Outcast-7

Siddharth sat perfectly still.

A blue folder rested across his knees as he stared into nothing. He looked different… on account of the suit he had donned. He was about to be called in for an interview… for a job….

The interview was for a position in IBM. It was very lucrative job with a tough screening process. Siddharth was one of only two people to have reached the interview.

He was also the only one not particularly excited about it.

He had only agreed to appear for any of the aptitude tests because of his parents. He had promised he wouldn’t mess up on purpose… and so he was here... with only one last hurdle to go.

He sat and stared at the blank wall.

It hadn’t been much of a surprise for him to discover that Shaw had placed a well composed letter in his permanent file that would render it impossible for him to get any job from campus placement programs… even if he had been interested in them….

It had for some reason angered Dubey though. When he had heard of it, after asking Siddharth why he wasn’t appearing for Wipro’s interview... he had been more livid than Siddharth had ever seen him.

It was all due to Dubey and his contacts that Siddharth was here today… otherwise he would have been rejected a long time ago.

Siddharth reflected on the four years of his college life… and considered it as time well spent. Far better than his peers at any rate… he found he had no regrets about any of it.

Sitting here… dressed differently… looking nothing like his usual self… he had somehow not changed at all on the inside.

He was blank… just like the wall ahead. He felt no emotion that his college years were at an end… no flutter of nervousness mere seconds from the hugely important interview… no expression on his face.

Siddharth heard his name being called… and stood up.

An enquiring glance at the receptionist told him he could step in… and he headed for the door.

It seemed to just have been yesterday… that he was headed for another door… after the IBM project debacle.

His steps seemed to take just as long to reach the ground today as it had done then.

He smiled suddenly. The grin flashed across his gaunt features with all the suddenness of a lightning bolt. The only difference was… the smile didn’t vanish….

Their TGMC work had been a huge success. Siddharth’s project had been acclaimed the most comprehensive and complete effort submitted. They had won.

Siddharth had enjoyed it immensely.

He had refused to let his spirit be saddened even when Suraj had used this success to land one of the cushiest jobs that year. He had enjoyed his prize… and had nothing against letting them enjoy some of the accompanying tidbits.

The real joy… the main winner would still be him.

Now as he neared the door to what he expected would be his only job interview… Siddharth savored the contentment from over two years ago. He entered with the free, frank smile still on his lips.

He was here… this was now… what some people had thought about him or done to him… did not matter.

He exited ten minutes later… as the newest employee of IBM.