If God Was A Banker Read Free Page B

was something he did with many women. She never took him seriously. But Sundeep was not the one to give up.
    'Thank you, gentlemen. Together we will build the best consumer bank in this country. Congratulations on joining me here. I hope each one of you handpicked guys has a wonderful career at New York International Bank.' Aditya walked off the podium. Swaminathan, sitting in the first row, clapped till his hands got tired and he realised that he was the only one still clapping.
    The session broke for tea. Tea and biscuits were being served in the lobby outside the conference room. Swaminathan was completely overawed by the occasion. Aditya Rao's words kept ringing in his mind: 'In war, there is only the enemy and the mission. We cannot rest until we win.' How true it was. Hadn't his life been a war all along? Survival was his mission, and he was close to achieving it. His hand went inside his coat pocket and out came a handkerchief, which wiped a tear that had sneaked out from the corner of his eye.
    While Sundeep was having tea during the break, a khaki-clad peon came and handed him a small chit. He opened it and was taken aback. The chit read: 'SEE ME IN MY CABIN
    AFTER THE PROGRAMME—ADITYA.' Sundeep didn't know what this meant for him. Was it good? Did it spell disaster? He had no clue. His heart started pounding faster. First day in office and the unit head sends out a note to meet him. He had no choice but to wait, wondering what was in store for him.

 
8
New York
    K nock! Knock! Sundeep's journey back in time was abruptly disturbed by a knock on the cabin door.
    'Hi, Michelle.'
    Michelle was the Head of Human Resources at New York International Bank. She had shut down her flourishing HR consulting business to join the bank when Tedd Bridge took over as its CEO. She had a tremendous faith in his leadership and business building capabilities.
    Michelle was the one who had, in fact, recommended Sundeep's name, when Chetan Bindra moved out to take over as the Global Head of Retail Banking. It was not too difficult to swing the job for Sundeep as he had successfully delivered in roles across the globe.
    'How are you, Sundeep?'
    'Could be much better,' said Sundeep, in a nervous tone. 'Definitely much better.'
    'You should not have done it, Sundeep. Not when you are at this level. I can't protect you even if I want to.'
    'I am being framed. You know that,' said Sundeep, in a voice that belied his own confidence in what he was saying. 'Everyone hates my success. Why don't you understand someone is playing me? Anyway, a lot has been said on this. What's the verdict?'
    'It will have to wait, Sundeep. Tedd wants to meet you today. By the way, I came to tell you that Tedd can only make it at 3.45. The meeting at 10.30 will now be held at 3.45. Just came to check if that suits you.'
    Sundeep nodded his head, as if he knew what was in store for him. Michelle left, leaving him alone in his cabin—just he and his thoughts.
    'Coffee?' Louisa came in to drop some papers.
    'No, Louisa. Thanks. Please hold all calls till I tell you to put them through. I am not to be disturbed for the next two hours.'

 
9
    W hen day one of the training programme for new recruits entered the last session, Sundeep's heart was hammering away. Kalpana, who was still sitting in front of Sundeep, could sense that something was wrong with him. He had not tried flirting with her in the past three hours. Though she would never accept it publicly, she quite liked Sundeep's attention. She turned around and looked at him a couple of times, but Sundeep didn't respond. He was lost in his own thoughts. Thoughts of what was in store for him in Aditya's room.
    The last few minutes of the day were spent in discussing logistics for the next day and the schedule for the next week. It was a month-long training programme, with a week of classroom training, and three weeks of 'on the job' training, in which the new recruits would spend time at the branches of New York