Page 97 of Made in Mumbai

“Sia,” Trisha beat him to it. “I suggest you don’t push it. Let’s make this as harmless as possible for all parties involved. And for your information, Maya did not complain.”

“Then who?”

“All the Made in Mumbai employees have filed a collective complain.”

Silence.

“Please repeat what was said that night, Sahyadri. Word for word.” Gautam sat back.

“I… Maya was making these jokes on people and it was rude and unprofessional. So I made a joke. And she took offence.”

“Repeat that joke.”

“Who has no morals and lives in the boss’s house,” she blurted.

“That joke did not end there. What was said after?”

“She retaliated to me to get myself a chocolate to get my sugar levels back in control. Then made a joke about who can’t have a chocolate because she counts every sugar granule.”

Gautam didn’t know this one. Maya had just told him she had countered with another joke. He swallowed the laugh that arose.

“And then?”

“Then… I told her that she has no grounds to stand on as she has reached here climbing the other type of corporate ladder.”

“Climbing ‘men,’ you said,” Gautam corrected.

“Yes.”

“Then?”

“Then… I blurted that I knew she lived with you. I didn’t intend to, really. It was just a joke, Gautam. It went out of control. You know me. I am straightforward and I don’t like such things…”

“You said she lives in my house. How did you come to that conclusion, since my house is closed for everybody.”

She stuttered. “I… I bribed one of your watchmen.”

Gautam cut his eyes to Trisha, who was making note of everything.

“Hmm. I will not allow such malicious behaviour in my company. You are in violation of your employment contract, so I will consider it a breach…”

“No, Gautam, please…”

“You will be terminated effective immediately. You will get your severance package but no letter of recommendation. If you need your employment record letter, we will be happy to provide it…”

“You bitch!” She turned to Maya. “What have you been telling him that he hates me like this? How many bosses have contributed to that?” She pointed to her belly. “I was right that time, wasn’t I? Keeping Gautam in one hand, husband in another, and three others…”

“Quiet,” Gautam thundered. He rose to his feet, eyeing a suddenly rattled Sahyadri who was slowly coming to her senses. “You have 10 minutes to write a written apology to Maya Kotak, collect your things and leave the property. Your passwords and mill accesses have been revoked. Trisha will accompany you to your office, then out of the villa.”

“I am not apologising!”

“Then your severance package is in jeopardy. We can withhold it in case of an HR violation, of which there are several,” he pointed at Trisha’s stack of notes. “Decide. You have 10 minutes. Now you may leave my office.”

That seemed to have sobered her up. She left his office on even more shaky legs. Trisha got to her feet and followed her.

“Areweunder any HR violation…?” Maya asked.

“When did she spew all that nonsense at you?”

---