Pungent flower 1: A new annoyance

I worked as middle management at call centre in Pune. I had been here 6 years and enjoyed my carefree bachelor life mostly spent streaming countless tv shows and getting high. One morning my manager walks over to my office accompanied by a tiny, lean, nervous looking man. The dull chap is Bodan, who comes from some small town somewhere in West Bengal. He is a new hire and is assigned tome as my assistant. This was upsetting because I could clearly see this sorry looking man was going to be more of a burden than any assistance.

This was the first time Bodan (or anyone from his family) had left the village. He was intimidated by everything from elevators to office women in tight pants. His total cluelessness coupled with his incompetence was getting on my nerves. When I warned Bodan about firing him, Bodan pleaded that this was the only way he could support his family back at home. I am not a man to usually take pity on anyone but decided to keep Bodan around and find some possible use for him.

Bodan was soon running all kinds of errands for me. He carried out my orders without question. I realised how this directionless mans every decision was now influenced by me and how much control I had over Bodan’s life.