The Churn

11 am: There I was bang on time at work, perhaps, in a long time. The occasion: a meeting called by the top boss and compulsory attendance required. I am, as always, out of the loop. Reason being there is always so much happening in my life that I am always behind everything. That does not mean I fail to deliver! And unlike some people who are truly into perception management (will delve on it later) and are such repository for all 'inside news', office gossip and politics least interest me. I mean, who cares if someone is quitting for some place else or is having an affair with so and so, or is being transferred unless that person happens to be someone I am generally fond of. Maybe then I would have been privy to some of the classified information ahem... So, was I in for shock today?

The meeting was sombre and had a full house attendance. And then our top boss spilled the beans. Three of the men at the helm were either quitting or were assuming other responsibilities and a new editor was going to be in place. My heart almost popped out. I was immediately taken to the world of deal trackers, a section in our news pages, where all acquisitions and mergers in the corporate world are written about. Often, people suffer or progress with the change or the transition as they awaken to the dawn of a new culture, a new boss and the learning and unlearning of experiences.

In fact, these were the words of outgoing boss Tony Joseph, who said every change brought with it pain as also growth. Of his stint in Businessworld, he recalled how seven people quit with his joining the organisation in a show of no-confidence. But he stood vindicated 'cause with him BW grew in size and stature (a fact substantiated by the boss of all bosses) -- an indirect way of reassuring us that things should not look despondent with the shaving off of the three heads and that we should repose our faith in the new leadership.

The mood in the entire office is mixed. Some nonchalance, some emotion. But all women and, I, the most moony-eyed among the lot, are heartbroken at the thought of Pro, the second-in-command leaving. He is the one we interact the most. To me, he is every employer’s dream boss -- charming, affable, little moody and with a great sense of humour. He has the most horrible of handwriting though, but the way he scribbles a headline or just a synopsis of a story or how, in quick seconds, he reworks the opening paras of a story changes the very feel of that page. He adds punch to a headline and brings lucidity to style. He knows his words.

As I sit and write this from my office desk, I can see everyone wallowing in sadness. Post meeting, we did a girlie lunch -- all six of us at Big Chill, Khan Market. We gorged on lassagne, mustard chicken, banana malt oreo shakes and a whole lot of other sinful foods, at the same time whetting our appetites for more news and development at work. Alas, the inevitability of change.