The office is getting crazier by the day. So many special issues and deadlines to meet. In between there is a week of training to undergo starting tomorrow from Sheridan Prasso, Robert Friedman's deputy at Fortune magazine. Part of the going global fever, I guess. Wednesday reached home at 4 am after signing off pages for the Customer survey. Quite a useless exercise. Not much of what I did made sense. Culling out a two-line info from a two-page 10-questionaire set that hardly revealed consumer pattern or mindset. I felt for once I was working for a tabloid. But these are once in a blue moon lows as far as work is concerned. Otherwise, I enjoy what I do and most especially my team -- a mix of young, quite funny lot.

There is the leader. Small in stature, he walks tall. Bright, unassuming and mild in his mannerisms, he can be quite a tough task master. A problem solver too. You can go to him with any and he has an answer for each. And he sure loves his wife, has his picture on his desktop for all and sundry to see. I once did the blunder (as always) of asking him "whose ugly picture" he was cropping much before he put it up.To my horror, realised it was his better half. He took it in good humour. Now I think before I speak.

Then there is Madam. On most days, she is like sister Teresa of the convent of Jesus and Mary. Neat black skirts and white shirts and oh those shoes like the Salesian sisters from Italy, and her neatly cropped short hair, of course. But her penchant for all clothes western is obvious. On some days, the suits stand out -- black, grey, tweed, stripes, et al. Then there are days when she is in her saris, the folds neatly pinned up and there are days when she would take the fashion world by storm -- skirts, beads, trinkets, they all flow in unison. Very contradictory and smokes like a chimney. Also a repository for all things 'newsy', I maintain a wary distance.

The other woman in the team is a young, affable housewife. The caretaker of the team, often so motherly, that I would bask in her care, as would the others. "Guys, keep the table clean... have you eaten?... Have you done a spell check?... Have you pinned up the blacks and the colours?... No, you shouldn't do this... Oh you are such a kid Indira... " I miss her whinings and her comforting presence when she is not around.

The two South Indians are silence personified. Given a chance, they would work in isolation and absolute quietitude. A little new to the group, their inhibition is magnanimous. Of late, they are opening up though, so it's no more monosyllables for answers that we get. I sometimes flick a pinch of dosa or two from one of the guys lunches so that has helped break the ice a bit. Am awaiting a session when both get drunk in one of the office parties and let down their hair. For a good cause!

The recent entrant is a young Parsi, bogged down literally by an identity crisis of sorts. And with his myriad international experiences, I cant quite trace his accent as yet. But earnest and pleasant, he adds diversity to the team.

Then the noise in the team, the nuisance value is a young, actually quite adorable Brit, all of 18 but thinks 30. Extremely sharp but mighty flirty, the office once had it that we were the rocking pair. His take: it's the celebrity status and our cool looks that invite wagging tongues. Hmmm.. does wonders to my ego. But we've learnt a lot from him and so has he, I am sure.

Well, it takes all kinds to form a unique team.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What do you mean by "inhibtion is magnanimous".... you mean they are generously shy?

Shanti Thokchom said...

Hey!Thaibemma, Nungsibi,
"Funny mix" marak ta thabak touminaba nungaibani!! Nangna mahelle nungaiba!! Khara-khara nungaithokpa tammu!!
Your team's funny mix is good for you.By now those two silence personified Adonises in your office must have broken the ice & start giving you hell!!(just kidding!!)
Work hard and keep smiling!! Your team help bring out the best in you for all your fuming and ranting about meeting the deadlines.

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