the texan's shoes
"For god's sake mr.mathews, get me that girl back. without her, it is like groping in the dark. please". the CEO was down and out. he wanted his secretary then and there , right in front of him.
mathews, the manager, gave a wry smile.
mathews prayed hard. he too wanted lakshmi, the CEO's secretary back. for obvious reasons. with she in the office, everything worked well. she knew the CEO well. knew his likes and dislikes. put in order all papers. gave him his work plan. advised him on what was in store for the day. simply smooth sailing; but not always.
"she will come back sir"' he said. "she cannot live without THE TEXAN'S SHOES".
"shut up. you and your texan's shoes". the CEO let go his anger in hoarse words.
lakshmi joined the company for just one reason. she wanted to be home with her child by 6 in evening. and this
job near her home served the purpose.
but she got a taste of what was in store the very first day. The CEO wanted a particular file on export correspondence. she placed it on his table. "you fool, how dare you keep both import and export correspondences in the same file". and he flung the file at her. lakshmi melted, literally. somehow she gathered enough courage to say"this is my first day.i don't know who keeps what and where".
"damn you". the CEO let go another howl."i dont care who does what . i want papers properly filed".
in walked mr.mathews and he whisked lakshmi away before things more unpleasant happened.
laksmi was soaking wet inside and outside. her throat was dry. she thought she would faint.
"sorry dear. i am actually in search of a person who would enjoy the TEXAN'S SHOES.you almost suit the bill. relax. i am with you". his concern for the hapless lakshmi was very evident. but she did not understand what the texan shoe was.
lakshmi got used to her CEO's outbursts. it became part of the office routine.
she was happy,otherwise. the pay cheque was excellent. perks were attractive too. and she made friends in the office. but again she was on the razor's edge most of the time.
came another explosion. this time it was a greetings card. the cover in which it was sent was smudged slightly in one corner.so tiny that only her CEO could locate it. the volcano erupted."this goes to the most renowned professor in oxford. what will he think of my office. careless, irresponsible.no.no. get me another card and get out, you fool".
poor lakshmi wept. she did not know what to say. again mathews came to her rescue. "it looks as if the texan's shoes do not fit you too. but do not lose your grip.hold the reins. you will be ok".
the CEO was a happy man that day. three exports were made that day. the cargo was loaded without any incident .the ship left the port.. his daughter became a mother that morning after 7 years of marriage.he sat down to dictate a letter. he offered her coffee and biscuits. cracked jokes. talked about his days in the college in oxford.
one would never believe it was the same person who exploded every other day and made people do the tight
rope walk.
seven secretaries in 4 years, mathews once told her. "see, no one complained about the working conditions;or salary or perks. those are excellent.but who can spend 8 hours in a lion's cage six days a week? one can never predict his moods. he cuts you to pieces one minute. offers you coffee next minute. when you anticipate a whiplash, you get a hug. and you look for compliment you get a kick. you never can say where does the roulette stop.have no emotions. that will help. it is difficult, i know", was his advice.
once she called lakshmi after an outburst. "i know i am an impossible person. even i cannot work with me. but dear lakshmi,please learn to bear with me. i admire your honesty, hard work and efficiency. please learn to work with this eccentric".
tears came down lakshmi's eyes. she kept her right hand on her chin and kept her eyes on the files on the table.she reminded him of her father who beat her one moment and bought her toffees next .
came another day and another squabble. this was regarding a letter to the chief minister
criticising industrial policy. lakshmi had typed the letter and had given it in the despatch. she was on leave the next day. the letter was posted only a day later. the volcano erupted. "why do i pay you a fat pay cheque? for your honeymoon? i toil here. you people enjoy holidays. you can go home for good". the CEO was fuming. his face red hot.
lakshmi took up the challenge this time. she typed out her resignation letter and went to the CEO. he read it and threw it on her face. "how dare you do it?" he asked. "i donot rise to your expectations. may be another person will do a better job. i am quitting". lakshmi just managed to convey her feelings. "shut up". the CEO was raving mad."why should you resign for the mistake i made"? he asked. there had been a few corrections to be made. i went and collected the letter myself from the post office. i made the corrections and posted again. that was the cause of the delay. and you fool, why do resign for my eccentricity, "?. he burst out laughing. lakshmi was confused and almost choked.in front of chopping block one moment and in the lap of god the next moment. was she in a state of trance, she did not know. "why did you shout at me",she gathered enough courage to ask him that much. " you silly girl, i am no god, understand that. i make mistakes. simple. go, do your job. i too have things to do".
"storm in the cup again,lakshmi"? john mathews was smiling as he welcomed her outside CEO's cabin. "the texan's shoes seem to fit you well". he said as he went past her. lakshmi nodded.
"strangest concotion i have come across in my life". she said to herself.
the CEO was sitting with another CEO of another company. lakshmi was there taking down notes. the visitor asked her boss:"tell me in just one sentence, what is your greatest asset here"?. the boss was cool and he said softly;" my greatest asset sits next to you". but before he completed the next sentence, he called her a silly joker.
never ever can fathom this man . she thought.
it was a quite saturday afternoon. lakshmi was totally unwound since the CEO was away in Delhi. she was in mathews's cabin. "sir, i am getting used to this tight rope walk. if he does n't call me "fool" at least 3 times before noon i feel bad. my note pad should fly around as a matter of right,every day. "shut up", i must hear at regular intervals".
"good to hear that". mathews said. "the stick and the carrot " act is keeping you in good shape. now , i feel, you are matured enough to hear the TEXAN story.
the tough, rough texan walked into a shoe shop in downtown texas. he sat on a stool. the sales girl came to him.
"look, i need a pair of wooden shoes.knee high, fit enough for both horse riding and for working in the fields". she brought a pair . he wore them. walked up and down the shop and sat down."tight on me. they crush my toes. it hurts too". he said. "no problem sir, i get you another pair".
the texan laughed loud. the girl was wonderstuck. she did not understand why was he laughing. the texan calmed her. "listen, young lady, i am a very busy man. i have over 10000 cattle heads. over 5000acres of wheat field.plus piggery and poultry . you get me". the girl nodded. "i get up at 4. wear this tight shoes. and my day begins. she grunted.
my toes hurt. skin is peelig.
"hmm".
my wife comes saying the hay stalk caught fire. with these tight shoes on i go to put out the fire. mind you, my feet take the toll of the tight shoes. i get help. put out the fire in an hour.
another"hmm'.
"comes the message that some robbers stole my cows, about one hundred of them.my feet are already swollen. even walking is difficult. but still i jump on the horse back and run after the robbers. my aides join me. and after a great struggle i get my cows back. jesus, my feet are hurting". the sales girl was keen now. she looked at the texan anxiously.
"do you know what could i have been thinking then"? the cowboy asked.
"no clue sir". she admitted her helplessness.
"my aching feet, young lady, my aching feet". he jumped up. " think of my ecstacy on removing the shoes and freeing my feet. think of the immense pleasure i get on placing my feet on the cold cement floor".
"great" said the sales girl.
"mind you, my day has only begun. i sit for the breakfast. i get a luke warm coffee and toast worth no mention. turned eggs is not well done, and my wife knows i hate half cooked yolk dancing in the plate. i throw it on her face and walk out of the kitchen.what could i have been thinking then? asked the big man in jeans.
"the pleasant evening with your feet on the cold cement floor".the girl was smiling.
"you got it baby,you got it". the chief looked a very satisfied man.
"all kinds of problems creep up till i settle for my drink and dinner in the evening. i get my swollen feet out of the tight fitting shoes. skin has peeled off in many places. and the pain really bothersome. but i have 3-4 large pegs of cutty sark. hot onion soup. sirloin steak rare. large salad. and some music. .THAT'S heavenly my dear girl, heavenly".
" i agree, sir". the girl could fathom his contentment and satisfaction at the dining table, with hot food in front and his swollen feet firmly placed on the cement floor.
"the cool breeze tickle my feet. blood circulation has become normal. and the whiskey is hard. soup hot. i am in cloud 9".can anyone dream of such ecstatic moments,everyday?"
"no way sir. you are lucky". the girl could only agree.
"can this happen if i buy a wellfitting pair of soft shoes?". "no, sir" came the reply.
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lakshmi's daughter fell ill. the bronchial ashtma was severe this time. lakshmi stayed by her bed in the hospital for 3 days. she reported to the office on the fourth day.
"it is the doctor who treats the patient.not you. and what can you do in the hospital?showing emotions. weeping?looking for sympathy from people around? i tell you, rubbish. go, stay with your daughter till she gets married. your pay cheques will reach you every month. is that ok"? he was shivering with anger.
Lakshmi lost her cool too. "if i cannot sit by her when she is sick and in bad shape, i dont think i need this job".
"get out". the CEO was red hot in the face.
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lakshmi stayed home. it was almost a week since she left the office.
she was feeding her daughter that day. it was almost noon. The CEO called mathews."go, get lakshmi. i am ashamed of my behaviour. apologise to her on my behalf and bring her back.now".
the car halted in front of lakshmi's house. mathews was stretching in the back seat. he walked out. went into the house.
there were animated talks. sobbing. pacifying. and eerie silence.
when the car left for office there were three occupants, not two. also there was plenty of laughter.
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