Chapter 6: Back to Basics

Ameya did not like this wait. It felt like dejavu. He was standing at the same place he had stood earlier that day. A part of him was wishing that he could just walk in as if nothing had happened. He rehearsed some cheery remarks and opening lines, but had no idea what to say next. Like in many situations he had handled before, he would take this head on, he said to himself. He had thought about Rishabh’s suggestion. He hated it, but he saw no way around it. Somewhere, he felt that the damage could be repaired. Afterall, he was not the one who had yelled. He could always be the good guy and that was about the only thing he liked in this situation.

 

He did not like Koli’s PA. She was a mean looking woman who never smiled at anyone. He was wondering what it would be like to work under Koli when he was called in.

“What is it now?” Koli asked. She was as relaxed as he usually saw her.

“Madam, could I talk to you for five minutes?”, Ameya heard himself saying.

Koli gave a huge sigh and motioned for him to sit. He thought that she may have felt remorse over her previous actions. But he would soon disagree with that.

 

“Madam, I need your help to do my project here.”

There was no response from Koli. Her icy stare continued. At the least, she was looking him in the eye. He had an idea. He was going to be the smaller person on the room. It had always worked. Ameya continued to talk in a pleading tone.

“Madam, I have come up with some observations. There are many things that are happening in this college for which you need not sacrifice your time. I can do them for you. Also the staff and the students need someone to talk to about their daily issues….”

Ameya stopped, trying to sense her response. He felt it was safe to continue.

“But all their issues are not important or urgent. So I would like to filter through them so that you can devote your time to the ones that are worthwhile and that require your attention.”

Koli looked at her desk phone, as if secretly wishing it would ring.

Ameya knew he had struck gold. She was not going to aplogise, she was not even going to admit she was wrong. She liked to be in charge and he had used that nicely.

“Madam, I think you are doing everything by yourself here. You are being over worked and the management knows that. It is just that they know that they cannot trust anyone else for the same and have felt helpless as far as taking work off your shoulders goes. All I am asking is that the non-important work, the repetitive and the mundane things that you are needed to do everyday…delegate those. Either to me or someone else whom you can train a little.”

Ameya knew he was treading a thin line. He could fall on either side. But luck was on his side this time.

Koli, for the first time since Ameya joined, smiled at him. It was a small side smile cum sigh, but it was enough for Ameya.

“Ameya”, she said slowly, “Do you know about the education industry?”

He started to say that his mother was a teacher, but realised that it was not a question afterall.

“The education industry is not an industry. It is just a group of people with similar goals and dreams who want to make a difference. It is not a business and I do not like it when people talk about managing it like one. If people wanted to streamline bottomlines and toplines, they should invest their money elsewhere, not in education. Education is about toiling continuously for the betterment of young minds so they can become better citizens tomorrow.”

Ameya was nodding madly. He wanted Koli to know that whatever she said, he agreed to.

“See…I don’t have a problem with you coming and helping me out with some of the things that youngsters like you should do. But I was given the impression that you are going to professionalize the administration of this institute. So, in that case, let me tell you that most of the administration is already working and has been for years now. If Raghuvanshi Sir feels that it is not running well, he should tell me that first.”

Ameya felt sorry for Koli. Rishabh was right. She was feeling cornered. Ameya knew that he should stop the discussion at this point lest she says something that he cannot reverse.

“Madam, I am sure that was not the intent. The brief I was given was that the institute has been running successfully for so many years now that the trust would like to make this a working model for the other projects that they have in the pipeline. For that they wanted me to train under you and learn the best practices and maybe suggest some from a management graduate point of view…you know like some practices that are followed in companies…”, Ameya gathered his thoughts. “…And basically learn from you…”, he added for effect.

Koli seemed satisfied with this explanation.

“So…I want to know more about the day to day operations of the college, if you don’t mind.”

“Why would I mind?, Koli asked.

Again, it was not a question that needed answering.

“So where can I start?”

“Meet Vineeta. She will help you out.” Koli got back to her certificates.

“Also madam, I was wondering if I could get a Login and Id and authorization at the canteen?”

“She will do it all.” And Koli dismissed him.

As he left her room, he noticed that she did not feel threatened and he was happy about that. The only nagging feeling he had in his mind and he sat in front of the ever busy PA was ‘How am I ever going to compile that report!’