Bonds Of Freedom

By Notion Press

A Story of love and ambition set around the creation of a dream school in the Little Red Dot of Asia, Singapore Shekharan is consumed by the fire of ambition – so much so that he ends up scorching his lady-love Angela’s beloved dream. She is faced with heart-wrenching choices. What does she sacrifice? Is she able to pull back her pet project from the edge of disaster? ‘Bonds of Freedom’ unravels the dramatic answers to these and other riveting questions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Notion Press
• Release date: Jun 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781642495324

Notion Press

Notion Press is India's first indie-publishing platform that enables authors to publish, promote and sell print books and eBooks around the world.

Book preview

Section I

The Brekkie Question

This thought gives me power -

A power that fuels my dreams,

an all enveloping force

this feverish daydream feels.

After this philosophical breakfast, Shekharan gets ready for office in the next 15 minutes.

He picks up his bag and is ready to move out, when he hears the honking twice, coming from the familiar motorbike. He looks outside his bedroom window and in a spontaneous gesture of love and shyness, runs his fingers through his hair and says- ‘coming, just a minute!’ He can’t wait to ride on his best friend’s bike.

As he descends the stairs, he gets to see her long hair bounce down her slender back. Angela, conscious of Shekharan’s leching, bunches her hair up again in a bun, wears the helmet and gets ready to vroom.

Is it real? Yes. In a minute, he is astride the best motorcycle he could lay his eyes on and the cherry on his ride-cake, is to sit behind the most admirable woman he has seen, probably loved and many times fantasized about!

She zips along the familiar streets, all the while talking to him and he loves hearing her silky voice!

‘Have you heard of this bakery - what’s it called? Yes Zacob’s. Oh! It has some of the most scrumptious cakes, cookies, pastries and dooooonuts. She stretches the donuts, to make them sound extra desirable. ‘Not to forget their out-of-this-world salads and sandwiches too! It’s on the way to our office just next to the Thai Hut - I am going to have a hearty breakfast! What say?’

He doesn’t mind her monologue and gives a nodding approval to everything she says. She can’t see, but can feel his fond yes, for anything she might utter from her sensuous lips.

She rambles on non-stop.

‘Mom was away-I didn’t have the time to cook for myself. Really famished yaar! I go to this place for two reasons. One-I get a super delicious choice of things and two, it makes me feel great. You know it’s like this, whenever I feel a little uncomfortable, I come down here. Some places have this charm about them, you really can’t explain it, but you just keep getting drawn to them like a magnet!’

Like I get drawn to you. Shekharan moves a few inches closer to her and has this irresistible urge - to wrap his arms around her.

A die-hard foodie - he mused - that didn’t quite explain the gorgeous figure she maintained! Maybe she burned all the calories running. Sensual images of her in snug shorts and t-shirt, start playing in his mind.

Suddenly they go over a speedbraker, he gets jolted out of his little sensual caccoon and splutters- ‘Ya… oh ya… we can… but only for 20 min.’

‘No worries, that guy is pretty quick with things!’

She swerves and pulls up near the kerb, next to Zacob’s. Shekharan gets down and wishes to be charmed, by the sight of her lustrous hair again. She dazzles him once more.

A quick scan of Zacob’s and Shekharan is convinced, that Angela has brought him to a much sought-after place. It’s packed to capacity!

The owner, a smart looking man of about 30, sees her and immediately rushes down the steps, to clear a table for her.

‘He seems to know you well!’

‘Jealous?’

Then turning to Rob - ‘how are you Rob?’

‘Great, thanks. Ma’am, what would you like today? Eh, can I get you two big brekkies?’…casting his sideward glance at Shekharan.

Angela finds Shekahran a bit confused, decides for him, and then confirms to Rob - ‘two brekkies please.’

Shekharan - ‘brekkies???’ He whispers to Angela. Didn’t want to sound ignorant and rude, especially in front of Rob.

‘He is from Australia. People refer to breakfast as brekkie.’

He rolls his eyes - ‘and when did you visit Australia mademoiselle?’

‘Some years ago, why?’ She sounded casual.

‘Nothing, just asking. Today I’m having this Aussie brekkie, but tomorrow this mademoiselle will give me the pleasure, of treating her to an authentic banana-leaf meal. Deal?’ Shekharan looks in her eyes.

‘Deal.’ Angela confirms with her alluring smile.

Once they are comfortable at their table, she asks something very pointed. This wasn’t an early morning brekkie question!!‘Tell me something - say, are you by nature very ambitious or you know - just wanting to make your old folks proud? You know what I mean.’

‘Angela, you are my friend, I must tell you the honest thing! I have come here to earn the moolah, no denying that, I have responsibilities back home. Sometimes how it is - modest and painful upbringing, leading to big financial ambitions! It’s scary!’

‘What’s the scary part?’

Rob brought in a lavish spread of a true blue Australian brekkie and arranged it for them. There were two large brown-bread slices, topped with spicy avocado. Two large mugs of cappuccino, a jumbo bowl of chicken salad.

Angela dug her fork into the avocado - ‘heavenly! So creamy, velvety and a perfect replacement for the fatty butter.’ She closed her eyes and kept munching, to savour the great flavour!

‘So sorry! Yes, I was asking what’s the scary part of being ambitious.’

‘That is - one doesn’t know when to stop.’

‘Very phlegmatic my dear, but I believe we are very far (she squinted her eyes and extended her long arms in front of her, in a theatrical way) from saturation of ambition! Don’t worry and enjoy the present! Smashed avocado on toast.’ She bit a big bite and closed her eyes again.

‘Bolt from the Blue’

Monday – 30th September 2002.

22nd floor of a swanky building in the CBD area of Singapore - company Rubric. An Indian IT professional straightens his tie, before entering his boss’s room.

When he hears the door opening, Mr. Murthy looks up from the computer and gestures to Shekharan to enter and take a seat.

‘Shekharan did you read the report last week?’ Mr. Murthy asks in a matter-of-fact tone.

‘I’m sorry sir, didn’t get an opportunity, as my hands are in multiple projects.’

‘No need to bother about them now, my dear… projects across all levels are getting scrapped. The new American policies are making it very difficult for companies, to hire foreign talent. Those that are in employment, are being asked to leave. American youth is up in arms, against the dynamic Asian software engineers, coming in at very affordable prices, pushing them to the brink. Add to this rebellion, the inferior performance of the Indian team- I mean the one back in India and we have here the perfect recipe for disaster! We are at the receiving end from Rubric California.’

‘What does that imply for the Singapore office sir? I mean - how long will this office survive?’

‘A spate of bad days, one could even say, the Singapore unit may not exist six months from now.’

Murthy could see the sharp seismic lines and tectonic shifts on Shekharan’s face, who had been counting on the Singapore dollar to tide over his family’s problems.

‘Simply put - we are forced to scale down our operations.’ Then Mr. Murthy, spat out - American style, ‘you are one among those fired, Shekharan.’

He hated himself for saying such a thing to a fellow Indian but had no choice in the current circumstances.

Shekharan is shell-shocked. He had been a star performer. He sinks in his chair and remains kind of frozen, till he is able to ask, ‘but why sir? The company has seen some very good years.

‘What about my other colleagues and project mates?’

‘Well, very few have been spared the pink slip, as they say in the US.’

Then he softens a little, ‘It’s only because of your contribution, that I am giving you time to recover and find another job. I’ll call up Mr. Lau in HR to finalize the paper work. You get a month to clear your desk, which is a decent timeline by US standard, there they can ask you to move out, even in an hour’s time!’

Then leaning over his beautiful glass table, he concludes, ‘you can start wrapping up now and report to me in a week’s time.’ He has ruthlessly burst his high potential candidate’s bubble, so tries to comfort him. ‘Don’t worry so much. I’m proud of you my dear, for all that you have done. You will turn anything into gold, you have that Midas touch.’

While his boss goes on with the company’s problems and how there was little hope of salvaging it - Shekharan has moved to a different world. He has written a letter to his parents, not once but ten times and torn and crumpled it, as many times in his sad imagination!

To his parents in a small nondescript village in Karnataka in India:

Respected maa,

I’m coming home. The company is facing big problems. No future here for me.

I am sorry to disappoint you. I will try my best to make up while in India. Baba has a farm and I plan to work on that farm.

I miss pulling my dear sister’s thick plaited hair!

Your loving Shekhu

He knows his mother does not understand English, but he is in a foreign country and must show his own little mastery of English. Baba will translate that for her.

After all, they must flaunt their son’s achievements, to the entire village. He is the only one in his community there, who has made it this far! Parents are like that - they may not understand everything you say or writebut are nonetheless impressed - vicarious aura…!

No this won’t do. She would have a heart attack right on the first line! I can imagine baba in his chair, regretting the day he took a loan for my education!

Respected baba,

I am coming for a few days. The company is giving me leave for a month. I can’t wait to see you and amma.

Rest when I come.

Your loving Shekhu

Oh no! I think I am going mad. Lying to them…?? I should go back to India. I may lose my parents, even before I have a chance to explain myself!

Shekharan’s next thought is to buy a one-way ticket to India.

Mr. Murthy has dealt a massive blow, and Shekharan doesn’t know whether to thank him for giving him enough time to make new bread, or to curse him for snatching away his existing bread and butter! He leaves the office without a word. But the term ‘Midas Touch’ keeps haunting him for a long time…

*****

The staff went into Murthy’s room only on two occasions. One when it rained trouble; the other when it rained awards and looking at Shekharan, the entire floor knew, the ‘prize’ Shekharan had received.

He wanted to get over the setback, as soon as possible! He could feel the sympathetic glances, coming from all quarters, but when everybody spots Mr. Murthy coming out of his office, they all slip back into their chairs and resume work, as if nothing had happened. Shekharan is spared the uncomfortable stares and questions.

Only Angela, who had always been more than a project buddy to him, wants to immediately find out. Shekharan had long fallen for her grey cells even more, than for her peach ones!

She had always seen Shekharan bustling about the office and getting the toughest projects underway. This was not him - slumped in his chair and vaguely trying to make sense, of things around him.

She walks up to him with a lovely smile, ‘hi Shekharan.’

‘Hi Angela,’ he replies, managing a very thin one.

‘Let’s go out for coffee.’

Her enthusiasm is infectious - he can’t say no to her. In fact, it cheers him to know, that Angela can brighten him up, without the fuss around it!

Once in the coffee shop, she chirps, ‘today’s coffee is on me, Shekharan.’

‘Alright,’ he smiles, ‘but when I get another job, I’ll treat you to a five-course dinner.’ They both laugh and then hold each other’s hand, as if it was a natural thing to do. It is evident they have come closer, after the Australian brekkie.

But even in romance, Angela isn’t the giddy-headed type. ‘Well, we can go dutch on that.’

Yes, all he needed was her! Some poetic lines hum in his head.

With you by my side

there is a spring in my stride,

all things seem possible

when by your love, I abide;

I dream of riches and beauty and fame

comfort me, my pretty flame!

She sidles closer to him and says, ‘I am getting the sack next week, how exciting! I needed a change and didn’t have the courage to quit, so here comes the much-awaited opportunity! I find it sooo romantic!’ She gets dreamy-eyed clasping her hands together. ‘Losing your job and not knowing what to do next. Who says - being in a limbo is no fun!’

Yes - only someone who has a whole family dependent on him, will know my dear!

She places her hand on Shekharan’s ‘burdened’ shoulder and continues her day dreaming - ‘you know Shekharan, people in the corporate world and elsewhere are proudly taking sabbaticals, to recreate a fresh, new reality for themselves.’

‘So, this is Angela’s silver lining in the darkest cloud!’ Shekharan speaks in a depressed tone, toying with the spoon in his hand.

‘Yes, I guess so, and it might take a while getting used to this, but we can just turn everything around. Like this…’

She goes on while still lost in thought, snapping her beautiful long fingers. ‘Trust me.’

Pink Slips and More

A week later, many at Rubric are counting the pink slips and measuring their losses. A lot of restructuring has taken place - many dreams are crushed!

Roshan, Vivek, Anirudh, Akshay, Sangeeta, Nagarajan and Zubair had come from IIT Mumbai with dreamy eyes, to earn the Singapore dollar.

All of them freak out at the suddenness of it all! Losing Singapore dollars is no less than, the sinking feeling of a heartbreak! Some go into a shell. They stop eating, stop calling their families in India. It would be a double shock to handle: dejected parents who had spent handsome money on them, disappointed relatives and expectant brides-to-be who wanted a passport to a charming expat life! They sulked and complained -couldn’t see beyond that IT job.

Zubair in sheer frustration, lets out his steam in front of colleagues. ‘My father told me not to get lured by any private firms, more so by those from the US. These are totally unreliable. The dollar is a big trap! He advised me against it. He wanted me to start something in India. Also gave me the option of geting a ‘safe’ government job. Yes, a job that doesn’t move you and doesn’t move your money either! You stagnate like a pond. In time to come, weeds grow around - you remain gloriously oblivious. Either way one is damned!’

It takes all sorts to make this world. Angela belongs to the forever-sunshine camp. She blurts out - ‘this is great news, fantastic,’ she doesn’t sound even a teeny-bit apologetic! ‘We can go official with things now. I thought it was just the two of us, targets of the ‘firing’ squad. Now, there’s a whole bunch.’ She looks up, ‘God is great! He takes away and gives with the same hand!’

Here her colleagues are mourning the loss of their ‘mini goldmine’ while she is sparkling like diamonds!

Shekharan is quite puzzled, at her inconsiderate remark. He chooses to remain aloof, until she explains- ‘Shekharan, I’m an incorrigible optimist, I can be enthralled about using my diving skills, when the ship is sinking!’

We live and love just once,

why a sadness that weighs down tonnes?

Wake up and look around,

rebound is much easier -

than you really found!

‘Angela, you can compose too?’ Roshan was gushing with happiness, at this sudden discovery about her. Everyone else is also visibly delighted. She had always been a stunner!

Roshan adores her, as she is endlessly fascinating. But why hasn’t he ever come around, to telling her that? Some apt lines by Sarah Cross swim into his head and soothe him.

‘Because, if you could love someone, and keep loving them, without being loved back . . . then that love had to be real. It hurt too much to be anything else.’

Angela knows deep down that she is a terrific charmer but tries to be modest. ‘Oh! Nothing serious Roshan, some juvenile ramblings.’

‘I would love you to share those ‘juvenile ramblings,’ as you call them.’

‘Sure, someday.’

‘Don’t worry guys,’ she turns to address everyone - ‘we all will swim or sink together, like a great team.’ She makes some tiny wave like motions with her hands, her eyes and head tilting beautifully, following them.

What a woman! They all think. Romanticizing a catastrophe!!!!

*****

Rubric is a sinking ship, it’s accepted. All voyagers must board another one.

The Rubricians have no choice, but to settle down to a new chapter in their lives. The office is abuzz with all kinds of survival plans. Colleagues and friends write to each other, chat at the vending machines and make elaborate plans to secure another job.

Within easy earshot of other colleagues, Anirudh starts sharing his concerns with Roshan.

‘Hey Roshan, what’s with this retrenchment yaar?’

‘Guys please, do you mind moving somewhere else?’ Vasanthi objected to Anirudh’s venting.

‘Shh… Anirudh… lets talk in the cafeteria. Come on guys!’ Roshan signals to his friends to move out.

On the way Anirudh resumes - ‘how are we going to cope? Honestly, I don’t know what to do! The Singapore dollar was my only saving grace! Mom has already started looking, for a tall and fair, pure Maharashtrian bride for me.’ He blushes. ‘She says, I am in IT and in a foreign country - now I am hot property in the marriage market! The highest bidder will win me.’

‘Is there a full stop in your speech?’ Roshan is not getting any opportunity, to comfort him.

Anirudh has a lot to say, but reluctantly gives Roshan the chance. ‘Say now, what you want Roshan.’

‘Relax Anirudh, Rubric is not the end of this world. Your skills are not limited to IT alone. You are a financial whiz too! Start looking out, there may be options. Just move on.’

‘You are right Roshan, I have seen his number crunching prowess and I can vouch!’ Akshay seconds Roshan. He is different, refuses to be cowed down by the circumstances and has a hilarious take on the situation.

‘Your loss is nothing compared to my aunt’s! Ha ha ha! Right now, she is the queen of dejection, Anirudh. She asked me to get Olay anti-wrinkle cream (though India has plenty), because something coming from Singapore will elevate her status in the jazzy GK 1 neighborhood in Delhi. Now her wrinkles and her status both won’t move a millimeter…what a sad thing! Tch… tch… tch… tch.’

‘Roshan what plans after Rubric?’ Sangeeta enquires seriously.

‘Sangeeta, are you kidding me? It’s been just a couple of hours! Let the feeling sink in. To be honest, I never put all the proverbial eggs in one basket. So, Rubric doesn’t really bother me.’

‘Simplify yaar for us laymen!’ Vivek voiced for everyone.

‘Some other time friends.