Personal reasons Sir...

A client-facing job was a dream for her back in college and Shikha had had the opportunity to interact with ladies & gentlemen of the highest work ethics and professional standards while working in the bank. Of course, things weren't all rosy with every client as there is cutthroat competition in the field, yet she managed to sail through difficult situations.

She was following up with a client for so many days for some information to finish a review within a tight deadline, which cannot be missed at any cost. Her calls weren't unanswered for like a month and the evening before the deadline, she gave one last call. To her absolute surprise, the client picked up and she thanked her stars. The client was quite upset and started speaking rather rudely. He went on about the issues he was facing and how she and the organization have lost all moral responsibility by undertaking a review during such circumstances. She tried to address his issues with utmost sincerity and expressed genuine concern for the business that has run into trouble. Shikha tried to explain she is just discharging her duty which the organisation has vested upon her.

In the meantime, another gentleman, the superior of the former joined the call and the entire tone of the call turned from sarcasm to mockery. She quit responding after a while and the two men went on with their cheap talk. All the time, she had this thought 'Oh God! What do I do if I miss this deadline?'

At some point, the men realized Shikha stopped defending her firm's actions and started tapping her foot on the floor ready to explode any moment.

It wasn't necessary as once they vented their anger at her, one of them blurted, "Ok. We will send the details tomorrow. Although we aren't getting any benefit with your services"

You know what, Why don't you do both of us a favour? Just discontinue our services." Now this can be the exact dialogue of a protagonist in a movie or story. But not in real life.

She managed to say, "Do the best you can." And disconnected the call. All this time, keeping the information with them, they played this drama, she thought. She was so furious at herself for working hard to prepare a better proposal than the previous banker and for how ferociously she argued with the Board for this particular client.

Cursing herself she dialled her boss to give the update.

"Yea, I spoke to them and they will send tomorrow. Yeah they kind of teamed up against me and was making a fool out of me"

"You could have taken me in the call", her boss answered.

Why? Because they would have behaved well around you and not me? She didn't ask fearing the reply to the question.

She had been thinking about quitting the job for a while and the entire day was only reminding her not to prolong. That's it, she thought. One cannot go on like this getting beatings from all ends.

She picked up the phone and dialled her boss. "Yea, tell me", the boss spoke with much difficulty with snacks stuffed into his mouth.

"Sir, I am quitting".

"You are quitting, Why?"

You really want to know? Because of humans like you. You MORON!, she thought.

She pulled herself together and said, "Personal reasons, Sir..."

PS: Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is not coincidental. It is the story of every employee