Promotion

By Chinmayee Priyadarshini Dash

Yes, I spoke to him, he said he is looking into it, most probably by the end of next month, I will receive the

promotion letter. Akash said while sipping his tea.

I don’t know, tell him to speed up the process, papa is really pushing for my marriage. I can only break

this to him when you get the promotion. Lily said irritably while scrolling through her phone.

Akash and Lily are my regular customers, they work in an IT company located on the other side of the

road. Akash generally takes time to finish his cup while having one hand in the pocket, his thick framed

eyeglasses, untucked loose shirt and dark stubble make him appear like an artist.

On the other hand, Lily seems practical and a bit uptight. Her appearance is more formal.

I don’t know why me not getting a promotion is a blocker for our marriage, we both are doing well for

ourselves, it’s just the company of each other that we need, right! Or is it that your father wants

somebody who earns more than you.

No, Lily said hastily. He just wants me to have a good standard of living and a secure future.

And you need a man for that? Akash said while smiling sarcastically.

Oh, shut up Akash! It’s just that if you get that promotion, we might afford to buy a house in that

neighbourhood we have been eyeing and might even take a trip to South Europe that we have been

planning for months, remember!

She took a sigh, Of course, it’s not about the money, her voice softens, but don’t you think our lives

would be much more exhilarating If we enter marriage having that promotion

Yeah, Sure. I will try. Akash said in a hushed voice.

I often see them having an argument over this topic. When they started coming to my shop, it was

different, they used to grin at each other a lot, share about each other’s day. It looked like they waited

through the day to have this chai break.

I remember once Lily being upset about her friend leaving her job as her in laws did not allow. Which

age these people are living in, have not they heard about gender equality! what a shame. Then she went

on and on about feminism, women empowerment, and few other words unfathomable to me.

That was the last time of me seeing them together, it’s been months since they have come for a tea.

They might have changed the company for better salary…. for the obvious reasons, I presumed.

Hey Nattu, finally you have gained some weight! Akash bhaiya entered to my shop after 3/4 months, but

alone.

Hi Bhaiya, after so long…where is Lily Didi? I asked.

She got engaged, anyways I will have one ginger tea and a gold flake premium please. he spoke without

taking any pause, as if he wanted me to miss the first part.

What!! I remained silent for a bit and then gathered all the courage to ask, did you not get that

promotion? I asked while serving him the tea.

No Nattu…he paused, lit the cigarette, and took the first drag. But she did get one.

By then I had already turned halfway back to do something, but then I stopped and said, sorry?? I did

not understand.

He repeated but loudly this time, she got promoted Nattu, I did not. And I was so happy thinking “now

that at least one of us got promoted, we can manage to have the life she wants”. But I never noticed

that in our society, a typical marriage always demands the man to earn more. Huh... gender equality,

what a sham!

By Chinmayee Priyadarshini Dash