Love@call center

(Reproduction of a story originally uploaded on www.wizardprince.sulekha.com on 17th Oct 2007.

Sitting in his cab, Rahul was speaking to a friend on fone. It was his first day in the big call center. He was quite nervous and awed by the atmosphere around him as he entered the automatic turn-stills. He went to the concierge and was guided to one of the training rooms. It was a hall with rows of computers and smartly dressed people all around. He walked quickly and took a corner seat in the second last row. His friendly and soft-spoken manners soon made him befriend most of the people in the room. Days flew quickly and after 7 days of training regarding the process, voice and accent and other work related subjects, his trainer told him that he would be ‘Going live’ that afternoon.

“Going live? So soon? I have not yet mastered the process?” Rahul feebly protested.

“Oh come on Rahul, I know you are capable of doing a great job. No questions now, just take a short break and then you will be logging in” The trainer snapped in. (Little did Rahul knew, that a sales process does not really need well trained agents only but those who are live and selling).

His first day on the floor was nothing to make him feel good about his new job. He made dozens of calls, however, he only got hang ups or racial abuses. He logged out at 11 pm and soon found himself stuffed in the third row seat of a qualis for a two hour ride back home.

Lying in bed that night, he prayed to God to give him success, to give him a reason to be happy and stay at the new job.

Next day was even worse. His first full day of calling did not get him any sales and to make him feel worse, his Team Leader and Trainer were constantly breathing down his neck to make a sale. As soon as the logout happened, he wanted to go away and slump in the backseat of the qualis, but, he was directed by his Team Leader to stay on the floor for a brief Team Meet. He was unwilling but choiceless and he ambled across to the conference room. He positioned himself in a corner where he would be least visible to the process manager. Senior process members stood on the opposite side of the room. Then, the magic happened, there she was, standing in one corner looking oh so innocent! Beautiful! Perfectly dressed in a black suit that made her look fair complexion even more attractive. He looked at her spellbound, she was a real beauty with poise and the look of a dignified girl yet innocent like Alice in Wonderland. He did not even know what took place in the meeting but was just stunned by her looks. On the way back, he kept thinking about her and was jolted out of his dreams by the cab driver as he had reached his drop point.

In the bed that night, Rahul prayed to God to give him love in his life. He just wanted to have a girlfriend like that girl.

“God, she is perfect.” He requested.

Rahul was an ordinary 25 year old guy with nothing to write about his looks and he belonged to a lower middle class family, living in a rented accommodation. His father had once been a well earning businessman but it was all ruined now and they even did not own a house anymore. In short, he was not the sort of a guy who would steal hearts with his appearance, especially when the heart in question was the heart of a gorgeous, convent educated, upper middle class girl. Still he prayed to Lord Krishna (he had been praying in the same manner for the last ten years) to give him love, to bring that girl in his life.

Next afternoon, he was trying to login into his system at office when he was interrupted by his Team Leader.

“Rahul, the seating plan has changed and today onwards, you will be logging in the system next to Supriya in the first bay.” He pointed to the vacant bay next to where Rahul was sitting.

Rahul walked towards the empty bay feeling even worse because now he was going to be sitting next to a senior girl who would be arrogant and maybe pretty too. Then he saw her walk in,. He tried to hide his gaze but found her walking straight towards him.

“Hi, I am Supriya. So you are going to login here from now on?” A musical voice filled his ears.

“eh? Oh yes, Hi Supriya. My name is, I mean I am Rahul.” Rahul fumbled as if there were no words to say.

Days went by and due to Rahul’s friendly and well mannered ways, they became good friends in no time, sharing food, thoughts, breaks and soon started talking on phone for hours and hours when they were not on the floor. Rahul was madly in love with her, but she knew nothing of it. Everyone in the office used to make fun of them and soon they were branded as the couple of the process. Rahul felt very embarrassed although, in his heart, he wished that they may become a couple one day.

Then one day, he could not bear it anymore and gathered courage to speak to her about his emotions. He spent the entire day sitting next to her in the office but could not get the right moment to talk to her. He called her on phone as soon as they took their cabs on the way back, but could not say anything to her. Finally, after she disconnected the call, he sent her a message confessing his love for her. An hour went by, and he felt that he had ruined a lovely friendship and she would be very angry to him.

“Probably she would never speak to him again and may even insult him in front of the office staff’, his thoughts wandered in all directions. Suddenly the phone rang. He was scared to see her number flashing on the screen and did not attend the call because he knew that she was going to give him an earful. However, the phone kept ringing and finally, he attended the call, saying a feeble and terrified “hello”.

“I love you too, Rahul” Supriya’s musical voice rang in his ears.

“What? I mean you mean what you said? I am sorry. I thought you would be upset. It was really foolish of me to propose to you like that. You are a good girl. I do not want to lose a precious friend like you. Please do not be…..” he mumbled.

“Shut up. Just listen to me. I love you and please do not be so shy. You are as good a person as anyone else in the world. If you wanted my love, all you needed was to just say it. I am glad to have a partner like you. Now take care, sweet dreams and make sure to give me a treat tomorrow for getting a great girlfriend” She giggled and hung up.

Miracles do happen friends. Love can come anytime, anywhere and to anyone. If you love someone, then take my word, go ahead and confess your honest feelings in a proper manner. Not saying it would not get you anywhere but if you confess, you may just become lucky like Rahul. God bless all.