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Gautam Nadkarni

The Workaholic

When I finally graduated from university Father decided I had spent enough time on tomfoolery and it was high time I entered the family business. I decided to prepare myself for the ordeal ahead and went and bought myself a pair of grey pinstriped trousers, a white shirt and a nice black necktie. I also purchased a Samsonite briefcase to look the part. It’s no use entering the world of commerce without looking like a minor potentate.

And then the big day came: my first day at the office.

After making sure my clothes were well pressed, I pulled them on and spent a half hour adjusting my tie to get the perfect knot. These things count. I’m certain Richard Branson would never have amassed his billions if he hadn’t got his necktie knotted right. Wearing my Italian leather shoes, I followed Father and my brothers downstairs and got into the car after fussing about with the crease on my trouser legs.

At the office building I rode up to the third floor on an ancient elevator and entered the office with a confident stride. All the staff were on their feet wishing us good morning, which I acknowledged with a courteous nod. It was only after the cabin door was closed that I let go my breath, which I had been holding all along, and a shirt button gave. Desperate, I hunted in vain for a safety pin but finally settled for a paper clip to fasten my shirt front. I almost despaired because I was positive I would be the laughing stock of the business community. Still, we magnates are made of sterner stuff than you’d imagine.

I soon got down to office work, which began with my raising the swivel chair by a notch or two so that I wouldn’t bang my chin on the tabletop. I then leaned back in my chair, taking care that it didn’t topple over backwards. Putting my fingertips together like I’d seen on television, I plotted in tiny detail how I would spend the vast fortune I was about to make.

And suddenly it was lunchtime.

I decided to partake of a quick meal in the office itself and had a luncheon delivered to my cabin– only four courses, mind. I tucked the napkin into my shirt collar and, picking up the cutlery, got right down to it. With the luncheon consumed I gave a dainty belch, put up my feet, and realized for the hundredth time why Spaniards insisted on a siesta after the midday fiesta. That’s what makes Spain so great.

Upon waking up I felt refreshed enough to tackle huge business deals and negotiate like the dickens. This reminded me that I had yet to go through the office files and study them in great detail so I could take grand decisions, momentous decisions.

I began by deciding that there was no time for it like the morrow.

leisure reading. . .
the tycoon reaches for
his passbook

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About the Author

Gautam Nadkarni has been into haikai literature for over a decade. Although a recent entrant into haibun he has been widely published and is currently the Senryu Editor of Cattails journal. He also loves cartooning.