When it ended, Madhuri said, “So cupcake, the secretary of Principal or Director, what would you like to pick?”
“Whatever you would like to be, ma’am. After all, learning and growing by being your subordinate is all I ask for!” She said it and smiled more.
“Aww, do you memorize these or they come naturally, darling. You never fail to impress me, don’t you?”
“Learning from the very best, aren’t I?”
“Indeed, pussycat.” They both laughed shamelessly.
“Shall we get you to your seat now, ma’am?” She asked by standing at the side. Madhuri looked at the high backed leather chair, which was still empty.
Madhuri sat in it. The feeling, of power, got her to recap everything she had done to reach there. She loved to be in power. And this sight was unmistakably comprehended by her secretary there. Shraddha loved to see her boss contented.
“I feel you’ve made yourself comfortable there, ma’am.”
“Indeed I have.”
Shraddha took her writing pad in hand and asked, “What is in today’s agenda, ma’am?”
Madhuri smiled and said, “I’d like to see all Heads Of Departments and Subject Coordinators by lunch time. You have them come to a time and then announce it to me. Do this and will tell you more later.” Madhuri looked away.
“Oh sure, I’ll excuse you now, ma’am.” Shraddha knew her job all too well.
Unlike a desk outside the office, Shraddha was now allotted a cabin of her own. She went in there and started planning the agenda.
Madhuri was alone in the office now. Her phone had three missed calls from some number. Madhuri dialed the number.
“Hello Payal.” She spoke.
** Inaudible Voice **
“Hmm.”
** Inaudible Voice **
“You did well, dear.”
** Inaudible Voice **
“Oh, is he whining again?”
** Inaudible voice **
“Let him. I’ll see you later. Take care.”
** Call ends **
Madhuri put her phone down casually. By which time Shraddha rings to tell Madhuri that the meeting is scheduled at 1130. Madhuri starts to get ready. By 1130, she becomes ready.
The meeting starts, and there enter 8 HODs and 16 Subject Coordinators. The room of 26, Madhuri and Shraddha included, gets locked. Madhuri at first asks everyone to formally introduce themselves, and after they do, she starts to pitch in, some of Madhuri’s notable dialogues were like,
“We have to make better use of children’s inquisitiveness, and it’s us who will instill the aspect of education in them through us.”
“Let’s be the right role model to our pupils.”
“It should just be not about writing assignments, but learning assignments too.”
“Let’s talk about purpose and not profit.”
“Have them fall in love with education.”
Within the first 20 minutes of the meeting, Madhuri had the majority of her staff think that they had the right person in the seat.
“And come next week, when we will start taking admissions for the new semester, I’d want each one of you to conduct Group Discussion Rounds with all new admissions in your department. After the rounds are done, you note down the strengths, weaknesses, positive remarks, negative remarks, and some more points too if you want to add. If any of you requires any paper work assistance, I’ll have it provided for you. Besides this, I’ll also ask the administration to get you a hike in salaries for this month and the next for your hardwork, but the work is a compulsion. You will be under constant surveillance at the time of the sessions to see if you’re conducting it seriously. I hope you all to do your jobs well.”
Madhuri looked in the eyes of everyone sitting inside then, and she made sure no-one missed out on any detail. When she had delivered this, she added, “This was supposed to be the end of our meeting, until I remembered something more…” She paused, turned her eyes at the gentleman in the third seat from last, “Mr. Gauresh Sharma, aren’t you the Head Of The Mechanical Department?”
“Yes ma’am, that would be me.” He said with a hint of smile.
“Bad for you sir, because YOU’RE FIRED!”
The whole room was broken to pin drop silence. And as soon as Madhuri understood that Mr. Sharma was set to dispose to verbal retaliation, she added, “Mr. Sharma, I’m sure you won’t want yourself or your reputation to be discredited by creating a scene here. I would advice you to either clear your desk in half an hour or see the security clear it for you. You’ll find your suspension letter on your desk. Thank you for your 15 years of service. We are done for the day.” Those were Madhuri’s last words, after which she turned around and left the room, leaving everyone shocked and scared. The new boss of theirs meant business, just business.
When Shraddha reached the office with Madhuri, she was silent, sensing which Madhuri said, “Spit it out darling.”
“Did you do it because of those…..”
“Certainly, pussycat. You know things better.” They both smiled and Madhuri added, “Now do one thing daughter, bring me the reports of various educators in Mech. Department, because I’d have to come upon a new HOD for them by tomorrow. I want to make sure I do justice to the decision. And before the office hours conclude, please come to see me. I will want a word.”
“It’ll be done, ma’am.” She answered.
“Thank you, Shraddha.” Shraddha exited.
The day went on. Madhuri read the reports of college. The students were high performing, but the rate of students being enrolled for a high-end corporate internship or jobs was missing. Madhuri frowned by this detail. She put the reports’ file aside and picked the file that had complaints. There were perpetual complaints about lack of advanced classrooms. She liked this one. Even though the former was a time-consuming quest, the latter could be achieved in a short time. Madhuri took a note of it in her diary. She knew what to do for this.
Later when she went through the candidates for the next Mechanical HOD, she shortlisted three names. The three names were highlighted and encircled on. She’d see to it later. Once this had ended, the day was also concluded. The offices and cabins were started to get emptied. Some people while leaving shared a smile with the new Principal. She was an admirer of efforts, so it was all positively received.
Shraddha knocked on her door. Madhuri smiled and said, “Come in, darling. I was waiting for you only.”
“And I was for you, ma’am” she smiled and added, “how was your first day?”
“No better than the expected mark. How was yours pussycat?”
“Hectic, ma’am. Worked equivalent of two days in one.”
“So you mean working for me is a task for you? I’m disappointed suddenly.” Madhuri teased her.
Shraddha paused and added, “On the contrary, this is the thing that keeps me going, ma’am. Otherwise, it was more sensible to call it quits.”
“I’ll say this again darling, you never fail to amaze me”
“Nor do you, ma’am.”
“Don’t I know a thing or two about it” Madhuri’s smile stayed cemented, and she added, “now, you know why you have come here, darling?”
“I don’t know ma’am. What is the emergency?”
“Actually, there are two sweetheart. Take a seat.” Shraddha seated herself across the table to Madhuri. Madhuri got hold of an envelope. She placed it on the table and slid it toward Shraddha.