“I’ve had it up to my head! I don’t care what everyone says; life sucks and it SUCKS in bold and capital.”
Coming from Rita this was not such a big deal. Something or the other always bothered her. If anyone cared to listen to her, they would assume that she had the worst possible life. If today it was the weather then on a perfect spring day, it was the late metro connection. If everything ran like clockwork in the morning then the incessant chatter of the office boys drove her crazy.
Listening to her became an increasingly painful exercise in learning patience and keeping one’s mouth shut. Everyone around her could be categorized as expert in the art of listening. What could they do? She had the personality and she was the boss. The worst was, she could charm anyone within no time, of course if she so desired. Oh why did she have to have a winning smile too?
Like all days, today too, she found something to crib about - the traffic. The slow pace of the vehicles was in complete contrast to the rapid volley of acidic comments. To top it, just as Vikas, the driver, neared the traffic light, lights turned orange. Throwing caution to wind, she instructed him to drive on. Slightly horrified, he knew better than to argue, and so drove through the changing light.
It was a bad day…
Other side of the crossing, a traffic policeman stopped them. With a flourish and a grin of anticipation, he asked for the driving license. Taking it, he started writing the ticket all the while reading a riot act to Vikas. Poor man, what could he do, he hoped that Rita might be able to charm the policeman to take a bribe and leave them. Reading his mind, she got off the car and walked up to the policeman. Smiling her best smile, she gave a pleading look and let off a litany of ills plaguing her life - the early morning appointment that needed to be kept, the slow moving mumbai traffic, the tension of being a single lady trying to manage everything and much more.
While she was in the middle of her spiel, something about the reaction of Vikas and the policeman, forced her to break off. They were both looking askance at her. She wondered why. With a curt look, the policeman asked her to pay up the fine; an air of non-approachability was very apparent. Recognising its finality, she paid up the fine, and indicated to Vikas to step on the pedal.
The clients were already waiting for her in the conference room. Cursing under her breath, she again put on her best smile and breezed in. Extending her hand in welcoming shake, she apologized for her lateness. Again something in the bearing of the clients made it apparent that they were not charmed. Putting the thought aside, she started her presentation. The presentation went off well but the clients seemed a little non-responsive. There was a barrier, an aloofness that she was not used to encountering especially when she had turned her charm on full throttle.
Perhaps it was really a bad day…
Long after the clients had left, she went to the bathroom to repair the ravages of the day. She looked into the mirror to repair the lipstick. Her arms suddenly dropped. The lipstick bounced on the floor.
She realised she had lost her smile…
