The 8:30am Manager – The Conclusion

“Sir, can’t you see we are standing at a generational divide?”

“The company or, I should say its new leaders think we are deadwood; only their chosen people or, as they say young team has answers to its problems.”

Rudra’s voice trembled as he cleared his mind, from years of silent suffering.

“Sir, I tour 15-17 days a month, in arguably one of the toughest times in this industry, just to perk up the mood in the dealerships and in the team; you and I both know that times will change for the better, and until it does, there is a daily battle for motivation.”

Krishna Rao looked at the paper weight on his table, and the cracks on its glass surface; the solid glass design inside was untouched from the ordeals the surface had endured.

He was attentive to Rudra’s outpouring; reflective of the state of the company and its several long timers.

Sameer Babu sat silently with his arms crossed; his left hand holding his glasses to his chin.

Tapas Mallick had raised a storm yesterday, and the fracture lines were out in the open.

The Half Yearly review with VP-Sales, GM-Operations and GM-Service was due next month.

“Rudra, how will your moving to plant in product development, insulate you?”

“Sir, this will save me from daily erosion of my personal peace.”

“That’s your assumption.”

“Sir, or perhaps a change.”

“Rudra, I would want you to hold your thought and not act under influence or, impulse. Tapas Mallick should not be deciding the priorities of your life, nor should the size of challenge bend your resolve.”

The words disarmed Rudra.

He leaned back on his chair, to absorb the moment.

“Sir, what do you want me to do?”

“Tapas Mallick told me that he will speak to GM – Plant Operations and come back in 2-3 weeks.”

“You just go back to your work; take a day off, if necessary.”

Rudra smiled.

“No Sir, back to work.”

As the door closed behind Rudra, Sameer Babu looked at Krishna Rao; instinct told him that there will be a stirring of action.

“Sameer, please schedule my meeting with the State Road Transport and Highways Minister, preferably by end of next week.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“The dealer conference had been deferred, please discuss with Rudra and schedule it for Wednesday next week; I want only the promoter, or his son, or their general manager to attend.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Anything else, you wanted to discuss.”

“Yes, Sir. Padmanabh Samal, President of State Transport Owners’ Association was trying to reach you since yesterday. He called me again, today morning.”

“Oh yes. I did receive calls from him, but could not reply; let me call him.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Sir, one more thing.”

“Yes, Sameer.”

“What about Arpit?”

“Not today; we will discuss tomorrow. One thing at a time.”

Krishna Rao called Sachin, his office assistant to get him a cup of strong coffee.

Tapas Mallik’s paper was right in front of him, at the center of his uncluttered table.

“Padmanabh Babu, how are you?”

“I am sorry, Regional Head was in town yesterday.”

“Rao Babu, no problem. How have you been, Madam and the children?”

Padmanabh Samal, in his early sixties, knew Krishna Rao for more than two decades, with intermittent gaps and distances separating them.

He started as a trader, lost all his money due to a family feud; a friend told him that a rice mill nearby was looking to hire mini trucks.

He came to the Zonal Office 220 kilometres from his village, carrying his wife’s jewellery in a handbag tightly held to his chest; Krishna Rao was sales officer in charge.

From one mini truck, to becoming one of the largest fleet owners in the State, Padmnabh Samal’s gratitude for Krishna Rao only grew over the years.

“Rao Babu, we are celebrating Silver Jubilee of our State Transport Owners' Association on 27^th October. You and your team are invited as our special guests.”

“Thank you, Padmanabh Babu. We will definitely attend.”

“Dhanyabad, Rao Babu”

“Padmanabh Babu, one request.”

“Please command.”

“If it is not inconvenient, can our dealers be invited, only the owners, or general managers; I think maximum 11 invitees.”

“Sure.”

“My sincere thanks Padmanabh Babu; Sameer will speak to your Manager and share their details.”

“Who is the Chief Guest, if I may ask?”

“Rao Babu, it is the State Road Transport & Highways Minister.”

Krishna Rao eyes shone with youthful energy.

Evening lights began to flicker in distant neighbourhood; the day had not given up.

“Sameer, please send my confirmation to attend the Silver Jubilee celebrations; inform all division heads to join with their one-downs.”

“I spoke to the Minister, for a 15 minutes slot post the Silver Jubilee event; he has agreed. No separate meeting be scheduled.”

“Let Rudra proceed with the dealer conference as Zonal Sales Head; I am anyways meeting them at the Event.”

The white SUV arrived at the porch; Krishna Rao boarded for home.

“Arpit, your reporting line has been moved to Regional Office; your new line manager is going to take charge from next month.”

Rudra found no reason to delay the news to Arpit.

“We are attending Silver Jubilee celebrations of State Transport Owners' Association, this Friday afternoon; don’t be on tour, and we can leave together.”

Arpit walked towards his desk, unaware of the cultural surgery in works.

“Sir, I spoke to Arpit.”

“Rudra, take care of Arpit, until the new manager joins. He needs you.”

Krishna Rao took front row seat, with the Minister and other select delegates from banks, insurance and equipment manufacturing firms; the event had attendance of more than 500 owners.

His speech on transporters’ contribution to the development of the state, of the country, from the driver to the fleet owner, got a resounding applause.

Arpit saw from his seat, several attendees eagerly swarming to Krishna Rao for a quick handshake or, a word.

He saw Premjit Da talking to Association senior functionaries and giving them handouts.

“Sir, how was the meeting with the Minister?”

“Rudra, it was good. The state has got a grant of Rs. 15,000 crore from Center for development of roads in the mining areas, including the one connecting to the port. Public tenders should get rolled out in a month.”

“There is an additional coastal road of 300 kilometres being earmarked for development, from January.”

“Sir, impact on vehicle sales will still be 5-6 months away.”

Krishna Rao nodded in agreement; there were no immediate answers.

“Sir, what do we present at the Half Yearly Review next week?”

“Truth.”

The Half Yearly review started with Krishna Rao and his Division Heads on one side of the table, and Tapas Mallick, VP-Sales, GM-Operations, Product Managers facing them on the other side.

Arpit was given a seat at the end of the table.

He was praised for his efforts to improve sales reporting in dealerships.

Over two hours, he saw the zonal team torn apart; higher profitability, service satisfaction and good financial health of dealers were neglected, or ignored.

Tapas Mallick led the assault, again.

Arpit had a sleepless train journey back home.

The castigation of his senior colleagues never left his attention as he returned to work, the following Monday.

Over the next few weeks, his new line manager joined, reducing his direct interaction with the Zonal Office colleagues, except for few administrative approvals. He was asked to travel extensively and set up new dealership teams for smaller vehicles.

“Arpit”

“Yes, Sameer Babu.”

“I hope you are joining us tomorrow evening.”

“This is regarding? I am sorry, I have been away for last few weeks.”

“It is Krishna Rao’s farewell.”

Arpit stood shocked; it felt like losing someone he never knew was so emotionally close.

“We are hosting at the lawns of our Workshop.”

Visitors to the Zonal Office started arriving from 8:45am.

There were ex-colleagues, customers, ex-employees, Association President and even competitors.

Customers who had come to the Zonal Office for finance or, vehicle related queries could not understand the hustle and bustle, with cars lining up the narrow road outside the office.

The farewell at the Workshop lawns, had people coming up to share their experience of Krishna Rao.

The man himself sat calmly, smiling occasionally and clearing his throat once in a while, with sip of water.

Post-dinner, the gathering had started thinning with just Sameer Babu, Rudra, Premjit and Arpit standing by till the end.

A car stood waiting outside the workshop gate; Krishna Rao’s wife, son and daughter were waiting inside.

Krishna Rao shook hands with the people, who could not hide their tears, or could not stop their tears.

He placed his hand on Arpit’s head.

“Do well, young man.”

Epilogue

Rudra was retained with intervention from CEO Office; he led the Zonal Office to deliver record sales and profitability growth, becoming a model office for rest of the country.

The targeted finance schemes, healthy dealerships and new road projects turned a new chapter of growth.

The attrition of long timers in the company, abated.

Aprit moved on after working for few years at the Zonal Office.