Free If God Was A Banker by Ravi Subramanian Page B

guys going forward.' Swami frowned at Aditya's stress on 'your' and started wondering what was going on.
    'Swami,' continued Aditya, 'Suneel is our new Country Head for Retail Banking. He is going to take over from me.'
    'Oh! Good afternoon, sir. Glad to meet you. And now if you would excuse me, I gotta run.' Swami was curt and abrupt. It was clear that he didn't really like Suneel replacing Aditya.
    When Swami left in haste, Suneel was visibly pissed. 'This bloke didn't seem too thrilled to meet me. That's kinda strange. Does he have a history here?' He wanted to know if Swami was a problem creator. Even before it began, the relationship had strained.
    Aditya smiled and let it pass, because he understood Swami more than anyone else.
    Back home, late in the evening. Swami confided in Kalpana and told her about his first meeting with Suneel Dutt, his future boss. Kalpana knew that Swami's reaction was not because of his dislike for Suneel, but his extreme devotion towards Aditya. Aditya was the one who gave him his career. Aditya was the one who gave him his stock options worth millions. He owed a lot to Aditya.
    She tried to reason with him. 'Look, it's quite possible that Suneel is not such a bad guy. One does not choose one's boss.'
    This reasoning didn't impress Swami, but he said nothing.
    Sundeep's introduction to Suneel was quite different. The slick Sundeep managed his first meeting brilliantly, impressing Suneel and oozing positive energy. When he left, Suneel couldn't help wonder: 'What a guy!'
    As far as first impressions were concerned, Sundeep had won, Swami had lost out. But with Suneel, Swami didn't want to win. No logical reason, but Swami simply didn't want to win. He just didn't want to be a 'Suneel guy.'
    That evening Swami and Sundeep went out for a drink. Sundeep for his screwdriver and Swami for his Thumbs Up. Despite all the complications in their lives, they remained friends. More so because their families, that is, Kalpana and Natasha, got along really well and their relationship continued even after Kalpana had quit and Natasha got married.
    'The guy is a creep,' began Swami. 'I can't stand him. He suffocates me.'
    'He is still your boss, my friend, and when it comes to bosses, we seldom have a choice. When I had met Aditya for the first time, I had thought the same about him as well.' This was the same logic that Kalpana had thrown at him.
    'I do not want to work with Suneel. After having worked with Aditya, I just can't.'
    'We are at a stage where we cannot make these choices.'
    'Why can't we join Aditya in his new venture?' the loyalist in Swami spoke.
    'Because he is too small right now and cannot afford you guys.' They looked at each other, because neither had spoken. The answer irritated both of them.
    'Who the fuck asked you!' they shouted and turned around. Aditya was standing there.
    'Natasha said I could find you guys here, so I came down.'
    'Grow up guys. I am flattered by your attachment to me, but remember, you can't always tag your careers to mine. Yes, I gave you guys the opportunity, and you guys grabbed it. I gave it to you also because I needed you at that time. I needed your fire to take us to our goal. But you guys have to break free now. I am starting my software and processing business. It's a fledgling business and needs time to grow. Till it grows big, I will not be able to afford you.'
    Neither Sundeep nor Swami said a thing.
    'Guys remember, I have made my money. I have saved enough to be comfortable all my life, even if this venture of mine fails. If you guys join me, you will have to forego your stock options in NYB. Are you willing to do that? Come on, guys. Stop kidding yourselves. I have done what I wanted to in a large corporate. Remember Swami, if you join me and I fail, you will have to start all over again in your career. God forbid, if you have to do that, I cannot live with that guilt.'
    No response still.
    'And now folks, will you guys keep staring at me or will