Anubhuti was looking upset. Her smiles and her participation in discussion was missing. With Anubhuti it has always been a great fun. Her natural happiness, optimistic views and genuine interest in all activities makes the ambiance lively and vivacious. However, today was an exception.
I thought not to disturb her with my queries. She must be upset with something or the other.
Sujit must be knowing. I can ask Sujit later.
We (not sure about Anubhuti) enjoyed the hot sip of coffee in the CCD. Deepa arrived. Waved to all us with an apologetic sign on her face. I have met Deepa three times. And there has been a common element in all these three meets- Deepa being late. I am not sure how my life with Deepa will be. I hate getting late. In order to quench my thirst of being in time, I prefer arriving a few minutes earlier than the schedule time. But Deepa....May be she had genuine reasons in all three cases. Anyway, now with a lady member in the group Anubhuti will get a better chance to relax. Will she? Infact, we three Anubhuti, Sujit and I are college friends. Anubhuti and Sujit successfully turned their love affair to a tie of life time. I was not that lucky. So later parents decided that I should try my luck with Deepa. That's what I am doing. I don't think presence of Deepa is going to help Anubhuti much.
Something unexpected happened. Deepa made me happy like anything with her first words in the discussion. She sensed the mood of Anubhuti correctly and asked her the reason. Anubhuti hesitated to respond. I interfered-
'Common Anu, you need a mask to hide your face when you say something untrue. You know your face speaks for you". Anu laughed "Oh really?" I turned to Sujit "Had a fight? Why she is so upset?" Sujit got annoyed "Ask her man, she has a tounge and can speak for herself. Why are you asking me?"
I got the nerve of the situation. Sujit and Anubhuti have some issues. Mian-biwi kind? Laughable. The case may become the same with me and Deepa as well in near future.
Anyway, looking at the mood of Sujit I let the issue pass. I had to concentrate on Deepa also. After all she will be my woman for a few decades (or days?). And she has so clear understanding of human feelings. Great.
We had a good dinner. Sujit and Anubhuti departed with no improvement in their moods. Needless to say Sujit was happy about the food but there was something that was not right between him and his wife.
Next morning I got a call from Anubhuti. I was busy in office attending a client. I don't receive calls in such cases. But call from Anubhuti had to be received. She started with a "Sorry".
I was cueless. Is she apologising for yesterday night? I asked her "Sorry, for what?"
"For yesterday's night". "Why lady? What was your mistake?" "I don't I behaved properly" "Oh, you need not say sorry for small issues. I could not see anything wrong with you. yes, you were a bit upset. Anyway, is something wrong with Sujit?"
Anubhuti paused for a second. "Sujit is no more the same Sujit. He is turning mechanical. He has started spending more time in office. It is ok if he enjoys to work but.." Anubhuti hesitated.
I must extract the information now. She is in a flow. "But Anubhuti" "See you know Sujit. His value system. But he has forgotton all these. He has started turning into a beast". "Beast?" Anubhuti should have used a softer word. "Don't you think you are turning harsh, Anubhuti?"
"May be. But I don't find a proper word. How come a person behave as badly as Sujit? Last week he scolded Ramukaka with slangs. You know Ramukaka's age. And do you know Ramukaka almost cried. I thought the situation will improve. But no, Sujit is turning harsh to me as well. Irritation, irresponsible words are no more uncommon for him. My value system doesn't approve him anymore. Probably that's the reason we indulge in small altercations every odd day" "May be Sujit has some problem in office. Things will improve as soon as the office pressure gets normal" "Hmmmmm.......I also thought so. But the problem is not a week's old. I have noticed a continuous change in Sujit's personality trait. He has started valuing money more than everything else. Right now he sees life in nothing but money. Do you know he has started calling some of our neighbours as cheep people. I am tensed for him. I like him."
I know the root of this issue. Sujit's office is a place where people worship money. Sujit himself has denounced his office atmosphere many a times. And in the due process of time he himself has the become a part of the atmosphere which he hated so. I had heard that Sujit had developed a love affair with one of his collegues. But that is history now. The negative change in Sujit is reality. I dont know whether I should blame Sujiit ot his organization for this. Nowadays offices have become a symbol of denigrating values. People have started respecting the position and not persons. People have no respect for a good person if he is down in the ladder.
I strongly feel there is a need to review the existing culture. We don't need follow the western styles blindly when everybody in west has started talking about ethics, values and social responsibilities. We certainly don't need for Sujits.
