Meher, CEO of ‘Baby Goodies & Co.’ was coming to pay a visit to her India office after 4 years. She had started this business 9 years ago and with the help of a couple of foreign investors, she had managed to make her presence felt internationally. She had shifted to UK after she got married and had been monitoring the business through tele-conferencing and internet.

It was a Monday and she decided to pay a visit to her Kolkata Office first – the office where she had started her business. This Office had many nostalgic memories of her past and her struggle to establish herself in this competitive world. She was generally in a good mood but it vanished as soon as she entered the reception area !

Seated at the desk was a heavily made up girl in her early twenties,chewing a gum and wearing a cheap revealing outfit. She got up as soon as Meher entered and somehow managed to smile – as if it was below her dignity to stand up for someone and make her or him feel welcome!

Meher could not tolerate her high handed attitude and immediately stopped at the reception and screamed in presence of everyone.

‘Who are she?…and why on earth is she sitting here? And don’t tell me she works here !’ she said looking at the Manager.

‘Well , yes Madam – she is the receptionist, joined two months ago……she is..’ started the manager.

‘Receptionist!? This is not a discotheque or a night club that she is wearing such an outfit here – we sell baby products not slut wear !! Do you understand? And as far as I remember I wrote it specifically in the Induction letter to New recruits for the ladies to wear proper dress – even sleeve-less is not allowed in this office…how come she is wearing such a cheap attire…or have you converted this office into a part time ‘whore house…maybe after office hours this Office is used for other things’?’ Meher screamed at the reception. By this time all the other employees had assembled at the reception.

Lily, the receptionist was dumb founded – she squirmed as the entire office staff looked her way with utter disgust.

‘No..actually errr… Madam..she is the relative of the HR Manager..she has come through his reference…she has been asked repeatedly by other Lady staff but she turns a deaf ear..’ the manager said.

‘So!? If she does not care for our rules and regulations and thinks this is an outlet for her to show her vital statistics…in order to rope in male clients I guess…she better be kicked out of here! She is just a receptionist – her work is to receive and transfer calls – not to attract frustrated sex starved customers to our office – we deal with baby care and products..remember? Young parents come her – pregnant ladies come here…or are you trying to entertain the poor husbands of the fat and bloated pregnant ladies who come here for consultation?’ screamed Meher.

There was pin drop silence in the Office.

‘Send her to my cabin and call the HR Manager as well’- saying this Meher went inside her cabin.

Lily was trembling as she was ushered in Meher’s cabin.

‘Yes – be seated. Were you given this Employee’s Handbook when you joined here?’ Meher said handing her the handbook.

‘Yeah!’ replied Lily.

‘Yeah!?…hello – this is not a college canteen and you are not talking to your friend …goodness she does not even have the minimum decency to talk also! – so you say ‘yeah’ to people who ring up here I suppose?…and throw that gum out of your mouth now – just go and throw it and then come !’ Meher was speedily losing her cool with this cheap slut-like attitude.

‘I just don’t understand this – have you all gone blind? None of you could see this shameless nincompoop seated right at the reception – a point where a customer first comes in touch with the Organization – what image he or she will carry of us? That we are running some part time cheap Motel or that we sell and suggest all fake products and consultation so we do require such cheap alternatives in order to have a constant flow of customers ?! This is ridiculous really!’ she said to the rest of the heads present there.

Lily came in after throwing the chewing gum.

‘So ! Did you receive this Handbook?’ asked Meher once again.

‘Yes’, replied Lily.

‘Please read what is written in page 17 – on dress code for Lady Employees’ Meher handed over the handbook to Lily.

Lily stood like a statue without even bothering to open the handbook.

‘Can you read English?’asked Meher.

‘I am ready to resign, I don’t want to work here’ suddenly Lily replied.

‘Oh! You are doing us a great favour your highness – we’ll surely miss you! But what is it that you had on your mind that you decided to defy the Company rules and wear such a cheap outfit to the Office…you come by car?’ asked Meher.

‘No’ Lily replied.

‘How do you commute ?’ asked Meher.

‘By bus’ replied Lily.

‘Bus!? You mean you actually wear this outrageously shameless outfit and travel by bus! Lady you will be molested by the mob any darn time! Your parents allow you to wear such outfits?!’ asked Meher.

‘She stays in a hostel here – her parents live in the suburbs..so she has joined a Lady’s Hostel here’ said the HR Manager.

‘Oh! So she is trying all her fantasies which she has probably accumulated from films etc. - while being away from home….what if your parents come to know that you have started leading such a cheap bohemian life here in the city.. …and how is she related to you Mr. Nath?’ Meher said looking towards the HR Manager.

‘Well..not related…she is known to me through a distant cousin of mine – actually they are financially very poor ..so I thought of helping her in this way…..’ said Mr Nath.

‘Poor? – so basically she is cutting on her clothes to show that she is poor!? She has to change her dressing sense otherwise…’ started Meher when Lily suddenly interrupted her.

‘I am ready to resign – I have not come to the city to be a receptionist forever – I have my own dreams which I will fulfill – I don’t think its any of your business to interfere in my life and dressing sense….and neither it should bother you if I am molested by the mob or by any single person!’ said Lily.

‘Oh! My !! we have future MS Universe standing right here in front of us! – what boldness ! and what a waste of talent and vital statistics !- sure - please go ahead and fulfill your dreams – and frankly speaking if you are molested publicly or privately – it will not be our concern as long as you are not connected with us … working for us that is – so today is your last day here – bid goodbye to all your colleagues and please don’t put this Company’s name in any of your references – for I’ll never recommend your kind of a shameless and ill-mannered girl anywhere – do you understand? ..you may go now.’ said Meher.

Lily packed her things and left immediately.

‘What audacity she has – did you see her attitude?! She does not look poor or needy from any angle – just plain greedy – that’s all – wanting to make fast bucks in the city…and she hit the nail bang on its head – for all you know she must be a part time pick up girl ! such greedy females can do anything to make money! And she was seated at the reception !?In future please don’t take pity and recruit - but give the placement to someone on the basis of his or her credentials and family background…in fact double check the family background ..and no references will be entertained in future – this is an order – I hope its clear to all of you by now!’ said Meher to all the employees assembled in the hall.

6 months later.......

All the leading Newspapers had on its front page - the picture of a Call center employee who was found to be repeatedly raped and brutally murdered . Her dead body was found on the highway with no clue as to who did the heinous crime! The body was later identified to be of some Lily – a small town girl who had come to make it big in the city. All her dreams lay shattered in the pool of blood.

The police had surrounded the Call center and every employee was being questioned and literally harassed. The Call center authorities were trying their best to ward off the Press, media and the police – but to no avail! Rallies and bandhs were called . After a couple of days everything went back to normal.

Mr. Nath, the HR Manager called up Mrs. Meher and thanked her for the decision she took to drive away Lily some six months ago...or else they would have had to face the brunt of this mishap !!