A Three Faced Coin

Epilogue

PART I

Chapter1

About half a year ago...

Conference Hall, Hotel Presidium, New York

I now invite Mr. Joseph Anderson, Managing Director, Anderson Associates, to address the gathering.

Dear friends, this year has been a rollercoaster ride not only for the company but for the country as well. Still, we have managed to evade the effects of the global meltdown. This is not due to the company’s strategy or the management’s policies but due to the most valuable asset of our corporation-you my friends…! The room echoed with applause.

I thank you for your contribution and support. It would have been impossible without your extra effort. We too would have become history by now like most of the stalwart companies, unable to withstand the bad weather.

We have emerged from a tiny partnership into one of the major corporations of the country in merely a decade. We have got the best brains in our company and this gives me immense confidence and pride to be a part of this great organization. Our clients have shown great faith in us and we have managed to live up to their expectations. The results are in front of you. I know we will up the ante each year to come.

And now comes the moment you all have been waiting for, announced Joseph.

The award for the most valuable employee of the year was about to be announced. It was one of the most coveted awards in the company and selection was tough. The award could put the winner’s career on a fast track. The employee who won this award would get a promotion, a sizable pay increase and, most importantly, visibility in the organization along with the opportunity to work with the top executives.

After a lot of deliberation and debating, we had finalized three contenders for the award.

Todd Rogers, Catherine Twain and Zubien Arora.

Each one of them had worked equally hard and all three deserve the award. But there is only one winner.

And the winner is…

Everybody in the hall was on the edge of their seats. Their heartbeats were audible.

And the winner is…Zubien Arora!!!

May I invite Zubien on stage to receive the award? said Joseph.

The entire hall was cheering for him. He got the standing ovation that he truly deserved.

Zubien was only thirty-four and the company’s Vice President. He had been with the company for the past seven years. He had joined the company as a junior associate but quickly ascended the ranks through his dedication, hard work and sincerity. He had worked round the clock, not for a promotion or a pay hike but because of his passion for work. In the recent past, he had closed some prominent deals for the company. He truly was a gem, a gem they could not afford to lose.

Zubien kissed his wife Mehak and proceeded towards Joseph, who held the award and an envelope marked ‘Confidential’. Zubien knew what the envelope contained.

I would now request Zubien…‘Z’ as he is popularly known, to say a few words, said Joseph and left the stage for him.

Wow! It’s a great feeling to even be nominated for this award but winning it takes you to a whole new level! started Zubien I stand here privileged and honoured. I thank you all for all the support. I especially thank my team without whose efforts it would have been impossible for me to win.

Where is my team? There they are…Please take a bow, said Zubien.

I am also thankful to my wife Mehak without whom I wouldn’t have been here…I love her so much! And I am thankful to Mr. Joseph who has been my mentor all these years. He trusted me and gave me the opportunity to work on some exciting projects. It’s been seven years since I joined the organization but everyday still feels like a new day. Thank you, said Zubien.

Meet me in my office tomorrow morning and we will have a chat, said Joseph.

Zubien went back to his wife with the award and the envelope. He asked her to keep the envelope in her handbag. They enjoyed the dinner. Mehak could not help but notice that something was bothering her husband. Zubien soon excused himself from the party and they headed home.

Are you okay, Zubien? You look perturbed, she said.

No, I am okay. I’m fine, he replied.

Come on, I have been married to you long enough, replied Mehak.

Zubien gave a long sigh and replied You know Mehak, I’ve been working for so long and I thought I was happy but there’s still a part of me that isn’t. I don’t know what’s bothering me but I don’t feel good. I mean, I won the most prestigious award the company has to offer. I have a sealed envelope and we both know what’s inside, but I’m not overjoyed.

Maybe, you knew that you were going to win this award and that’s why your joy was short-lived. It happens, Mehak reasoned.

That’s not it. I feel hollow inside. I’ve been thinking and have come to the conclusion that my job doesn’t motivate me anymore, any job for that matter!

So you’re saying you want to quit? she asked.

Yes.

But why? I mean, you have a great life here. You achieved all you aimed for; you have a lovely home, a job you love. Do you really want to let it go?

Zubien replied, You see, Mehak, there comes a time in a person’s life where he has to decide who controls his life- the circumstances, the aspirations, the destiny or the person himself. Life is a race but who says that you have to always win? I am tired of winning. I don’t want to be a runner anymore. I wish to be the guy in the stands enjoying the race. He doesn’t care who wins the race. He is there just to have fun. I want to be that guy, Mehak.

You are talking gibberish! Let’s go home and celebrate the moment and discuss this tomorrow. Okay?!

Zubien turned on the music to divert his mind off the topic but he could not escape from his thoughts. Mehak could make out that it was troubling him. The couple had had a rough ride since their marriage. Zubien had started his career from scratch and had reached where he was today by sheer hard work. Perhaps he was tired of proving himself at every juncture in his life. Things were finally going their way and Mehak wasn’t ready to give up all of this.

They reached their apartment by 10 p.m., a little early by American standards for a party. Mehak was exultant and wanted to celebrate the occasion in her own special way. Zubien went to freshen up and changed into his sleeping shorts. Mehak walked towards him sensuously and gave him a steamy kiss.

I am not in the mood, Mehak, said Zubien.

Then let’s get you in the mood! she replied and went towards the powder room. Why don’t you dim the lights and wait for me!

In a few moments, she came out wearing a black see-through negligee that Zubien had bought for her on their last wedding anniversary.

Still not in the mood?! she asked, to which there was no reply.

She slowly walked towards him and sat on his lap, facing him, with her legs crossing his back. She kissed him gently. He held her firmly and started kissing her. Before they knew it their clothes were scattered on the floor and they were cosy in the blanket.

The next day was going to be a long one. Zubien had to convince his wife to support him in his future plans that started with quitting his present, well paying job. It had taken him around six months to convince himself and now he had to do the same with Mehak. But he hoped it wouldn’t take so long.

After breakfast, he called Mehak into the bedroom. He made her sit in front of him and patiently listen to what he had to say. Mehak couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had reckoned that last night was a passing phase. But she was in for a big disappointment. Zubien started explaining how de-motivated he had been feeling for the last six months or so. He had noticed a clear dip in his enthusiasm for work. He was tired of proving himself again and again, year after year, project after project.

He wanted to pursue his long lost dream- to write a novel.

You are having a midlife crisis at 34. You are way ahead of the curve! she said and stood up.

He asked her to sit down and took a deep breath. He again started explaining his view but Mehak was not ready to listen. She could not believe him. She was dumbstruck by her husband’s plans. Both of them had been through some tough times and now, after six or seven years of hard work, they had got the life they yearned for. She was not in favour of the idea.

There is no way you are quitting your job! she said You should feel lucky that despite the recession, you had your job. I mean…I mean about half the country lost its jobs and you want to purposefully throw it away?! That’s real mature, Zubien! We can’t sustain ourselves without a job.

Before Mehak could settle down, Zubien threw in another twist.

We can…if we go back to India, he volunteered.

You want us to move back to India?! Have you even listened to yourself? Do you even know what you are saying? she yelled at him as he stared at her.

It took him another two very long hours to pacify his wife and explain what he was thinking. They had saved enough money to have a good life back in India. Besides, settling down in the US was never the plan. Both of them had always wanted to settle in India, at least in the long run. He explained how they could buy a house in some suburb and still have money to run it.

Currency exchange rate is a very strong factor, he added.

Zubien also put on the table the possibility of taking up a part time job with some educational institute, just in case.

Look at it from my perspective, Zubien, she said. I have my life here. All my friends are here. What would I do over there?

You can stay in touch with your friends over Facebook and, there’s Skype if you want to video chat with them! And you are an Arian; you’ll make new friends over one conversation! he replied cheerfully.

Look, Mehak…Obviously I won’t do this if you are not comfortable with this. I want you on my side like always. So, take your time to think.

Mehak had a lot of thinking to do while Zubien was in the living room surfing the internet. After an hour or so, she came out. Zubien kept aside his laptop and looked at her with hopeful eyes.

I thought about it and to tell you the truth, I am not at all comfortable with your plans, she said.

His heart began to sink.

But, you have stood by my side during my toughest times and supported me through that. So, it’s only fair that I support you now.

Zubien’s eyes lit up. He was so happy. He went to her, threw his arms around her in a bear hug and then kissed her. Mehak was happy to see her husband happy.

However, I have one request, she said.

What’s that?

I don’t want to settle down in a metro. I want someplace quiet and serene. Like I always imagined in our retirement plans.

So what do you say? she asked.

We are moving to back to India! replied Zubien.

Both of them called their parents to disclose the news.

And as expected, everyone was overjoyed with the news.

Chapter 2

It took them another month to wind up everything in New York. They sold almost all the stuff. It would have been foolish to carry all of it back to India. Besides, most of the furniture would be redundant in India. Zubien was also researching on places where they could stay in India. Although Zubien’s parents stayed in Saket, one of the posh localities in New Delhi, both he and Mehak had long ago decided that they would settle down in a quiet place. After a lot of research, both of them zeroed in on one place. It was a town that Mehak had visited when she was in college. It was called Welham, and just 30 km away from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. A serene place, right in the lap of nature.

A lot of Britons used to stay over there, before Independence. And some still do. The best thing about this place is the architecture. You’ll find the old fashioned houses over there, the ones with large living rooms, big bedrooms, backyard gardens and an attic over the top, she said.

The place was perfect. Zubien could concentrate on his novel, may be also take a part time job. There were some very renowned institutions in Dehradun, where he could teach. And the place was just four hours drive from Delhi, so his parents could come over on weekends to stay. Even Mehak’s parents, who stayed in Chandigarh, were only three hours away.

Zubien had already completed the formalities at the office. He hired packers to ship back whatever remaining stuff was left at home. He booked the flight tickets from New York to New Delhi. They would be leaving for home on 1st May.

Zubien, I have an excellent idea. Let’s invite everybody for dinner tomorrow. It would be a great farewell. But we will have to go out for dinner since we have either sold or shipped what was left of the kitchen.

That’s an excellent idea, replied Zubien. I’ll invite everybody tomorrow morning.

Zubien called all their close friends for one last dinner. It was a Sunday evening and most of their friends could make it for the occasion.

So, moving back to the roots? asked Ross.

Yup! replied Zubien.

You lucky son of a gun! You are living the dream. So, when are you starting your novel? Or have you already?

Not yet. I was so busy making plans. I’ll start once I settle down in India, replied Zubien.

So have you thought of a story? Fiction, motivational, philosophy perhaps? laughed Ross.

Well, I definitely have a plot in mind. It will be fiction for sure.

Great! I don’t want you to turn out to be one of those corporate guys who write books on their own lives. Think intelligently and write intellectually. That’s my advice to you. And don’t forget to send a signed copy of the novel to me!

That’s the plan! replied Zubien.

Ross had a fetish for single malts, Glenfiddich being his favourite. He generally got gregarious after a couple of drinks. Another popular, or rather notorious, habit of his was narrating the lamest of jokes.

You are still stuck on vodka? said Ross It’s been too long. You should graduate to hard drinks now. Vodka is girly!

You know I am a social drinker. I drink for company’s sake, replied Zubien sarcastically.

By the time the drinks and hors d’oeuvres were finished by their guests, Mehak had ordered the main course.

Just then Ross stood up with his glass. He congratulated Zubien and Mehak on their new quest.

Now, time for some classic jokes! said Ross.

Oooohhhhhh… Not Ross’s jokes. We are having such a great time! exclaimed Adi.

No...No...You have to listen to this!

"Once, a teacher asked a question: ‘On a lemon tree, grew ten apples. Of those apples, five mangoes fell. So how many oranges are left?’

"Little Johnny replies, ‘Sir, five elephants are left.’

"Teacher: ‘Exactly. How did you know the answer?’

Little Johnny: ’Sir, because I had French toast in breakfast.’

Nobody laughed except Ross himself.

It wasn’t that bad! exclaimed Ross.

You should be put behind bars for such nonsense, replied his wife.

Everybody enjoyed the night. The party got over by midnight and it took them another half hour to reach home. They immediately crashed on their makeshift bed.

They reached India on the evening of 2nd May and as expected, everybody was at the airport to welcome them. The first week at home was utter madness. There were relatives all around to meet them. By the second week, things were finally settling down. Zubien called up several real estate agents to identify houses in Welham. An agent asked him to come to Dehradun on the weekend to finalize the house. Zubien decided to drive down to Dehradun via Chandigarh so that Mehak could meet her