2 States The Story Of My Marriage by Chetan Bhagat Read Free Book Online

in almost every area of the bank. It is not a bank, it is a growth
    machine.’
    I paused to see if I had gone over the top. But Rahul listened with rapt
    attention and Devesh nodded. Yes, they were falling for it.
    ‘And, ultimately the biggest reason is, Rahul,’ I said, switching to the first
    name to show my closeness to him, ‘I really want to work with people I look up to.
    When I see you, I want to be you. And Citi gives me a shot at it.’
    Rahul flushed with pride. ‘How…I mean, how do you know you want to be me?’
    No matter how accomplished people get, they don’t stop fishing for
    compliments. ‘I saw you at the pre-placement talk. I’ve attended dozens of talks,
    but the way you presented showed more thought clarity than anyone else. I think
    it is a Citibank thing. You people have a different confidence. Right, Devesh?’
    Devesh looked at me, perplexed. ‘Actually, we at human resources pick the
    best talent,’ he parroted, probably from a manual.
    ‘HR does nothing. I personally pick everyone for the job,’ Rahul said as the two jostled for my attention.

    DX @ www.desibbrg.com

    ‘It shows,’ I said.
    Rahul pushed back his chair and stood up. ‘Listen Krish, I like you. So
    between us, let me be honest. We are mostly done with the recruitment and have
    only one place left. But we have internal criteria; we need seven-point grade in
    undergrad to take new recruits.’
    Fuck. My past sins would not let go of me. Maybe that is why the five banks
    had rejected me.
    “and this missed semester….’ He tapped my undergrad grade sheete.
    ‘Research semester, sir’ I corrected.
    ‘I don’t know about that. Devesh?’
    Devesh, like anyone who works in HR, had never taken a real decision in his
    life. ‘It’s a business call, sir,’ he said.
    ‘I head my business,’ Rahul said.
    ‘Yes, but you may want to talk to the country manager,’ Devesh said, scared to
    make a suggestion.
    ‘I’m senior to him. I came from New York. He’s just connected so he became
    country manager. You know that, right?’
    ‘Sir, but grade-wise….’ Devesh paused and both of them looked at me.
    ‘Can you give us five minutes?’ Rahul asked.
    ‘Sure, I’ll wait outside,’ I obliged with an ingratiating grin.
    ‘Thanks, we’ll call you in again. So, don’t send the next candidate.’

    DX @ www.desibbrg.com

    8

    I stepped out of the Citi interview room. I scanned the list of remaining companies
    on the notice board. Everyone else paid half of Citibank. I found an empty stool to
    sit on and closed my eyes to pray. God appeared in front of me.
    ‘Hello God,’ I said, ‘I’ve not said one true thing in that interview today. But I want the job, please.’
    ‘They don’t want to hear the truth. So, that’s OK,’ God said. ‘But that’s not
    what you should be worried about.’
    ‘Then what?’
    ‘You have lived with a girl for two years.’
    ‘I love her, God,’ I said.
    ‘Love is not enough. You know what you have to do.’
    ‘I will, I just need time.’
    ‘You are well past your time. In four minutes, I could let your last bank job slip away,’ God said.
    ‘No God, I want Citibank.’
    ‘I want you to do the right thing first.’
    ‘How?’ I opened my eyes. I looked at the HLL room. Ananya had gone inside
    the room. I closed my eyes again. ‘How?’ I repeated. ‘She is in an interview. I
    promise to do it after I get my Citibank job.’
    ‘I don’t trust you. Anyway, upto you. You don’t listen to me, I don’t listen to you,’ God said.
    I opened my eyes. I had three minutes. Ananya would kill me if I went inside
    the room. But a voice inside told me that if I didn’t go to her, the Citi country
    manager or Rahul or Devesh could decide against me. Of course, my rational
    mind knew I was being completely moronic. Both the events were not connected.
    But there is only so much our rational mind knows. Maybe, events and karma are
    connected. I ran to the HLL room.
    ‘Excuse