rhe Call Centre 53% “Hello? Sina ete, Please rotrove reeonds on DGLAG3 ... Yes Sano. Thanks? "Madar, whats going onthe husband sue his voice quivering. “Tree yeas. Harassing, women is punish by thre years A ‘ick tial no appeal Priyanka said al stared athe metho inlaw. ‘The old woman pallet one ofthe avin granidauehters onto he lap “What? Madar this is just a EE-Efuily ati the husband stamered, “Don't say family!" Priyanka sti her voice lou. “Maula the mother in-law sid er tone now Sweet, we are jst hete to havea mea. I Jon’ even let her cook see, we just hd “Shut up! We have your reonrds now. We will keep track. 1°04 tess around, your sor and you will have plenty of meus together ocry mada the husband sid with folded ans. He asked or th bil and furmled for cash, Within aminite they had pid and eft ‘ooked at Priyanka with my mouth open. ‘CBI? Tsai “Don tsa anything, she sa Tet go” ‘We satin the Quals thd borsowe from the call-cente dive, “Slupid old witch’ Priyanka said. T sated to drive. Five minutes later, Priyanka turned to me “OK, you cam say whit you want now lowe yu, tid ‘What? Why’ this now?" “Because I love it when you stand up for something you Sel strongly about. And that you do such a hornbie job of acting like & CBI inspect. fve th Kobl found your eyes. I lone it when your «yes light up when you have gossip foe me love hat you sy you dont want dessert an hen ask me 0 change mine so yu can have Fal. Tove it hat you belive in me and ae patient about my carer ‘Actually, you know wha, rian?" Usa what” “TL may mol bea heart surgeon, butte one Title heart Have, Ihave shen ttoyon Prank lagged aloud and pot her hand on er fice "Sorry she said and shook her ead sill Laughing ‘Sorry, you were doing so well, except fr the hear sngson line, Now, that is seriously cheesy ‘You know what” said and removed one hand frm the steering Wheel to tweak her nose “They should pat you in jail for killing romani Ties?534 Chetan Bhagat 1230am. “Tcan'tbeliee this” Rafik sae and threw her mobilephone an her desk, breaking up my Pandas Road dican, She looked pet. "Everyane tured to look at her She covered hor face with her haus end tock couple of deep breaths. “What's up” Pryane sid. “Tes Ani Sometimes he ean be so unreasonable Radhika said and passed her phone to Esha. On the sereen was @ tex messi Read it out she said as she fumbled through her bag fr er ati migraine pis ‘Darn Fealy have one ill “Really? OX.’ Esha sad and siared reading the message: ‘Show elders respect. Act Ikea dept in-law should. Good aight “What did I do weong? Iwas in a hurry, that’ all” Radhika sun bod o herself sho ook ha pil with sip of water. sha puta hand on hee arm, "What happened” she asked softly “Anuj is in Kolkata. He called home and my mothe in-law told dim, “Radka made @ face when [tol her Yo crash the almonds ‘more fin.” Can you believe it? Twas runing to each the Qualis ‘inl ill made ine vo prepare her milk’ Radik said and started to ‘ress her forehead. “And thea she told hin, “am old the poses ‘te 00 big they wil coke my food pipe. Maybe Rachika is trying 0 Kull me.” Why would sbe say something so orrble?™ "And you's utting a aca Tor fe?” Veoom sid “Trust me, being «daughter-in-law i harder thas being a model Radka Said, “Anysay, eno of my boring ie “Ate you OK?" Esha sad sill holding Radka arm, "Yes. Tm ine Sore ups, | evereacted, I just a ile miscom= ‘muieiton heiee Am indo “Looks like your motheri-l ikes melodama. She should mest my mother" Priyanka "Realy Radhika sid ‘Oh es. She isthe Mis Universe of mclndanta We ey together a lease once a week. Though today shes on loud nine, Priyanka said. "My atestion was diverted bya call Bashing on my soxcen “TIL take i Usui ralsing ey hand, ‘Western Applinees, Sam specking. how may Thelp you?” Twas one of my weld calls of the night. The caller was fom Virgin and was having Couble defrosting his ridge 100K me Four long minutes 2 figure out the reason. Ie tured out the caler was @ "big person, which is what Amesican eal fat poops, and his Hinges (One Night atthe Call Contre 335 ‘were to0 thick to tun the tiny knob which activates the detrosting ‘mechanism, T suggested that he use a screwdriver and fortunately that soltion worked after seven lems "Thank you Tor calling Western Appliances, si I said and ended the eal “More politeness, agent Sam. Be more courteous I heard Baksi's voice and fet hs heavy breath on my neck. ‘Sir, you again?" T sad and earned oun. ‘Sorry, | forgot something important.” ho said. Have yeu guys done the Westen Computers website manual? Tam finally sending ‘he report ta Heston" "yes, sir. Vroom nd ish it yesterdsy’ Tsai and took out a copy fom my drawer. "tlman, Baksh said ashe scanned the cover sheet sem Compre Prowse ser Manual nd Project Deas Designs Cannesons. Dela Shan Meow and Varn Matar (Sam Marcy amd rr Med Do you have a soft copy that you ean email me? ksh sad “Toston wants urgent “Yes, sn’ Vroom sad “'lsend itt you “Also, di yon do tho collation, Sam?” “Yes sit [satel a passe him the fen sts, Excelent, empowered you, ad you delivered he out. Actually {have afother document, the board mesting it. Can you bop?” ‘What do Ihave to do?" Tsai “Tees copy Baksh si and gave me a vege document, Can _you photocopy ten cops forme, pease? My secretary is of today? ‘Si Vroom sid what's the board meting for?” ‘Noting, just outine management issues, Bakshi sa “Ane people going o get red?” Vroom ask. “Er. Bakshi sid ar usa, los for words when asked something meaning Tere are rumours inthe Westen Computers main bay. We jst want to tow fe wil ke fing Voom sai ‘Bakshi tooka deep breath and sai, "can say much, All can say {s we are under pressure wo rghtsize ourselvesS46 Chetan Bhagat Nat gts to you" Haske. 1 was ying to copy Bakshi docu smo gai ul the photocopic as rng abuse messages fereen every tne I presed& buon. Soon i se-deteted cack fp the gas switchod age aogeter, Ibi iad commited sic Te? Vroom mid de gets to you. You tink you're perfety sappy "yo her, good slay ne cH party bet alo a sudden in one lly ap, evrything ean cack, Lie the gas pate ‘ofthis phtocopice I i Tlly wert Vroom gs pane theory fie, bt iy face told me he was ope. decied to soothe the man eho ha es coved ng "Vroom, you know what your prolea i?” “whe "You dont have real love in yuri. You nee ofl in fove bin Jove and say inleve. Tha the void in your I sid frm "Ye hink 32” Von soid “V's ad ile lint not itd eae pad Figo "Not thse hind of ges, Someone you relly care about. And think weal kao whotat ia Taha he sai Usp quiee She fon interest. Ive asked her, She has her modeling and szys she fas no time fora telionship. Beste, se sys I dant Know what love cr for cars and bikes more than gis" Tugs ou da “Thats such an unfir comparison, (ike asking. women what Va eee oe gt ee ce “Really? So we are bencharke to fostwen? Trust me, women can ignore men fr sexy shoes? “tit do you tink you lve Fahad ‘Canta, But ve Tl something Por efor ora year now? “Bat yo dtd oer ils last ya? Those wicks weren't importaat They were ike TV chanel yu suf while king or the programe yu realy want Wo ee Youre532. Cheton Magar wid that Cay Wary chick, even hough you sil have felings for Priyanka.” ‘i ae “ “Shei thre help me nove on si. Sew moving on Tha gt coogh to pt you off women oe vet Maybe tht wll lp you gt oer Priva Vicon “Dont change ik ce Wee talking oat yon ak you should ak Es agin fora al lation. Dot a ‘oom lnked ae ora fo scons ill you help me” he sid. “Me? Yue the expert with gill sid “This one is different. The Stakes are higher Can you he around when I tak to her? Just Fisten 19 our conversation, then We ett analyse it later: “OK, sure. So, lets do it ow: We have five time, Aferwan the «all wll begin and we'll be busy pain, std “OK. Where do we do if" Vroom sid a he put his hand on his forehead to think. "The dig oom” ‘he dining roora mae sense could be nearby, but inconspicuous 145 a.m. ‘everything OK? I heard a noise Esha ss we eum The photocopier dod. Anyone for «smack? sa “es, lets go T need a walk. Come om, Priynba Esa sel and trod to pull Priyanka up by her upper ara “No, Fl stay here Priyanka si nd smiled. Ganesh ht eal A scoop of hot mole ead entered through my head sn eft fom ny toes. Ty fo move on reminded mse Racha was about to gee up wien T stopped her “Actually, Radhika, can you say hee? f aks walks by at least dell ee some people atthe desk I said Radhika sat down puzzled as we lt the room, “Tue pram ats at Conmexions i a eros hetwesn a restaurant and ‘college hosel mess. Thre are trae rows ong able, with sete ing on both stécs. The tables have a small sve every tee lace Management recently renovated the place when somne erprced ‘onsulting frm eecommended that bright dining room wal be _2nod fr employee motivation. A much chosper aption ull have been to jut fire Haka if'you ask me ‘Vroom tok cheese sav ich and chips —they dot serve Hoan Oe Night atthe Call Centre 558 Food, again for motivational reasonson hie tray and sat at ne of the Tables: Esha took a sods water and sat opposite Vroom. I hink she cats once evry thre das, Look an unealthly lrpe sw of eho Tat ake, sat atthe adjacent table, took ovt my pons and started typing fake text messages. “Why isn't Shyam siting with ys” Es si to Vroom, “Private texting’ Veoom said. Esa rolled hor eyes a nodded. "Actually, Esha I wanted 0 ell you something? Vroom said. "Neal?" ss said to Vroom, an eyebrow ssing in sunpicion, "The invisible female antennae were aut and suggesting cao, “Tak ahout what? sha.’ Vroom sad I've been thinking abou yu a lot ately? Really” she sid and looked sideways to sce if was eavesdrop ping I madean extra effort show that I wae focusing on my ake, “és, really, Esha. may fave met lo oF irl bu wo ones ike you. And I hink rather than fool around I could do with a rel vl ‘Monsip. So I'm aking you again wll you go oat wih ne?” Esha was quiet for few mites. Eve toll you before [have t focus on my modelling carer. ean affol the suey of having 4 byfiend she said, er voice unusually col “What is with you, Esha? Don't you wu someone to support yu" Vroom sai "That's ight with thre ferent gilftends last year Vm sure you will aay be there forme, Fsha si “The other gins were jus for fun, They meant thing, theyre ike pizza or movies They're chanel surfing, you're more sro Vroom sid “So what serious chan! am 1? The BIC” Esha sai My hsnd is eheating cn me. What I supposed to do? Seca? iy? Wha “De nothing for no. Let's just go to the meeting? Vroom said ‘My brain was til funding with Priyanka® words, Every moment of our last date wns replaying isa iy mit as T walked 0 alah oes. We hud gone toa Pizza Hut, and pizzas Nave never ‘used the same since ‘My Past Dates with Priyanka—V Pissa Fu, Sahara Mall, Gurgaon: Four months earlier She ertived on time that dy. AMTer ll, sh ha purpose. This wast ‘date: we were meting o formally Breakup. She also wanted to is= fuss how we were to interact with eich ser and move forward sa Mut wis convenient. she si. How are you? She held her shirt collar and shook for vention, ean ble fs Soot ia July” 's Delhi What else do you expect” sk. “The waiter came and wok cur oret. [ordered two separate small hese and msroom pias ‘Tm not good it this break-up stu, so let not diag this out sad, "So ow wha? Te here «breakup ine Tm suppose to 352" ‘She sare at me fortwo seconds,“ Well, just thought we could do it ina pleasant manner, We can sil be Ficnds right” she said ‘What is it ith women wanting to be frends Tor ever? Why can't they make a clear decision betwecn a buyiend and no-rend? don think so. Both of ws have enough Fens” * Seq this what dont Hike abou you. That enc of vce she sai T thought we decided not to discus each other flaws toy. Ihave come ere to breakup, not fo got an analysis of may behaviour” ‘She kept silent unl he pizas axived. bit into slice Oue Night atthe Coll Centre 575 “Pathaps you forget that we work loge, That makes i file mace complicated Priganka suid “If there tension betwen vs it ‘wil make it dificult Tocus en werk—for us and forthe others, she aid “So what do you sugges? Should esi” Ls Tide's that. Anyway, only goin tobe at Connexion for anor nine months, Thea Iwill have saved ena to fund my BEG. Ef we can agree to conan terms and conditions, if We can Femain frend in the interim, ‘Tea’ Tore el to be fiery interrupted her. Tea’ Fike it? “mot teling you to fake it she said ‘Good, Becise you a past the sage of telling me what to do. ‘Now ets just get this ver with, What are we suppased to 8? now” pronourice strokes up T pushed my’ plate away. Talcompletcly lost ry appetite, ‘What? Say something’ I said She had gone sift for ten seconds don't Know wha o say sh sid, her woe crackin. Really? No words of advice, no last-minute preaching, no moral high ground in these final moments for your good for nothing unset Hed boyfriend? Come on, Priyanka, dot lose your chance To slam the loser: ‘She colece her bag and stood up. She took out 10 rupee note and put con the table her contebution forthe pea ‘OK, sh leaves insilence gui. Once again Tye tobe the pick. "T ‘mumbicd loud enough for he o hea: ‘Shyam, she said lining hor baa onto her should. ‘You know Jhow you always say you're not good at anything? I Jon‘ think that’s ‘ue, Because there i something You are very good ashe sald “What!” sid. Psthaps she wanted to give me some last-minute rie to make me feel better HUhought "You are damn good at hating people. Keep tun? Wa ha, my exgutiend turned round ad Ft 230m. We reached Bakshi’ oie a 2.30 am. The sie aa one-berown fat i probably the laest unproductive office in the woe. His ssi is mone corer ad chin the desk i sll Fall of hick mane ‘sgeiment books. The thought of slamming onc ard on Bakshi head Fad fen crossed my min, “At another comer of the room sa conference table and six chairs,576 Chetan Phase and in the centre ofthe table sa speakerphone formulary calls Bakshi sas ot in his office whow we got there. We sa round Bakshi conference table, "Whee the heli he?” Vroom sad ‘May he's nthe tle? sid Executive ot is different feeling? Vroom said. He oud up. Hey, want to check-out Baleshi's computer” He walked over to Takis desk “What? sak. “Are you eazy? He'l be here any minute” Do you tant to Know ho websites Bakshi visi” Voom said an! opened up Ternst Explorer o pull out the history of visited seohstes ‘ave you gone nuts? You'll et ini rouble sid “Ok, ve is fed a prinout Vroom sid. He fetched the pointe ‘out from Baksh’ printer and leap back to te eoncrence abl. ‘OK, guys check this out’ Voom said ashe held the A sheet in ‘ont of him, “Tymesofindi.com, cedificom, and then we have Harvard Business Review welsite, Boston places 10 ses, Boston teal estate “What's with hin and Boston?” Esha said ‘Tes go thereon a business tp soon, Radhika reminded he. “There are more, Aha, heres what Twas looking for amesome- income bot por site for Indian gits-caburedunge.com {stip lub in Boston posninspcetca—hello he Fst woos on | inthis department “Whats with hr ad Boston?” Lrepcared sas word, ‘Wh knows?” Voc sai and laughed We heard Bakshi footsteps and Vroc quickly folded up the sieet of paper We turned quit ond opened OuF notebooks to fresh bank pages. Baksh ook quick steps a he entre his fice ‘Sony, team | ad visi he computers ay tam Teaders foe sevoe pertinent stanagerial alli. So, how is everyone. doing Tonight” Bakshi sald as he tok the ast empty seat at his eonerence table ‘No ue responded, nodded ny head 10 show I was doing fine. “Team, ve called! you tay tol You about a Few ebanges tha ne about to tke place at Connexions, We need to cghtsize people So, people are geting fel: I wasnt a rumour Voorn st avis fe turned white Priyanka and Fs Tooed shocked One Night at the Call Contre 577 “ave never want nf poole, But we hive Fightsize sometimes. ‘Why are We Being when ciearfy there are things we cam do” Veoont sid “Whe have caeflly evalu all she plausite and feasible tera tives, 'm afl” Bakshi said and took outa pen. We retreated ne ‘ously. Tho last thing we neoded! was another Bakshi digram, “Gow-outting is the only alma” Baksl said and began to aw something. However, is pen wasn't working, despa bis stems to shake ito action. Bakshi contoued to lecture ws. He Spoke nonstop for six minutes, going sno various management Philosophies His point was that we should make the company more itent He just di ave at een ay ‘Vroom had promised he woulda’! mention the website to Bakshi, a feast unt the lyofls were over, However, this di stop him fom aking him on ‘Si, bul cos-cuting is welts if we ave no sales growth. We ned more client, not aonstop cuts uni thers no company lef’ Vroom inl flr ksi had finshed is lctae.T guess somewhere witht hi was die-hard option who ceally thought Bakshi would Histon tobi “A sales force isto expensive Baksb sai ‘Sir, we can eee a sales force, We have thousands of agen. 1m site some of them are goad at sling, We tlk to customers every iy, 0 we krone what hey ant. ‘Dut ou clients are inthe US we have to sel there. “So what? Why dow" we Send some agents f0 the US to fey and increase ur client ace, Why no, ey Voom sid an looked as, Tras the only one listening, bu T remained quit. Radhik wis ocaling on ber pad. Priyanka ws making a abe of numbers cm her ‘tepals was digging the aib of her pen deep into be. "Scnlagentstotho US? Move thems Boston Bakshi laughed. ‘Well, fe of them, at Keston tial basis Some of them are really smart Who kno they may get tha one client hat ould save “Hui?” sud startled to hear my nae: “Mr Vielor, a a feedback-orented manager I appreciate your ins. However, dn think es suc a good Wea Bakshi said "Wye? Vroom demanded with the imnocence of a school Kid “Faecase ft was such a good idea, someone Would have thought oft before, Why didn ¥it stake me, for instance?” Bakshi saidS78 Chetan Bhagat “Hak?” Vroom sid, completely Dabbergasted. 1 heard i all Deforeso it dda’ move re “Whats the plan, sr when do we find out wh gets iL mean rights" T sid, Soon, Wer finalising the Hist but we'll ft you know by thi rmoming or womorrow eight’ Bakshi ssid, looking vleved tal T head ¥challenged im, “How many peop wil lose their job, sir? What percensge?™ Ray si hor st woud inthe meting. Thy to forty the pin, asf ao Busi suid in ealm voice, Tut's hated of people: Voorn sai As if it was tical eae culation ‘Soc i corporat fife, my friend’ Bakshi said and got up, nda ing hat he meeting was over, “You koew what thoy say: a jungle cut there The gts sto up, “Thank you, sir Esha said ‘Nose welcome. As you know, Iam an everapyoachahle man- ayer Here orn Heston, you ean conc te anytime ‘We were atthe door wien Priyanka asked a question. “Sir ae you pins fo Horton toon” ashi wa back st hie desk "Oh yes, Enon toll yo, Pm sans ferrin 6 Boston soon, Maybe in month aso Teansleeing™ Veoom, Radhika, Esha, Priyanka and 1 all spoke together “Yer: don't ik to Bos my own trump, but it seems they ave secagnised my coninibution 10 the valuo-adition eye ofthe com ry” Baksh sida smug sole ling across his shiny face But ‘etaiswilcome later. Anyi you don’t mind, Cneed 1 make a call, FH keep you posted” Baksh signalled sto st the door as we Tet. As Letosed itt ‘lowly away from ‘nen we returned to the WASG bay’ afer our meeting calls were flsking onthe seren, bul noone attended Lo tem. I saat my seat “und. opened my ema. 1 couldn read anything my mid was Iving system overload "Vroom sat this detk and mumbled inaudible curses. He opencd the inteaal web page of Connexions on his computer. It had the One Night ut the Call Contre 579 ‘map of the US on it, He hold up a pon and tapped at « point om the US eat const “This is Boston? he said and clenched his fst sight round she pen. “This is where our boss wil be while we are on the rod look Fg fo jobs Everyone stayed ule “Tinie we shoud tat picking yp a fe als ai Like f we should” Vroom said and jabbe his pon ard atthe moni. loud ping startled everyone, Shattered lass made wines inch wide spider web patent oa ViuonsS monitor while theres of his oreencontind wo work. ‘What happened?” the gils said and came round « Vroom's computer. ‘Daun it! Veoom sad throwing hs pn onthe ground, “Oh no, The monitor f totaly gone Esba said, She put her bard ‘on Vroom’ shoulda. "Ar you OR” "Don't you dare toock me, you aut? Veco sad pushing er rand a9, "Wit Esta sid “What il you just say" ‘Nothing, Js eave me aloe, alight? Go and pray for your job ‘or whatever. Bloody bitch wil ba hooker soon The girs stood there, stunned. Then, slowly. they walked back to theiscts, ‘Wats wrong with his?” Priyank asked Usha in an able i?" row shouted. You think tis is aut at? Tike E dont Koon’ abot your escapades. Everyone knows. Yo thou wouldnt find out? | wish 1 known before T proposed to # shut whol mg oe bucks Esha lok! tal of ws, shocked. and tats appeared in er ees. She rtd shaking, nd Radhika helped her sit down, PPayanka went up co Vroom’ seat and stared a hi, het face Slip! She deposited a hand across Vroom’ face “Lam fo to talk to wore, You st one tne ast thing an serow you happiness, understand?” Priyanka sid "Vroom stared at Priva, his hand covering his check, He wast shocked wo foals inserted myself beeen the two of them. “Guys ca we have some pesos here?” Tsai, "Things are already mesa lease let’ sit down and pet some work dane”sno Chetan Bhagat 1 can't work, {don't know iP PL till hve a jo in few hours Priyanka std,“ wane him to apologise to Esha, The iat has to wah what he sys sha continuo! cry as Rika tel to console her ‘What do you este about 498! Youre getting matied, Women Jhwve it exsy? Vroom sti ‘Don't you start that with me noe Priyanka sti, *You thik this is 27?” She pointed st Esk and Radhika, “Radhika has Four out her Fra is eheating on hoe when se works for him and his family sly and nigh, and Et can’ get a fie Break unless she sleeps with {exeRY met Bur they arent freaking monitors and yelling curses, ‘Voom, ust bscause we don't make noise docsr't mean ie, shes atthe op of her voice Rachika gave Fah pass of wate and she stopp crying, ‘Vewom looked atthe shattered glass on his desk. 'm sory” be mumbled “What?” Esa si SV sorry Esha Vroom sid clei his thot,“ said horrible snd hurl things. 25 upst about Something Please Forgive me “its OK, Weoom. Ht only huns because theres some truth in Fata sid ‘Tmeant 1 sy thse horrible things to mse. Because’ Vroom said and banged his fists onthe abe, “beanst the ral hooker sme, at you What? Vs. ‘es, this salary has hooked me, Every night 1 come hero and let people F-k me Vroom said and picked up the telephone headset "aa he funy thing i 1 et dem do i Fr mane, or security, Tet it happen Vroom threw the headset onthe abe ‘Do you want some water” Radhika std and handed ew a ‘Vroom took i and drank the contets in one gulp. "Thanks said. Tce that. noc ret, arise IM go mad. Yea tke ‘his ight no” “red bret, 200° Priyanka sid “10s allright, eoom, Only a {ey more hours lef and the shift willbe over "No. want Break now 1 want to go fora dive, C'mon, people, leyyall go fora drive gt the Quais” Vroom said and stood up. "Now? rs close to three um, Tsai. "Yes, now, Who gives a darn about the ealls?You may not even havea soon, Let go. One Night atthe Call Censre. 581 “Actually, if someone is going, ean you please get some pills for re fromthe twenty-four hour chemist” Radka Sid "No, all oF us are going.” Vroom said 1 pane fora second. “OK, let's go. But we veto be hack soon, said, “Where are we going?” sha sid, “The new lounge hae Bed is close by? No way ee js ating fr de i Voom im rupted me. "Ceca ide. Let's goto Be: it's. damn cool place” ‘We decid io es nvidaly to prevent spc. “Come on, Military Unele Vronm said athe went his des: “Hol?” Unele said geting up. Normally be would have seed at room, hut {peas he was in too mich pin ave his son's ell t0| sive a conscious recon “wow all going fora drive, The hers wil ll you everything. 1 _gtte Quai Vroom sid and sted off Unele’s moni At 300 Ast, ilar, we wore outside tho maim entrance of Connexions whon a site Quis drove up and stopped bes ws. “Get” Vroom sald, reaching overt Open the doors “ifs 40 cold What took you 3 lone” Fa sid geting in the font “You try shifing a sound-aslep driver 10 another Qual ‘Veoon sid Rad, Priyanka and [ook the miler, while Miltary Uncle sat hy himelfat te back, He ooked sights daze. Maybe wo al i ‘Vevom started the engine and turned! towards the exit gate. The igh as empty apart from afew tracks. Tdi bas a billion people, hut at nigh, 99 per cent of them are fast asoep. Then this fend belongs 40 a chosen few: tuck drivers, lw-sbint works, dos tors, hotel staff and eal-cenre agents. We, the nocturnal, temporarily rule the rads andthe county ‘Cheri fs, please Radhika requested, massaging her had ‘Vroom took & shirp righ tanh ta eventyfour hour chemist. A sloop-deprved boy, no more than seventeen, manned the shop. few ‘medical entrance exam guides lay onthe counter in front of hi. He looked bored and grateful to see us “Vrovdn and Radhiks eo ou of she Quali, stepped ou co sete my fags a5 well Redika walked up 10 the boy quickly and sai “Three sips of582 Chetan Bhapor Flumetias, and five strips cosh of Sertraline and Paroxetine LUnyeily, plese She began toa on the counter ansiously, hor Dangle ieling “The boy ied a Radhika, then sarong though the shelves, He eetunsed with sack of tbls and placed them on the cout. Radhika reaches oat gra hem, but he put his right han on tp oF| the pile oF medicines aad li them way frm er. “This prey ‘Srong staf madam, Do you have a resin?” he asked “18 dre in the moran. Radhika said in uy teria xoice "om font of pill at works Where the hell da you expect me to fil a serpton” "Sorry. mudam. ts just hat sometimes young kids come here 40 pick up sian modi bofore yong t discos “Look at me, Radke sai" [ook ike a tenager inthe mood so pany?" Rahika did noc ook ikea pory-hard oonsger 9 mse Tooke i with dark eres ander her eye “Bur these are sil ery strong drugs, madam. What do you neod ‘hem for? men, wit wrang th yon” te oy sd. ‘Rauhika banged ber tit hard on the glass eourter. The glass shook bt survived the impact “Yow want to koow what wrong with me, oulitle pank? she sad Cal do, Radhika, sa, bu she did hear me. ‘Everything is wrong wih me, you moron. My husband is sha ting some hte while sow my guts et. Hany now” Ralikasi, her fave red. She grabbed the moenes. The bay atthe courier Aidt protest this ie “Water Can Ihave some wat" Radhika sid Sy tn the kf the shop a ota with sass Radhika tore afew pills out of her new stack. One, 609, three | dhink she popped in three of them. Same migraine cure hi a, 1 ‘hough “Four hundred and sates rupoes, mala, the boy sid, his ose sounding itl Feat “Lam alive Because ofthis Sul. ed it to survive, vot to party Radhika sid ‘She paid forthe masicines and walked back tothe Quis. rou andi followed afew steps behind her “What sort of medicine is Tai, (One Night atthe Call Cone SH What th ll do | know? Pat not a dactor’ Vioom sd “Everything OK?’ Haha sid as we gor into the Qualls. We heard. arguing *Nuthing, As Bakshi would iy, only a few communication issues. ‘Bur now, fer gt to Bas! Vive aid ashe armed the Qualis round He pushed the Quist one hundred ad en “Sle down, Venom Esha sid Don’ ave the words saw and Viom i one sentence, Vroom sid “Sorry guys” Radhika said. ber voice becoming tore normal 35 the dru tok eet, "T apologise for creating a seene back thee. What id you bay” Why di the chemist make sacha uss?” Ta "Antidepressans, Chemists ask questions because hey We prescrip on drugs, but most ofthe time they don't cae Wow!” Vroom sd "You mean hap das lke Prozac and stuf? "es, Fluoxetine is Prozac. Fxcepe t's the Indian version, 80 i eheaper? Hut WS dangerous to take it without medical supervision ipa said. (anit additive Fegal addiction. I can't live without it and, ye, it's realy ad fry, nt i'l eter than Raving to deal wi ny ie ‘Leave dhem, Radhika, they harm you: Military Uncle sid ‘hve ew down, Uncle. Bot sometimes you nce a bigger dose, (Can we just talk about something else? Howe far ists Bed place?” “sto ilnes fom her. Ninoty seconds ifm iving a ot ‘more if Shyam is; Veo sai. gnored his comment, as preferred bir to kep is eyes onthe oa. ‘head fe i really soy: Priyanka ui, “'m) not dressed up at all She adjusted her salwar kimce?. [noticed the howder oF gienng ‘Sone-work om her dark green cif dupa “Yow Took fine Esha reassured es, “the cian ook is rally in. should be word, ool so sung “Well f yo git ane in doubh,dhey definitely woo’ allow én a horing Housewite ke re. Radhika sid “Dont wry, As long as we've go eh o sped, wel all be wel some: Ps he DS at Bt ism lsat om chek Vivo sa “All your school clases have such funky jobs “Melo tatr ne eblons ney ai hve fe ae The to votk hand 1 math her ifestye, Henly my dad had’ walked out on ‘Vroom sid. "Anyway, guy weloome to Bod He Mash the head Tights ata sign saat Leungeand Bar: Your Personal Space’S84 Chetan Bhogat 3.30am. We followed Vroom towards the Inge black door that as the eaiance to Bed. An ulla-boofy Bouncer and a skinny woman stood hese it ‘Are You a member, sie” the defi! woman addressed! Vioom She was the hostess oF door hie a Priyanka called them. ‘No, weve ist come fort quick dink,” Vrs sad im sorry, sit, tonight is for monitors onl” she replied. The ounce looked at us with a blank, dat lar. “How do you becorne a member” Tsai * Yeu have to fil in 9 form and py the annul membership foe of fitty thous the hostess sid a8 calmly a5 if she'd asked us for smal change, "What? Tafy grand for this place ia the mide of nowhere” ‘Priyanka sid and pointed her ert the dor “I suggest you go somewhere else fen, the hostess ssid. She tookei at Priyanka scorfily A lly eld femal is no-no a iscos ‘Vzoom turned othe Bouncer, "Whats the deal Is DI Jos inside? ko i The boune looked at ws anxiously. I wes bvionsly the sot challenging question anyone ha asa him in moat "You kn Jas? the hosten sa Ror vee wt MeN School dy of seven Yeats, Tlf hi Vroom shea" Vroom sid “Conk, Why didi you tell ae that Dire. Vroor?” the hesess ‘sui td ahd hima rts mile, She Taned ove wo release the ‘elt eopos ‘Can We goin pow?" Esha asked the hostess ins monotone. "Yes Phowgh, Veoom, next sme, please rll your fends oes up for Beat the hoses said and glaneod meshmefully at Priyanka and Radhika could wring her ny neck. Ono twist and it would soap like a ‘hicken bone, Priyanks Sod as we walked inside. “The inieror design of Bed was & cross butween Siar To and a \Sbaiched kings harem. illuminated by uleavolt bulbs ad candles, ‘As my eyes adjusted wo tho semi-darknes [noticed vo rows of six bods: Only ive wer occupied s0 I eouldn't understand the bi fs atthe enrance T goss iS never ey 0 got people into bod. We cease Bain the Gore "Why isthe hoses ao nasiy” Fa sida she hosted here oat J She took 1wo cushions to rest her elbows on. “Did you hea ee? ‘Go somewhere else." shat how you teat customers?” ne Night ot the Call Centre 588 “They're pad to be nasty Ie gives the place atts” Vroom said careless. “Tart a job dat pays me tbe mast. A they cell usin the call ‘entre, “Be nce, be polite, be hep, but being mean sso much more fun.’ Rahika said eeining along one ofthe cushions. For Senucone who had st ad tough night she Hooked good. T won ‘ete iow Any could cheat on het. ‘Vivo we ost bio DI Sst al cerned with twelve kamikaze shots Miltary Uncle declined. ata Vroom took Unele’s extra shots Sia drank them in quick succession. ‘We hal burl finshed when a Homan came up fous with anther six rinks, “Long Ista losd Teas she sid “courtesy of DJ Jas” "Nice You hans frends im the Wight pees. Radka said as she stand pulping her Log Isand ike i was ghss of water “These Ling Island at very song, I suid ara few ip, 1 cou fool my ead spin. ay, ays cur shit int ver We said one quick dik, set's make our wiy ack Soon “ust ne lst ink Vroom sid ordering mare cocks. “Ho feting igh,’ Pevanka sid “Tm going 0 miss his. Pm poingto miss yoo 205s. "Neal, ight, Well sce when you move to Seattle “There were two fat LCD sevens in rot of ous bed one tuned MTV and he other to CNN. A Bollyword murher yas being played Sn MTV. a part oF Youth Special progtanime. The news brake ing on CNN ws about the US invasion of ra, noticed Vroom saring atthe news. ‘Vroom posited to 4 US politician who ad spoken out in suppor ofthe war “Look at hrs, HeW make the whole word i he could have Bis was Noy aot the whole work. 1 don't think they blow wp Chin Priyanka sid sounding high. "They need the cheap labour Then gues they won't blow up Gurgaon either: dhey need the nase et at noua: Bu as an immeciate shorten gal, in gong Tot t ane fe el cent heat. He) you ato ape a eb din company with me?" Ts With ou? Vcom sa ooking tk me “Tm feving oa “Realy Priva’ eyes pope open. Sb looked a meas ia scene ha a teed hi io to i Mut “Yes came close o death in that pit 1 coal he thew cuever hve taken nak nay ie am ed oF socom Sion. me ofc he rel work even rs handcrand mane est rene nod twos akon aback; it sumed people wee aly listening tome fr th frat tine “Plo made ne me rms to msl "Wha" Von an Piven ad was “Trot song 0 work for an ty re yer, Been it meas es taney Tented Henn fra man ‘Nol bad! Vroom an Tks ie Shyu sje wy? {dont knw ifm wise or ok bt oes ve mae choice Wellsce what happen Fornow Ine a shorter geo. Like wat Vig as dae thes cancion, “Thaw to ek eae of Baksh Since me have mtn oe tts wach him a lesson," 1 said, ” ‘Veoom sensed th Quast haltand we ll forma "Now wat Tai ve js fd sa foc Ting Boks ad he alent at he same ime: Vion sid He and ask and whinge somthing peat No way, inca has "itll you how ns we pt ck: Lets met the WASG cone fecace on he el and psa the sesso hard dene the al seh the cane: Weentred ts Conestns alae 44S. Ou dr assem ante veh ower Styne him sad (One Night ae the Gall Comere 999 “People, les go—four forty-six? Vroom said and jumped out of tho ear "Beck a ou bay there vas an A4- sized sheet stack to my monitor withbig bol eters sere on i Ch this out si Ha akshis writing ‘Vroom looked atthe note and faughod. “Whatever. He'll get his ansiers. But fst he'll answer us. Guys, conference room fist? Vroom si. ‘We lied inside the conference room and Vroom bolted the door Guys, sorry to sou Tike an MBA type, But ink forthe next fey hours we havea three-point agenda to consider. One 0 save his call contre, an 0, to ouch Bakshi lesson. Agreed” “Wha the hid point” Radhika said, “That between me sn Shyan. 1 private. OK, isfen ‘And thats where Vroom revealed hs plan, We jumped in our seats wien we frst heard it, but slowly Vroom convinced us. Between laughter and iatense concentration, everyone joined in 10 reine the plan further At 5.10 am, ve concluded oxy mecing and lel the WANG conference room, “All se?” Vow said “Of enusc; we sid "Good, Step One “Hs, are you ready?” "Yen Esha sid and winked at us She picked up the plone, dalled Bakshi’s number and put on the swice ofan older woman “Sic this lia calling fom the mai ba. There's. al for you ftom Boston, | thnk” Esha sid in dumb-bu-censcintons sere- sara one. "No, ir, leant seem to tunsfer it... Sir, I've aleady tied. Si, "Pm now assistant hee, som sl a sure how the pliones work, Sir, srry, but can you come dovwn sir. Yes, sir’ Esha said and Dung up the phone. "Did it work? I said “THe afta sucker for anything w do with Boston, Hes soning ight mow. But hell nly be ou for afew minutes, soles rus. inging Bakshi out oF his ofce Vroom sid(600 Chetan Bhagat 5.5 am, ‘Ns planned Bakshi office yas empty when we arived, ‘Veoom wont aight 19 Bakshi computer and opened his ema Radhika, Pryanlca, Esha and Ist at his coorence table, Von typed furiously on Bakshis keybourd [new whit we were doing ‘was wrong, but somehow ic Telt good. Onve hel finished. Vroom printed cu several copies. “Five vopiek: he stl. one for each oF ws, Fld it and keep sate ded my copy and puttin shirt poke. Bakshi came in twenty seconds ltr. ean’ helieve wo hive sch outdated telephone systems aks was talking to himself ashe came into his oie, then he noticed us atthe conference able “There yow all are, Whete were you? And whit happened to th hoteuper and zen Vitor’ manor? Rakhi sid “Sit down fora secon, will yu, Bakshi? Voor si. “What?” Bakshi si shocked Vroom refering to him by his ‘ame. "You shoul learn hos 1p addess ssi “Whatever, Bakshi” Veoor said and put his feet up on Bakshi ceting able “Agent Victor, what did you say and what exactly do you think you are doing? Bakshi sid standing. “Ab Vioom sid “this sso much more gomfartabe. Why dont people alays sit ie this?" ho eos his skinny’ Tags onthe able "What the hell going on here? Bakshi said and Tooksd eine biany ‘Vroom pushed a pin-out wards Bakshi Re The email ead as allows om: Subosh Bal Te Faia Singh Sent 03.04. Yt00m sid De fa, Die use Ny far say set pod aight tna, You ake me ogpyil poet you ho he igh coer ‘on. ty pla ar your sc Bk 30a Boo Are who irons you mg ere eroy etme on your Cacisensa08 thes Bk (One Night atthe Call Centre 601 [Bakshi face tumed white, What is this!” he ais voie shaking, "You tell sls a emai from your inbox Vroom sad “Bot Fatt ite iy Bakshi sad, esperely “did not vite this? ‘Really Vroo sid "Now hw can you prove you did write it? Can soa prove to th poople inthe Boston offic that you cid “Whit are you talking bout? How i this connected Boston” ‘Bakshi soi his hice spouting drolcs of sweat dough the oid “Lets se. What if We forward Boston 3 copy of this ema! sane they Tove empleyses who do how did you putt? ar deal” ssid, “Tc not write? Bakshi sd unable to tink of Bete ine “Or we cov sen copy tothe police; Vroom sa ‘an to sone fof my reporter Inends. Yow want To be inthe papers fenocton, Baksh? Urvom tok out hs phone. “Oh vail nab T ould even sstyou on TY "TV?" Bakshi said ‘Yes, imagine the beadline: CALL. CENTRE BOSE ASKS ORL FOR sexta VOLES IN FXCHANGH £0R 0B. New Deli TV could Hive on that for «week, Damm, mnake a good journalist’ Vroom said anc laughed But what did Jo” Bakshi said and ran co his desk. He opened his mal nd chock he “Sent toms Toe. "Who wrote this?” Bakshi sid ashe saw the some email on is “You didn’? Priyanka ssid a in penne confusion, ‘Mir Baksh, {hold you in such hh ester, day my faith in my role mod! is shateret sh said and puter hands to her fae. She tres good 1 thought she shoul uy Toran acting eater “t‘Swcar Tit write tis) Bakshi said, scrambling with fis keyboard “Then who wrote if? Santa Claus? The tooth fairy?” Vroom stout and stood up, “Explain i the police, journalists and to our Poston offi “Ha Look, Ive deleted i ‘Conse on, Bakshis Veoom sai ill your folder" ‘Oh: Bakshi said and jerked his mouse. A few licks ater hes, “Thate its gone ‘Vroom smiled “One more tip for you, Bakshi, Go to your deleted > Bakshi seid with a smug smile Dele! Rem602 Chetan Bhagat items, select the ols menu and choose the “Recaver Deleted ems” ‘option. The mal yl sil be there Bakshi’ fe showed ponte again as he tied to follow Veoom's intrustions He ciked his mouseover and ver agai “Oh, stop it Bakshi, The mal is in my inbox ws well. And Vroom as mary printouts, sha said “Huh?” Babshi Tooked Tike a scared rab, "You'l never getaway with this. Esha, you Know I didn't do it You wear ght ski and ‘ops ut Fonly look ar dem Tom a distance. Even those jeans that stow your waist, Lealy saw" “Stop righ there, you sicko, Esha said “You can't getaway with this’ Bashi said “We havo five witnesses, Haksti, and all of them wil support Esha testimony. Isa “Oh, and we have some other evidence as well. [n Esha drawer ‘here iba pack fl ca, it has your fagerpeint on Vroom su TBakshiy Hagers uembled as if he was getting realy 10 ply the drums “We also have 4 printout of your visits to porn ebsites? Raudika sai, “ou know i not me, sia. he proven inaacent Bakshi si his voice sounding likes hapless beggar’. He looked as if he was about to ty ‘Maybe. But te amazing publicity willbe enough to sew your eer Goodbye, Hosion, I sid. and waved my hand to indicate farewel Bakshi sat dow. His white face had now turned red or rather purple. “Why are you doing this to me? I'l be leaving you fo ever to goto ‘Host soo Baksh sid “Boston” i aid. "You don't deserve a posting to Bhatinds You're not jst bad oss, you're a parasite: tous, 0 this company, co this Country. Dama you” “What da yor wane? Do you want to destroy me?” Bakshi sid. have a family and two kids, After alt of effort my eaeer is going fine, My wife wants 16 leave me anyway. Don't destay me, Tm human toa? T disagreed with Bakshi as remar, 1 think ho was human Destroying you ia good option; Vroom sid “but we have more (One Night atthe Call Centre 603 sortie pals for now want 0 doa dal with you, We bury hi iSue and netura you do someting or “Ait kof thing? Balai 3 “One want to hve coo of he cll cote for the next (wo Teed geton te Tannoy sad Vroom. ‘Why? Wil you once hs email” Dak sai Novyou ron eo sive jo th cal corre, Can use the Teaney “es Whats” Ta you 10 te out resignation eter for Shyam and me Lito: wesley omen "Ke you guy ewig igh now? the ps a “M03 Siam andar wing 0st small wie design us nes Rig Shan? Voom sa Yew Ti Nw! [hush “Good. And this ine one wll ak the cet fo ou websites excep surclen® Vroom and sapped Bakshi fe. Bakshis fice tuned sat dees mth inact, He Held is eek But remained sen, apart rom one ny. dry 20. is fac expression Tea combination of 90 or cn pain and 10 po =n sh “My 1 ai. “Bey gust Voom sid Slap T pie Bala fee god aap too and swung Sts sees a eos Soyouitwnethe respon ete, OK? Vroem sk ‘OK Haka son fonbing ie check. "But Ese il delete the ennai ih wai Were ‘not finished. Our business will require startup capil so we need 4 serance package of Si Hons” slay ‘Yom sa “tant do sit mont, 1s npressdeted or agen Bakshi sid “New Dut (Vor mes ft, you ic Voom ih “Simons poste, Good tages reak precedes Bakshi sai. gues no ano of slaps cul at Ns gn. "tice any, Twa yu ft te sguing props Ask ‘Boston to postpone the lyk 0 ty ew salersven Fecvery Plan for Conexion” can do that Baksh sad ‘oor ited is mail ones pu iia fot of Hass face. “Titmake sre nda kos your are by tomo, VroomG0 Chetan hacer ‘i, “There or agents with kids, fie, sepsis. You ean’ just fre ther” ‘Give me half an hour. set up acall with Boston.’ Bakshi said "Good. We'l bury the email But make sure you wet the ll ont of | This couniey as fst as you can. We need a new boss, normal event inspiring human being ad not a sing, lowsucking gor Dall with Taney degree” ‘Baksh nodded wile continuously wiping the sweat rom his foe. Good, Anyiing else? Did you have something to ask mis about sy monitor? Veoa sid ‘Monitor? What monitor?” Bakshi sid 520am. Bakshi gave Veoom she key’ to the broadest room and then got straight on the phone to Boston to urange w management meting. [ fad nove sen him work so eins ‘Vroom went to the Broadcast room sid switched on the mikes ‘hilt went the main computer bay to check for yound quit Hello everyone: May’ Ihave your attention, please? This is Vion, from the sate group His vous echoed through Connexions and all the agents Tooked up at the speakers while sill aking 0 their “Sort to baer you, but we have an emergency This is about the layoffs Can you please dicommect all your calls the speaker ai "Everyone ear the word lays an hous calls ended at th same time, New calls Rashed. ut no one picked them up. Veoum continue: dias have been managing this pluee up until now and its because ‘of tei mistakes that more thin third wf you wil lose your jos Tonight 1 doesn seem fro me, does it sem fit t9 you?” ‘There was an response, ‘Come on. gry | want to Rear you. Do Thave your apport to save your jobs and this call ecive?™ “Tre agent all looked at each othe, sil in partial dishele. Thee ‘nasa woah yes “Lad, gy, ll togete. Do Ihave your sport” Voorn sid “Ye collecive seream reked Connexions Veoomn continued in a fimer voice. “Thank you. My fiends, 1 noe your por Tele ae You ey 10 Work a rhe next to bors? One Night at rhe Call Contre 605 ‘Yes! « collective voice came buck as Vroom paused 10 take breath Good, then mn. This call conte will survive only if we ean increase our call trafic, and my plan is 0 scare the Americans into ‘alling Tell hem ha rvs hae it America with pe come Pater virus that threatens to take Uieir county down, The ealy way ‘hey cam ay safes to keep calling us to report dei stats. We'l do itike this: pll ut every customer number you have and eal em i send you acl serio email in the next ve minutes, but cn thon, dig out those nunbers’ Vroom sd ‘Noise levels rose in the main bay as hundreds of leased eonver- sarions tok place simultancussly, Nobody was sie iF the plan ‘Would work, but people were willing to try anything o avoid losing thei jos "Vroom an {returie to our bay. He typed furiously on his com puter and ater a few minutes tapped on ey shoulder. “Check your ena Voom sad and pointed to my seen opened my inbox” Vroom fad set the samc.emall wth a script 0 everyone in the cll cere 1 explained he problrn wih the virus ‘ind hat customers cull check to see iit had affected the by car ‘ying out staple MS Word test. They were asked to call in every four tons hours "Veo inne ad wink me ast ished reading dhe eal “ia with the MS Word trick? Tid “fy it, apen'a Word fe Vroom sid apones am emply Word document aa type in rand (200,99). ‘Ne soon as pressed Enter 200 aes of text popped out Has spooks. and vent someting ike his The quick brown fox jumps ocr the bry’ og, The sk on fox jump one teary ig, The uk bow fox jumps ve tele dag. The quick row ox jumps vor he lz dog. The quick brown “Ths sunbotovable. What is "I asked, sa bug in MS Word, Nothing portost. Now just wait and wate Vroom sai ‘Vos email reached [000 mailboxes and agents read time: gals, Within minutes, ages were doing ab they ew ony 0 ‘wel calling peuple 1 deliver a message us fasta posible | eft my ‘Statand passe y the main bay. [poked wp adm sentences fo the conversations606 Chetan Uhager “Hello, Me Williams, sorry to distur you on Thanksgiving. [am calling ftom Westen Computes with an urgent message. America ‘under a Vrus attack one agent sd "es siz, According 10 cur records your computer has heen tected sad another “Just kecp calling us. Every four w six hours’ said one as she ended the eal The more aggressive agents went a stp further: “And I want you to tel all your fie and relatives. es, hey can eal 400! Some customers pinicked and nosed ensirance Na problem. We will save this courry, The evil ores wil never succec” ‘thousand agents, four minutes 1a a calle could do 30,000 calls in two hour IF hey called us overysix hours, We would have ‘over 100,000 calls 2 day. Even if at only lasted a eek: we would hit our targets for the next amo months. Hopefully with a aew mane ager and exira sales effort, Connexions could bea its Wy to 18. fe, and ao one would lose their job. Noon came looking for me i the main bay and we went back to .WASG. Vroom siglled me int the conference room “The response i umazing. We've only be elling for tiny min- Uesand trai sup five ies already? Vico sid "Rocking, man T sd. “But why'e you called me here?” "we have to discuss the third private aged ‘Whats hae” Tid “The third agen or you. Don’ you wan Priyanka bale” ‘No, Priyanka and Tae vee” Iai ‘Be honest, dude. You spoke to God and everthing” “Looked down, Vroom Waited until Usui someting. Te doesi’s matter if | want her or not. Look at my compton, How am I poing to succeed apainst Mr Ptfet Math Canes" “See, thar the problem, Weal think hes Mf Prlet. but boy is perf “Yeah righ. A house, a car that costs moe than ten years of my salary; freaking working forthe worlds top compary—T don't see ruck imperction i that. "Bveryome has la, dude. The tick sto ind Nain Genes? ‘Well, how ar We ever going toda that? And even if we find & fase in him, what’ the poin? Hes o good, Priyanka wil il go fr hin sai One Nigh ut the Call Centre 607 “AC Teast she will ow she isn't making the periet trade-off vom sid T remained silent for two minutes. “Yes, but how do. we find anes’ aw sidan looked at my wate, Tt was 5.30 “There must bea way Vroom sid, “The shit is over son, What are you planning to do? Hire detec ive in Seale?" T sai, my voice iitated “Don't give wp, Shyam Vroom sal and pated my shoul,

You might also like

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

  

  From Everand

  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

  Mark Manson

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (5814)
• The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

  

  From Everand

  The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

  Brene Brown

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1092)
• Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

  

  From Everand

  Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

  Chris Voss

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (844)
• • Magazines
  • Podcasts
  • Sheet music
• Principles: Life and Work

  

  From Everand

  Principles: Life and Work

  Ray Dalio

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (609)
• The Glass Castle: A Memoir

  

  From Everand

  The Glass Castle: A Memoir

  Jeannette Walls

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (1717)
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

  

  From Everand

  Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

  Angela Duckworth

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (590)
• Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

  Jesmyn Ward

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1104)
• Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

  

  From Everand

  Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

  Margot Lee Shetterly

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (897)
• Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

  

  From Everand

  Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

  Phil Knight

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (540)
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  

  From Everand

  The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  Stephen Chbosky

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (2104)
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

  

  From Everand

  The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

  Ben Horowitz

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (348)
• Bad Feminist: Essays

  

  From Everand

  Bad Feminist: Essays

  Roxane Gay

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1018)
• Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

  

  From Everand

  Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

  Ashlee Vance

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (474)
• Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

  

  From Everand

  Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

  Carmen Maria Machado

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (822)
• The Outsider: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Outsider: A Novel

  Stephen King

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1866)
• The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

  

  From Everand

  The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

  Siddhartha Mukherjee

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (271)
• The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)

  

  From Everand

  The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)

  Viet Thanh Nguyen

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (122)
• Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

  

  From Everand

  Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

  Frank McCourt

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (441)
• Brooklyn: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Brooklyn: A Novel

  Colm Tóibín

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (1947)
• The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living

  

  From Everand

  The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living

  Meik Wiking

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (401)
• A Man Called Ove: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  A Man Called Ove: A Novel

  Fredrik Backman

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (4770)
• Steve Jobs

  

  From Everand

  Steve Jobs

  Walter Isaacson

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (807)
• The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

  

  From Everand

  The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

  Thomas L. Friedman

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (2259)
• The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

  Garth Stein

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (4203)
• Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

  

  From Everand

  Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

  Gilbert King

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (266)
• The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner)

  

  From Everand

  The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner)

  Sarah M. Broom

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (98)
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  

  From Everand

  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  Betty Smith

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (1929)
• A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius: A Memoir Based on a True Story

  

  From Everand

  A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius: A Memoir Based on a True Story

  Dave Eggers

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (231)
• Yes Please

  

  From Everand

  Yes Please

  Amy Poehler

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1898)
• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

  

  From Everand

  Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

  Doris Kearns Goodwin

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (234)
• The Woman in Cabin 10

  

  From Everand

  The Woman in Cabin 10

  Ruth Ware

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (2522)
• Fear: Trump in the White House

  

  From Everand

  Fear: Trump in the White House

  Bob Woodward

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (738)
• Wolf Hall: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Wolf Hall: A Novel

  Hilary Mantel

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (3811)
• John Adams

  

  From Everand

  John Adams

  David McCullough

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (2409)
• On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

  

  From Everand

  On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

  Naomi Klein

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (74)
• The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

  M.L. Stedman

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (789)
• Manhattan Beach: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Manhattan Beach: A Novel

  Jennifer Egan

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (792)
• The Constant Gardener: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Constant Gardener: A Novel

  John le Carré

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (104)
• The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

  

  From Everand

  The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

  George Packer

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (45)
• Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can't Ignore

  

  From Everand

  Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can't Ignore

  Jay Sekulow

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (137)
• Little Women

  

  From Everand

  Little Women

  Louisa May Alcott

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (104)
• Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  

  Document2 pages

  Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet
• Pratibha Roadlines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited

  

  Document3 pages

  Pratibha Roadlines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet
• Bill No 4

  

  Document2 pages

  Bill No 4

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet
• Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  

  Document2 pages

  Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet
• Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  

  Document2 pages

  Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet
• Professional Knowledge Capsule For IT Officer

  

  Document60 pages

  Professional Knowledge Capsule For IT Officer

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet
• Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  

  Document2 pages

  Pratibha Road Lines - Jaipur: Tijaria Polypipes Limited, Sp-2316 Ramchandrapura Ind. Area, Sitapura Extn - Jaipur

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet
• cgl2015 Non Interv 09 02 2016

  

  Document183 pages

  cgl2015 Non Interv 09 02 2016

  sameer

  No ratings yet
• User Id:: Street No. 14 Ashok Nagar

  

  Document5 pages

  User Id:: Street No. 14 Ashok Nagar

  Pratibha Sharma

  No ratings yet